Former FM McConnell demands referendum campaign truce

By Auld Firim, Our Sporting Correspondent

mcconnell kiltFormer First Minister of Scotlandshire, Jack "Lost It" McConnell has demanded that No referendum campaigning should take place during important sporting events like the Commonwealth Games.

Lord McConnell told BBC Radio Scotlandshire’s 'Guid Mornin' - It's a Dreich Day in Scotlandshire' programme that there was a “genuine concern there will be a temptation on both sides of this debate in the period of the Commonwealth Games, given the numbers around and the focus on Scotland, to engage in a continuing debate on the referendum campaign.

"Scots people are incapable of concentrating on more than one idea at a time", he said, "and I'm a living example of that. We need to make sure that the debate on whether we plunge into chaos, or stay in the Union, is held in a period with no other distractions.

"For example, nothing should be allowed to distract Celtic fans from worrying about their chances of winning the Scottish Premiership, or Rangers fans from their concerns that the Blues won't get into the Scottish Championship.

In Edinburgh, half the population are concerned by David Cameron's suggestion that he 'needs to win Scottish Hearts'. Is Tynecastle to be raffled off by the Scottish Government? Salmond needs to be clear about this since he claims that they are 'his' team.

2 coin"Albion Rovers are conducting a facinating experiment tomorrow where their Unionist fans and the vicious bigoted Nats from Montrose will be allowed entry to the game for a minimum of half a Kitchener coin.

"These fans should be concentrating on the Coatbridge Albion potentially leaping one place up mid-table of Scotlandshire's Soccer League Two above Stirling's Albion.

"It would be appalling if they were distracted by TV crews badgering the players as to how they would vote in September.

"Campaigning should, however, be allowed to resume briefly over times when less important sports are being played.

"For example, Wimbledon fortnight is always splendid weather for campaigning and is outside Scotlandshire so, like the Olympics in 2012, will not be able to be used by either side, in any way at all, in the campaign to prevent the break up of our great union.

"I'm a real Scot, and proud of it. Like every other Scot, I'll be passionately watching the campaign by the Scottish Women's Soccer team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Since the final game against Sweden doesn't happen till 17th September, referendum campaigning should not restart until the final whistle has blown at the end of that game.

"Except by then, all attention will be focussed on the Ryder Cup, so campaigning will still need to be avoided until Europe has won the cup with the last putt on 28 September. After that, both campaigns should engage with the people again."


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