ORKNEY, Scotland — With a referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom only seven months away, political rhetoric is escalating, and so is fear-mongering.

In recent weeks George Osborne, the chancellor of the Exchequer, warned that an independent Scotland might not be able to use the British pound as its currency, and the European Commission president, José Manuel Barroso, suggested that it would be “extremely difficult, if not impossible” for Scotland to remain in the European Union. These assertions are highly contestable.

Other leaders are trying for a softer touch.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister David Cameron entered the fray, with a speech intended to remind Scots of the many virtues of staying in the United Kingdom. He called on the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland to urge us Scots not to leave. “Get on the phone, get together, email, tweet, speak. Let the message ring out ... from us to the people of Scotland — let the message be this: We want you to stay.”

The address has been called the “love-bomb” speech, but even though it was directed to the Scottish people, it wasn’t delivered on Scottish soil. It came from the Olympic velodrome built for the 2012 Summer Games in London. Mr. Cameron chose the stadium as his venue because of its symbolism: The cyclist Chris Hoy, a Scot, won two gold medals here in 2012 as part of “Team G.B.” This sporting triumph unleashed something Mr. Cameron calls “patriotism.” And there we have it: Team G.B., “patriotism” and U.K. flags. This was his pro-Union stall, belatedly set out.