Is this the end of Britishness?

Asharedhistoryof300yearscouldbewashedawayifScotlandvotesforindependence.Whatwas
thecomplexidentitytheUnitedKingdomcreatedandshouldwemournitsloss?
byIanJack
In1951,alittleknownBengalijournalist,alreadywellintomiddleageandstaringfailureintheface,
publishedabookthathassincebecomeaclassicofIndianliterature.NiradChaudhurisThe
AutobiographyofanUnknownIndiantoldthestoryofthewritersprogressfromanobscuretownin
theGangesdeltatouniversityinmetropolitanKolkata,andfromthereintoclerkingandpoorly
rewardedworkfornewspapersandliterarymagazines.Butthelargerjourneyitrecountedwasan
intellectualonehowhehadbeenbroughtintocontactwithEuropean,especiallyBritish,
civilisation,andhowmuchitsideasandarthadcometomattertohim.VSNaipaulsaiditwas
perhapstheonegreatbooktohavecomeoutoftheIndoBritishencounter,andthoughfewother
criticsmightgothatfar,itremainsanextraordinaryachievementbothforitsinsightintothe
Britishempireasseenfrombelowbyoneofitsnonwhitesubjects,andforitsargumentthatallof
Indiasproblemscouldbynomeansbeblamedonimperialism.AsIndiahadachievedindependence
onlyfouryearsbefore,afterhalfacenturyofstruggle,Chaudhurisviewswereboundtocausehim
trouble.Butevenmoreinflammatorywashisbooksdedication:
TothememoryoftheBritishempireinIndia,
Whichconferredsubjecthooduponus,
Butwithheldcitizenship.
Towhichyeteveryoneofusthrewoutthechallenge:
CivisBritannicussum
Becauseallthatwasgoodandlivingwithinus
Wasmade,shapedandquickened
BythesameBritishrule.

Made,shapedandquickenedallthatwasgoodandlivingwithinthem!WhatselfrespectingIndian,
thenornow,couldlivewiththatidea?OfthehundredsofthousandsofwordsChaudhuripublished
subsequently,noneweresoinfamousasthatdedication.Infamy,itturnedout,wasntgoodforhim.
Cravingmoreofit,hebecameacontrarianamischiefmaker,ashelikedtothinkofhimself
alwaystiltingagainsttheconventionalwisdomonanysubject,fromGandhitotheSuezcrisis.His
loveofBritainsometimesseemedoneofthefewunconfectedaspectsofhispersona,andthoughit
camewithitsshareofwilfulmannerismsandmaxims(suchashisbeliefthatBritishfoodcouldonly
betrulyenjoyediftheeaterworeBritishclothes),hisappreciationofthecountryshistory,literature
andlandscapewasprofound.Theknowledgehadbeenwonfrombooks:hefirstvisitedBritainin

1955,whenhewas57,anddidntsettlehereuntil1970,whenheandhiswifemovedfromDelhito
arentedflatinOxford,whereheliveduntilhisdeath,aged101,in1999.

IknewChaudhuriinthelastdozenyearsofhislife,whenIwouldsometimesvisittohearhim
performperformancesratherthanconversationswerewhatheenjoyed,challengingyoutoname,
say,theRoyalNavysbattleshipsin1939,whichhewouldreciteafteryoufailedtodoso,orticking
youoffforholdingahockglassbythebowlratherthanthestem,tuttuttingaboutthedeclinein
Britishmanners.Hisadoptedcountrywasinthatsenseadisappointmenttohim;thespectreof
decadence,hesaid,alwaystrodathisheelsliketheFoulFiend.Buthewasalwaysgenerousabout
itsachievements.Inhisview,theempirehadbeenoneofthegreatestandmostbeneficial
economicandpoliticalphenomenatheworldhaseverknown.Thatseemedanastonishing
statementevenforChaudhuri,givenhiscondemnationofBritishrulersinIndiaassooftenbrutal
andignorant.Buthedeniedanyparadox.In1940Ihatednazism,yeteverydayIwassustaining
myselfbylisteningtoBeethovenandHaydn,hesaid.Icanseparateculturesfrompersonalities,
andIgrievefortheempireasaninstitution.Onanotheroccasion,hetoldme,IamwhatIamon
accountofBritishruleinIndia.AndhaveIshownmyselftobeworthless?
Thisboastful,birdlikelittleman,dressedinhisdhotiandsurroundedbybooksinhisOxfordflat,was
anunlikelyfiguretorecallinthemiddleofthesecondteleviseddebatebetweenAlexSalmondand
AlistairDarlingonScottishindependence.NeverthelessIthoughtofhim.Somethingwasmissing
thathewouldhavesupplied:CivisBritannicussum.Darling,defendingtheunion,neveronce
mentionedtheBritishidentitythatithadcreatedandpromoted,northemanycultural,social,
scientificandtechnicalachievementsofits300yearhistory.Perhapstelevisiondebatesarenoplace
forthiskindofsoftedgedretrospection;perhapstheScottishNationalpartyhadalreadydefused
theprospectofthathistorysend,bypromisingthatthesocialunionbetweenpeoplesrather
thanstateswouldpersistundamagedwhatevergovernmentsdid;perhapsfocusgroupshadgiven
Britishnessthethumbsdown,asanideathatlongagolosttractioninScotland.

