Third Sector Yes says there has been almost zero response to its viewpoints from the no campaign
Third Sector Yes has questioned why there is no vocal support within the voluntary sector for the Better Together campaign.
With less than one week to go to the referendum, the group which campaigns for a yes vote claimed the reason there is not an equivalent third sector group representing 'no' is because only independence can create the sort of country which civil society aspires to.
In the latest Third Sector Yes campaign video, featuring ‘David’, it says those working in the sector know the policies which are needed to change things in society to help the most vulnerable, and the majority of those who have revealed their preference within the sector have come out as yes supporters.
The video, which you can view below, is just over three minutes long and says: “For every pro-independence group you can find you can usually find a similar group on the other side who are trying to encourage a no vote.
“There’s no such thing as Third Sector No. Throughout this entire campaign there just hasn’t been a voice within the third sector who think a no vote is going to make things better or fix these problems. We need to ask ourselves why that is?
“Politicians on both sides of this debate will tell you that voting with them is the best way to build this fair and just society but we expect to get that message from politicians.
"What happens when we look at the message coming from the people who work on these issues every day and from the volunteers who give up their time to actually try and help these causes?
“We’ve not heard from Third Sector No because there is no Third Sector No. The people working and volunteering for a fairer Scotland are overwhelmingly voting yes.”
To coincide with the release of the video freelance writer Maggie Kelly, a member of Third Sector Yes and former coordinator of the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform, said her view is that only with independence will there be an opportunity to pursue a fairer, more just society in Scotland.
We have published viewpoint after viewpoint from experts across the third sector in favour of independence with almost nothing in response - perhaps the counterarguments simply aren't there
In her blog which can be read here, she said: “Over the last few years, many of us in the third sector, in grassroots campaigns, in faith groups, in trade unions and elsewhere have fought long and hard against the coalition’s social security cuts.
“Of course, voting yes will not guarantee us a more socially just Scotland. Nobody can guarantee us the future. There are always risks.
“We have heard a lot about the risks of independence but the risks of leaving power with Westminster are even greater and we have the opportunity now to take a different path.”
Eliot Stark, who has worked in the sector for more than 25 years, was one of the first voluntary sector workers to come out as an individual supporting Third Sector Yes when it launched last year.
He added: “Of course there is a range of views in the third sector but our experience is that there is overwhelming support for yes.
“We have published viewpoint after viewpoint from experts across the third sector in favour of independence with almost nothing in response. Perhaps the counterarguments simply aren't there, or perhaps those on the no side don't see the third sector as a crucial constituency.
“In clear contrast, the yes movement is driven by a passion for third sector issues and improved social justice, which we firmly believe will best be achieved by voting yes on Thursday.”
The Better Together campaign has been asked for comment but is yet to respond.
