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Brian Cox voices the new nationalist mascot: a cartoon terrier called Duggy Dug Brian Cox voices the new nationalist mascot: a cartoon terrier called Duggy Dug
(about 2 hours later)
The pro-independence movement has unveiled a new weapon, a lanoic cartoon dog called Duggy Dug which – voiced by the veteran actor Brian Cox – will fearlessly "sniff out fact from fiction while cracking a few jokes". The pro-independence movement has unveiled a new weapon, a laconic cartoon dog called Duggy Dug which – voiced by the veteran actor Brian Cox – will fearlessly "sniff out fact from fiction while cracking a few jokes".
The Highland terrier has been recruited by Newsnet Scotland, the vigorously partisan pro-independence news and commentary website, to "counter the relentless negativity and scaremongering" of the pro-UK campaign.The Highland terrier has been recruited by Newsnet Scotland, the vigorously partisan pro-independence news and commentary website, to "counter the relentless negativity and scaremongering" of the pro-UK campaign.
Duggy Dug will be hosting his own website, Twitter feed @duggy_dug, and YouTube channel, from July. Duggy's trial run, where he cheerfully promises to "smell the keech [crap] a mile off", can be seen here:Duggy Dug will be hosting his own website, Twitter feed @duggy_dug, and YouTube channel, from July. Duggy's trial run, where he cheerfully promises to "smell the keech [crap] a mile off", can be seen here:
Cox, the Shakespearean actor famous as the villainous intelligence chief Ward Abbott in the Bourne film franchise, in Ralph Fiennes' film Coriolanus and the TV western series Deadwood, has donated voice overs for Duggy's outings after becoming one of the most prominent celebrity faces of the independence movement.Cox, the Shakespearean actor famous as the villainous intelligence chief Ward Abbott in the Bourne film franchise, in Ralph Fiennes' film Coriolanus and the TV western series Deadwood, has donated voice overs for Duggy's outings after becoming one of the most prominent celebrity faces of the independence movement.
Formerly and famously a Labour supporter (he voiced its 2007 general election broadcast), Cox starred at the launch of the Yes Scotland pro-independence campaign in Edinburgh in May 2012, with an impassioned denunciation of new Labour and its shift to the centre during the Tony Blair years.Formerly and famously a Labour supporter (he voiced its 2007 general election broadcast), Cox starred at the launch of the Yes Scotland pro-independence campaign in Edinburgh in May 2012, with an impassioned denunciation of new Labour and its shift to the centre during the Tony Blair years.
Newsnet Scotland quoted Cox saying:Newsnet Scotland quoted Cox saying:
One of the most effective ways to combat fear is through humour. If we can provide a few laughs, at the same time as showing just how ridiculous some of the anti-independence scare stories actually are then it can only help.One of the most effective ways to combat fear is through humour. If we can provide a few laughs, at the same time as showing just how ridiculous some of the anti-independence scare stories actually are then it can only help.
I think Duggy Dug has the potential to inject a bit of fun into the referendum debate, and that's surely good thing.I think Duggy Dug has the potential to inject a bit of fun into the referendum debate, and that's surely good thing.
Newsnet describes Duggy as:Newsnet describes Duggy as:
a scruffy yet likeable old Scotttish terrier whose eyesight isn't the best - but who uses his nose to sniff out fact from fiction as he wanders through some of the more controversial areas of the debate, wisecracking along the way.a scruffy yet likeable old Scotttish terrier whose eyesight isn't the best - but who uses his nose to sniff out fact from fiction as he wanders through some of the more controversial areas of the debate, wisecracking along the way.
Lynda Williamson, Newsnet Scotland's communications officer, said:Lynda Williamson, Newsnet Scotland's communications officer, said:
We believe a loveable cartoon character is just the thing to counter the relentless negativity and scaremongering.We believe a loveable cartoon character is just the thing to counter the relentless negativity and scaremongering.
Duggy Dug isn't just likeable though, he also knowledgeable and those watching the cartoons will be taken on an enjoyable yet informative wee journey.Duggy Dug isn't just likeable though, he also knowledgeable and those watching the cartoons will be taken on an enjoyable yet informative wee journey.
There's something of the tit for tat going on here, as both sides seize on favourable statistics and information to prove their case or dis their opponents by inventing new propaganda tools. It's a world were sarcasm and facetiousness gains particular currency, and digital graphics software offers each side a more accessible armoury; Wings over Scotland's Project Fear film poster spoof a case in point.There's something of the tit for tat going on here, as both sides seize on favourable statistics and information to prove their case or dis their opponents by inventing new propaganda tools. It's a world were sarcasm and facetiousness gains particular currency, and digital graphics software offers each side a more accessible armoury; Wings over Scotland's Project Fear film poster spoof a case in point.
Scottish Labour's deputy leader Anas Sarwar unveiled his party's own debunking campaign at its annual conference in April, a Twitter campaign and website called Truth Team 2014, with a pledge to "find out the facts and expose the myths".Scottish Labour's deputy leader Anas Sarwar unveiled his party's own debunking campaign at its annual conference in April, a Twitter campaign and website called Truth Team 2014, with a pledge to "find out the facts and expose the myths".
So far, its public efforts have been modest, in the 65 days since it's fanfare launch at conference, it has sent out 37 tweets.So far, its public efforts have been modest, in the 65 days since it's fanfare launch at conference, it has sent out 37 tweets.
As when the pro-UK campaign Better Together chose a name which had been used before (amongst many iterations, it's a song by folk balladeer Jack Johnson, a social cohesion initiative at Harvard university and a unity campaign by Anglo-Catholics in England), there is a risk of early confusion for the nationalists' new mascot.As when the pro-UK campaign Better Together chose a name which had been used before (amongst many iterations, it's a song by folk balladeer Jack Johnson, a social cohesion initiative at Harvard university and a unity campaign by Anglo-Catholics in England), there is a risk of early confusion for the nationalists' new mascot.
There is another similarly named evangelist mutt out there called Duggie Dug Dug, a singing and dancing dog which promotes Christian evangelism from his kennel in Epsom, who also has his own website and virtual theme park.There is another similarly named evangelist mutt out there called Duggie Dug Dug, a singing and dancing dog which promotes Christian evangelism from his kennel in Epsom, who also has his own website and virtual theme park.
The alter ego of a musician called Doug Horley, who is signed to an EMI label, claims a fanbase of 25m worldwide and has sung for the Billy Graham organisation, Duggie Dug Dug's top track, a winsome MOR ballad heavy on the echo, is "I will love you now." That, we can assume, is where the similarities die.The alter ego of a musician called Doug Horley, who is signed to an EMI label, claims a fanbase of 25m worldwide and has sung for the Billy Graham organisation, Duggie Dug Dug's top track, a winsome MOR ballad heavy on the echo, is "I will love you now." That, we can assume, is where the similarities die.