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The Scotsman Who Forced the U.K. to the Brink of Disunion
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Scotland joined with England and Wales to form Great Britain in 1707, at a time of increasing opportunities for Scottish people in the expanding British Empire. Britain's shipbuilding industry had a major base in Glasgow. During the Thatcher Conservative government Scotland suffered, and decades of globalization led to gradual deindustrialization for Scotland, the demise of the shipbuilding and other industries. The Labor Party under prime minister Blair pursued a "devolution of powers" policy, creating the first Scottish parliament following a referendum in 1999. Ironically this has changed the fortunes of the Scottish Nationalist Party led by Jack Salmond, a economist first elected to the British parliament in 1987. Salmond became head of the party in 1990 and led it to second place in 1999 elections, followed by a win in 2007 and 2011 elections. Salmond is seen as a vigorous campaigner, who can speak above others and not seen as a good listener. The party gained the confidence of Scottish voters by running a competent administration led by businessmen who were well aware of problems in local communities. Programs such as free prescriptions for medicines were popular with voters. The Labor Party stands to lose its voter base in Scotland (former Labor prime minister Gordon Brown is from Scotland), and the Conservative Party will also suffer a blow with a yes vote to independence. Polls show voters don't fully trust Salmond, but a majority 39% support an yes vote to 38% no vote, with 23% undecided. Britain just emerging from a deep recession would lose Scottish oil revenues of about 6 billion pounds, and the economy would suffer as business waited to see how things would turn out before making investments. Scotland now manages health, education and transport. Even without independence Scotland now stands to gain more powers and control, and control a higher percentage than the 60% of Scotland's budget that the Scottish government manages today. Scotland represents about 148 billion pounds or 9.2% of the UK GDP.
Gordon Brown on Scotland's referendum for independence, and policies pursued by the Labor government when he was prime minister
09/05/2014
Gordon Brown, former prime minister of Britain, is from Scotland. He he describes the sources of discontent in Scotland, the similiar regional movements in other parts of Europe including Catalonia, and why Scotland has a better future as part of Britain. Irwin points out the failings of the Labor governments under Blair and Gordon, and under the Conservatives under Cameron, leading to disaffection in Scotland and the rise of the UK Independence Party.
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The Scotsman Who Forced the U.K. to the Brink of Disunion
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The Scotsman Who Forced the U.K. to the Brink of Disunion
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Leaders Differ on What Independence Would Mean to Scotland
Wall Street Journal 09/16/2014
Scotland Independence Could Usher in Economic Uncertainty
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In Scotland, Avid Activists Fuel ‘Yes’ Campaign for Independence
New York Times 09/17/2014
Scotland 'No' to Independence Hinged on Turnout
Wall Street Journal 09/20/2014
Jack Salmond of the Scottish Nationalist Party, and the campaign for independence of Scotland in the referendum of 2014
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The Scotsman Who Forced the U.K. to the Brink of Disunion
Wall Street Journal 09/10/2014
Leaders Differ on What Independence Would Mean to Scotland
Wall Street Journal 09/16/2014
Scotland Independence Could Usher in Economic Uncertainty
Wall Street Journal 09/18/2014
In Scotland, Avid Activists Fuel ‘Yes’ Campaign for Independence
New York Times 09/17/2014
Scotland 'No' to Independence Hinged on Turnout
Wall Street Journal 09/20/2014
Wall Street Journal 09/20/2014
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The Scotsman Who Forced the U.K. to the Brink of Disunion
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Scotland- politics and government
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Grouped Articles
Scotland, U.K. Grapple Over Autonomy
Wall Street Journal 01/12/2012
The Scotsman Who Forced the U.K. to the Brink of Disunion
Wall Street Journal 09/10/2014
Scotland Independence Could Usher in Economic Uncertainty
Wall Street Journal 09/18/2014
In Scotland, Avid Activists Fuel ‘Yes’ Campaign for Independence
New York Times 09/17/2014
In Scotland and Beyond, a Crisis of Faith in the Global Elite
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Nicola Sturgeon Becomes Leader of Scottish National Party
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Scotland's past and its future in the referendum for independence from Great Britain in 2014
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Linked Articles
The Scotsman Who Forced the U.K. to the Brink of Disunion
Wall Street Journal 09/10/2014
Why Scotland Should Stick With Britain
New York Times 09/05/2014
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