SCOTTISH independence would benefit England and the other UK nations, a leading historian has said.
Professor David Edgerton, a lecturer at King’s College London, told the European Conversations podcast that English politics are in the middle of a “profound crisis” and that a break-up of the UK is what the country needs.
Edgerton said that he believes all four nations of the UK would benefit from a “new democratic settlement” and that England needs to have a “crisis of authority” before it can move forward.
Kirsty Hughes (below), the host of the podcast, quizzed the professor on his thoughts on how English politics can “move on” from the divisive language around Brexit and pursuing a “global Britain” – and if Scottish independence would provoke change in the other UK nations.
Edgerton pointed to the current UK Government putting a border down the Irish Sea and “betraying” Northern Irish Unionists.
He explained: “That is an extraordinary set of events. I can’t imagine that this has ever happened before in British politics, it’s inherently unstable and speaks to a lack of legitimacy, a lack of authority, a lack of ability to think through the implications.
“I’m optimistic, in as much as I think there’s a good chance that Scotland, Northern Ireland and even Wales will want to break away. I think what the English state, if I call it that, needs is an overt crisis of authority to overtake it, and I think that would follow from the breakup of the United Kingdom.
“England needs to liberate itself from the Anglo-UK state just as much as Scotland and Northern Ireland and Wales do.
“I think we need a new democratic settlement; I think we need a new conception of Britain’s place in the world, I think fundamentally we need a new sort of political class as well,” Edgerton added.
READ MORE: Scottish independence 'inevitable' as new poll puts Yes in the lead
“Going back to the earlier point, the idea that the United Kingdom is inherently conservative and backwards is I think deeply wrong, as we’ve seen the politics of Scotland have transformed themselves in the last 20 years in an extraordinary way. I think the same thing can happen in England.”
Edgerton went on to say that whether or not an independence referendum was on the cards, the UK is in for a period of turbulence but will come out of the other end better off.
He said: “We need to think of the UK and England as a large Canada, and not as a small US. I think once that realisation sinks in, a lot of this ludicrous damaging posturing will go.
“I think as a country we’ll be able to live not only better with other people, but better with ourselves, because these delusions of grandeur are not just about foreign policy, they’re about internal relations as well.
“And I do agree that we’re in for a period of turbulence, trauma, mendacity, danger, but I think there’s no avoiding it and I think there’s reason to be optimistic about the outcome.”
The European Conversations Podcast and full interview with Professor Edgerton, produced by the European Movement in Scotland, is available to stream now
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel