Project Fear: How an Unlikely Alliance Left a Kingdom United but a Country Divided

225 Pages·2015·1.4 MB·English

by  Joe Pike

For Mike, Claire, Jess & Gordon
CONTENTS
Title Page
Dedication
Author’s note
Dramatis personae
Prologue
• • •
PART 1 – REFERENDUM
Chapter 1: Better Together
Chapter 2: Two guys in Glasgow
Chapter 3: Alex in Wonderland
Chapter 4: Taking a pounding
Chapter 5: The spring of discontent
Chapter 6: Non, merci
Chapter 7: Not tonight, Darling
Chapter 8: Nightmare on Sauchiehall Street
Chapter 9: Panic attack
Chapter 10: Scotland decides
• • •
PART 2 – ELECTION
Chapter 11: Lamont’s lament
Chapter 12: Labour pains
Chapter 13: Murphy’s law
Chapter 14: Sandbagging
Chapter 15: Tsunami
• • •
Epilogue
About the Author
Index
Copyright
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The idea for this project came during Christmas 2014, soon after Scotland’s
independence referendum. It had been a unique, thrilling and
transformative time in Scottish and British politics. And, for me, the unlikely
alliance of the three pro-UK parties in a Better Together coalition had been
particularly fascinating.
Yet, despite capturing global media attention, no one had fully uncovered
and documented what was happening behind the scenes. The more I talked to
politicians, advisers and staffers, the more I was convinced that there was a
fascinating tale to be told.
Project Fear began as an account of the referendum’s No campaign but,
after my publisher Iain Dale wisely suggested that the general election in
Scotland ‘might be quite interesting’, the book’s scope was extended to a
second section exploring the activities of the three pro-UK parties up to 8 May
2015. With Scottish Labour – at least back then – the best-represented at
Westminster, its affairs dominate.
This book is neither an exhaustive history of events, nor an assessment of
the merits of arguments on either side. The majority of the content is based on
over fifty interviews with key players, almost all conducted in person, with
many speaking for the first time. Every interview – from junior staff to
leading politicians – was conducted on the same off-the-record basis. Only a
handful of people refused to be involved.
When quotation marks are used, the source was either someone directly
involved, a witness to a conversation or a transcript. Quotes without quotation
marks merely summarise the thrust of what was said. Many interviewees have
kindly provided emails, internal documents, polling information,
contemporaneous notes and the content of text messages.
I hope this is a pacy, entertaining read, full of fresh insight and of
particular interest to those keen on understanding contemporary UK politics,
campaigns and referendums. Ahead of the EU referendum – and perhaps even
a second Scottish referendum – there is clearly much to learn. I have kept
analysis to a minimum, allowing those at the centre of events to provide their
own contrasting interpretations, and readers to make up their own minds.
My then partner, now husband, Gordon Aikman worked for Better
Together until being diagnosed with the terminal neurodegenerative condition
motor neurone disease in early 2014. To avoid any conflict of interest, I have
steered clear of his involvement.
I am, above all, extremely grateful to my sources. They have been
generous with their time and – now both the referendum and general election
are behind us – candid in their contributions. I realise some may not enjoy
depictions of themselves in print, but I hope that participants in the process
will recognise the care taken to be both empathetic and fair.
Iain Dale kindly took a punt on this, my first book, and I am indebted to
him for his continued encouragement and advice. Olivia Beattie and Melissa
Bond at Biteback Publishing have done sterling work getting the project into
shape and turning the text around in time for the first anniversary of the
independence referendum.
Edward Durnall at Opal deserves credit for fixing my laptop (and saving
the text) when it came into contact with a cup of coffee.
I am grateful to Catherine Houlihan for her support, and to my colleagues
at the Scottish Parliament: Paul McKinney, Peter MacMahon, Kathryn
Samson, Alistair McKenzie and Kerry Plummer.
Dr Helen O’Shea, Dr Mike Pike, Dr Claire Burns, Dr Gerard Cummins and
Giles Winn have all provided invaluable feedback on early drafts. However,
any errors remain mine and mine alone.
Finally, Gordon Aikman has been a constant source of encouragement and
support. His fearlessness, kindness, reassurance and patience have made me a
far better person.

