Cajoling the faithful to spread the message

Let me draw your attention to two speeches, delivered here at the SNP conference in Glasgow.

The first by Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy First Minister. She argued for independence as the "normal" state for Scotland - and expressed her belief that the people of Scotland will endorse that argument in the referendum, scheduled by the Scottish Government for 2014.

She argued that independence was required in order to entrench Scotland's distinctive public policy positions.

For example, she warned that health spending could come under pressure if there were to be a greater reliance upon private provision in England.

That could mean cuts to the public NHS budget in England and, via the Barnett Formula, thereby to the funds diverted to Scotland.

For this post, though, I intend to focus upon speech two, delivered by Angus Robertson MP who is charged with heading the organisation of the campaign to win endorsement from the voters for independence in the forthcoming referendum.

Mr Robertson has been taking a roadshow around Scotland, designed to enthuse party members as the first phase in the campaign. From May, that will be transformed into a public campaign, with anticipated support from folk outwith the party.

His tone and demeanour was that of a corporate executive energising his sales team.

His pitch was that the people of Scotland were persuadable - that they were willing to engage in the independence argument but that they required reassurance on a series of points, not least to do with the economy.

Mr Robertson duly brandished information leaflets designed to offer that reassurance.

In support, Linda Fabiani MSP talked of the passion and excitement associated with the party roadshow.

Stewart Hosie talked of sectoral engagement, targeting groups such as business, the voluntary sector and many others.

He too talked of the need to listen to concerns - and address them.

Responsive persuasion rather than evangelising. Extremely bluntly, he cajoled all his MP and MSP colleagues to do the same in every part of Scotland.

Fascinating stuff.