'UK nationalism threatens Scotland'

Oct 20 2012

Scotland faces "an uncertain future" if it votes to remain in the United Kingdom, according to the External Affairs Secretary.

Fiona Hyslop turned an oft-quoted unionist accusation about Scottish nationalism on its head at the SNP conference in Perth, arguing that British nationalism is the real threat to Scotland's international relationships.

British nationalism is "narrow, chippy and hostile" and leaves the UK "unsure, insecure and resorting to parochialism", she said.

In a week that has seen experts and international politicians lining up to challenge the SNP's assertions about Scotland's continuing membership of the EU, and critics within and outside the party questioning whether Scotland would be welcomed into Nato despite the party's new pro-Nato stance, Ms Hyslop attacked the UK Government's "dithering gamesmanship over Europe" and its "national myth of military power".

"We face a choice between two futures. There is no status quo. The only question is do you trust yourself to make the decisions in a changing world, or do you trust the Conservatives?" she said.

"The status quo is no longer on offer. It is now a choice between two futures - an independent future that is internationalist in outlook, or a UK future: little Britain without the jokes."

She added: "I see the UK as it is viewed from the Continent, and as we speak about our national journey in countries around the world I learn a lot about how the world sees the UK.

"The word that comes to mind is nationalism. Not our grand progressive civic nationalism that seeks a nation in order that we might become more international, but a narrow, chippy nationalism that is hostile to the outside world and clings to a national myth of military power and innate superiority.

"That is British nationalism. The nationalism of Britain is what fascinates and alarms others around the world - the dithering gamesmanship over Europe, the fear of outsiders, the eagerness to start wars that it cannot finish.

"It is British nationalism that is seen as an obstruction to the advancement of our continent competitively."