Scotland in Union (SIU)
NicknameSIU
TypePro UK campaign
Pressure group
HeadquartersGlasgow
Location
  • 272 Bath Street
Membership
38,000 (2023)[1]
CEO
Pamela Nash
Websitewww.scotlandinunion.co.uk

Scotland in Union (SIU) is a pro-UK campaign group, based in Scotland, which launched in March 2015 to help keep Scotland within the United Kingdom. Its supporters include members of pro-UK political parties and people with no party affiliation. It is Scotland's largest and most active pro-UK campaign group, with 38,000 signed up supporters.[1]

History

Scotland in Union launched in March 2015, with the aim of promoting Scotland's place in the UK. The group was created in the wake of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, in which 55 per cent of the electorate voted against the proposal that Scotland should become an independent country.[2] Scotland in Union is a private company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland.[3]

The organisation was initially led by its founder Alastair Cameron, a former Army captain.[2] In January 2017, Scottish Labour's former Justice spokesperson Graeme Pearson was announced as Chief Executive.[4] In August 2017, former Labour MP Pamela Nash took over the role.[5]

Campaigns and activities

Online presence

Online, SIU maintains a website, a Facebook page, a Twitter/X account, an Instagram account, LinkedIn, Tik Tok, as well as having a presence on more recently created social media platforms such as Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky. Social media is where SIU engage with supporters and encourage others to join their campaign.

On their website, SIU publishes updates, requests donations and highlights specific campaigns like petitions, local by elections or tactical voting campaigns and nationwide elections.

Polling

SIU has commissioned opinion polling on Scottish independence on several occasions, with a particular focus on the question of whether people think Scotland should remain part of the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom.[6] In 2021, three political academics carried out a study which demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the Remain / Leave format and the 2014 Yes / No question formulation.[7] Another test of the effect of the question wording was carried out via a YouGov poll in March 2022, in which the sample was split and half were asked the 2014 Yes / No question and half were asked a Remain / Leave question; this poll found a significant difference in support for remaining in the UK, depending on the question asked.[8] The use of this wording has been criticised by SNP depute leader Keith Brown, who said in 2019 that it was "a deliberate bid to confuse independence with Brexit".[9] The most recent polling using Remain / Leave at the time of writing, which was conducted in September 2022 and December 2022, indicates that 59% of Scots would vote to remain and 41% would vote to leave, once undecideds are removed.[10][11]

Polling commissioned by SIU has also asked when people think another referendum on Scotland leaving the UK should be held, if at all; and has asked people about priority areas for Scottish politicians. One example of this was a poll in May 2022 which found that only 29% of Scots wanted another referendum before the end of 2023.[12] Another poll in September 2022 found that only 7 per cent of Scots think independence is among the most important issues for the Scottish Government.[13]

Other questions asked in SIU's polling have focused on defence and international affairs. This polling in May 2022 showed that majorities believe that membership of the G7 (79%), NATO (82%) and the UN Security Council (79%) is important. Participants were also asked if the UK should retain its Independent nuclear deterrent, with 58% saying the UK should; while 20% said the UK should not (23% don't know).[14][15]

Economics-focused campaigns

To coincide with the annual publication of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland figures, known as GERS, SIU introduced a new method to break down the 'UK dividend' from which Scotland benefits,[16] for local communities across Scotland.[17] In addition, SIU's Chief Executive, Pamela Nash, has written articles to highlight the benefits to Scottish public spending which come from sharing across the UK.[18][19]

SIU has also highlighted the Scottish Government's Export Statistics Scotland publication,[20] to increase awareness of the proportion of Scotland's trade with the rest of the UK and to call for more open acknowledgement of Scotland's trade situation.[21]

2023 spending priorities campaign

In late 2022, after the UK Supreme Court had ruled that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence,[22] SIU launched a campaign to demonstrate alternative uses for the £20m the SNP administration was still apparently allocating to a referendum in 2023.[23] After the SNP announced that the £20m was in fact being diverted to the fuel insecurity fund, which was one of the suggestions SIU had made, this change was welcomed by SIU's Chief Executive.[24]

End The Spend Petition

SIU also launched a 'End The Spend' petition calling on the SNP government to stop wasting taxpayer money trying to break up the UK.[25]

Tactical voting campaigns

SIU's first campaign was to encourage tactical voting against the Scottish National Party during the 2015 UK general election.[26]

SIU also encouraged tactical voting in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, and in November 2019, SIU launched an online tactical voting guide for Scottish voters in the run up to the 2019 UK general election. This guide suggested which party people should vote for in their constituency if their priority was to stop the SNP.[27]

In the run up to the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, SIU launched its tactical voting campaign for voters whose priority was stopping an SNP majority and another referendum. An SNP majority was stopped, with Sir John Curtice commenting that tactical voting probably played a part in this outcome.[28] According to a Scottish Election Study by academics across the UK, released in May 2022, "significant numbers of people voted for both the Conservatives and Labour as part of efforts to defeat the SNP and strengthen the Union".[29]

