Charandeep Singh, Head of External Relations gives his communications insight into recent political announcements by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon & Prime Minister Theresa May.
From a comms perspective, how would you judge Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement on plans to push for a second referendum?
The announcement on 13th March certainly came as a surprise and most folk, politically engaged or not, were genuinely interested to hear what was being announced. I always find an interesting measure is whether people are talking about it on the commute home and following the news on their smartphones and I would absolutely say that the announcement was a popular topic on Monday – as well as that night’s dinner plans! From a PR perspective, the announcement got people talking and that’s a success. Translating that into tangible support and then ultimately votes, will be up to each of the campaigns.
How would a second Scottish Referendum differ from the first, in terms of the key messages and tactics?
If the Scottish Referendum goes ahead, it cannot simply be a re-run of the 2014 Referendum – a second referendum would have to exist on its own merits and reflect current economic and social factors. Tackling the issues that voters are most concerned about should be at the core of any campaign tactics and that must also include those issues that did not have clarity in 2014 such as currency. I do think that a key element of future campaigns may well include what Scotland’s and UK’s place in the world will be and as leaders grapple with leadership on the world stage and some nations look inward, our desire to be more global must be balanced with the political and social mood of other countries.
Will a second Scottish Referendum happen before the end of this decade, and if so, what will the result be?
I do think – if it is to happen – that the Referendum will take place before 2020. The real question here is on the specific timing: will it take place before we leave the European Union or after, and the UK General Elections must be considered as well. Either way, both sides are crafting their messages carefully and are dealing their cards with their political strategies in mind. Ultimately, it’s the voters that will deal the trump card.
What do you think of Prime Minister Theresa May’s General Election announcement?
The Prime Minister’s announcement to call a snap general election was a complete surprise. Whilst these surprise tactics may be new, it is an evolution of an age-old political strategy of controlling the message and setting the news agenda. For businesses and organisations trying to respond to these types of announcements, clear and focused messaging will help to get your perspectives out in the marketplace. When the General Election announcement was made, our ask was clear – that the voice of business must be heard. Time will tell whether the General Election focuses on the issues that will boost the economy and drive business growth or get caught up in political posturing. For SCC, we are committed to an open dialogue with all parties so that we can deal with the economic challenges that face our country and also take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.
You can contact Charandeep on csingh@scottishchambers.org.uk or follow on Twitter: @CharandeepS1ngh
