Scottish republicanism
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Scottish republicanism (Scottish Gaelic: Poblachdas na h-Alba) is an ideology based on the belief that Scotland should be a republic, as opposed to being under the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Usually, this proposal takes the form of Scottish nationalism and activism for independence, but it is also occasionally found in discussions of changing the system of government of the United Kingdom as a whole in such a manner as to replace the monarch with an elected official as head of state.
History[edit]
Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun is one of the most prominent pre-Union advocates of a Scottish republic, based on agrarian and patriarchal principles.[1] He was a major inspiration to Scottish Enlightenment philosopher Adam Ferguson, whose republican ideals were penned down in An Essay on the History of Civil Society (1767).[1]
One of the foremost documentations of modern Scottish republicanism is the Declaration of Calton Hill, proclaimed on 9 October 2004, the same day that Queen Elizabeth II opened the new Scottish Parliament Building at Holyrood.[2]
In the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum, the Radical Independence Campaign advocated an independent Scottish republic with an elected head of state,[3] instead of the continued union of crowns established with the English monarchy, predating the Acts of Union.
Ahead of the Accession declaration of Charles III at Mercat Cross in Edinburgh on 11 September 2022, the campaign group Our Republic stated "We encourage those with objections to these proclamations to make those clear".[4] The members voiced their opposition to the new King through booing, turning their backs and shouting “no consent”, and holding up anti-Monarchy slogans during the Lord Lyon King of Arms's declaration. They were briefly detained by Police Scotland before being released. One protester was later again arrested and charged under "Breach of the Peace".[5]
Republicanism within the independence movement[edit]
Many people who advocate Scotland becoming a republic do so through their support for Scottish independence. This would entail Scotland becoming independent from the United Kingdom and instead of continuing the Union of the Crowns that predate the political union, a republic would be formed, with an elected Head of State assuming the role of the deposed monarch.
Scotland's largest pro-independence party, the Scottish National Party, favours retaining the monarchy as a Commonwealth realm similar to the situation in other crown countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand.[6] However, the party has a number of prominent republican members, including Roseanna Cunningham and Tommy Sheppard.[7][8]
The Scottish National Party proposes that in the event of independence, the presiding officer's post be replaced with that of chancellor of Scotland. In addition to presiding over the Scottish Parliament, the chancellor would possess additional constitutional powers during the absence of the monarch from Scotland; chiefly, the chancellor should act in a role similar to a governor-general in the other Commonwealth realms.[9]
Most of the others major political parties and organisations that advocate Scottish independence also advocate Scotland becoming an independent republic. These include:
- Scottish Greens[10]
- Scottish Socialist Party[11]
- Alba Party[12]
- Scottish Republican Socialist Movement
- Radical Independence Campaign
- Our Republic (cross-constitutional campaign group)[13]
British republicanism[edit]
Another concept for Scotland becoming a republic is through reform of the United Kingdom's constitutional status from a constitutional monarchy to a republican constitution. There is not an explicit link with British unionism, as this tends to advocate the Union of Crowns. This is a form of British republicanism which is supported by English politicians such as Dennis Skinner and Jeremy Corbyn, and advocacy groups such as Republic. There is no mainstream support for this concept in any Scottish political parties, and it remains a personal position, unlike support for an independent Scottish republic which does have party support.
Adam Tomkins is an example of a republican who supports a reformed Britain without monarchy,[14] however his opinion shifted after being elected for the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party who are ardent supporters of the monarchy.[15] Another example is Scottish Labour MSPs Katy Clark and Mercedes Villalba who advocate for abolishing the Monarchy across the UK as well as radical constitutional reform.[16][17] The Scottish campaign group Our Republic also contains several members who support Scotland remaining in a reformed Union.
