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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Scottish identity

520 replies

chocoluvva · 26/04/2015 18:31

Do you feel you have one?

If you're not Scottish living in Scotland, do you think there is a Scottish identity?

OP posts:
JackSkellington · 27/04/2015 21:41

Couldn't say why they're so popular, but for me personally it could be summed up by them being the only party big enough to bring about change, in my opinion, plus I will never again lend my vote to any of the parties which supported the no campaign so that narrows my choices a bit. However had we gained independence, for example, I would have voted differently, most likely for a smaller party whose policies aligned more closely with my own ideals. There are some SNP policies I disagree with but not many.

OneNight · 27/04/2015 21:41

'Free prescriptions and protecting the NHS'. What's not to like, chocoluvva?

SirChenjin · 27/04/2015 21:42

It's true - only they haven't protected the NHS at all. But hey, it's a good soundbite!

Original poster
chocoluvva · 27/04/2015 21:48

sllmme v;vpr,

aahhhhgggghh

jhhjhjh

Sorry - can't typ what with m hed being in my hands

OP posts:
starwarslegoboy · 27/04/2015 21:50

Because there was no other option left. Labour became indiscernible from the Tories. The SNP proved that they could work with others in an minority government and then offered an alternative. The referendum was certainly responsible for upping the political discussion in Scotland and there is an energy that will not go away.

I have always been political, but Labour until the Referendum. I swore I would never vote for them again after the Better Together betrayal. I have read Alastair Darling's autobio and I had always admired him. After the crash and during the 2010 election, The old/new Labour (Miliband/Balls) refused to call the Tories on their having 'ruined the economy' and allowed that lie to stand, because they wanted to distance themselves from Blair/Brown. Then they stood with the Tories. That's why

Jackieharris · 27/04/2015 21:52

I was always in favour of Scottish independence but used to have a British identity rather than a Scottish one.

When I left school I looked equally at Scottish & English unis.

I imagined I'd live anywhere in the UK.

Now I see myself as very much Scottish. Since devolution the nations have diverged. When I visit England esp London I do feel like it's another country. I do feel like I notice different traits in English & Scottish people. I would never want to live in England now.

I am very typically Scottish. I look Scottish. I went to a theme park in the south of England a few years ago and I had this sense of looking different from 95% of the people there. My attitudes, values etc are distinctly Scottish. If I'm in a room full of English people now I feel odd, this wasn't the case 20 years ago.

Ime there has been a huge shift and there is no going back.

Original poster
chocoluvva · 27/04/2015 21:53

Hmm I feel a bit like that about the lib dems - if you vote for them you don't know whether you're voting con or lab.

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 27/04/2015 21:55

Oh, and don't forget the infamous economic policy that leaves a massive funding gap chocco

Original poster
chocoluvva · 27/04/2015 21:55

Jackie that's sad.

OP posts:
ScotsWhaHae · 27/04/2015 21:57

Why snp?

For me, r for this election, it's quite straightforward.

No other party represent me or, in my opinion, Scotland. Because we are still part of the UK but still a country. Because no other party has paid attention to Scotland for decades. The Tories don't bother, they don't need our vote. I live in a constituency that has been mentioned up thread already, who would vote for a dog if it had a Labour badge on. Labour have counted on Scotland giving them enough seats year in year out and they've got complacent.

Never, ever before has anyone giving a shit how we vote. Never. But now it looks like we won't tow the line there's an outrage. All of a sudden our useless fptp system is unconstitutional because it might just represent one of the nation's in this family of nations accurately.

On the sectarianism...

My beautiful county has new flute bands popping up over the vast few years, marches are regular and anyone local will recognise what I'll describe as a witch hunt against a community councillor who dared question why the local flute band and got paid to play at the children's gala. It's not just a west coast issue, it's growing rapidly and it's disgusting. I was on a Yes stall the day of the big marches in Edinburgh, well away from the city centre and had to get the police out as we were being threatened and verbally attacked by some marchers who had went out their way to find a stall. It was terrifying. The city was effectively silenced that say by granting those foul marchers permission to take over the city that weekend, the last before the referendum. No yes promotional effort could 've done in the city centre at all for fear of repercussions. I was spat on, helping out on a stall one day.

