The Battle for Scotland

by Andrew Marr

'We may be about to see a new country - indeed, two new countries, - emerging on these islands. Half a lifetime ago, I sat down to write this book as a work of history. As it's aged, it's become current affairs.'

Just twenty years ago it seemed impossible that Scotland would ever get home rule, let alone full independence. Yet very soon there will be a Scottish referendum which will not only decide on this matter but which will have profound consequences for the future of all people on these islands.

In The Battle for Scotland, first published in 1992, Andrew Marr provides the historical backdrop to these extraordinary events. He attempts to explain the deep sources of Scottish national feeling and the political will which has brought us to this deeply uncertain time.

And in a substantial new introduction, Marr considers how we got here so suddenly, what the stakes really are and what the questions every voting Scot (and every non-voting UK citizen) will be asking themselves.

Andrew Marr was born in Glasgow. He graduated from Cambridge University and has enjoyed a long career in political journalism, working for the Scotsman, the Independent , the Economist, the Express and the Observer. From 2000 to 2005 he was the BBC's Political Editor. Andrew's broadcasting includes series on contemporary thinkers for BBC 2 and Radio 4, political documentaries for Channel 4 and BBC Panorama, and Radio 4's Start The Week.

Genres: History, Politics, Scotland, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Andrew Marr is a Scottish journalist. He is a graduate of Cambridge University and has had a long career in political journalism, working for the Scotsman, The Independent, The Economist, the Express and the Observer. From 2000 to 2005 he was the BBC's Political Editor. His broadcasting includes series on contemporary thinkers for BBC 2 and Radio 4, political documentaries for Channel 4 and BBC Panorama, and Radio 4's Start The Week'.

Reviews

[Keen Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

To me Marr will always be that journalist who spent a lot of money to prevent the people of his fellow trade in being able to write about him by taking out a super injunction, after he'd been caught cheating on his wife. The irony and hypocrisy is both sad and hilarious. Some animals are more equal than others.

I recall the disbelief I experienced some years ago on learning that Marr was Scottish, like many of the upper middle classes and above he’s branded with that private school accent of the ruling elite. I retain a deep rooted suspicion on hearing those icy RP tones from Scottish born and raised. This trigger comes through learned behaviour - a lifetime of being subjected to it, it overwhelmingly belongs to those who have a nasty habit of lying, cheating and taking from people who sound a bit like me - a fine example being one, Tony Blair.

The Scotland Marr understands or is comfortable with is the one of the privileged elite, limited to politics and the privately educated it soon becomes apparent that any time he attempts to venture beyond those restricted realms he is quickly exposed and out of his depth and comes across as crass and clumsy. We see how uneasy and unconvincing he comes through when discussing certain aspects of Scottish nationalism, exposing his tin ear for the working classes, appearing comically at odds and out of touch, like when describing the battle of Alex Salmond and Gordon Brown as getting the people to choose between Paw Broon and Wee Eck, which is exactly the kind of lazy cliché a clueless try hard outsider would say.

“The Scottish football team had, for the first time in twenty years, made it to the final stages of the World Cup.” He says on events of 1974. Of course most Scots know that they've never progressed beyond the group stages of said finals, and if Marr had bothered to do his research he'd know. He also describes The Proclaimers and Pat Kane of Hue and Cry as “pop stars”?...

My shallow judgments aside, this is mostly well-written and well-researched but it suffers from inconsistency, as well as the flaws mentioned above you can also see that in spite of being updated, some details have been overlooked, like claiming that the Stone of Destiny resides in England, whereas it was actually returned away back in the 90s. So this is a bit raw around the edges, and out of touch at times, but with still just enough quality and insight to make for decent enough reading.

[Reece Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mixed feelings on this one - the historical detail was well-written, well-researched and engaging. I do feel a book such as this should be non-partisan though, and this wasn’t the impression I got from Marr.
While I do understand that he’s a Scots-born Englishman to whom Scottish independence has great personal significance and potential ramifications, I wonder if this means he is the best person to try and present a level debate on the union. At best, he seems conflicted; at worst, condescending.

[Paula Livingstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

As at 2016, this is a dated update 2014 on an even more dated book 1992. Nevertheless, it is a lively and interesting read as a snapshot of its time.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Marr brings a really good perspective on this. Of course, he's attempting to be objective, and he sets out his own stance straight away so you can see where he's coming from as a scot living in england, working for the BBC. We're all aware, to one degree or another, that scottish nationalism, like the english nationalism that gave us brexit, has seen a real upsurge recently, and while it's not as noxious as ukippery, it's another aspect of the divisiveness and fractiousness of the age, but this book attempts to set it in its historical context and even (to a certain extent) the psychology behind nationalism. It's really, really interesting. So many strange characters, so much inter-factional rivalry, so much mismanagement by the westminster parliament and so much myth-making on the back of that. I was riveted.

[Nicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really couldn't get into this book. Only read 20%.

[Larn E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very out of date now, but provides interesting background as we head into what may be another referendum.

[Gerard White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this pre Scottish referendum, and found it a quite fair balanced book about the Scottish nationalist movement. Although this is a subject that is probably not the most interesting to readers outside of Scotland, I learnt quite a lot and found most parts of it interesting.

[Alasdair Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to the history of devolution and nationalism in Scotland.