Where stands the Union now? Lessons from the 2007 Scottish Parliament election

Article

Giving Scotland its own devolved parliament was supposed to help cement its place in the Union while maintaining Labour's hegemony within the country itself. But on 3 May 2007, in just the third election to the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish National Party, advocates of independence for Scotland, outpolled Labour and seized the reins of power in Edinburgh. This paper uses survey evidence to assess the apparent implications of the election for the health of the Union.

Giving Scotland its own devolved parliament was supposed to help cement its place in the Union while maintaining Labour's hegemony within the country itself. But on 3 May 2007, in just the third election to the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish National Party, advocates of independence for Scotland, outpolled Labour and seized the reins of power in Edinburgh. This paper uses survey evidence to assess the apparent implications of the election for the health of the Union.

Related items

  1. Graphic depicting a stack of pound coins in the background and one sideways pound coin displayed on its side in the foreground

    The full-speed economy: Does running a hotter economy benefit workers?

    How a slightly hotter economy might be able to boost future growth.
  2. The outside of Rochdale town hall on a sunny day, with flowers in the foreground

    Making the most of it: Unitarisation, hyperlocal democratic renewal and community empowerment

    Local government reorganisation need not result in a weakening of democracy at the local level.
  3. West Midlands Metro Tram at Victoria Square in Birmingham city centre during 2022 Commonwealth Games

    Transport and growth: Reforming transport investment for place-based growth

    The ability to deliver transformative public transport is not constrained by a lack of ideas, public support or local ambition. It is constrained by the way decisions are taken at the national level.