Joe Pike
@joepike
Edinburgh, August 2015
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
GEOFF ABERDEIN: Chief of staff to Alex Salmond.
GORDON AIKMAN: Director of research, Better Together.
DANNY ALEXANDER: Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 2010–15. Liberal
Democrat MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, 2005–15.
DOUGLAS ALEXANDER: Labour’s 2015 chair of general strategy. MP for Paisley
South, 1997–2005, and for Paisley & Renfrewshire South, 2005–15.
PHIL ANDERTON: Board member, Better Together. Business consultant.
MICHAEL ASHCROFT: Businessman. Conservative peer. Pollster.
JACKIE BAILLIE: Board member, Better Together. Labour MSP for Dumbarton,
1999 to present day.
ED BALLS: Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, 2011–15. Labour MP for
Normanton, 2005–10, and for Morley & Outwood, 2010–15.
EDDIE BARNES: Director of strategy and communications, Scottish
Conservatives.
GREG BEALES: Director of strategy to Ed Miliband.
TORSTEN BELL: Director of policy to Ed Miliband.
NATALIE BENNETT: Leader, the Green Party of England and Wales, 2012 to
present day.
GORDON BROWN: Prime Minister, 2007–10. Labour MP for Dunfermline East,
1983–2005, and for Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath, 2005–15.
DAVID CAMERON: Prime Minister, 2010 to present day. Leader, Conservative
Party, 2005 to present day.
ALASTAIR CAMPBELL: Journalist. Author. Director of communications and
strategy to Tony Blair, 1997–2003.
GLENN CAMPBELL: Political correspondent, BBC Scotland.
ALISTAIR CARMICHAEL: Secretary of State for Scotland, 2013–15. Liberal
Democrat MP for Orkney & Shetland, 2001 to present day.
MARK CARNEY: Governor, Bank of England.
SCOTT CHISHOLM: Media trainer. Former Sky News anchor.
NICK CLEGG: Deputy Prime Minister, 2010–15. Leader, Liberal Democrats,
2007–15.
ANDREW COOPER: Director of strategy to David Cameron, 2011–13. Co-
founder, Populus.
LYNTON CROSBY: Campaign consultant to Conservative Party, 2012 to present
day.
MARGARET CURRAN: Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, 2011–15. Labour
MP for Glasgow East, 2010–15.
JOHN CURTICE: Professor of politics, Strathclyde University. President, British
Polling Council.
SUSAN DALGETY: Director of communications, Scottish Labour, 2015.
ALISTAIR DARLING: Chair, Better Together, 2012–14. Chancellor of the
Exchequer, 2007–10. Labour MP for Edinburgh Central, 1987–2005, and
for Edinburgh South West, 2005–15.
MAGGIE DARLING: Former journalist. Married to Alistair Darling.
RUTH DAVIDSON: Leader, Scottish Conservatives, 2011 to present day.
DAVID DINSMORE: Editor, The Sun.
MIKE DONILON: Debate coach to Ed Miliband.
KEZIA DUGDALE: Deputy leader, Scottish Labour, 2014–15.
ANDREW DUNLOP: Special adviser to David Cameron on Scotland, 2012–15.
NIGEL FARAGE: Leader, UK Independence Party, 2006–09 and 2010 to present
day.
MURRAY FOOTE: Editor, Daily Record.
JIM GALLAGHER: Adviser, Better Together. Visiting professor of government,
University of Glasgow. Former director-general for devolution, UK
government.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Former Labour MP. Respect Party leader, 2012–15.
ANNABEL GOLDIE: Member of the Smith Commission. Leader, Scottish
Conservatives, 2005–11. Conservative peer.
IAIN GRAY: Member of the Smith Commission. Leader, Scottish Labour Party,
2008–11.
STAN GREENBERG: Debate coach to Ed Miliband. Chairman and CEO,
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.
CAMPBELL GUNN: Special adviser to Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, 2013
to present day.
HARRIET HARMAN: Deputy leader, Labour Party, 2007–15.
CRAIG HARROW: Board member, Better Together. Convener, Scottish Liberal
Democrats.
PATRICK HARVIE: Member of the Smith Commission. Co-convener, Scottish
Green Party, 2008 to present day.
PATRICK HENEGHAN: Executive director of elections and stakeholders, Labour
Party.
BLAIR JENKINS: Chief executive, Yes Scotland, 2012–14.
RAMSAY JONES: Special adviser to David Cameron on Scotland, 2012 to
present day.
PETER KELLNER: President, YouGov.
CHARLES KENNEDY (1959–2015): Leader, Liberal Democrats, 1999–2006. Liberal
Democrat (formerly SDP) MP for Ross, Cromarty & Skye, 1983–97, for
Ross, Skye & Inverness West, 1997–2005, and for Ross, Skye &
Lochaber, 2005–15.
JOHANN LAMONT: Leader, Scottish Labour, 2011–14.
TIM LIVESEY: Chief of staff to Ed Miliband.
ED LLEWELLYN: Chief of staff to David Cameron.
GREGG MCCLYMONT: Member of the Smith Commission. Labour MP for
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East, 2010–15.
JACK MCCONNELL: First Minister of Scotland, 2001–07. Labour peer.
BLAIR MCDOUGALL: Campaign director, Better Together. Director of policy,
Scottish Labour, 2015 to present day.
MARK MCINNES: Director, Scottish Conservatives.
HENRY MCLEISH: First Minister of Scotland, 2000–01.
CATHERINE MACLEOD: Journalist. Special adviser to Alistair Darling, 2007–10.
Political editor, The Herald, 2003–07.
DAVID MCLETCHIE (1952–2013): Board member, Better Together, 2012–13.
Leader, Scottish Conservatives, 1999–2005.
NICHOLAS MACPHERSON: Permanent secretary, HM Treasury.
JOHN MCTERNAN: Chief of staff to Jim Murphy, 2015. Adviser to Tony Blair,
2004–07.
ED MILIBAND: Leader, Labour Party, 2010–15.
MICHAEL MOORE: Member of the Smith Commission. Secretary of State for
Scotland, 2010–13. Liberal Democrat MP for Tweeddale, Ettrick &
Lauderdale, 1997–2005, and for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk, 2005–
15.