In case you are in the most remote part of the UK right now, you’ll be well aware that Andy Murray takes to Centre Court today aiming to be the first British man to win the Wimbledon singles title in 76 years.
As unseemly as it is to daub party colours over any apolitical sports star, the number of Google hits SNP Tactical Voting used to get linking the tennis ace to a certain Nationalist political party was nothing short of extraordinary and, as far as I’m aware, entirely without base.
Notwithstanding, it is difficult to not view David Cameron’s decision to raise a Saltire above 10 Downing Street as partly political as well as patriotic. With twenty million people expected to be rooting for Andy today in front of the tv, it is inevitable of course that politicians would seek to muscle in and identify themselves with that aspiration and success.
We are still two years away from the referendum and I suspect most Scottish sporting and tv celebrities will go out of their way to make sure their comments are not dragged into the debate as either being for or against a Yes vote. Andy Murray’s stock will go stratospheric if he wins today, it’ll remain seriously high even if he loses, but for how long can he remain neutral with politicians looking to claim him as their own?
I personally don’t see why someone who happens to be good at hitting a tennis ball should have more sway over how people should vote in an election, or makes bras for that matter, but that is the reality of the 21st century.
Politicians of both sides of the independence debate will doubtlessly remain on the edge of their seats, after today’s result, when Andy Murray faces questions from all sorts of press with all sorts of intentions.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s not about winning today, it’s the not being taken apart that counts.
#1 by Andrew on July 8, 2012 - 5:25 pm
You’re right, it’s inevitable that any Scots doing well in sport will at least field questions on the issue of independence; Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Chris Hoy have both made their opinions known in the past.
It is just the nature of our world that the comments of a sports star will be absorbed by millions when they are not necessarily any more qualified than anyone else, however I do have to disagree with your comment regarding Michelle Moore. While I disagree with her opinion, and do not feel that in a democracy business leaders should have any greater clout than any other voter, it is still vitally important to hear what the effect of both the referendum and independence will be on business.
Her comments that ‘everything will go up’ would not stand up to any scrutiny, but it is important that they are aired, and that the concerns of businesses are addressed, if only because so much polling data shows just how important the economics of independence will be in determing the result.
#2 by Doug Daniel on July 9, 2012 - 12:33 am
I actually think we pay far too much attention to businesses when it comes to changing, well, anything. Businesses adapt, so any business leader who says independence will lead to them having to take the “nuclear option” of moving out of the country is either incompetent, or talking out of their derrière. A good business leader looks at how they can turn changing circumstances to their advantage, rather than making vacuous comments that relay fears that have no basis in reality.
I know the SNP can seem a bit too enthralled to business at times, but I think this is due to a perception that people need to be convinced that businesses aren’t scared of independence. When it comes to the referendum though, business leaders get no more votes than anyone else.
(Although they do get one more vote than the Surrey-residing Andy Murray!)
#3 by Chris on July 9, 2012 - 7:34 am
Also of course business leaders have a vested interest in keeping the rich richer. I suspect that the likes of Jim McColl are more animated by the promised reduction in corporation tax rates than democracy.
#4 by peter on July 8, 2012 - 6:22 pm
i will be cheering on andy today. just as i cheered on the lad, marray in the doubles. once independence is achieved, i will continue to cheer on most british sportsmen and women.
#5 by Allan on July 8, 2012 - 7:58 pm
To answer your question, well no. I don’t think that people in what Obama called the main street will make their decision in 2014 because of Murray or Hoy or Ferguson’s opinions on Scottish Independence (Hoy & possibly Murray’s opinions may be influenced by the distinct lack of political will towards sporting facilities). Having said that, Business leaders (like Ms Mone) tend to believe that they will have an influence due to their expertise in the business world, which is why so many business people are so vocal about general policy making.
On a seperate subject, Murray’s stock will only really rise once he bag’s that elusive “Slam” tournament. I still remain convinced that Murray will not win Wimbledon untill he wins another “slam” (which would be either the Australian or the upcoming US Open’s), but today he was close with the end of the second set the turning point of the match.
#6 by Doug Daniel on July 9, 2012 - 12:55 am
I can’t imagine Andy Murray coming out as an independence supporter, regardless of whether he is or not. Considering the outrage after his jokey comment to Tim Henman six years ago, and the attempts ever since to go out of his way to emphasise his Britishness over his Scottishness, I’d be gobsmacked if his sponsors and management allowed him to go making comments that might (in their heads, anyway) alienate 90% of his (and therefore their) market. Even the Saltire wristbands have had to be ditched in an effort to “descotchify” him.
Just look at the way his post-match interview is being touted as him “finally” being accepted by the British public – by which, of course, they mean middle England, as the “hope the Jock loses today” brigade are hardly likely to be won over by a few tears, and I’m fairly sure the Scottish public were won over about six years ago.
Doesn’t matter anyway – him winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2014 would be a far bigger boost to the Yes Scotland campaign!
#7 by Andrew Smith on July 10, 2012 - 10:56 am
I have always heard (from Scots) about the vast swathes of English people who supposedly didn’t want Murray to win, but despite living in London i’m yet to meet any. Somewhat amusingly the only person who told me they wanted him to lose was a Hearts supporting Scot on the grounds Murray supports Hibs…
The whole ‘finally being accepted’ thing seems to be wheeled out by the tabloids every year, despite the public not really objecting in the first place, in that sense he’s kind of like a tennis version of Camilla…