Better Together Ad 'Insulting' To Women

Scottish women have been portrayed as "daft ditherers" in an "insulting" advert by the Better Together campaign, it has been claimed.

With the referendum on independence just weeks away, both sides are pushing their case to voters.

But the No campaign has managed to upset female nationalists with its latest YouTube video.

It features an actress complaining about the constant referendum coverage and being hassled to make a decision by her partner.

Better Together say the dialogue was drawn from the verbatim comments of women in focus groups and doorstep canvassing.

But Kirsty Strickland, first-time mother to six-month-old Orla, said: "The Better Together referendum broadcast was an absolute embarrassment.

"It portrayed women voters as daft ditherers who don't understand the magnitude of the decision they have to make."

Women For Independence say "the implication that a No vote is the only choice a mother should be making for her children is insulting".

A spokeswoman added: "We think it's disappointing that Better Together decided to portray Scotland's women in this way.

"The narrative suggests that women who are still making up their minds how to vote don't understand enough about the issues to arrive at an informed decision. That is not our experience.

"Women for Independence have spent the last two years listening to women, discussing what matters to them. They are thoughtful, intelligent and articulate.

"The polls show that when they do get helpful information they understand that this is our one opportunity to change their lives, and all our lives, for the better. That's why more and more are moving to voting Yes."

Launching the video yesterday, Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall said: "The words spoken in the film are taken verbatim from conversations on doorsteps with undecided women voters and from the opinion of women in dozens of focus groups around the country.

"With so many unanswered questions, more and more of us are coming to the decision that it is just too big a risk to take with our kids' future."