A Tory councillor is facing calls to apologise after comparing the No campaign referendum slogan to a woman declining sex.
Councillor Jim Fullarton was representing the Better Together campaign in a debate on Scottish independence when he stunned the audience, saying: “Your Yes side with your Obama ‘Yes we can’ sounds much better than a woman closing her legs and saying no.”
The remarks, made at a referendum debate in the borders held by the National Farmers Union Scotland, were reportedly met with an embarrassed silence from the audience. There was further disbelief when the Better Together representative disparagingly referred to MSP Joan McAlpine as “honey”.
Kirsty Boyle who works for South of Scotland MSP Paul Wheelhouse, who also took part in the debate, said: “I appreciate the independence referendum has got people from both sides into a state of passionate activism and I admire their enthusiasm for wanting to make their case for either outcome – but does that case really need to be made while channelling such Jurassic attitudes?
“Regardless of the outcome of the vote, surely we all want Scotland to be a progressive, equal and just society? I’m afraid Cllr Fullarton does not make the case for that at all well as part of an unequal union that he so clearly believes is a blueprint for any type of union.
“Surely it would be appropriate for Cllr Fullarton to apologise for the offence he has caused in making such outdated and derogatory remarks in a public forum and I would encourage him to engage with women who have suffered abuse – mental, physical and sexual – to find out exactly why his comments are unacceptable, because I don’t for a minute think he will fully understand why his ideas are so misplaced in modern society.”
Local newspaper, the Berwickshire news contacted Mr Fullarton for a response, but was unsuccessful.