Agencies vie for Scottish devolution ads

The pro-devolution group Scotland Forward is talking to agencies about an advertising campaign for the run- up to September’s referendum.

The group, which officially launched the “yes-yes” campaign last week, says it will call a pitch in the next few weeks. The spend depends on how much can be raised by the business people involved in the group and from members, but at launch the kitty contained about 200,000.

Scotland Forward chairman Nigel Smith says: “With only about 17 weeks to go before the Referendum, there is obviously not much time.” He criticises the Government for failing to fund a public information campaign explaining the issues at stake.

One agency, Edinburgh’s Leith agency, has already come up with a creative idea for a “yes-yes” campaign featuring a romantic couple.

Scotland Forward consists of politicians from all parties apart from the Conservative Party, as well as business people. To date there is no “no” campaign, but Scotland

Forward says it would welcome opponents.