Scottish Independence taste test for bakery

Cuckoo s Bakery owner Graham Savage with the referendum cupcakes, complete with the appropriate icing. Picture: Scott Taylor

SCOTLAND’S future is the question on everybody’s lips – but thanks to an enterprising city baker and his Yes/No cupcake it could soon be moving towards the nation’s hips too.

Cuckoo’s Bakery, in Dundas Street, has come up with a sweet-sounding opinion poll where customers can fork out £2.50 for a Yes, No or Undecided cake, with the weekly results published on the bakery’s Facebook and Twitter.

The raspberry and white chocolate treats are available to buy from today – 200 days before the referendum on ­September 18.

Owner Graham Savage is keen to ensure no dirty tricks, and staff have been briefed to be on the lookout for supporters from both sides bulk buying cupcakes.

He said: “The most important thing about publising the results is that they are true and accurate. We’re aware that it has the potential to be hijacked so we’ll be keeping a close eye on bulk orders. If someone comes in buying 1000 cakes we’ll know something’s up.

“It’s a bit quirky and a bit of fun, but we wanted to do something to get involved in what is an important political decision for Scotland’s future.

“Hopefully we’ll bring a bit of fun to the debate which has been heating up recently.”

Opened in February 2011, Cuckoo’s concept to launch an alternative opinion poll has brought a smile to even the most wizened of political commentators.

Polling guru Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said: “It’s a bit of light relief which is much needed. It’s an enterprising way to draw some attention to the bakery but I’ll stick with more traditional polls.”

The latest Ipsos MORI poll shows Yes on 36 per cent, down two points on the company’s previous poll conducted shortly after the unveiling of the independence White Paper last November.

He added: “This latest poll represents disappointing news for the Yes side. An almighty effort is needed from the Yes side over the next 200 days – it needs to buy a lot more ­cupcakes so to speak.”

A Better Together spokesman said Scotland could have its cake and eat it: “We can have our own parliament making decisions and we can have the strength and security of being part of the UK.”

And a Yes Scotland spokesman said: “If the Yes cakes sell more, it’ll be the icing on the cake.”