SirChenjin · 27/04/2015 21:58

What does a Scottish person look like that differs so much from so many others in the UK? I'm intrigued...

ScotsWhaHae · 27/04/2015 22:00

I had 3 members of.staff, including a manager, insisting I could claim my vat back on a purchase in Harrods in London last year. I explained I was Scottish but they said yeah that's fine, anyone from outside of England can claim vat back.

I know that's unfortunate but add that on to years of small incidents like that and that feeling that you really don't count builds up.

SirChenjin · 27/04/2015 22:01

Scots - I'm totally with you on the sectarianism thing. It's obscene in this day and age that it even exists. I don't think segregating education helps at all - that should stop imo.

Original poster
chocoluvva · 27/04/2015 22:02

On the sectarianism - dreadful. Really disappointing.

So far only one positive reason for voting snp - perception of having a good record of working in a minority government.

And best of a bad lot, if I understand correctly.

OP posts:
starwarslegoboy · 27/04/2015 22:06

Douglas Alexander's sister Wendy, a previous Scottish Labour leader, resigned over some trivial fraud issue that really didn't implicate her, but the Renfrewshire party were (allegedly, according to newspapers- sorry MN) as corrupt as hell. which is why she resigned, she had had enough. She was a reasonably capable politician too. And then there is Monklands. The old diatribe about putting a Labour badge on a Monkey and getting elected was certainly true.

starwarslegoboy · 27/04/2015 22:08

Scots

LOL. Sorry but that made me laugh. I would have been very ranty if it were me of course

ScotsWhaHae · 27/04/2015 22:13

I was totally bemused that's why 3 people ended up involved!

Christinayangstwistedsister · 27/04/2015 22:14

I hope it was English notes you used

Itwontletmenamechange · 27/04/2015 22:15

What exactly are scottish values and attitudes! And how do they differ so vastly from anywhere else?

ScotsWhaHae · 27/04/2015 22:15

Nope, my RBS Visa!

Original poster
chocoluvva · 27/04/2015 22:22

Ever tried using Clydesdale bank notes?

Naughty of me to say this... but I didn't realise UK residents actually bought stuff from Harrods. I thought it was only tourists who did that. (DD and I went there once to goggle at the prices and laugh at the 'designer' clothes. Despite me being a teuchter, perhaps it wasn't evident from my appearance - a sales assistant showed us a handbag and offered to take one in a different colour off the stand. twas fun.)

To be serious though, my theory about rUK (sometimes) carelessly/arrogantly/ignorantly making stupid comments about Scottish people, feeding a sense of Scotland being the underdog.... I find things like that irritating too, on a bad day - amusing on a better day - but I think the solution isn't to break up the existing system. Debate and education is the way to go IMO.

OP posts:
ScotsWhaHae · 27/04/2015 22:24

No you right, that alone isn't a reason for independence!

I was a tourist though!

Original poster
chocoluvva · 27/04/2015 22:24

That's the point of this thread Itwon'tletme - nobody has managed to define Scottish values and attitudes, other than a stronger leaning to 'socialism'.

OP posts:
ScotsWhaHae · 27/04/2015 22:25

I'd spent 5 hours on a train to get there and went on a tube for the first time ever and took lots of photos, so yes, definitely a tourist!

Itwontletmenamechange · 27/04/2015 22:28

I was just referring to Jackie's post - I find, intentional or not, that there is a strong implication that scottish people who say they have "scottish values" think they are morally superior to the English, or anyone else for that matter. Like being born here makes them automatically a better person. I realise this is the whole point of your thread, I'm just amused few people can actually answer the question.