Transcript Celtic Cultures in Transition (3)

Celtic Cultures in
Transition (3)
Scotland-at a crossroad?
Scotland at a crossroads?
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In today’s class we will look at the progress of
Scottish nationalism during the last decades.
If there is talk of holding a referendum about
Scottish independence, we need to
understand the concept of devolution, the
Scottish Parliament, the Scottish National
Party, and what the implications of such a
development would be.
The Scottish National Party
(SNP)
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Alongside the growth of nationalism in Wales
during the mid 1960s, an equally clear revival
of nationalism took place in Scotland.
It was voiced within the Scottish National
Party, originally formed in 1928.
Although Celtic cultural nationalism had long
been in existence, the political wing of
Nationalism in both Scotland and Wales had
been largely insignificant.
The Scottish National Party
(SNP)
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In each General Election from 1950-1959, the
SNP gained less than 1% of the votes cast in
Scotland.
Between 1945 and 1959 it contested only five
by-elections, and failed to save its deposit*.
But after 1959, the Scottish political climate
began to change.
The Scottish National Party
(SNP)
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There was a clear increase in voters’ support
of the SNP between 1964-1966.
In the 1966 general election there were the
first real signs of a distinct nationalist
upsurge.
In twenty-three of the seats contested in
Scotland, the SNP gained an average of 14.5
% of the votes.
The Scottish National Party
(SNP)
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The first real gains for the SNP appeared in
by-elections. In the second safest
government seat in Scotland (Labour), Mrs
Winifred Ewing (SNP) won the Hamilton seat
with 46% of the popular vote.
This first real break-through for the SNP
caused a massive increase in party
membership.
The Scottish National Party
(SNP) 1974
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Within two decades of its breakthrough as a
‘single-issue’ party at the 1974 elections (11
members of parliament in Westminster), the
SNP had overtaken the Conservatives, and
was beginning to put serious pressure on
traditional Labour Party strongholds.
There was a growing desire for devolved
power to Scotland.
The Scottish National Party
(SNP)
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This ultimately happened with the (re)creation
of a Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in
1997.
This, as we shall see, was a devolved
parliament, ie one which has executive
powers in many fields, but is not the
parliament of an independent state.
Economy of Scotland
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Like Wales, and Northern England, Scotland
had seen the massive decline of the old
industries, especially coal and steel.
Yet, Scottish nationalism has benefited from
the lucky discovery of North Sea oil and gas
which has brought prosperity to Aberdeen
and NE of Scotland.
Scotland’s place in the UK- the
300 year bond.
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Scotland, though joined to England by an Act
of Union in 1707, has always been a land
apart.
Its sense of self rested less on linguistic or
religious distinctions (despite their
importance) than on a curious admix of
superiority and ressentiment (Tony Judd:
Post War: A History of Europe after 1945).
Scotland’s Influence
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Some of the greatest achievements of
English-language political and social thought
from David Hume to Adam Smith and on to
John Stuart Mill were actually Scottish
(Lowlanders).
Edinburgh had a special place as an
intellectual centre in the Britain of the early
industrial period (1780s---).
Scotland’s Influence
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But also Scottish businessmen, Scottish
managers—and Scottish émigrés--established, settled and administered much
of England’s empire.
The Scottish influence in early Canada.
Scotland had always claimed and maintained
a distinctive and separate identity, and
preserved its own system of education and its
own legal system.
Independence?
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An independent Scotland could seem a
plausible proposition.
Especially in a European Union in which it
might become by no means the smallest or
the poorest nation-state.
Scotland with the euro, and England with the
pound?
The Scottish Parliament
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The late eighties saw a second upsurge of
support for the SNP which reopened the
whole question of ‘devolution’ or
independence for Scotland, an issue which
had become mainly dormant since the late
70s.
The growing support for the SNP and Plaid
Cymru in Wales caused concern in the ranks
of the governing Labour Party in Britain.
Planned devolution
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The concept of devolution (ie the partial
transfer of powers from central government to
legislative and executive parliaments in the
regions) has its origins in the Home Rule
movement relating to Ireland.
Initially, as an idea, it had not worked
(Partition of Ireland, and in the 20th cent. the
suspension of the Northern Ireland
parliament).
Planned devolution
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The KiIlbrandon Report (set up in 1969,
published in 1973), recommended the
formation of legislative assemblies in
Scotland and Wales, and called for a
referendum to obtain democratic consent.
This first referendum led to failure. Public
opinion in 1979 was against.
33% voted for in Scotland, and 12% for the
idea in Wales. The threshold had been set at
40%.
Planned devolution
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The rise of the European Union (UK
membership 1973--) was undoubtedly a
factor in a growing sense that the British
parliament was losing its former status and
influence.