AhenpartyinBlackpool.Photograph:DougieWallace
Whateverthereason,Scottishnessistheidentitythatspeakersonthenosidehavebeenmost
anxioustodeclare.NobodycouldloveScotlandmorethanIdohasbeenaconstantsentiment.In
thefirstofthetwoDarlingSalmonddebates,thefirstministerfauxinnocentlywonderedwhyhis
opponentwasproclaiminghisloyaltytoScotlandwhenhe,Salmond,hadneverchallengedit.
Darlingnevertookupthepoint,thoughthereasonisclearenough.Facingopponentswholiterally
wrapthemselvesintheScottishflag,unionistsfeeltheyneedtoprovethattobeagainst
independenceisnottobeantinationalintheargotoftheblogs,aselfhatingScotsman,aquisling,
anUncleTom.Bothsides,therefore,turntoScotlandastheplacethat,inChaudhurisconstruction,
hasmade,shapedandquickenedthem.CivisScoticussum.
***
Idontknowifitappliestome.IsuspectmanypeoplemustloveScotlandmorethanIdo,asan
entityandasadestiny.Idontwanttocompetewiththem.MyfriendandformercolleagueNeal

AschersonwroteeloquentlyinarecentissueofProspectabouthisdecisiontovoteyes,andinhis
essayevokedamemorableimage,worthyofPixar.Putitlikethis,hewrote:
IneveryScottishbrain,therehasbeenatinyblueandwhitecellwhichsecretesanawareness:My
countrywasindependentonce.Andeverysooften,thecellhastransmittedaminute,almost
imperceptiblepulse:Woulditnotbegrand,ifonedayButthisstimulatedotherlarger,higher
voltagecellsaroundittoemitsuppressorcharges:Areyoudaft?Getreal;weretoowee,toopoor,
thatshitesforWembleyorthemovies.Onewayofdescribingwhatshappeningnowistosaythat
thereactionoftheseinhibitorcellshasgrownweakanderratic.Whereastheotherpulse,theblue
whiteone,istransmittinglouder,faster,moreinsistently.Thisiswhytherealreferendumquestion
isnolonger:Canwebecomeindependent?Itis:Yes,weknowthatwecanbutdowewantto?
AsIdroveoneeveninglastmonthonaroadthatfollowstheRiverTweed,whichforsomeofits
lengthmarkstheEnglishScottishborder,IwonderedwhyIhadneverfeltthepulseofthisblueand
whitecell.AndIwonderedwhyNeal,whohasspentasmuchofhislifeinEnglandasIhave,ifnot
more,alwaysseemstohavefeltitmurmuringawaylikeanoldsong,thoughtheinstitutionsthat
shapedandopeneduphislifeschools,universities,regiments,publishers,broadcasters,employers
wereattheveryleastBritish,whennotdownrightEnglish,intheiratmospheresandinfluences.
Butnoneofusisarationalactorinthesethings,untaintedbyourupbringing.
Inhisessay,NealremembershowheoftenheardthepatrioticversefromWalterScottsTheLayof
theLastMinstrelringingroundthekitcheninhismotherscutglassEnglish:
Breathestherethemanwithsoulsodead
Whonevertohimselfhathsaid
Thisismyown,mynativeland!
DrivingtowardsScottcountry,Irecalledmyfatherswaywiththesamelines:
Breathestherethemanwithsoulsodead
Whonevertohimselfhathsaid
Whenhistoehaskickedthebottomothebed
OHYABUGGER!

