Citizens and
Constitutions:
The Scottish
Question
CHARLIE JEFFERY
University of Edinburgh

Political Participation in Scotland
• 97%, 85%, 100,000

Political Participation in Scotland
• 97%, 85%, 100,000
Hansard Audit
Certain to vote May
Interest in Politics
Knowledge of Politics
Efficacy
Knowledge of (UK) Parl
Satisfaction democracy
Scotland
72
62
56
44
46
32
32
47
44
UK
49
49
47

Scottish Referendum Study

What do you think will happen to levels of political involvement – both your own and in the Scottish public as a whole – once the referendum is over?
The Scottish public
Yourself
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Will stay more involved Will go back to normal Don’t know
100%

What do you think will happen to levels of political involvement – both your own and in the Scottish public as a whole – once the referendum is over?
Yes
No
Yes
No
0,0% 20,0%
Will stay more involved
40,0% 60,0% 80,0%
Will go back to normal
100,0% 120,0%
Don’t know

Implications?
• Convention not on the agenda in Scotland!

Implications?
• Convention not on the agenda in Scotland!
• What drives greater participation?

Implications?
• Convention not on the agenda in Scotland!
• What drives greater participation?
• Dissatisfaction
– Support for status quo 27, 21, 24, 25, 22
– Dissatisfaction with what?
– Inputs and outputs

£1400
28 May 2014
£1000

£500
“Say it was clear that if Scotland became an independent country (separate from the rest of the UK) the standard of living would be higher/lower and people would on average be £500 a year better/worse off.
In these circumstances would you be in favour or against Scotland becoming an independent country?”
Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2013

£500

Not Just Scotland

Status Quo
EVEL
Regions
English
Parliament
Independent
England
Don’t Know
What England Wants
Option 1
18
40
9
16
Option 2
25
31
--
13
--
17
15
16
Option 3
22
36
--
25
--
17

Status Quo
EVEL
Regions
English
Parliament
Independent
England
Don’t Know
What England Wants
Option 1
18
40
9
16
Option 2
25
31
--
13
--
17
15
16
Option 3
22
36
--
25
--
17

Not Just Scotland
Future of England Survey 2014

Not just Scotland and England

The Uncivic Culture
• Diffuse support much diminished?
– 45% Yes
– A quarter support status quo in
England
• Support now much more instrumental and conditional
– Constitutional strains about economic benefit, attractiveness of alternatives?
– Can Conventions deal with this?