Scottish Independence Movement Notes

Battle of Bannockburn (1314): A significant historical event in the context of Scottish identity and independence.
Union of the Crowns (1603): James VI of Scotland also became James I of England, uniting the crowns but not the parliaments.
1700s Economic Devastation in England: England faced economic problems. This led to the Act of Union 1707.
Act of Union (1707):
- England and Scotland united under the flag of Great Britain on May 1, 1707.
- The Scottish Parliament was dissolved.
- Scotland was represented by 16 members in the House of Lords and 45 members in the House of Commons.
- Motivations:
  - English Act of Settlement (1707): England feared Scotland would choose their own king and implement policies misaligned with English interests.
  - War of the Spanish Succession: England did not want Scotland to align with France.
  - England paid off Scotland's debt to incentivize the union.
  - The Acts of Union was passed by both countries to become one nation.
Battle of Culloden (1746).
Scottish National Party (SNP) Founded (1934).
UK Referendum in 1997.

Impact of WWI: The war changed the political direction in Scotland.
Voting Rights Issue: A proposed bill to give working-class citizens the right to vote was dropped when the war started.
Feeling of Underrepresentation: Scots felt underrepresented by the Liberals due to the government's handling of the war.
Distrust of Union Members and Socialists: The Prime Minister distrusted Union members and Socialists, considering them a danger to the war effort.
Glasgow Rent Strike of 1915: A protest against landlords who raised rent on substandard housing while men were at war.

Date: September 18th, 2014.
Question: Whether Scotland should be an independent country.
Voter Turnout: Over 85% of eligible voters participated.
Results: 45% voted for independence.
North Sea Oil Reserves: Discovery gave Scots hope for financial independence.
Financial Considerations: Scotland would lose financial support from the UK and might not be able to use the UK’s currency.
Referendum Result: 55% voted against independence, 45% voted for independence.
Nearly half of voters consistently say they would vote yes if a second referendum were held.

Revenue & Public Finances: North Sea oil and gas profits fluctuate, affecting pro-independence arguments.
Currency: Choosing its own currency would give Scotland control over monetary and fiscal policy, but research suggests sticking with sterling would have benefits.
Export Costs: A significant portion of international export markets are in the EU, but Scotland’s biggest export market overall is the UK.

Apply to join the United Nations and European Union.
Implement border arrangements that best suit Scotland’s needs.
Establish a written constitution to further international human rights treaties, further protecting the rights of the people of Scotland.

Diplomatic Relations.
Security.
Trade Negotiations/Borders: Businesses operating in a highly integrated market would be disaggregated to meet the demands of two separate jurisdictions.

Diminished International Influence: Independence would reduce the influence of both the United Kingdom and Scotland.
- The UK's membership in groups like the G7 and G20, along with its seat on the UN Security Council, would no longer extend to an independent Scotland.
Currency Concerns:
- The Scottish independence movement's desire to use the British Pound would mean Scotland would be under UK’s monetary policy.
- This arrangement would allow the UK to control Scotland’s currency without dealing with any consequences for problems with its economy.

Rejoining the European Union: 62% of Scottish voters voted to remain in the EU.
- Scotland could petition to rejoin the EU as a member state.
- Potential issue for other nations with separatist movements.
Scottish Oil & Gas Industry: Could help sustain an independent nation.
- Potential problem as left-leaning voters of the Scottish National Party often support environmental protections.
Scottish voters would be more fully represented by their representatives in Edinburgh than in London
For certain demographics of Scotland, the promise of a Scottish central bank, a new Constitution, and righting historical wrongs against the Scottish Gaelic language are tempting.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) remains a dominant force in Scottish politics.
- Prominent pro-independence leaders include: Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf (current leader), John Swinney.
Party Platform: Centered around social democratic ideals.
- Includes free school meals, a lower cost of living in urban centers, free public transit, and a greater focus on humanitarian issues throughout Scotland.
Opposition to Brexit: SNP strongly resisted Brexit.
- If Scotland were to become an independent state, the SNP demands it be a member of the European Union.
Political Power: As of 2025, the SNP holds majority power in the Scottish parliament with 61/129 MPs.
- The Scottish Labour and the Green Party hold another 29 seats.
- The Scottish Unionist Party holds only 30 seats in Holyrood.