Herecitedthisversion,sensationally,athisbrotherinlawssilverweddingparty,whichfilledaroom
thatwassomehowpartofDunfermlinesRegalCinema.Iguesshemusthavehadoneortwobottles
ofbeerhewasneverabigdrinkeranddecidedtoletfly.Mymotherspentmostofthebus
journeyhomewonderingwhathadcomeoverhim,towhichanhonestanswermighthavebeen
IndiaPaleAle.
Thatwouldbeinthemid1950s.WedbeenbackinScotlandfourorfiveyearsbythen,afterwhat,
formyparents,hadbeena22yearstayinaLancashiremilltownwheremyfatherhadfoundwork
in1930.HeandmymotherwerebothfromFifeanditwastoFifethatwereturnedgladly,forthe

mostpart,thoughmymechanicfatherfoundthatthetextilemachineryhewaspaidtomaintainwas
antiquecomparedwiththatleftbehindinEngland.Hissideofthefamilyhadbeenthestrangerand
moreadventurous:mypaternalgrandmotherwasborninIndiatoanIrishsergeantintheRoyal
ArtilleryandaScottishmidwife,whodiedrespectivelyofalcoholpoisoningandacutemelancholyin
lateVictorianScotland,whentheirimperialservicewasdone.Britishisthedescriptionthatfits
thembest:warfare,theProtestantfaith,industryandtheempirethefourelements,accordingto
thehistorianLindaColley,fromwhichBritishidentitywasforgedsecuredtheiradvancement,such
asitwas,andprobablyledtomygreatgrandfatherdiscardinghisinconvenientCatholicism.Two
worldwars,theBBC,areasonablypopularmonarchy,miningandmanufacturingcommunitiesthat
sharedtradeunionsandpoliticalaims;bythetimeIwasborn,intheclosingmonthsofthesecond
worldwar,Britishidentityhadneverbeenstrongerorthicker,accretinglayerbylayersince1707.
Soonafter,theNationalHealthServiceandthewelfarestatearrived:thecherryonthecrumbling
cake,thefairerBritainthepostwarsettlement,noweroded,thatmanyinScotlandbelieve
independencecansecureandpreserve,whiletherestoftheUKprivatisesandoutsourceswhats
left.

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ThecolossalsandstonestatueofWilliamWallacenearDryburghstands21fttallwithanother10ftof
plinthunderneath.Photograph:PatrickDieudonne/Corbis
ThislatesummerofBritishidentitylastedroughlyfrom1948to1982,fromthelaunchoftheNHSto
victoryintheFalklandswar.Exceptforthatwar,andsomeearlierhooplaaboutthenew
ElizabethanagethatfollowedthecoronationandthefirstascentofEverest,patriotismtendedto
lielow.TheSuezdebacleandthequickdismantlingofanempiremadeitaproblematicemotion,
whichbegantobecomicallyevokedinthe1950sbytheGoonShowevenbeforeitswholesale
demolitionbythesatiristsofthe1960s.Inanycase,inafamilylikeminenobodyhadwavedaflag
since1914.BritishnationalismBritishidentity,Britishnesshadbecomeanunconsciousreflex
ratherthanadeliberatepoliticalposture.Ifwedthoughtaboutit,itwaswhatwewereinthe
modernworldofnations,thoughinfaroffhistoryandsomeaspectsofourpresentlifethewaywe
spokewasthemostobviousweknewourselvestobeScots.
TheEnglish,untilrelativelyrecently,seemtohaveimaginedEnglishandBritishtobe
interchangeable,asifBritainwasjustabiggerEngland.Ourdualismgaveusabetterappreciationof
thenationstatewelivedin,thoughifBritainwasanationaswellasastate,wheredidthat
leaveScotland?Asaregion,asubnation,aculture,ananachronism?Inmychildhood,country
wasthefavouredsolution.Countriescouldhaveborders,itseemed,evenwhentheywerentnation
states.EvidenceofoursfamouslyexistedinaheraldicsignthatthepublicityconsciousLondon&
NorthEasternRailwayerectedjustnorthofBerwickintheprewaryearsofthegreatAngloScottish
expresses;childrensbookssometimesshowedatrainspeedingpastit,withacalmNorthSea
stretchingbluetothehorizon.Otherwise,theborderremainedinvisible.Whatstruckyouasasign

ofdifferencewashow,travellingsouth,thegreystoneandpebbledashofdomesticarchitecture
gavewaytounfamiliarredbrickwhenyoureachedtheterracesofNewcastleandCarlisle.

