The ‘No’ campaign for Scottish Independence has asked the public to stop sending small donations as they claim to have been “inundated” since the live TV debate last Tuesday when Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond went head-to-head with former Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.
Darling, speaking for the no campaign, was generally accepted to have won the debate. The no camp’s official campaign group ‘Better Together’ claims the debate win proved to be very profitable. However they are now saying they are struggling with the large number of small donations that have rolled in over the last week, according to the Guardian.
Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall said: “We have had so many small donations following last week’s TV debate that we are now asking people to stop donating to us. It’s really encouraging that so many people want to support our campaign.
“Alex Salmond had the chance to be honest with people of Scotland about the risks of independence, but he failed to do so. It’s no wonder Scots are rejecting separation when we don’t know what money our wages, pensions or benefits would be paid in if we left the UK. We don’t know what currency we would use to pay for our schools and hospitals. Alex Salmond can’t expect us to take a leap in the dark on the basis of his blind faith.
“Scots have lost patience with Alex Salmond and the yes campaign are losing the arguments that matter. This is the biggest decision in Scotland’s history. Those of us who believe that the brightest future for Scotland is to remain in the UK will be working flat out between now and the vote on 18 September. We cannot be complacent for one second.
“We have a positive message for those who have yet to make up their mind – Scotland can have the best of both worlds as part of the UK. We can have more powers for Scotland without losing the strength, security and stability of being part of the larger UK. Only separation puts that at risk.”
The yes campaign group ‘Yes Scotland’ claimed that Better Together was funded by “billionaire bankers, property companies and Conservative party supporters” who opposed a more equal society. They also said many of the donors to the group were unable to vote in the referendum, suggesting they did not have homes in Scotland.
Whilst it is unlikely Better Together are actually unable to cope with the donations the claim is a sign of remarkable confidence. The announcement has garnered significant coverage and could never have happened unless the group had raised all the money it needed to win already.
Donations on both sides have come in from Scottish people who live in the rest of the United Kingdom. In a controversial decision that angered many it is only Scottish residents who can vote, meaning that anyone who is Scottish but does not live there is ineligible.
This is particularly frustrating as technically these people could be deported from the United Kingdom to Scotland if it becomes independent.
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