Jean Chrétien gave U.K. government advice ahead of Scotland referendum – Politics – CBC News

Interesting commentary by former PM Chrétien on the Scottish referendum and the consultations the UK government had with him (and likely others) regarding the Canadian 1995 referendum (the cliffhanger with about 1 percent margin for the no side):

“It’s always more complicated to manage the No side than the Yes side, because the Yes side is appealing to the heart and the nostalgia of the past and so on. And when you deal with the No, you deal with the reality of life.”

“Diving into the dark might be exciting, but you have to find out if there’s water in the swimming pool before diving,” Chrétien said.

Jean Chrétien gave U.K. government advice ahead of Scotland referendum – Politics – CBC News.

For those who have not seen it, the film No, on the Chilean 1988 referendum on whether Pinochet could extend his rule for a further 8 years, recounts a successful positive campaign on the inherent negative of a “no.”

It is a very funny yet serious film and the tension between the activists, who wanted to be serious, and the young advertising executive, who employed marketing methods “we need a jingle” and “allegria” (happiness) to seek the no.