Now,motoringalongminorroadsintheTweedvalley,eventhesmallestchangeishardtodetect.A
brownandwhitesigninthemostfunctionalsansserifsaysScotlandwelcomesyou,asifanxious
toplease.(ThesignfortheoppositedirectionsimplyreadsEngland.)Ononeside,university
tuitioncosts9,000ayearandontheothersidenothing,buthowwouldripeningfieldsofbarley
recognisethedifference?Handsomebutlongabandonedrailwayviaductscanbeglimpsedamong
thetreesmagnificentruinsfromBritainsgreatestage,waitingforthemoderntravellerto
rememberOzymandiasandtheimpermanenceofallregimes.Butweareafterothermonuments,
anddriveonwest.
***
ItwasearlyAugust.IntheBorders,therewerefewsignsyetofacampaignthatcouldtakeScotland
outoftheUnitedKingdom.AlargeYEShunginseparatelettersfromatreeontheroadfrom
ColdstreamtoKelso.TherewasntaNOtomatchit,butKelsotownhallflewboththesaltireand
theunionjack.ThenwecametotheTweedsmostbeautifulstretch,wherethehillsandtreesseem
tohavebeenhandcrafted.
JustupstreamofDryburghAbbey,areproductionofaclassicalGreektemplestandsatthetopofa
woodedhillockontheriversnorthbank.ThisistheTempleoftheMuses,builtin1817bythe11th
EarlofBuchanasamemorialtothepoetJamesThomson,whowasborn,in1700,afewmilesaway
inthevillageofEdnam.Fewpeopleotherthanriverfishersanddogwalkerscomeherethe
guidebooksbarelymentionthememorialbutthenevenfewerpeoplereadhiswork,which
includesthewordstoamusicalentertainment,Alfred:aMasque,which,inglorifyingthelifeof
AlfredtheGreat(whoburnedthecakes)alsopaidtributetothepatriotismofFrederick,Princeof
Wales,whowaspayingThomsonapensionof100ayear.Themasquehasalsobeenforgotten
exceptforitshummable,breastinflatingfinale,whereThomsonslyricsweresettoatuneby
ThomasArne.Atthemasquespremiere,inPrinceFrederickscountryretreat,ClivedenHouse,on1
August,1740,anaudienceheardRule,Britannia!forthefirsttime.

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TheclimaxoftheLastNightofthePromsfeaturesarenditionofRule,Britannia!,thelyricstowhich
werewrittenbytheScottishpoetJamesThomson.Photograph:NickyJSims/GettyImages
Theunionwasonly33yearsold.TheBritonswhonever,never,neverwouldbeslaveshadalready
facedoneJacobiterebellionin1715,andwouldfaceanotherin1745,bothsupportedbyFrance.
Menandwomendecidewhotheyarebyreferencetowhoandwhattheyarenot,LindaColley
writesinBritons,herhistoryofthemakingofBritishidentity.Throughoutmostofthe18thcentury,

theydefinedthemselvesasProtestantsstrugglingforsurvivalagainsttheworldsforemostCatholic
power.Later,whentheybegantobuildanempire,theydefinedthemselvesagainstthepeople
theyconquered.Britishnesswassuperimposedoveranarrayofinternaldifferencesinresponseto
contactwiththeOther,andaboveallinresponsetoconflictwiththeOther,Colleywrites.Itdidnt
emergebyblendingthedifferentregionaloroldernationalculturesinsideitsboundaries:itwasnt
ameltingpot,butneithercoulditbeexplainedasanEnglishhegemonyEnglandimposingits
cultureandpoliticsonahelplessanddefraudedCelticperiphery.Britishculture,inotherwords,
refusedtobecomehomogenousimpossibletobreakintothreesimplecomponents,English,
ScottishandWelsh.

