QUICKFIRE EPISODE 3: THE MYTH OF SCOTTISH EXCEPTIONALISM

The Scottish Government has began publishing periodically a new series of pro-independence papers on the ScotGov website. It aims to outline the need for Scottish independence, and makes a number of claims which require a detailed and forensic scrutiny. My Quickfire series will aim to examine these documents, with reference to verifiable facts with full receipts provided for each episode.

Episode 3 continues examining the Scottish Government’s “Renewing Democracy through Independence”, July 14th publication.

In the spotlight this time is the claim that Scotland’s democracy is on a divergent trajectory from the rest of the UK, and England in particular.

• Is Scotland on a different democratic path?

• Do we need independence to achieve constitutional change?

• Can we actually claim Scotland is inherently more egalitarian than England?

• Should we link national identity to questions around social attitudes?

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Catch-up on previous Quickfire episodes by clicking the links below:

Episode 1: UNPACKING INDEPENDENCE FROM PRO-EU RHETORIC

Episode 2: DEVOLUTION, INDEPENDENCE AND THE DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT

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Source material referenced in episode 3:

1. British public on electoral reform: https://www.makevotesmatter.org.uk/public-on-reform

2. Is Scotland More Egalitarian than England?: https://www.scotcen.org.uk/blog/is-scotland-more-egalitarian-than-england

3. Social inequality in England and Scotland: https://bsa.natcen.ac.uk/media/39400/bsa37_social-inequality-in-england-and-scotland.pdf

4. Do Scotland and England & Wales Have Different Views About Immigration?: https://whatscotlandthinks.org/analysis/do-scotland-and-england-wales-have-different-views-about-immigration/

5. ScotGov independence paper ‘Renewing democracy through independence’: https://www.gov.scot/publications/renewing-democracy-through-independence/pages/10/

   —material not referenced in video but further underscoring the argument—

6. Peter MacMahon's Politics Blog: Scotland... egalitarian or elitist?: https://www.itv.com/news/border/2015-12-03/paul-mcmahons-politics-blog-scotland-egalitarian-or-elitist