Attack on Mone gives Unionists a lift

I have hung a “referendum board” on my wall, on which I am pinning the occasional newspaper article which illustrates iconic interventions that I believe will influence the great debate – so to give credit where credit’s due, well done to Hugh Reilly (Perspective, 30 January); he may have almost single-handledly won the day for the Unionists with his clever, bitter and misogynistic article on Michelle Mone.

With friends like Hugh Reilly, the separatists really need no enemies, for any intelligent woman reading him today will inevitably recall his invective when she goes to vote in two years’ time, and make her mark accordingly.

Has Hugh, for the SNP, just forfeited the women’s vote? He suggests a third ballot question of “Do you wish Michelle Mone to embark on a self-imposed exile?”

Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn, but if Hugh took the same route tomorrow I’d stand a round for everyone at the bar in the Waverley!

David Fiddimore

Calton Road

Edinburgh

Hugh Reilly apparently takes exception to Michelle Mone and other celebrities “making threatening noises in order to influence the democratic process”. Hmm.

Did he also complain about the 100 business leaders who allowed their names to be published as supporters of the SNP last spring, also “in order to influence the democratic process”, or does he only object to free speech when he disagrees with what is being said?

Jane Ann Liston

Largo Road

St Andrews

Michelle Mone says: “MSPs have never run a business in their life. Would you trust them to run Scotland as a business? No is the answer.”

True to form, Alex Salmond is straight on the TV (when is he not?) to say that the SNP has a “business strategy” aimed at “attracting lots of other business to Scotland”.

It should be said, in support of Ms Mone, that, as a businessman, I have been asked whether I could give work experience to MSPs over the summer, rather as one does for school-leavers, as the overwhelming majority had never worked in business in their lives.

This frightening fact should be made public, along with the fact that the SNP proposes that the entire Scottish ship of state should be run by MSPs who not only have no experience of either setting up or running a business of their own, but who have never even worked for a business of any kind at all (even one owned by someone else) in their entire working life.

That is the sort of utterly inexperienced government that would be Scotland’s lot if the electorate ever decided to opt for the break-up of the UK as envisaged by the SNP.

How would they know what effective business strategy to put in place when their experience is non-existent?

Andrew HN Gray

Craiglea Drive

Edinburgh

Reading about Michelle Mone’s attitude to independence (your report, 30 January), it struck me as strange that someone who has made a fortune from manipulating figures should have such a poor grasp of macro- economics. And so little faith and confidence in her fellow countrywomen and men.

She is clearly an astute businesswoman, but no towering political intellect and not the first naysayer to attempt to bully the electorate with naked scaremongering.

However, this debate is about the foundation of a nation, something more fundamental and substantial than Ms Mone’s ephemeral creations.

However, Alex Salmond could yet turn this unhelpful contribution to his advantage when framing his PR strategy and campaign slogans.

What about: “When we are independent we may make mistakes, but at least our boobs will be our own.”

Or, “Independence – more uplifting than an Ultimo Bra!”

Douglas Turner

Derby Street

Edinburgh

While it is essential for business leaders to keep abreast of the political scene, sometimes their efforts to push up the agenda can lose them support.

In the case of Michelle Mone, whose profile is normally much more visible than her products, her attempts to increase the cleavage between the Unionists and those wishing independence could work against her.

Since her manufacturing seems to be based mainly overseas, her move south is not likely to affect many in Scotland. Adding obvious padding to the Unionist cause could actually give it false uplift.

Like all those minor celebrities who have threatened to leave (and never do) if the party they support is not elected, she might find public opinion often goes against these views.

If all the Scottish feminists rediscover their roots and stop buying her products then she could find her market share drooping.

She might find herself being given a less polite version of the Glasgow dismissal: “Make sure the door disnae catch your behind on the way out.”

Bruce D Skivington

Strath

Gairloch, Wester Ross