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Takeover: Explaining the Extraordinary Rise of the SNP
Even before soaring to the apparently impossible challenge of an outright majority at Holyrood in 2011, the Scottish National Party had long dominated the political narrative in Scotland. With the independence referendum in 2014 and their near clean sweep in the general election the following year, the full force of the SNP's power was felt throughout the UK. Now, with the party's rivals still trailing limply in their wake, this new account by two established SNP-watchers explains just how they have stormed to victory, changing the face of Scottish - and British - politics for ever.
Tracing the path from grassroots party of protest to professional, highly centralised electoral machine, Rob Johns and James Mitchell explore the differing leadership styles and often radical shifts in the party's image, from 'tartan Tories' to self-styled anti-austerity crusaders. Along the way, they analyse the internal battles between the leadership, members and activists; map the changing profile of the average SNP voter; and outline the new challenges that have come with increased electoral success.
Tracing the path from grassroots party of protest to professional, highly centralised electoral machine, Rob Johns and James Mitchell explore the differing leadership styles and often radical shifts in the party's image, from 'tartan Tories' to self-styled anti-austerity crusaders. Along the way, they analyse the internal battles between the leadership, members and activists; map the changing profile of the average SNP voter; and outline the new challenges that have come with increased electoral success.
Engaging, impartial and above all insightful, Takeover charts the rise and rise of Scotland's biggest party and asks: where now for the SNP in the wake of a historic third successive victory?
- GenresNonfiction
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
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August 8, 2017
This was a quite thorough and enjoyable overview of the history of the SNP, and the Scottish independence movement in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Although it does *not* attempt predict the outcomes of the 2016 Scottish election, 2016 Brexit vote, and 2017 UK general election, it provides a superb analysis of the work which the party undertook in the 1990s and early 2000s as it prepared for government, moderated its messaging, and executed an impressive referendum result in 2014. The trade-offs involved were interesting to learn about, namely that the party double-down post-2014 on new voters who supported Yes, but at the cost of losing some of the 2007 & 2011 anti-independence voters who'd helped them win government and then their first majority. Some neat parallels to Quebec, PQ, and BQ politics as well.
Although it does *not* attempt predict the outcomes of the 2016 Scottish election, 2016 Brexit vote, and 2017 UK general election, it provides a superb analysis of the work which the party undertook in the 1990s and early 2000s as it prepared for government, moderated its messaging, and executed an impressive referendum result in 2014. The trade-offs involved were interesting to learn about, namely that the party double-down post-2014 on new voters who supported Yes, but at the cost of losing some of the 2007 & 2011 anti-independence voters who'd helped them win government and then their first majority. Some neat parallels to Quebec, PQ, and BQ politics as well.
Displaying 1 of 1 review