Leader: Voters need the truth, not just propaganda

Published on Tuesday 24 January 2012 12:14

THE wages of sin is death. The wages of spin is the death of the truth. That is the only conclusion in examining the contents of the e-mails relating to the SNP’s referendum policy highlighted yesterday, which shed some light into the dark recesses of the Nationalists’ ruthless propaganda machine.

It is a complicated story, but these are the salient facts. Alex Salmond’s trusted senior spin doctor, Kevin Pringle, wrote a letter in the name of referendums expert Dr Matt Qvortrup, which the First Minister read to MSPs. The e-mails show Mr Pringle tried to convince the academic to say the letter – supporting SNP policy and contradicting comments he made questioning the efficacy of having a second referendum question on devo-max – was Dr Qvortrup’s work. It was not. Mr Salmond was forced to apologise for misleading parliament.

So far, so In The Loop? A minor spat without even the benefit of some Malcolm Tucker-esque swear words to spice it up? When Scotland stands of the brink of a historic vote on independence, does it matter what a spin doctor of whom few outside the Holy-rood bubble have heard, albeit one funded by the taxpayer, does on behalf of his political master?

Well, yes it does, and it matters even more because of the impending referendum. Mr Pringle was wrong to do what he did. He is not the first spin doctor to try to neutralise criticism of his government and he will not be the last. In attempting to distort the truth to his party’s advantage, Mr Pringle was only following the intimidatory example set by New Labour, north and south of the Border, since 1997.

However, it would not be good enough for the SNP to argue that it was only following Labour’s ruthless example. For the attempt by Mr Pringle to distort the views of a respected academic bodes ill for the run-up to the referendum, in which people will rely on independent experts in making a judgment on independence. It would be nothing short of an outrage if the SNP intimidated academics who challenge its policy assertions, as it would be for unionist parties to do the same to those who favour independence.

There is a huge range of complicated issues which will have to be addressed before polling day. Voters have a right to hear as many views as possible before taking such an important decision. Would Scotland remain part of the EU? What would a Scottish defence force look like? Could we retain the pound or be forced to join the euro? Would we share the financial burden of the bank bail-out? And pay for the creation a non-nuclear defence force?

It will be vital the Scottish people have the widest possible range of advice on these questions and many others. So, as it is the season of Burns, we offer some advice to the SNP from the Bard. He taught us that “facts are chiels that winna ding”. The people need facts, not spin, before they make their decision on independence.

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16

fourbyfour

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 08:59 PM

Ah, the Scotsman continues its downward spiral...

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15

Ron Greer

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 04:32 PM

6 Grahamavoidski Show us the way then, itemise what England stands to lose if Scotland leaves the Union to be as narrow-minded and separatist as Norway, Denmark or Finland?

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14

christelijk_recht

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12:25 AM

#6 grahamski - Now we have the chief unionist propaganda tr0ll tut-tutting about alleged propaganda. You couldn't make this stuff up.

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13

christelijk_recht

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12:22 AM

Wait a minute - the Jocksman is complaining about propaganda? You're kidding me, right? This rag is stuffed full of propaganda and disinformation and, pure, unadulterated lies. Lying is the Jocksman's stock in trade. It's what they do. ................................................................................................................................................. Now this leader took real brass neck to write and publish.

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12

samcoldstream

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 09:12 PM

By the time this debate is over ALL the political parties involved will have engaged in the black art of disinformation. It will be very difficult for the ordinary voter to detect a nugget of truth amongst the pile of sheet being churned out by BOTH the Unionist and Nationalist politicians.

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11

The Haymaker

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 07:04 PM

Total and utter hypocrisy from this pathetic excuse for a newspaper. Yes, the people deserve honesty, truth and transparency in the conduct of this important debate. However, they ain't going to get any of that from this laughable Unionist rag. The Scotsman - a journalistic joke and a disgrace to Scotland.

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10

ali2011

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 12:01 PM

Has Alan Cochrame now with this paper? Their hatred of the SNP is comparable to the Tory graph. What juvenile drivel from amateur jpirnalists.

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9

JPJ2

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 10:23 AM

#2 JPJ2 I knew I was right :-) .........................................................................................I n an attack piece by one of the Scotsman''s slavering unionist "journalists masquerading as a news the artivle finishes by saying..................."Prof Qvortrup said last night that he believed it had been an “honest mistake” on the part of the SNP." So, Scotsman, I repeat nmy earlier comment...................-Physician heal thyself . As you say "The people need facts, not spin, before they make their decision on independence" So stop your own spinning-this paper is one of the worst offenders in that regard..

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8

The Tin Man

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 09:28 AM

Two and a half more years of lies to come. We, the people, even paid for the lie about Max Q. At east the professor as them clocked.

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7

gus1940

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 09:00 AM

Scotsman readers need the truth - not just propaganda.

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6

grahamski

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 07:37 AM

Deary dear. I wonder how many cybernats imagined when they first picked up their virtual claymores that they'd end up spouting government propaganda in a vain bid to cover up government lies.

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5

glassbenmhor

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 03:46 AM

Well if this is the case why dosnt the Hootsman put it's Labour Party card carriers away and get real to join the rest of Scotland

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4

Proud Doonhamer

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 01:00 AM

McPravda at its worst.

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3

Vivas

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 12:31 AM

Eh ? WTF. This "leader" (?) stirs some very old and cold porridge about Kevin Pringle and then vanishes rapidly up its own backside in a blizzard of unionist attack rhetoric. This comic has all the symptoms of the print-media equivalent of terminal CJD !

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2

JPJ2

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 12:30 AM

Scotsman -this all happened in 2011-have you run out of chumps like the CBI chief Ian McMillan now that he has been called to account by his members for lying about the attitude of his members to the timing of the referendum. Additionally, the last time I heard Dr Matt Qvortrup on Newsnight Scotland (after the event you speak of but still months ago) he seemed to be expressing broad support for the SNP views. The Scotsman should take its own advice for you spin against the SNP every day-and this Leader is no exception to that. Physician heal thyself . As you say "The people need facts, not spin, before they make their decision on independence" So stop your own spinning-this paper is one of the worst offenders in that regard..

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