Scotland Forever? Why we need to revisit Scottish independence

It always surprises me how quickly things move in politics. Last month, during Prime Minister’s Questions, Andy Burnham mused that a future Scottish referendum would be considered if there was a clear consensus from the Scottish people. The Prime Minister reiterated that he was not aware of any such consensus, and a referendum was still off-limits. This prompted John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Michelle O’Neill, the respective First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to assemble in Cardiff to discuss independence at a ‘memorandum of understanding.’ Burnham, a lover of decentralisation and self-determination (at least for the Falklands), seemed to shut down the idea and reinforced his stance against independence at the Labour Party Conference. 

This incident was political chaos at its finest and is fairly emblematic of much of British politics today. But as this all unfolded, it left me thinking about the last referendum back in 2014. We need to revisit the idea of Scottish Independence. 

Some people think we don't need to bother. This opinion is especially shared by the several recent Prime Ministers, who have echoed the sentiment that the 2014 vote was a ‘one and done.’ David Cameron and Alex Salmond, the leaders of both nations at the time, shared the belief that the referendum was a once-in-a-generation event, even if Salmond’s belief laid in the ‘Yes’ vote succeeding.

This thinking relies on the idea that Britain today is exactly the same as Britain all those years ago, which is just untrue. We are simply not dealing with the same kettle of fish as we were twelve years ago, either politically or economically. For one of the most obvious examples, look towards Brexit. Love it or hate it, the fact remains that 62% of the Scottish electorate that turned out to vote (67.2% of the total Scottish population) chose to remain in the EU. However, Scotland was still cast away from the loving arms of the EU along with the rest of the UK. Plenty of other factors such as COVID-19, the cost of living crisis and the carousel of seven Prime Ministers down in Westminster have greatly reshaped the country. 

No wonder many Scots believe that circumstances have changed. BBC News reports that there is a slight majority towards the idea of another referendum. Why are Andy Burnham and many others in Westminster so convinced that no such consensus in Scotland will ever exist again?

As a proud Scot, I for one believe that England, politically speaking, has never really taken Scotland seriously. From the implementation of the poll tax in Scotland before the rest of the country in the 1980s, to Liz Truss branding Nicola Sturgeon an ‘attention seeker’ during the leadership contest, it's a pattern that is difficult to ignore. And as a student in the School of History, the more I learn about England’s mistreatment and suppression of Scotland across the centuries — such as the banning of Highland dress and the massacre of Highland clans in the name of ‘union’ — it becomes abundantly and brutally clear. 

I am neither completely pro nor against independence. I think there are valid arguments on both sides. What I do believe is that to close the door completely and shut down the conversation before it even begins is not the right choice. UK Prime Ministers cannot treat independence like a non-issue anymore, especially when all three devolved nations, not just Scotland, joined the summit in Cardiff. Scotland and its people deserve to be listened to, and not just ‘once in a generation.’ Perhaps this time Westminster should hear what we have to say.

Illustration by Beck Xu Ying