The language of politics

SCOTTISH Daily Mail political reporter, Simon Johnson, yesterday revealed Scottish National Party guidelines issued to the Scottish Government’s media communications team, listing the vocabulary they can use and – in the case of the word, ‘independence’ – can’t.

Says Johnson: “Instead, press officers are told to subliminally promote separation by constantly comparing Scotland with independent nations and by tackling subjects reserved to Westminster. They are also ordered not to ‘go on at length about Scotland’s problems’.”

According to Johnson, the guidelines were drawn up by senior press officers under instruction from the First Minister’s chief spin officer, Kevin Pringle, and Finance Secretary, John Swinney.

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