InColleyswords,GreatBritainin1707wasmuchlessatrinityofthreeselfcontainedandself
consciousnationsthanapatchworkinwhichuncertainareasofWelshness,Scottishnessand
Englishnesswerecutacrossbystrongregionalattachments,andscoredoveragainbyloyaltiesto
village,town,familyandlandscape.ApartfromFrancophobia,whatboundthemtogetherwaswhat
ColleycallsthesubstantialprofitsofbeingBritish.Allkindsofinterestgroupstraders,
manufacturers,plantationmanagers,shipownerscametoseethenewnationasafocusof
loyaltywhichwouldalsocatertotheirownneedsandambitionsfrompatriotism,menand
womenwereabletoanticipateprofitsofsomekind.Itwouldbeamistake,however,toconceive
thestrengthoftheunionpurelyintermsoffearandgreed.Almostfromthebeginningitproduced
socialandintellectualfusionsofallkinds:fromthepartnershipbetweenthesteamtechnologists
JamesWattandMatthewBoulton,whichchangedthecourseofindustrialhistory,toReiths
inventionoftheBBC.Indecadespast,whentheideaofagoldenagematteredmoretopolitical
nationalismsasaperiodtoinspireandemulate,campaignersforScottishindependencefoundit
awkwardtoadmitthatScotlandhadmadeitsbiggestimpactontheworldintheyearsbetween
1750and1900.Ithadbeenalargelyunionistachievement.
***
By1992,whenColleypublishedBritons,muchofthisachievementeitherlayinruins,likethe
shipyardsofthelowerClyde,orhadvanishedentirely,likecarmakingandlinenweaving.The
declinehadbeenslowandprobablyinevitable,butalittleburstofhostileThatcherismhurried
thingsalongattheend.Colley,therefore,didmorethanexaminetheoriginsofBritishidentity.She
alsoquestioned,giventhecollapseofempire,industryandtheProtestantfaith,howlongsuchan
identitycouldsurvive.Otherwritershadbeenherebefore,particularlytheScottishpoliticaltheorist
TomNairn,butColleysscholarshipandclaritygavethequestionawideraudience.Godhasceased
tobeBritish,andProvidencenolongersmiles,shewrote,undeniably,thoughtosomeoneofmy
generationandbackgrounditalsoseemedthatsheunderestimatedthestrengthofanidentitythat
hadtakennearlythreecenturiestoaccumulate:CoronationStreetaswelltheBritishMuseum,
PenguinBooks,freeorangejuice,theQueenMary,BigBen,theBeanoaswellastheSomme.
Whywouldthissharedhistorybesoeasilywashedaway?Inherintroduction,Colleydirectedus
awayfromthenotionthatnationswerecharacterisedbyculturalandethnichomogeneityof
bloodandsoilandtowardsBenedictAndersonsdefinitionofanationasanimagined
community:ethnicallyandculturallydiverse,butartificialandproblematic.Mostnationswerein
thissenseinvented,butsome,orsosheseemedtoimply,weremoreinventedthanothers.Great

Britainwasessentiallyinvented,whileScotlandwasoneofthemucholderalignmentsand
loyaltiesthatlayunderneath.Thedistinctionsuggestedthattheidentityseekerneededtotunnel
through300yearsofthetemporaryandersatztogettotheeternalandtrueNealAschersonstiny
blueandwhitecell.Iveneverbeenabletodoit;toprioritisethe13thand14thcenturiesoverthe
19thand20thasconstituentsinmyhistoricsenseofselfhoodisbeyondme.