Opinion polling[edit]
Polling on the British monarchy with Scotland as part of the UK[edit]
| Table of public opinion in Scotland on the "British Monarchy" as part of UK. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date conducted | Pollster | Support monarchy |
Support elected head of state |
Undecided/Ambivalent | Lead | Notes |
| 30–31 May 2022 | Omnisis[18][19][20] | 56% | 44% | - | 12% | 91 in sample |
| February 2022 | Omnisis[18] | 53% | 47% | 6% | ||
| 11–15 March 2021 | British Future/Opinium/Sky News/The Observer[21]What Scotland thinks[22] | 45% | 36% | 19% | 9% | Reference to future |
| 2018 | DeltaPoll[23] | 41% | 28% | 31% | 13% | |
| 9 January 2015 – 14 January 2015 | What Scotland Thinks[24] | 65% | 25% | 10% | 40% | |
| 17 October 2013 – 24 October 2013 | What Scotland Thinks[25] | 48% | 32% | 20% | 16% | |
| 24 April 2007 – 26 April 2007 | What Scotland Thinks[26] | 62% | 46% | 12% | 16% | If Scotland stays in the UK |
Polling on the British monarchy if Scotland becomes independent[edit]
| Table of public opinion in Scotland on the "British Monarchy" If Scotland becomes independent. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date conducted | Pollster | Support monarchy |
Support elected head of state |
Undecided/Ambivalent | Lead | Notes |
| 16 June 2021 – 24 June 2021 | What Scotland thinks[27] | 47% | 35% | 18% | 12% | If Scotland became independent |
| 11 March 2021 – 16 March 2021 | What Scotland thinks[28] | 39% | 39% | 22% | even | If Scotland became independent |
| 9 January 2012 – 11 January 2012 | What Scotland thinks[29] | 46% (4% other person as Scottish monarch) | 41% | 8% | 5% (excluding a Scottish monarch) | If Scotland became independent |
| 8 July 2008 – 10 July 2008 | What Scotland thinks[30] | 55% | Someone else: 10%, not have head of state: 29% | 6% | 16% | If Scotland became independent |
| 24 April 2007 – 26 April 2007 | What Scotland thinks[31] | 38% | 47% | 15% | –9% | If Scotland became independent |
| 18 April 2007 – 20 April 2007 | What Scotland thinks[32] | 40% | 41% | 19% | –1% | If Scotland became independent |
See also[edit]
Scotland[edit]
Other[edit]
- Welsh republicanism
- Republic (political organisation)
- Republicanism in the United Kingdom
- Labour for a Republic
- List of advocates of republicanism in the United Kingdom
References[edit]
- ^ a b van Gelderen, Martin; Skinner, Quentin (2005). Republicanism: A Shared European Heritage. Volume 2: The Values of Republicanism in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 197. ISBN 9780521672344. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ Lorna Martin (10 October 2004). "Holyrood survives birth pains". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ "Radicals' new dawn with independence". The Herald. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ Garton-Crosbie, Abbi (11 September 2022). "Two breach of the peace arrests made amid the King's Edinburgh proclamation". The National.
- ^ "Republicans condemn arrests, promise more protests". Republic. 12 September 2022.
- ^ Grant, Alistair (3 June 2022). "SNP policy to retain monarchy helps boost independence support, suggests John Curtice". The Scotsman. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ MacMahon, Peter (9 September 2015). "Sturgeon: Republican or Royalist?". ITV News. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ Bell, Sean (30 May 2022). "Edinburgh rally to offer a republican alternative to Jubilee Scotland". The National. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ Principles of the Constitution Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, at constitutionalcommission.org (.pdf file)
- ^ Scottish Greens [@scottishgreens] (13 March 2021). "It's time to abolish the monarchy and build an independent Scottish Republic. Vote for the Scottish Greens" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 September 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "For a Modern Democratic Republic". Scottish Socialist Party. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ Paton, Craig; Vesty, Sarah (11 September 2021). "Alba Party votes to scrap monarchy if Scotland gets independence from UK". Daily Record. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "Our Republic – We are the campaign for a Scottish Republic".
- ^ "Republic: Supporters". Republic. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
- ^ Gordon, Tom (7 June 2015). "From Roundhead to Cavalier: how Tory Scottish Secretary's advisor wanted to axe the Royal family". The Herald.
- ^ Wood, Richard (10 December 2014). "Scottish Labour deputy candidate reiterates support for a republic". HITC.
- ^ Villalba, Mercedes [@labourmercedes] (29 July 2021). ""the appearance of political neutrality" is just that: an appearance. It's time we recognised the political role of the monarchy which serves its own self-interest at the cost of ordinary people, and now planet. Why not simply abolish the monarchy and all their archane nonsense?" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 June 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Bright, Sam (1 June 2022). "A Nation Split on the Monarchy". Byline Times. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Support for elected head of state highest in Wales and Scotland, poll suggests". Nation.Cymru. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ Ltd, Omnisis. "Jubilee". omnisis.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ McCall, Chris (14 September 2022). "Royal family 'less popular' in Scotland than rest of the UK, polls find". Daily Record. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Do you think Britain should continue to have a monarchy in the future, or become a republic? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ Leask, David (21 May 2018). "Poll reveals scale of gap in support for the monarchy". The Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Should Britain keep the monarchy? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "What are your views on the monarchy? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "If Scotland remains within the UK, should the Queen remain Scotland's head of state? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "If Scotland becomes independent would you prefer the monarch to remain head of state in Scotland or would you rather Scotland had an elected head of state? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "If Scotland became an independent country do you think Scotland should continue as a monarchy or become a republic? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "If Scotland were to become independent, what would be your prefered head of state? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "What is your preference as to an independent Scotland's head of state? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Should the Queen remain Head of State in an independent Scotland? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "What is your preference as to an independent Scotland's head of state? - What Scotland Thinks". whatscotlandthinks.org. Retrieved 22 September 2022.