Many hoped devolution would kill nationalism stone dead. Labour colleagues failed to grasp Scots’ powerful sense of nationhood. Although a Labour man argued that devolution could lead to independence. Alex Salmond asserted that independence was “rendered inevitable when the Scottish parliament was established”.
It’s obvious that commitment in Scotland to the union is much weaker now than in the 19th century. Yet Scottish national feeling was as intense then as that which fuelled independence movements elsewhere in Europe. Much of it in Scotland coalesced around celebrations to commemorate Robert Burns. Yet few challenged the union. And despite its flaws, that remains an ingrained habit which large numbers of Scots have yet to break.
Many hoped devolution would kill nationalism stone dead, to paraphrase George Robertson, Scottish secretary during the 1997 referendum. His Labour colleagues in particular failed to grasp Scots’ powerful sense of nationhood.
It was another Labour man, the late Tam Dalyell, who argued that devolution could lead to independence. As you might expect, Salmond shares this view. He recently asserted that independence was “rendered inevitable when the Scottish parliament was established”. In his view, the Scots will vote for independence within four years.
Will they? Both sides may claim to know where Scotland is heading, but history tells us not to be so sure. When it comes to what relationship it wants with the rest of people in the British Isles, the reality is that Scotland has never quite made up its mind.