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Road to Referendum
A truly important book, particularly at this moment. It offers a huge sweep of history and deals with recent Scottish politics in formidable, but never tedious detail.
On the 18th September 2014, Scotland will decide the future of the United Kingdom. This is the story of how we got here – and where we might go yet. The upcoming referendum on Scottish independence is a landmark in the history of the United Kingdom, potentially ending the 300 year old union between the countries within Britain. And it has raised so many questions – why have Scots seemingly fallen out of love with the union? Why have the SNP risen to unprecedented heights? And what does the future hold for both countries, north and south of the border?
Road to Referendum takes us on a journey through the history of the UK and shows us where the road might lead us with unparalleled insight.
On the 18th September 2014, Scotland will decide the future of the United Kingdom. This is the story of how we got here – and where we might go yet. The upcoming referendum on Scottish independence is a landmark in the history of the United Kingdom, potentially ending the 300 year old union between the countries within Britain. And it has raised so many questions – why have Scots seemingly fallen out of love with the union? Why have the SNP risen to unprecedented heights? And what does the future hold for both countries, north and south of the border?
Road to Referendum takes us on a journey through the history of the UK and shows us where the road might lead us with unparalleled insight.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2013
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22 people want to read
About the author
Iain Macwhirter
6 books4 followersIain Macwhirter is the political commentator of The Herald and the Sunday Herald, an author and documentary film and radio presenter and a former Rector of Edinburgh University. He has worked at both the UK Parliament and Scottish Parliament, presenting the BBC2 programmes Westminster Live, Scrutiny and, from 1999, the BBC TV Holyrood Live programme from the Scottish Parliament.
In 2013, he published Road to Referendum which accompanied a major new three-part television series of the same name on STV and ITV. Following the Scottish independence referendum, he published Disunited Kingdom: How Westminster Won a Referendum but Lost Scotland, a retrospective on his experiences as a journalist documenting the campaign. In 2015, his book Tsunami, about the SNP's victory in the 2015 general election, was published by Freight Books.
In 2013, he published Road to Referendum which accompanied a major new three-part television series of the same name on STV and ITV. Following the Scottish independence referendum, he published Disunited Kingdom: How Westminster Won a Referendum but Lost Scotland, a retrospective on his experiences as a journalist documenting the campaign. In 2015, his book Tsunami, about the SNP's victory in the 2015 general election, was published by Freight Books.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 24, 2021
Don’t agree with everything argued in this book, but as far as independence-sympathetic accounts of what happened at the referendum it’s one of the best. Shame about Iain now though.
May 16, 2022
Dull.
July 17, 2013
Faster than the Flying Scotsman...
Iain MacWhirter is a journalist and commentator who has spent the last decade or so covering the affairs of the Scottish Parliament. In the run up to the referendum on Scottish Independence, due to be held in September 2014, he has presented a short TV series and produced this companion book ostensibly to shed some light on why we have reached this point at this time. The blurb on the back of this book claims it is 'accessible and perfect for anyone unfamiliar with Scottish history' and 'essential reading for anyone who cares about where the UK may go next.'
The main problem is that I can't really work out who this book is for. The 'Scottish history' portion of it covers 650 years in 127 pages, so not what even the most generous reviewer could describe as 'in-depth'. We leap from Bannockburn, rush past Flodden and gallop on to the Union of 1707 faster than the Flying Scotsman. So anyone 'unfamiliar with Scottish history' at the beginning is going to be still largely in the same state at the end. Not that I'm saying the history is wrong, and MacWhirter does explicitly remind the reader that he's not a historian, but it seems to me he has carefully cherry-picked those aspects of history that bolster his argument, and does a fine job of casting sarcastic and savage little barbs at Scots modern and ancient along the way, which I found deeply unendearing.
So, based on this first half, I can't imagine many Scots who are likely to read this book will learn much they don't already know, nor will most of us be shattered by the revelation that Braveheart wasn't precisely historically accurate. And for non-Scots the history is so superficial (and mostly unreferenced) that it seems a bit pointless.
In the second half of the book, MacWhirter brings us through from the 1960s to today, explaining the rise of the Scottish Nationalists and making the point that that has not necessarily been matched by a corresponding rise in Scottish Nationalism. This is the period he himself has lived through and this part of the book is considerably more detailed and fleshed out, though with a very middle-class Edinburgh bias running through. MacWhirter doesn't explicitly state his own political partiality, though he does at points take us through how his political attitudes have changed over time. However, he points out that many politicians think of him as an apologist for the Nationalists, and on the basis of this book I would have to agree (despite his constant harping on about how Alex Salmond is 'obese' - how that adds to the political debate is beyond my understanding.)
