People already fed up with Indy referendum says Highland councillor
A SNP Highland councillor has admitted people are getting fed up hearing about the independence referendum, with another 10 months of campaigning still to go.
Nationalist Alan Duffy made the admission during a debate about how the historic vote in September 2014 could be promoted in Highland schools to encourage eligible pupils to participate.
Pro-union parties have previously accused the SNP of dragging out the marathon campaign towards independence after the referendum was agreed between the Scottish and UK governments in October 2012.
The voting age for the referendum has been lowered to 16 and it means around 4,440 Highland teenagers can make their choice.
It was suggested by SNP councillor Richard Laird at the public engagement committee on Thursday that Yes and No supporting politicians could visit schools to raise awareness amongst youngsters about the looming vote,
But Nairn councillor Laurie Fraser, an Independent, said he believed schools were sick of visits from politicians of all hues and warned it would eat into teaching time.
Councillor Duffy (Inverness West) agreed and said people, including pupils, were getting tired of the independence debate but then called for more school visits to be held.
"Some students may be fed up hearing about it and I think there are some people who are fed up hearing about the independence election referendum next year," he said.
"For the school kids to get a view on how things are going, and to make sure they get the information, I think the Yes and No camps should be allowed in so we can give discussions about it."
The committee were told by John Bruce, the council’s elections manager, that proposed visits would need to be considered by the education department, in consultation with the referendum’s returning officer.
He said there was a limited window of opportunity to carry out similar referendum events in schools because elections staff would be busy preparing for the vote.