‘New Labour’ after 1997 re-embraced
‘devolution’. Why?
Planned devolution
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This was partly because of eighteen years of
Tory rule, several of which saw the
dominance of Margaret Thatcher (‘the Iron
Lady’) as PM.
She had weakened local government,
favoured centralisation and the SE of
England.
This further awoke feelings in Scotland and
Wales that they were being neglected.
Planned devolution
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Within the UK Labour Party (in opposition),
devolution became part of their platform,
initially during the short-lived leaddership of
the Scots socialist John Smith (1938-1994).
‘New-labour’ was dominated by MPs from
Scotland, Wales and the North of England.
With the return of Labour to power in 1997,
promises to establish devolution came home
to roost.
Planned devolution
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In the 1998 referendums, Governmentbacked proposals for restoring a Scottish
Parliament (abolished in 1707) were passed
with a significant 71% in favour.
The inauguration of the Scottish Parliament
and the Welsh Assembly in the summer of
1999 ushered in a new era.
Planned devolution
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The idea behind this was not, of course, to
speed along the disintergration of the United
Kingdom, but to preserve the Union by
restoring a better balance between the
aspirations of Scotland and Wales together
with England (and Northern Ireland).
Devolution and the EU
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This policy was matched by that of the
European Union which promoted a strategy
of ‘subsidiarity’ and ‘a Europe of the
Regions’.
In 1999, Norman Davies (The Isles: A
History) stated ‘It destroyed Westminster’s
monopoly, but it did not initiate a coherent
federal or confederal system’. (cont.,)
Devolution
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It had not been well prepared; and it left
England in a state of limbo. It could have
diffused the strains of the Union for a season;
but in the long term, it could also have
encouraged the destabilizing and centrifugal
forces of imbalance, nationalism and
separatism. One could say without
equivocation that Britain had taken a grand
gamble’. (The Isles, Norman Davies, 1999,
p928).
The Scottish Parliament
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/
The Scottish Parliament, 2011
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Yellow-SNP; red-Labour; blue-conservative
The Scottish Parliament
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The new parliament building in Edinburgh
was opened in 2004 by the Queen.
It has 129 seats. Each member is called an
MSC (Member of the Scottish parliament).
The executive is made up of a First Minister
and a cabinet.
The members sit between Jan-June; SepDec, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Scottish Parliament
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Debates and question time can be viewed on
the following website:
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http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/newsandme
diacentre/3168.aspx
The Scottish Parliament
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Although most debates are held in English,
both Scots* and Scottish Gaelic are used.
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Much of the business of the Scottish
Parliament takes place in the form of
parliamentary committees. They have the
function of overseeing the actions of
ministers.
The Scottish Parliament
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The Scotland Act of 1998 outlined the powers
of the new Scottish Parliament.
They cover most topics but not the following:
Abortion, broadcasting policy, civil service,
constitution, nuclear energy, electricity,
defence, national security, drug po0licy,
employment, foreign policy, relations with the
EU, protection of borders, social security,
monetary system.
The Scottish Parliament
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The election system for the Scottish
Parliament is different from that of the UK
and Canada, but very similar to that of Wales.
It is a mixed member proportional
representation system (MMS).
Sometimes known as the additional member
method of proportional representation.
The Scottish Parliament
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This means that each voter in Scotland is
given two votes: one for a specific candidate
and one for a political party.
Of the 129 members of the Scottish
Parliament,
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73 come under the constituency (riding) ‘first past
the post’ system.
56 are ‘list MSPs’. Seven list MSPs are elected
from eight electoral regions.
Scottish elections 2007
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SNP- yellow
Scottish Labour –
Scottish Lib Dems
Scottish Conservatives
Scottish Elections 2011
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SNP
Alex Salmond, MSP
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First Minister of
Scotland
Leader of the SNP
From Linlithgow, West
Lothian
Alex Salmond
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC8YGhn
ZWxg
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=ends
creen&NR=1&v=x3xIkZcCTYY
Alex Salmond
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Salmond is one of the
foremost proponents of
Scottish Independence,
repeatedly calling for a
referendum on the issue.
Salmond has campaigned
on global warming and in
government has committed
Scotland to legislation on
emission reduction and the
generation of renewable
energy..
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Other recurring campaign
themes include nuclear
disarmement and
Salmond's strong opposition
to the2003 Invasion of Iraq.
Background in economics.
Referendum 2014?
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Several options seem to be possible at the
moment:
A referendum (soon) organised by the
Westminster government.
A referendum (Fall 2014) organised by the
SNP Scottish government.
The devo max option (The new Scotland Act).
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More on these next time!!