In case readers of this review think I am being hard on the book because I disagree with it, I should point out that I am currently tending towards the pro-Independence camp myself, so am largely in agreement with the main thrust of MacWhirter's argument that Scotland could be a successful independent nation if it chooses. However, I would have preferred to see an unbiased account of the main arguments or to have been told up front that this book is a personal viewpoint heavily geared towards one side of the debate. A reasonably interesting read for Scottish political nerds (of whom I am one), but not an essential one for anyone else, I feel.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Iain MacWhirter is a journalist and commentator who has spent the last decade or so covering the affairs of the Scottish Parliament. In the run up to the referendum on Scottish Independence, due to be held in September 2014, he has presented a short TV series and produced this companion book ostensibly to shed some light on why we have reached this point at this time. The blurb on the back of this book claims it is 'accessible and perfect for anyone unfamiliar with Scottish history' and 'essential reading for anyone who cares about where the UK may go next.'
The main problem is that I can't really work out who this book is for. The 'Scottish history' portion of it covers 650 years in 127 pages, so not what even the most generous reviewer could describe as 'in-depth'. We leap from Bannockburn, rush past Flodden and gallop on to the Union of 1707 faster than the Flying Scotsman. So anyone 'unfamiliar with Scottish history' at the beginning is going to be still largely in the same state at the end. Not that I'm saying the history is wrong, and MacWhirter does explicitly remind the reader that he's not a historian, but it seems to me he has carefully cherry-picked those aspects of history that bolster his argument, and does a fine job of casting sarcastic and savage little barbs at Scots modern and ancient along the way, which I found deeply unendearing.
So, based on this first half, I can't imagine many Scots who are likely to read this book will learn much they don't already know, nor will most of us be shattered by the revelation that Braveheart wasn't precisely historically accurate. And for non-Scots the history is so superficial (and mostly unreferenced) that it seems a bit pointless.
In the second half of the book, MacWhirter brings us through from the 1960s to today, explaining the rise of the Scottish Nationalists and making the point that that has not necessarily been matched by a corresponding rise in Scottish Nationalism. This is the period he himself has lived through and this part of the book is considerably more detailed and fleshed out, though with a very middle-class Edinburgh bias running through. MacWhirter doesn't explicitly state his own political partiality, though he does at points take us through how his political attitudes have changed over time. However, he points out that many politicians think of him as an apologist for the Nationalists, and on the basis of this book I would have to agree (despite his constant harping on about how Alex Salmond is 'obese' - how that adds to the political debate is beyond my understanding.)
In case readers of this review think I am being hard on the book because I disagree with it, I should point out that I am currently tending towards the pro-Independence camp myself, so am largely in agreement with the main thrust of MacWhirter's argument that Scotland could be a successful independent nation if it chooses. However, I would have preferred to see an unbiased account of the main arguments or to have been told up front that this book is a personal viewpoint heavily geared towards one side of the debate. A reasonably interesting read for Scottish political nerds (of whom I am one), but not an essential one for anyone else, I feel.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
June 4, 2015
An accessible, fast overview of political history leading up to the Independence referendum.
As an outsider looking in, despite the author's statements to the contrary the history depicted in the book makes Scotland appear like a colony of England (or at least London). Its public's wishes are generally ignored, with mass protest and civil disobedience making no difference until similar protests occur closer to (or in) London. Scotland's denizens are treated by the UK elite with at best benign indifference and at worst with contempt. Obvious, simple, and multipartisan (in Scotland) reforms are ignored unless the establishment in Westminster stands to immediately benefit -- and sometimes not even then.
In sum, the situation sounds untenable, with only the ease with which the Scottish well-to-do can join the London establishment preventing Scotland from imitating the history of Ireland.
As an outsider looking in, despite the author's statements to the contrary the history depicted in the book makes Scotland appear like a colony of England (or at least London). Its public's wishes are generally ignored, with mass protest and civil disobedience making no difference until similar protests occur closer to (or in) London. Scotland's denizens are treated by the UK elite with at best benign indifference and at worst with contempt. Obvious, simple, and multipartisan (in Scotland) reforms are ignored unless the establishment in Westminster stands to immediately benefit -- and sometimes not even then.
In sum, the situation sounds untenable, with only the ease with which the Scottish well-to-do can join the London establishment preventing Scotland from imitating the history of Ireland.
February 19, 2014
Ideal for anyone as a starting point for learning about Scottish history, politics and nationalism, presented in an objective, unbiased analytic way. How did Scotland go from being willing partners in a union to the brink of independence? The curious case of Scottish nationalism is analysed and explained in highly readable detail.
June 30, 2013
Excellent book detailing how Scotland has got to the position of holding a referendum on Independence, that will be held on September 18th 2014.
A balanced book that highlights the positives and negatives of Independence or of staying in the Union.
A balanced book that highlights the positives and negatives of Independence or of staying in the Union.
March 1, 2014
A rare sight, a well balanced take on what has led up to the independence referendum. Well worth a read for anyone who wants more background information on the issues surrounding it. Well written and an enjoyable read.
December 29, 2013
A must-read for anyone planning to vote in the 2014 independence referendum.
April 26, 2014
Essential reading for anyone interested in the whys and wherefores of the upcoming referendum.
September 13, 2014
A useful overview of the state of Scottish affairs leading up to the referendum, but it is slightly repetitive and one gets the sense toward the end that it was hastily put together.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews