Tag: Scottish independence referendum
Extending the franchise in Scotland to 16 year olds was progress which should be capitalised on, not rolled back
The Scottish referendum was not only historic for its constitutional implications, it was also the first time in the UK that 16 and 17 year olds were allowed to vote. But what are the reasons for including younger people in the electorate, and what might the consequences be for their future participation? Emily Rainsford analyses the potential […]
Political and constitutional turbulence in the UK looks set to continue to 2020
Scotland’s ‘No’ vote solves one acute existential threat to the UK, says Patrick Dunleavy, but only for now. The likely narrow results of the May 2015 general election, plus David Cameron’s promise of another referendum on the UK leaving the European Union in 2017, both promise massive constitutional turbulence between now and 2020. For instance, if the UK votes to leave the European Union in 2017,a near-immediate […]
Reading List: 6 essential books on Scotland and the Scottish independence referendum
The Scottish Independence Referendum may be over, but the Scottish question is far from settled. Here, we round up a variety of books on Scotland’s social and political past and present. Similar PostsThe Scottish independence referendum shows that young people can be mobilized politically given the right circumstancesElectoral management issues were the dog that didn’t bark […]
When it comes to a fair constitutional settlement, beware of constitutional hyper-activism
The Flower of Scotland may well be blooming but a number of thorny issues face the Prime Minister and the leaders of the main parties in the UK, writes Matthew Flinders. The Prime Minister’s commitment to a ‘new and fair constitutional settlement’ not just for Scotland but for the whole of the United Kingdom may well reflect […]
Electoral management issues were the dog that didn’t bark in the Scottish night
After a long day, and night, of democracy, Dr. Toby James notes that few problems have been initially reported with the running of the Scottish independence referendum, despite the high turnout. This stands in stark, and indeed welcome, contrast to the 2010 general election. Similar PostsThe Scottish independence referendum shows that young people can be […]
Yes or no, the Scottish Independence Referendum has been good for democracy on both sides of the border
Scotland finally goes to the polls today to decide on its status as either a newly independent nation, or a part of the United Kingdom. The result looks set to be close, but whatever happens, argue Sean Kippin and Carl Cullinane, the referendum has been a remarkable boon for democracy and political engagement on both sides […]
The Scottish Independence Referendum, how will it all unfold?
After days, weeks and months of argument, controversy and preparation, Scotland will go to the polls tomorrow, with a long day of voting and a long night of counting ahead. Carl Cullinane outlines the nuts and bolts of how Scotland’s big day will go. Similar PostsElectoral management issues were the dog that didn’t bark in the […]
Scots living overseas or elsewhere in the UK should have been given the right to vote in the independence referendum
Record numbers of voters have registered to take part in the Scottish independence referendum this month, and a very high turnout is expected. But the franchise for the election does not include Scottish citizens overseas or those living in the rest of the UK. In this post Craig Berry and Richard Berry argue that the exclusion of these voters […]
In the Scottish independence debate, political identity is key
The debate about Scottish independence is fundamentally about political identity, writes David Miller. The political arrangement that best respects the multiple identities that most Scots have is one that gives expression to each fragment, rather than responding just to one. Similar PostsGeneral election 2019: a different contest in ScotlandRisk-takers and referendums: what happens when voters are better-informed?Book […]
Even if the ‘Yes’ campaign loses the referendum, it may have won the bigger battle over power and money
Is the UK really in danger of dis-uniting? Matthew Flinders argues that the answer is ‘no’. But the more interesting answer is that the independence referendum is, to some extent, a red herring. The nationalists may well ‘lose’ the referendum but they have already ‘won’ the bigger political battle over power and money. All the main political […]
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