Devolved functions campaigns

SIU has run a series of campaigns to highlight poor performance by nationalist administrations. These have mostly used data obtained via Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requests, and have included items covering health and income inequalities[30][31] and cancer waiting times.[32]

In January 2023, SIU released polling (conducted in December 2022), showing that most people in Scotland think the SNP is performing poorly in its handling of key public services.[33]

Billboards, advertising and print media

SIU has used billboards on several occasions, including in 2016, when SIU paid for a large billboard advert near the SNP conference in Glasgow, urging Nicola Sturgeon to "change the record" on independence and rule out another vote.[34] In 2017 in Aberdeen, again outside the SNP conference, SIU organised an advertising van with the message 'Referendumb' that was unveiled to awaiting press as SNP members gathered for the conference.[35] A billboard campaign was launched again in 2021 in the run up to the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.[36]

In September 2018, SIU launched a 'Yawn' campaign, using newspaper advertisements. This was a campaign aimed at people who are 'tired' of the constant constitutional debate; "SNP politicians are still campaigning for an independence referendum that Scotland does not want. Tired of this?" The campaign gained additional media attention when a Police Scotland Twitter account tweeted in apparent support of the campaign, before deleting their tweet.[37]

Events

Scotland in Union has held local political and social events, mostly in Scotland, but also in London and online. The events have ranged from talks about Scotland's economy, to Burns Night celebrations and events to mark St Andrew's Day, to a Parliamentary reception in at the House of Commons.[38]

At various events, across the UK and online, SIU has been joined and supported by politicians from across the main pro-UK parties including Ruth Davidson,[39] Anas Sarwar, Christine Jardine,[40] David Mundell,[41] Andrew Bowie, Mike Rumbles,[42] Martin Whitfield, Beatrice Wishart, Jackie Baillie,[43] Murdo Fraser, Alistair Carmichael, Johann Lamont,[44] Ian Murray,[45] Alex Cole-Hamilton,[46] Willie Rennie,[47] Wendy Chamberlain, Jamie Stone and Donald Cameron[48]

Finances

Scotland in Union is funded by donations from supporters.[49] In 2018, doubt was cast on the health of the group's finances when it emerged that the majority of its supporters had not contributed any money.[50] Also in 2018, its accounts showed a drop in the organisation's reserves from £313,000 to £170,000.[51] Scotland in Union's latest accounts, published at Companies House for the year to 30 November 2021, showed reserves of £190,975.[52]

Natalie McGarry accusation and apology

In 2016, Scottish National Party MP Natalie McGarry apologised and paid compensation, after sending a tweet about the leadership of SIU. Ms McGarry later described the tweet as 'a serious mistake'.[53] SIU's founder, Alastair Cameron, announced that the compensation money would be distributed to three charities: mental health charity Combat Stress, genocide awareness charity Aegis Trust and children's charity Lumos.[54]

