The Political Class in Scotland

Primary Author or Creator:
Michael Keating
Additional Author(s) / Creators
Paul Cairney, Stefano Intropido
Publisher:
The Oxford Handbook of Scottish Politics
Alternative Published Date
2020
Category:
Fast Facts

Scottish MSPs and MPs have become more middle class and professional politicans since Devolution

More details

In the period following the Second World War, Scottish MPs formed a distinct group. Scottish Labour MPs were more likely to be working class. Scottish Conservative MPs were likely to be more upper class than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK. Over time, both groups became more middle class, but the differences between the nations remained.

Devolution produced a step change, as Members of the Scottish Parliament were more likely to be drawn from the professional middle classes than MPs across the UK. This trend has continued. The new generation of Scottish Conservative MPs and MSPs following the Conservative revival after 2014 resemble their SNP and Labour counterparts in their background. There was an increase in female representation with the first generation of MSPs but progress has since stalled. In Scotland, as at Westminster, a notable feature has been the rise of the professional politician from a ‘politics-facilitating’ background.

English