Scottish independence; Scottish referendum – Slugger O'Toole

Theresa May is risking the future of the British Union if she fails to recognise that Westminster is no longer “in control”

Brian Walker on October 11, 2016, 9:16 am

| Readers 1982

Scottish nationalism is on the defensive for the first time in over a decade. On the other hand, English nationalism could give it second wind if it thinks it can a score an easy victory without acknowledging its enduring power. At this juncture, it’s true that one early outcome of the Brexit confusion leaning towards a hard Brexit is that Nicola Sturgeon’s calculations have become more complicated. On the eve of the SNP annual conference former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill …

Why is Irish nationalism neutral on Scottish independence?

Brian Walker on July 16, 2014, 11:13 am

| Readers 3229

Martin Mansergh is a splendid relic of an old Anglo-Irish tradition, a Tipperary landlord, one of a very rare breed of Fianna Fail intellectuals, an adviser on the North to successive Fianna Fail Taoisigh, a minster who never quite fulfilled his promise possibly due to his background, a historian and son of Nicholas, one of the most eminent historians of the Commonwealth and Ireland. In the Irish Times he seeks to sooth nerves being ruffled in the department of Foreign …

Where the big arguments for devolution are heading

Brian Walker on July 11, 2014, 2:56 pm

| Readers 863

This post most of which I mainly wrote for an academic blog gives anyone interested a heads up on a more sophisticated theatre of devolution – Scotland – assuming it votes No in the referendum. A couple of points to start with. First, taxation is the big theme. How much of its own revenue should a devolved Parliament raise? The Westminster parties are taking their Scottish affiliates at their word and all are promising greater taxation powers, with a corresponding …

The Scottish independence debate goes colourful…

Brian Walker on May 4, 2014, 11:31 am

| Readers 78

The Herald on Sunday is the first Scottish newspaper to come out clearly in favour of independence. The front page designed by the artist Alasdair Gray makes quite a splash and the editorial arguments are balanced and reasonable. (The case for independence) seems to us to be a more exciting, imaginative and inspiring proposition than the alternative proposed by the No campaign. That it has been remorselessly negative need not detain us here. Its leaders have told …

Damning comparison between Dev’s Ireland and Salmond’s Scottish Free State

Brian Walker on May 2, 2014, 12:33 pm

| Readers 346

Kevin Toolis, a Scot of born of Irish parents who wrote “Rebel Hearts”, one of the best books on the IRA on the ground, returns to a previous theme and makes this devastating comparison between an independent Scotland in prospect and post 1916 Ireland in the FT(£). We do have one good historical model of what it is like to carve out a nationalist state from within the political union of the UK but it is not one the SNP is …

Scotland Essays: The pro-Union cause has four months to unite, learn identity politics and make a new devolution pact now!

Brian Walker on April 26, 2014, 1:49 pm

| Readers 82

The difference between before and after the Scottish referendum is as fundamental and unknowable as the black hole between life and death. Yet the fate of the Union may depend on what people believe now about what may happen then, in that currently unknowable state. With the polls narrowing near the point of cross over, London- based politicians and commentators are at last stirring themselves, the Conservative commentator and ex-MP Matthew Parris in the Times (£) being the latest in assuming a torrid fall-out from …

“Poll: Scotland on the brink of independence” Time to panic?

Brian Walker on April 22, 2014, 11:55 am

| Readers 208

For Scotland on Sunday to strike such a headline shows it’s time to panic says the Speccie. “Mr Darling and his allies in Better Together have to wake up to the fact that they have managed to blow a 20-point lead in a few months and the gap between the two sides looks like it is now within the margin of error for polling companies. Not only does the Yes camp have the momentum, it has the foot soldiers on …

More evidence that the Westminster village is waking up to the threat of Scottish independence

Brian Walker on April 17, 2014, 1:07 pm

| Readers 71

John McTernan is among the shrewdest of political strategists. As quoted by David McCann, he offers “don’t panic” advice to fellow strategists. What’s missing here are reasons for Scots to vote No. The McTernan view isn’t cutting it with leading commentators on the centre left and right. Martin Kettle in the Guardian The psychological impact in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of Scotland’s rejection of the union, meanwhile, could be very unpredictable, and possibly nastily so. I do not want any of these …

It takes the threat to Cameron’s survival to wake Westminster up to the threat of Scottish independence