Data theft

In December 2017, SIU informed the police and the Information Commissioner that SIU had suffered a data theft.[55] Subsequent to this incident, the Electoral Commission carried out an investigation of SIU's donations. Following the investigation, the Electoral Commission said it was “satisfied” that SIU had complied with its requirements.[56]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Walters, Jack (19 August 2021). "'Don't want another referendum' Indy reality turns tide in favour of Unionists, says ex-MP". Daily Express.
  2. 1 2 Johnson, Simon (6 March 2015). "Unionists can hold back the SNP 'if they act together'". The Daily Telegraph.
  3. ↑ "Scotland in Union SC492324". Companies House.
  4. ↑ "Ex-Labour MSP Graeme Pearson takes on Scotland In Union role". The Herald. 23 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Nash to lead pro-UK Scotland in the Union campaign group". The Scotsman. 21 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Macnab, Scott (17 September 2019). "Scottish Independence: Poll - majority of Scots will vote "remain in the UK"". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "Would the Scots vote for independence? The answer could depend on the question". London School of Economics. 5 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "YouGov / These Islands polling report" (PDF). YouGov. 2022.
  9. ↑ Schofield, Kevin (18 September 2019). "Majority of Scots would vote to 'remain in the UK', according to new poll". Politics Home. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Poll: 51% of Scots against indyref2 in 2023". The Herald. 6 October 2022.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Brian (10 January 2023). "Poll shows what the priority must be – and it isn't independence". The Herald.
  12. ↑ Davidson, Peter (8 May 2022). "New Scottish indy poll shows just 29 per cent want referendum by end of 2023". Daily Record.
  13. ↑ Walker, David (7 October 2022). "SNP condemned for how they have run the country by voters in new poll ahead of conference". Scottish Daily Express.
  14. ↑ Grant, Alistair (10 May 2022). "Majority of Scots want to retain nuclear weapons, new poll finds". The Scotsman.
  15. ↑ Campbell, Glenn (18 May 2022). "How Ukraine war influenced the SNP's Nato position". BBC News.
  16. ↑ "UK dividend of £1,941 for every person in Scotland". GOV.UK.
  17. ↑ "UK Dividend". Scotland in Union.
  18. ↑ Nash, Pamela (25 August 2020). "Latest GERS figures will show simple truth". The Scotsman.
  19. ↑ Nash, Pamela (25 August 2020). "GERS figures: Why the numbers show Scotland is better together with UK". The Scotsman.
  20. ↑ Gordon, Tom (21 October 2021). "Independence warning as Scotland relies more on exports to rest of UK". The Herald.
  21. ↑ Nash, Pamela (22 October 2021). "Why honesty from Nicola Sturgeon on exports for independent Scotland is 'long overdue'". The Scotsman.
  22. ↑ Torrance, David (23 November 2022). "Supreme Court judgment on Scottish independence referendum". The House of Commons Library.
  23. ↑ McGrath, Kieran (14 December 2022). "Sturgeon poised to step up independence push as SNP unveils plan for IndyRef2 legislation". The Scottish Daily Express.
  24. ↑ Gordon, Tom (15 December 2022). "Salmond accuses SNP ministers of 'flying the white flag' over Indyref2". The Herald.
  25. ↑ "End The Spend". Scotland in Union.
  26. ↑ Brooks, Libby (5 March 2015). "Scottish tactical voting campaigns launch over SNP landslide fears". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  27. ↑ Macnab, Scott (28 November 2019). "Pro union tactical voting guide launched to thwart SNP". The Scotsman.
  28. ↑ Curtice, John (10 May 2021). "Scottish election 2021: How the SNP was denied a majority by tactical voting". The Scotsman.
  29. ↑ Andrews, Kieran (11 May 2022). "Hopes and fears of independence set Holyrood record for tactical voting". The Times.
  30. ↑ McCall, Chris (4 May 2021). "SNP accused of letting down patients in most deprived parts of Scotland". The Daily Record.
  31. ↑ Grant, Alistair (30 December 2022). "Double the number of babies from poor areas require urgent care compared to wealthy". The Scotsman.
  32. ↑ Puttick, Helen (28 December 2022). "Half of men miss target time for urgent prostate cancer treatment". The Times.
  33. ↑ McCall, Chris (9 January 2023). "Majority of Scots losing faith in SNP record on key public services, poll finds". The Daily Record.
  34. ↑ Green, Chris (13 October 2016). "Scottish independence rally planned outside SNP conference". i.
  35. ↑ Clerkson, Tony (17 March 2017). "'Referendumb' billboard unveiled by their activists as the SNP gathered for their party conference in Aberdeen". Daily Record.
  36. ↑ "Vote for Scotland's priorities - not the SNP's". Scotland in Union. 27 April 2021.
  37. ↑ "Police Scotland anti-independence tweet deleted". BBC News. 29 September 2018.
  38. ↑ "Scotland in Union's House of Commons Parliamentary Reception". Scotland-In-Union. 10 February 2023.
  39. ↑ Davidson, Ruth [@RuthDavidsonPC] (25 January 2022). "A pleasure to give the Immortal Memory for the @scotlandinunion annual Burns Supper" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  40. ↑ "Scotland in Union's Glasgow Burns Supper 2020". Scotland in Union. 24 January 2020.
  41. ↑ "Scotland in Union's London Burns Supper 2020". ScotlandinUnion. 7 February 2020.
  42. ↑ "Scotland in Union's Westhill Meeting". Scotland in Union. 2 October 2018.
  43. ↑ "Helensburgh Scotland in Union". Scotland in Union. 11 September 2018.
  44. ↑ "Burns Night". Scotland in Union. 7 February 2018.
  45. ↑ "Scotland in Union's House of Commons Parliamentary Reception". Scotland-In-Union. 10 February 2023.
  46. ↑ Cole-Hamilton, Alex [@agcolehamilton] (16 January 2019). "Delighted to be giving the Toast to the Lassies at this year's @scotlandinunion Burns supper in Glasgow" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  47. ↑ Scotland in Union [@scotlandinunion] (4 May 2018). "A huge thank you to @willie_rennie for speaking at our event this evening, in Webster's Memorial Theatre, Arbroath. More events to follow in the coming weeks and months ahead" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  48. ↑ "Scotland in Union's Burns Night 2023". Scotland in Union.
  49. ↑ "DONATE | Scotland in Union". scotland-in-union.
  50. ↑ "Doubts over Unionist campaign's future after funding admission". HeraldScotland. 20 February 2018.
  51. ↑ "Scotland in Union in financial trouble despite new members". The National.
  52. ↑ "Scotland in Union Filing History". Companies House.
  53. ↑ "Suspended SNP MP pays damages over 'Holocaust denier' Twitter row". The Guardian. 9 May 2016.
  54. ↑ "MP Natalie McGarry apologises over 'holocaust denier' tweet". BBC News. 9 May 2016.
  55. ↑ Gordon, Tom (31 December 2017). "Police probe security breach at Scotland in Union campaign". The Herald.
  56. ↑ Gordon, Tom (28 March 2018). "Unionist campaign cleared after probe into donations". The Herald.
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