Ten years ago, the polls were open and the fate of Scotland and the UK hung in the balance. For those of us who believe that we are stronger together within the UK, the previous weeks and months were a stressful, worrying, and unpleasant time. Many of us had devoted our time to a campaign we never wanted, and some of us had been abused and threatened, online and in person, for making the positive case for staying together.
On Thursday 18th September 2014, we were facing a very real risk of our country being split, with a border between us and our friends and family across the UK. We were worried about the financial implications for Scotland, the turmoil which would follow a vote to leave, and the damage that breaking up the UK would do more widely in the world.
The overwhelming feeling which pro-UK people tell me they felt on hearing the referendum result is relief. Relief that it appeared to be over, and that the worry, upset and divisions within friend groups and families were not to be repeated for the foreseeable future. Of course, we all know what happened next: the nationalists refused to accept the result, and used the campaign as a springboard to greater power and influence, continuing their push for separation and extending the period of anxiety for those of us who had hoped to move on after the referendum.
Looking at the situation today, the immediate worries of the mid-2010s have undoubtedly receded. The most recent polling conducted by Survation for Scotland in Union, for which details can be found here, shows that most people in Scotland want to remain in the UK; that most Scots want the Scottish and UK governments to work more closely together; and that we are pretty much fed up with the performance of the nationalists in government in Scotland. Our recent short video helps to share some of these frustrations.
It now feels like this is a time for greater hope - but it is not a time for complacency. Support for leaving the UK, while a minority pursuit, remains stubbornly high, and a significant number of Scots say they are currently undecided - as you can see in the chart below, which includes ‘don't know’ responses.
We in SIU have said for some time that the medium-term conditions which support Scotland remaining securely in the UK are: the SNP reduced in the UK Parliament; nationalists out of power at Holyrood; and support for leaving back to about 2010 levels. On this measure, it’s one down and two to go - with the 2026 Holyrood election being absolutely crucial.
If we can see the nationalists out of government in Scotland, and have politicians working together across the UK rather than picking unnecessary fights and promoting division, we can start to move on, and support for breaking the UK apart should fall as well.
That’s why, while we are a long way from the disturbing times of the mid-2010s, we must not be complacent. We need to continue to make the positive case for the UK, and to work to reduce the influence of the nationalists, particularly ahead of the May 2026 Holyrood election.
Scotland in Union will make this case, for you and with you. We will continue to invest in promoting the benefits of the UK, ensuring that the nationalist narrative is challenged where appropriate, and highlighting the nationalists’ failures in government. Please stay with us on this journey, and tell your friends and family about our campaign, encouraging them to support Scotland in Union so that we can play our part in strengthening Scotland’s position in the UK.
Thank you for your continued support, and let’s look forward with hope and optimism to when nationalism is once again at the margins of Scottish politics.
Alastair Cameron
Chair
Scotland in Union
If you are able to support our campaign financially, please use this link to find out more.
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