Yes Tips for Nigel Farage
My 06/09/14 letter to the UKIP leader:
Dear Mr Farage,
I read in the papers that you will soon be on your way up to Scotland to campaign against the break-up of Britain. Whilst you are here, you may wish to review the tactics of the Yes Scotland campaign, as these nationalists have now provided you with a blueprint for your 'Independence from the EU' crusade.
Claim everyone will be "more prosperous" if we exit the EU.
Claim everything will be "fairer" if we exit the EU.
Claim the rest of the EU will be "our best pals in the world" if we divorce ourselves away from them.
Be sure to talk only about "independence" from the EU. Try to avoid words like separation, partition, leaving, exiting, secession, etc.
Insist you want all important decisions 'made in Britain.'
As you and your party will not be in power, you will not be in a position to decide who gets to vote and who doesn't. Nonetheless, you can at least try to exclude those you suspect may vote against you (the way the SNP excluded Scots living in other parts of the UK).
If you insultingly and patronisingly believe that 16-year-olds will be easier for your side to manipulate, you should insist that they be added to the electoral register.
Try to get a leading question onto the ballot paper (something beginning with, "Do you agree that..."). This is unlikely to get past the Electoral Commission but it's worth a go.
Conflate individual freedom with "independence" from the EU.
Publish a 'wish list without a price list' paperback book and call it a "white paper."
Your opponents will naturally highlight the positives of remaining a part of the EU and the negatives of leaving. Whenever they put forward a positive case for remaining a part of the EU (highlighting strength, security, stability, influence, etc), accuse them of having made 'no positive case' and of having 'no arguments.' Alternatively, simply assert that we'd have all those benefits (and more) if we left. Whenever they highlight the risks, dangers and uncertainties of leaving the EU, accuse them of being "negative" and of "scaremongering."
Denounce your opponents as "unpatriotic."
Label your ideas as "progressive."
Blame the EU for everything that goes wrong whilst giving the UK credit for anything that happens to go right.
Try to recruit some 'useful idiots' who will bombard your opponents with vile abuse.
Change your tune on major issues (e.g. NATO, the pound, the Royal Family) if you think that might help.
Tell lies about the NHS and legal advice.
Remind us we're "blessed with talent, resources and creativity."
Never miss an opportunity to hijack national symbols, days, flags, events, etc.
Insist that Jean-Claude Juncker 'must' debate with you.
As you and your party will not be in power, you will struggle to intimidate pro-EU critics in business, academia, the media, etc but see what you can do.
Keep quiet about likely tax increases and cuts to public services.
Try to get a couple of Lottery millionaires (and/or taxpayers) to pay for your propaganda.
Claim that leaving the EU will be "the opportunity of a lifetime."
Mr Farage, I feel confident that these Yes tips will prove very useful to you when planning your 'Independence from the EU' campaign and do hope that your trip to Scotland isn't again marred by nasty, boorish, foul-mouthed, anti-English, anti-democratic yobs.
Kind regards,
Keith Gilmour
