Tavish Scott: The referendum game is missing one team

Normally gallery visits include children, for whom art is considered mind-improving, broadening and to involve the deepening of the experience of growing up – or if you are 11, crushingly boring. “That is a Rembrandt and isn’t it wonderful?” is met with a look of complete indifference, or something rather worse leading to a parental reprimand of one variety or another.

All these thoughts flocked through my mind as I enjoyed, somewhat guiltily, the pleasures of looking at extraordinary 300-year-old pieces of art in my own time and without the clarion call of “C’m on Dad” at every pause.

I alighted on Canaletto’s work of Venetian city scenes. The detail is exquisite, as the scale of Venice and its canals are beautifully shaded with sunlight and shadow. Such painters were master craftsmen. Passing through the cavernous interior of the National Gallery created time to ponder from afar the comings and goings of the referendum, as we are assuredly into an hour by hour, day by day, year by year battle for the future of Scotland. Or at least one side of this battle knows that. I am not so convinced by the other.

Whatever I think of the Nationalists, and in particular their language, I accept their right to put the separation case. They are doing it every minute of every day, whether the medium is newspapers, broadcasters or Twitter. There is nothing wrong with that. It is what they are there to do. No other reason exists in politics if you are a Nationalist than to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK. They believe in this goal and are making the case.

Yet on the other side there is a desperate need to say why Scotland is better, stronger and more united as part of the UK.

The Prime Minister seems engaged on Scotland’s future once in a blue moon. Yet Scotland is a leading player in the UK and in many ways is the powerhouse of the UK. But so far I do not discern a credible, united and punchy campaign. The referendum pitch only has one team on it.

Which takes me back to Murrayfield last Saturday. I would rather look back, because looking forward to the Millennium Stadium this weekend leaves this Scottish Rugby fan a tad weak at the knees after the Welsh performance in Dublin. In a cheerful, drown your sorrows, post-match gathering, many people said get on with it. Make the case. Get the pro-Scotland in the UK side on the pitch and let battle commence. They wanted the case made from within Scotland.

That case is helped by interventions from the Welsh and Northern Irish first ministers, who have done a rather better job than the current occupant of Number 10. But there can be no more weeks of only one side with the ball with an open goal to shoot at. It is game time.

• Tavish Scott is Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland