Scotland, as I notice every time I go there, is very decidedly another country, and one to which most people in England have rarely visited or never been.
Politically, this difference is very apparent. This is the latest opinion polling data for the forthcoming Holyrood elections, from The National (of course):
It seems certain that Scotland will be electing a pro-independence government in May. There may be an SNP majority. If it falls short of that, some form of alliance with the Scottish Greens (a separate party to that in England and Wales) should deliver its agenda, which John Swinney now says includes a referendum in 2028, which is why everyone should be paying attention.
These are the estimated voting intentions:
52% will be voting for independence parties. Only 25% will be voting for the far right in the form of the Tories and Reform, when that figure in England is likely to be 40%.
Those with an interest in where politics might go in England and Wales might need to look at what is happening in Scotland. It is setting the agenda for change, as is its media. The National is the leading left-of-centre, radical newspaper in the UK right now, and from today it is on special offer at £20 for a year. It's worth much more than that:
Amongst other things, that's a year's worth of my Monday column for £20, but that is far too narrow a view. This paper has a courage few others share. Just its interntaional coverage is worth £20. Give it a look.
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The challenge isn’t to visit Scotland its to understand it.
I dont profess to Understand Scotland BUT I do know its different and what plays well in Westminster doesnt necessarily play well in Edinburgh.
A Reform dominated Westminster government could mean a crisis for The Union
I can’t help thinking that, at least some of, the vote for the SNP is simply a rejection of the main stream parties, rather than positive support for independence. Unfortunately, in England, we don’t have such an option 🙁
You have forgotten Tim that in Scotland is not about a single tranferable party. There are dividing lines.
That’s a steal ! Been an independence supporter from the cradle, and subscriber of The National for years, it’s where I found Prof RM.
Re Scotland could be so much better if we had a real SNP, not these devolution managers post Alec. Others like Believe in Scotland are doing the spadework.
‘Aye’ is stuck on a wobbly 50+% seems currently boosted by the Reform effect on Tory – Labour votes (Reform effect does reveal who you might find amongst Labour and Tory voters).
I’m originally from Essex, but lived and worked in Scotland for most of my life. I left a year and a half ago to come back to England to look after my Mum, who has now sadly passed away, so I am considering moving back as that is where all my friends and colleagues are.
Most of them are wanting to stay in the Union though – they would be askance to know that I actually voted for independence at the last referendum. My reasoning then as now, is that I want to reduce the ability for the British Government to meddle internationally alongside the US. I would be delighted to have the nuclear sub base in Loch Long shutdown, for example.