100 Days of Hope and Fear: How Scotland’s referendum was lost and won

Scotland’s independence referendum on 18 September 2014 was the most significant democratic event in Scotland’s history. The 100 days up to 18 September was the official campaign period and the world’s media was watching. David Torrance was there throughout, in front of the cameras, on the radio, in the newspapers, at the debates and gatherings, privy to some of the behind-the-scenes manoeuvrings. A passionate federalist at heart, described disparagingly by the outgoing First Minister as ‘Tory-leaning’, Torrance made a valiant attempt to remain ‘professionally neutral’ throughout. His commentary and analysis as the campaign went through its many twists and turns was always insightful, if not always popular. Was it simply a victory for fear over hope? How did the Better Together campaign come so close to losing it? How did the Yes campaign come so close to winning it? What can the people of Scotland – and other aspirant nations – learn from this seismic democratic event? Reading this diary back during the editing process it was clear that, like [Nate] Silver [the US polling guru whose view was that the Yes campaign had virtually no chance of victory], I got a lot of things wrong (including the likely margin of victory) but also many things broadly correct. At least I can plead, as journalists often do, that I was probably right at the time. David Torrance has emerged as one of the campaign's most important commentators... [his] unauthorised biography of Alex Salmond, Against the Odds, has become the prescribed text for the flying columns of English-based and overseas journalists converging on Scotland in this our hour of destiny. KEVIN McKENNA, Scottish Review of Books Torrance has secured himself a prominent position in the referendum debate, partly through the strategic use of nice jumpers and expertly crafted hair, but largely on merit … [he deserves] far better than the lazy impossibilist critiques to which [his federalist] proposals have been subjected. RORY SCOTHORNE on Britain Rebooted David went to university & knows how to argue anything well whether he believes it or not David’s lifelong SNP activist father, on being asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme about his son’s political views F*** sake... David Torrance on again. Is the greasy weasel never aff the telly? CALUM FINDLAY [on Twitter]

Table of Contents:
Introduction 11 100 Days of Hope and Fear 27 Postscript 187

About the Author :
DAVID TORRANCE is a freelance writer, journalist and broadcaster who specialises in the politics and history of the long-running debate about Scottish independence. After being educated in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Cardiff he worked as a newspaper and television reporter before taking a brief career break to dabble in politics at Westminster. For the past seven years he has been a freelance commentator as well as the author or editor of more than ten books about Scottish and UK politics, biography and history. Like all good Scotsmen he has lived in London for long stretches but is currently based in Edinburgh.

Review :
His diary is deliciously gossipy, entertainingly indiscreet, and a must-read for political geeks as well as those who want to see what goes on behind the scenes of Scotland's politics and media. STEPHEN DAISLEY, STV David Torrance has emerged as one of the campaign's most important commentators... [his] unauthorised biography of Alex Salmond, Against the Odds, has become the prescribed text for the flying columns of English-based and overseas journalists converging on Scotland in this our hour of destiny. KEVIN McKENNA, Scottish Review of Books Torrance has secured himself a prominent position in the referendum debate, partly through the strategic use of nice jumpers and expertly crafted hair, but largely on merit … [he deserves] far better than the lazy impossibilist critiques to which [his federalist] proposals have been subjected. RORY SCORTHORNE on Britain Rebooted F*** sake... David Torrance on again. Is the greasy weasel never aff the telly? CALUM FINDLAY [on Twitter]