LIBDEM leader Jo Swinson triggered an online backlash yesterday after saying Scottish and English nationalism are no different.
Speaking to The Herald, the East Dunbartonshire MP dismissed statements that Scottish nationalism is different as an example of “exceptionalism” which suggests “we’re better than the others”.
She also claimed both forms of nationalism force people to choose between the identities of European, British and Scottish.
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And Swinson said she was more “determined” than ever in her support for the Union as a result of the Brexit process.
She said: “Would I rather have a cup of tea with Nicola Sturgeon than Nigel Farage, yes.
“But ultimately, it’s about exceptionalism for one nation and trying to define around that nationhood rather than being more open to those people that are our closest neighbours.
“Ultimately, Scottish nationalism still wants to break up the United Kingdom and, even when it says ‘Scottish nationalism is different’, there’s an exceptionalism which sort of says ‘we’re better than the others’ which, as a humanist, I don’t believe that.
“I love Scotland. I love Britain. I don’t think that makes us better than other people elsewhere and we should be working with them and we can achieve more together. So it’s that openness that’s important.”
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But readers said Swinson was “dangerously out of touch with Scotland and its desire to be an equal member of the EU” and suggested that the politician, who doesn’t live in East Dunbartonshire, “should visit her constituency more often and she would see they are very, very different”.
And Edinburgh University politics expert Professor Ailsa Henderson tweeted: “I’ve just written an 80,000 word book ... on English nationalism and can say, categorically, that this ain’t true.”
The tome is set to be published and Henderson went on to state that Swinson’s claims on identity are “just not reflected in the data”.
Meanwhile, Further Education Minister Richard Lochhead commented: “Jo Swinson saying Scottish nationalism (presumably she’s referring to independence movement) is same as the English nationalism we’re seeing at the moment. Political leaders making such lazy and silly comments to score points is debasing political debate.”
Despite opposing indyref2 while opting to effectively ignore the Brexit referendum result, Swinson said her party’s position is “consistent”, stating: “We believe the best future is for Scotland to be in the UK and the UK to be in the EU.”
On her support for the Union, she went on: “I’m more determined because, when you saw that Brexit vote happen and now we see what it’s led to, it’s been a textbook demonstration of why breaking up is hard to do and the type of chaos we’d be mired in if we were suddenly in independence negotiations. The interlinking of the 300 years of Union has been much, much deeper than the 40 years of European Union.”
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