Britain | Populism, Scottish-style

The SNP response to the blocking of its transgender act is illiberal

Why the British government’s policy is not an attack on devolution

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 20: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during the time tabling debate for the Stage 3 Proceedings of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill on December 20, 2022 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Cowan - Pool/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images

The Scottish National Party’s plan for their new nation reflects a classically liberal ideal of limited government. It would feature a written constitution, which would entrench fundamental rights and “bind the institutions of the state”, all overseen by a Scottish Supreme Court. For many Scots this is an attractive alternative to Britain, where a swaggering government seems to do as it wants so long as it controls Parliament.

This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Populism, Scottish-style ”

From the January 21st 2023 edition

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