The Scots and the Union

An updated edition on the 1707 Union between Scotland and England in a modern context


The Scots and the Union: Then and Now is a refreshed, revised and extended edition of The Scots and the Union, which appeared in 2006. It was acclaimed then as a path-breaking, game-changing account of the making of the United Kingdom, and the Scots' part in this. Winner of the Saltire Society's prestigious Scottish History Book of the Year prize, it successfully challenged accounts of the process that alleged that the union was brought about by English bullying and the venality of Scottish politicians `bought and sold for English gold'.


This new edition not only provides readers with an essential explanation of why and how Scotland became part of the United Kingdom, but brings the historical debate into a vigorous present with an additional section. An explanation is provided as to why the union is less strong in 2014 than it was in the 1950s and also why, in comparison with citizens in some other smaller European nations which have become independent states in recent times, large numbers of Scots seem reluctant to see the end of Britain.


This new edition is the key background text for anyone wishing to explore how we got to the position where we are once again debating union issues and opinions, lending historical weight and context to the arguments for and against union.


Key Features:




Updated in the light of new research
Challenges dominant view that the Scots were `bought and sold for English gold'
New chapter expands the debate into the present
Adds historical dimension to the current debate about the union
Key background reading for anyone interested in 2014 referendum