The Liberals and ‘Scottish Self-Government’

This chapter looks at the originators of ‘nationalist unionism’, the Scottish Liberal Party. For much of their electoral ascendancy between 1832 and 1922, Scottish Liberals presented themselves as the natural party of Scottish interests, and as defenders of its distinct identity and traditions. But although Liberals advocated Home Rule (or devolution) for Ireland after 1886, the party was equivocal as to legislative devolution for Scotland, something that frustrated its more radical members. Only when the Liberals lost office in 1922 and declined as a party was its nationalist unionist rhetoric accompanied by unequivocal pledges in favour of a Scottish Parliament, something it helped achieve towards the end of the 20th century.