Shining the spotlight on those who would woo us

Much else would have had to come to pass for Messrs Gove and Salmond to be engaged in Scottish independence negotiations. Mr Gove would have to become Tory leader for a start, not wildly improbable given David Cameron's increasing unpopularity. The Tories would also have to win the next UK General Election. With a substantial share of the Conservative vote heading Ukip's way, that is slightly more unlikely.

For his part, Mr Salmond would have to win the September 18, 2014 vote and still be in charge of his party. Again, who knows what might happen on that score. We truly are living in interesting times. Wrap quotes around that word interesting if you are a Scot. The referendum has opened up the debate on what it means to be part of this currently united kingdom, to be Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and English. It is a time to both look in the mirror, and to see ourselves as others see us. The latter is not always a comfortable process. If the Union is a marriage then consider Scotland and England in the relationship counselling stage. Each side is taking a hard look at the other, deciding whether to split or to stay.

To even raise the possibility that there might be a resentment towards Scots, even a latent prejudice, is to immediately label oneself as a stereotype, the chippy Scot bearing a grudge. Neither side, pro or anti independence, want to play that game. Hence why we are being love-bombed by both sides, with supporters of the Union and proponents of independence tripping over themselves to tell Scots how fabulous they are, how indispensable, how we must stay together, or go our own ways. Yet to deny the stereotypes and prejudice at work – on both sides – is to ignore what might be a crucial factor in the referendum and the kind of Scotland that emerges after.

We have had a greater than usual chance this week to indulge in a spot of how others see us, or one of us at any rate. An esteemed neighbour of mine in this slot, Iain Macwhirter, has a new book and television series out, called Road to Referendum. Writing from his long experience as a political reporter in both Westminster and Holyrood, him next door has some intriguing things to say about how others see Mr Salmond. The Westminster set, he says, regard the now First Minister as "provincial and lower middle class". Far from being a disadvantage, this has worked in his favour. Appearing to be not an obvious type to succeed has, in fact, been the secret of his success. But will those same attributes be an asset forever?

Mr Gove, meanwhile, is having the curse of the common Tory man visited upon him. It is well nigh compulsory for a Conservative MP with even the merest whiff of talent to be mentioned at some point as a leader in waiting. One imagines they all take a ticket and wait for their turn, like customers at a supermarket deli counter. Mr Gove is the one currently approaching the counter to be sliced and diced.

Does he have the right stuff? On the surface, possibly. If annoying the pips out of headteachers was among the qualifications for Tory leader, Mr Gove would be in Downing Street now. If having an out of the ordinary background (for a Tory) was the next box to tick he would be in with a shout, too. Adopted as a baby by a couple from Aberdeen, Mr Gove grew up in a Labour-supporting household. He went to state school and private school before going on to Oxford. Unlike Mr Cameron and several others in the Tory hierarchy, he then had a proper job in journalism. Yes, it is indeed a proper job. Further, as if to prove beyond doubt that Mr Gove wants the leadership, he has duly denied any intention to run, saying: "I don't have it in me. I don't have what it takes." All this, and he's regarded as a decent sort of cove besides.

When Mr Gove described himself as "the heir to Blair" it was early Saint Tony he had in mind. Younger readers might rate the claim of a saintly Mr Blair as on a par with the moon being made of blueberry smoothies and there being such things as jobs for life. But once upon a time the former Labour leader was a popular, seemingly inclusive, apparently pretty-straight kinda guy who took a precise, vote-winning course between Right and Left.

And yet, and yet, can anyone honestly see the Tories electing a Scot as their leader in days like these? How would that sell in the shires? And what are we to make of the perception of Mr Salmond as being provincial and lower middle class? Well, for a start, it could have been worse. Provincial is a metropolitan term for anyone who lives further out than Surbiton. As for the lower middle class, it is a safe haven in which to reside. Large enough to encompass many others, blurred enough not to be offensive, it's a cosy kind of place. Alex Salmond as a Scottish Alan Bennett kind of place. Look at it from another angle, however, and the label smacks of class prejudice, of Westminster sneering.

Similarly, Mr Gove's positive attributes can soon be flipped into something more negative. Hard-working, from a humble background, ambitious. Just another Scot on the make, in short. England has seen many of his like before. It was in no small measure due to many of them, seeing a chance to get on in London, that the Union was forged in the first place. They were resented in some quarters then, and not much has changed since. Far from being an asset to the campaign to keep Scotland in the UK, Mr Gove could be seen as a liability.

All of this matters to the pro and anti-independence camps. The public faces of the campaigns suggest the image of Scotland, and the Scots, they want to present. In the case of the SNP, rather cannily, that face is female, professional, and young. Even Jeremy Clarkson would find it hard to stereotype Nicola Sturgeon. As for Better Together, in Alistair Darling they have gone for a Scot who hit his career high in London. If the Union didn't hold him back, is the message, it won't stunt your growth either.

Mr Gove, Mr Salmond, Ms Sturgeon or Mr Darling: Scotland is presenting its various faces to the UK. Time will tell who is best ready for their close-up.