Brian Walker on April 3, 2014, 9:51 am

| Readers 49

Signs are emerging that the Westminster village, which usually treats north of Hampstead Heath as terra incognita, is at last waking up to the real threat of Scottish independence. The contrast couldn’t be starker between the obsession of the English right wing with a phantom referendum over Europe and the real one in Scotland that is almost upon us. The Times (£) reports pressure on David Cameron to ban Scottish candidates from the 2015 General election if Scotland votes Yes in …

The Scottish referendum. The British identity that dare not speak its name

Brian Walker on March 30, 2014, 7:42 pm

| Readers 113

The best article I’ve seen about the dearth of a cultural identity debate in Scotland by Alex Linklater, son of the great Magnus. Could Scots learn a thing or two from the Irish? Or maybe not? You’d have thought the Scottish cultural air would be thrumming with an accrued history of intellectual fighting and flyting over who we are, dating back to the unions of crowns and parliaments, through the Enlightenment and into all the scientific and artistic legacies …

Talking of shifts of opinion, what’s happening in Scotland?

Brian Walker on March 19, 2014, 11:14 am

| Readers 58

Even after several visits to Scotland to talk to political elites I confess I never quite twigged what the core appeal of Scottish independence actually was. Now from reports like this by Severin Carrell, I’m beginning to get it. The Yes campaign would say all that wouldn’t they, but all the same.. Margie Maxwell is no Scottish nationalist. But she is Glaswegian, and intensely loyal with it. It never occurred to her she would vote for independence. But then the threats …

The Scottish referendum campaign: personal relations are affected as the arguments become keener

Brian Walker on January 30, 2014, 12:24 pm

| Readers 74

Both sides of the independence referendum campaign are busy spinning Bank of England Governor Mark Carney’s warning to Alex Salmond that “some ceding of national sovereignty” would be necessary as the price of independent Scotland’s desire to keep the pound. The Nats are treating it with all the appearance of calm acceptance; the No campaign, championed here by former Scotsman editor Iain Martin, that Carney has spiked Salmond’s guns. The Nats’ case has rested forever on the allegation that the Westminster parliament …

Scottish unionism is finding an idealistic voice. There are lessons for their “Ulster” cousins

Brian Walker on January 16, 2014, 10:40 am

| Readers 97

This comment piece in the Guardian by Chris Deerin, a former Daily Telegraph journalist who has moved back home to Scotland is just about the first I’ve come across that the celebrates historic Britishness as an argument against separation. Amazing when you think about it that we’ve had to wait all this time. I doubt if Ireland in any form entered his mind. Even for committed unionists (small or large “u”), Northern Ireland doesn’t smoothly fit into the same celebration …

Negative pro-Union campaign causes Tory jitters about Scottish independence

Brian Walker on December 29, 2013, 4:21 pm

| Readers 87

Have you noticed that here in in the news desert of Christmas to New Year which relies so much on looking back and looking ahead, Northern Ireland and Scotland barely rate a mention compared to a flooded village in Kent? Until now perhaps in the case of Scotland, although you have to search for the odd largely bewildering filler on the Haaas talks about “flags, parades and dealing with the past.” As so often, Iain McWhirter in the Herald spotted …

Bold alternative urgently needed to Scottish independence

Brian Walker on January 21, 2013, 2:29 pm

| Readers 49

In Scotland the Better Together campaign has deservedly come in for some stick. The pro-Union cause has so far failed to agree on devo-more, the alternative to independence many politically aware Scots seem to want. (Incidentally if it ever comes to an NI referendum, their website is not the model to follow: remarkably for a Save the Union umbrella organisation it’s trite and one dimensional. They key critique is made by my friend Alan Trench whose Devolution Matters blog is the …

Next steps towards a Scottish referendum

Brian Walker on January 15, 2012, 2:47 pm

| Readers 39

Make of the Sunday Telegraph ICM poll what you will. 43% of English voters approve of Scottish independence at this particular moment, but only ( only!) 40% of Scots. Of the three potential questions 26% of Scots voters prefer independence, 26% more tax and spending powers and 37% the status quo. How did we get to this point? Outsiders may well be rubbing their eyes in disbelief. In a neat synthesis of apparently irreconcilable ambitions, veteran Scots commentator on Europe and …