Britain | Bagehot

Scottish nationalism’s left turn

Humza Yousaf tries to fight off a resurgent Labour Party

An illustration of Humza Yousaf, floundering in water, holding a Scottish flag.
Image: Nate Kitch

BIDENOMICS has many fans. The newest is Humza Yousaf, the first minister of Scotland. In a speech on January 8th he praised the Biden administration’s revival of industrial strategy and the “great force and clarity” of its vision. He noted approvingly the Inflation Reduction Act, a vast package of manufacturing tax breaks, and the CHIPS Act, intended to bring semiconductor-makers to America. Here was a blueprint for an independent Scotland. With oil revenues and borrowing powers, he said, a new nation would plough £2bn a year ($2.5bn, 1% of gdp) into green energy.

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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Left and behind”

From the January 20th 2024 edition

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