A CODE of conduct encouraging Yes activists to commit to “respectful and tolerant” campaigning in indyref2 “will likely be the template for the wider movement”, an MP has said.
At the Aberdeen Independence Movement (AIM) Progress to Yes event yesterday, Stewart Hosie SNP MP warned activists against using “intemperate language which would weaken the campaign” as he voiced support to making the pledge the blueprint for a Scotland-wide code.
The AIM event saw hundreds of delegates from across the independence movement discuss in detail how the campaign for indyref2 will look and what the key issues will be.
But one issue dominated panels – how the movement can come together and deal with the toxicity in part sparked by social media.
And the pledge itself outright says no to transphobia, homophobia and misogyny, adding that there will be “zero-tolerance approach” to discrimination and prejudice.
Put together by AIM specifically for activists in the north-east of Scotland, Hosie told delegates in his closing remarks that the pledge will likely be rolled out across the country ahead of indyref2.
The pledge reads: “Working together with others who have subscribed to this pledge, our primary focus will be to engage those who are yet to be convinced of the positive case for Scottish independence based on those values and endeavour by example and illustration to enlist them to our cause.”
Another paragraph of the pledge adds: “Specifically we will, individually and collectively, conduct all-out campaign communication and organisational activities in a respectful and tolerant manner, agreeing to differ where necessary but always taking a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and prejudice.”
Standing in for SNP president Mike Russell, who unfortunately missed the event due to illness, Hosie told delegates that it is “vital” that the campaign starts to come together.
He said: “It’s absolutely vital that we cannot allow our political opponents to pick out individuals, single words that someone may have once said inadvertently or angrily on Twitter or Facebook, to bring down the tone of our campaign and the enthusiasm of our movement across the country.
“We’ve done an awful lot today, a huge number of sessions concerned with real detailed policy and the thinking about a campaign and what an independent Scotland looks like – let’s end today by working out how the campaign should feel so that we can treat each other with respect.
“We can have genuine legitimate political grievances or disagreements where they occur.
“But let’s make sure not a single Yes campaign anywhere in Aberdeen, anywhere in the north east, anywhere in Scotland allows themselves to use the kind of intemperate language which would weaken the campaign.”
Speaking after the event, Hosie told The National that the code of conduct is a “fantastic initiative” and added that while it’s not his decision, it “may well form the template” for a pledge to be used within the wider Yes movement.
Hosie said: “I think it’s really important that the way Yes campaigners are before the referendum, the promises we make about how Scotland will be after the referendum, once we’re independent, it should be reflected in the way we campaign, in the respectful way in which we treat each other. I think that’s really important.”
Asked if he believes the code of conduct is the start of building bridges between parts of the Yes movement ahead of the campaign kicking off, Hosie added: “I don’t believe there is a schism.
“I think what you saw today was people from a whole bunch of political parties and organizations or none coming together, 300 people here today to discuss campaigning, and to discuss Scottish independence.
“It was all done in the most fantastic comradely civil manner. I think the key thing is to keep that going. And to do it the same way across the whole of Scotland.”
Hosie added: “People are going to disagree on policy. Whatever the policy, I think the key thing is when we’re setting out our vision of the future, let’s do it in the most civil, decent way we can.
“If we disagree on a matter of policy, then just agree to disagree. There’s never a justification for independence campaigners to attack each other on social media or whether it’s face to face. Keep it civil, keep it respectful, and Scotland gets to win.”
The Yes Pledge
THIS is the full text of the Code of Conduct drawn up by Aberdeen Independence Movement:
We share a common goal which is the independence of Scotland. In order to reach that goal we are committed to working with others of like mind on the basis of mutual respect and with a positive approach in order to promote and achieve the values of civic nationalism which are freedom, tolerance, equality, the protection of individual and community rights and the rejection of prejudice and discrimination in any form.
To that end we subscribe to this pledge and agree to abide by its aims and ambitions. Working together with others who have subscribed to this pledge, our primary focus will be to engage with those who are yet to be convinced of the positive case for Scottish independence based on those values and endeavour by example and illustration to enlist them to our cause. We will do so politely and positively at all times, without rancour and bitterness, ensuring the highest standards of conduct in all media and in all means of campaigning and communication.
Specifically we will, individually and collectively, conduct all our campaign, communication and organisational activities in a respectful and tolerant manner, agreeing to differ where necessary but always taking a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and prejudice*.
Consequently, we will also expect all organisations working within the broad Yes movement to ensure they have, and operate, best practice policies in governance including policies that secure equality and equity for all groups and individuals.
We will seek to promote positive voices, groups and ideas which ensure a diversity of lived experience is brought to the case for Scottish independence and a vision of an independent Scotland which is modern, broad and inclusive. We will conduct all our activities in an environmentally and financially responsible and sustainable manner and with openness and transparency. Whilst acknowledging the diversity of groups involved in the Yes movement, their individual policies and membership requirements and the voluntary nature of all our activities, we however agree that individuals and organisations refusing to subscribe to, or failing to meet, the claims and standards laid out in this pledge in this pledge will not be included in our collective and collaborative training, development, media activities and campaigning.
*Including, but not limited to, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Anglophobia, ableism, misogyny, ageism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and ethnic-nationalism. We accept the definitions of those terms as adopted by the political parties active in the Yes movement.
