Prof Mona Siddiqui heads Scots' EU yes campaign

The symbolism of Professor Mona Siddiqui fronting Scotland EU yes campaign will not be lost on BME communities both north and south of the Scottish boarder.

Siddiqui will chair a broad political collation, not only to say yes to the EU, but to go one step further. Their campaign seeks to show the celebratory side of what we achieve together in the EU, rather than the polarised, often xenophobic debate which characterises the discussions here in England.

Speaking to the media Siddiqui stated:

The world is increasingly connected in all kinds of ways: [by] staying in the EU, the UK can still be a major player, not just economically as a driving force for more competitiveness, but also for a moral voice. This isn’t some starry-eyed idealism: this is a relationship worth fighting for. The euro crisis is an opportunity for us to be part of a renewed vision, not a problem to run away from.”

Another one the yes to the EU campaigner John Edward seemed to sum up the campaign by saying:

We’ve already had a couple of questions whether this is Project this or Project that. At best I would like to think about this as Project Cheer; we’re going to be upbeat about this. This is not to give scare stories; this is not to give negative reasons why not to do something.”

How refreshing to see the Scots looking at this debate through the prism of the ‘glass is half full’, rather than 'half empty and putrid'.

In the weeks ahead OBV will be writing about some of the key areas of this 'EU in –out debate', in particularly about the rights that we may lose if we exit, and the general anti-immigrant mood, that has so characterised the ‘No to the EU’ vote .

Simon Woolley