About Scotland

Heritage

Scottish Politics

Scotland is a small European nation with a population of 5 million souls - the makes it roughly the same as Denmark but bigger than Norway or Ireland. Politically, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, and by extension the European Union.

Since the Union of the Crowns in 1603 when the Scottish King, James V1 became James 1 of England, and the Union of the Parliaments in 1707, Scotland has tried to define a mutually beneficial working relationship with her huge larger neighbour and partner, England. Pierre Trudeau, the former premier of Canada, described his countries relationship with the U.S.A. as akin to "being in bed with an elephant". Touché, Pierre.

When the Act of Union was passed controversially by an aristocratic parliament tempted by English gold, the bells of St Giles in Edinburgh played the old air "Why am I so sad, on this my wedding day" That summed up the popular attitude at the time, so it took many decades and the economic sweetener of access to English markets and colonies to make the bride if not ecstatic, then at least contented with her lot. The Union also left major Scottish institutions like law, education, and the predominant Presbyterian religion untouched, so many areas of Scottish life remained unchanged.

There were unsuccessful Jacobite uprisings in 1715 and 1745, mainly supported by Highlanders, but by the late 18th and 19th centuries Scotland enjoyed the economic rewards of belonging to the world's major superpower and played a major role in the British Empire. Most people now felt little tension in having dual nationality - patriotic Scot and proud of being British. In the 20th century though, with the decline of Empire the Scottish side of the duality emerged more and more strongly, and the demand for increased self government and devolution of power from Westminster grew stronger and stronger. Following the referendum of 1997, the Scottish Parliament returned to Edinburgh in 1999, after an absence of 292 years, taking over the major domestic responsibilities, but leaving substantial powers to the British Parliament in London. The debate continues.