The SNP have launched a new party political broadcast – designed to appeal to new 16 and 17-year-old voters.
The ‘Tale of Two Cities’ video, which contrasts “antiquated” Westminster with “progressive” Holyrood, has caused a storm on social media.
It stars the UK’s youngest MP for 350 years, SNP member Mhairi Black, and is narrated by actor Martin Compston.
The SNP claim it is supposed to show their “strong voice” in both Scotland and London, but many users on Twitter have attacked the film as overly-negative, confusing and even akin to “Project Fear” – the nickname Yes supporters used to describe the Better Together campaign.
SNP campaign director John Swinney has defended the footage, which he said “reflects the high ambitions” of the party.
He added: “This campaign video will also highlight the substantial progress the SNP has made in government.”
The film, set to an electronic score, intersperses shots of London and Edinburgh and often uses shots, such as one of the City of London, to try and illustrate how “out of touch” the Conservative Government is.
Many users on Twitter found the message of the film, which will be broadcast on Scottish TV channels on Friday, confusing, with one branding it “embarrassing” and another “incomprehensible”.
@theSNP Pathetic propaganda… London's a fantastic city & a global magnet for arts & culture. Try getting out more! ???
— Unwooable Yoon (@BigGfaetheBigG) October 15, 2015
How to know when a political party has too much money: It starts making excruciating videos like this: http://t.co/tyG2LWFzRI
— (((StephenDaisley))) (@JournoStephen) October 15, 2015
SNP puts out video that looks like a commercial for Visit London, bizarrely: https://t.co/fkzXdoFPIM
— Robert Wright (@RKWinvisibleman) October 15, 2015
Hey #SNP don't frighten the horses!
This Spookily shot vaguely threatening SNP video is disturbing. https://t.co/grtk8JCSEp— ChristinK (@CK0hut) October 15, 2015
@BigGfaetheBigG @shornecliff @theSNP Edinburgh, a beautiful city but would struggle to compete even with Southampton on wealth generation
— Jim Bond (@thebestbond) October 15, 2015