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AmanhangsaFalklandsflaginStanleytocommemoratethe30thanniversaryofthe1982Falklands
war.Photograph:EnriqueMarcarian/Reuters
Inanycase,Scotlandhasbeennoslouchatnationalinvention.TheGreektempletocommemorate
JamesThomsonwasnttheonlymonumentraisedbythe11thEarlofBuchan,whowasafriendand
neighbourofWalterScott,andasgreataromancerinhisobsessionwithruins,battlementsand
fancydress.Threeyearsearlier,in1814,theearlhaderectedacolossalstatuetoWilliamWallaceon
amuchhigherhillthantheoneallottedtoThomsonhalfamileaway.It,too,standsamongtrees,
buttheeffectismuchmoredramatic.Thevisitorwalksthroughawoodnoisywithwoodpeckers
untilhereachestheescarpment,andsuddenlyfindsacommandingfigurecarvedfromred
sandstonestaringsouthtowardstheEnglishborder.Wallacestandsmorethan21fttallandhasat
leastanother10ftofplinthunderhimwithhiswingedhelmet,hisbeard,hisshieldandhis
broadswordhemightbeacenturion.Buttheressomethingofthegargoyleinhisface;somethingof
Neptune,too;andnotleastafiercetouchofMauriceSendak.Wallace,saystheinscription,great
patriothero!Illrequitedchief!
BeyondhisvictoryatStirlingBridgein1297,andhisexecutioninLondoneightyearslater,littlefor
certainisknownaboutWallace;thefirstaccountofhislife,bytheminstrelBlindHarry,was
composed170yearsafterhisdeath.ThisepicpoemhasallthereliabilityoftheGospels,butit
ensuredthathisnamepersisted.Then,inthefirstdecadesofthe19thcentury,whenScotlandwas
sayingfarewelltoitspreindustrial,preunionhistory,Wallacebecameadevotionalcult.Thiswas
hisfirstmonument.MorefollowedScotlandhas20,mainlyerectedinthemid19thcenturybya
middleclassanxioustopreserveScottishdifferencewhenitlookedasthoughBritishidentitywould
wipeitout.Theclimaxofthemovement,atleastuntilMelGibsonsfilm,wastheopeningin1869of
theNationalWallaceMonumentonAbbeyCraigoutsideStirling,amassive220fttowerintheScots
Baronialstyle,funded,inthewordsofonecritic,byenthusiastsforScotchnationality,who
includedEuropeannationalistssuchasKossuthandGaribaldi.(Oratleasttheywrotelettersof
support;theirdonationscameinfactfromaGlaswegianwellwisherwhosawthepublicityvalueof
theirnames.)

Itwasapopulartriumph.Nowhereelseintheworldwasanationalherocelebratedsovastly.Every
yearthousandsofpeoplemadethejourneytoStirlingandclimbedthe246narrowstonestepsthat

wounduppasttheHallofArms,theHallofHeroesandthechamberthatcontainedWallacessword
(oroneverylikeit),untilfinallytheystaredbreathlessfromtheparapetacrosstheplainsofcentral
Scotland,tothefoundriesandcollieriesinthesmokyeastandthemountainsoutlinedonthe
westernhorizon:apanoramicsummaryofScottishbeautyandindustry.Ofcourse,therewasa
paradox.Herewasamagnificenttributetothenationalhero,butwherewasthenation?Itexisted
sentimentally,culturallyandsocially,butithadnopoliticalform.Itspatriotismandcolourful,often
inventedtraditionscomplementedratherthanthreatenedBritishnationalism,whichrepresented
prosperity,enterpriseandprogress.Inthisrelationship,itwasBritainthatineverysenseworethe
trousers.
Oneday,morethan60yearsago,wewentasafamilytotheNationalWallaceMonument.My
fathertookabinary,blackandwhiteapproachtopeopleandthings:intoothpaste,Colgatewasbad
andEuthymolgood;inbicycles,RaleighwaspreferredtoBSA;inPolarexplorers,CaptainScottdidnt
standadogschanceagainstAmundsen.WhenitcametoScotlandsmedievalhistory,thecontest
laybetweenWallaceandRoberttheBruce,inwhichWallaceemergedasakindofprotosocialist
comparedwithhisaristocraticandtreacheroussuccessornothingbutaFrenchbaron,asmy
fatheralwayssaid.
Ofthetriptothemonument,Icanrecallalmostnothing.Abusjourney,astonespiralstaircase,a
gloomyroomfilledwithmarbleheads.Lastmonth,whenIwentbackforthefirsttime,itwasclear
thatthegloomyroomofmymemorymusthavebeentheHallofHeroes,wherethevisitoris
presentedwiththemarblebustsof16eminentScotsanumberthatincludesWilliamEwart
Gladstone,onaccountofhisfatherbeingborninLeith.Sixwerewriters:BurnsandScott,naturally,
butalsoCarlyle.Twoweretheologiansandtwowereinventors.One,AdamSmith,wasaneconomist.
Therearenowomen.Ofcourse,thisisaVictoriancollectionandnicelypreservedassuchbut
absorbingthegravityofit,IrememberedtheliberationthatwasimplicitinBritishasaself
description,howitenlargedthesenseofyourselfandallowedyoutofeelpartofsomethinggrander
andmorevarious.Bythe1960s,thebombastofBritishnesshaddrainedaway.Itseemedlooseand
confused,andthereforespaciousandaccommodating.EMForster,JoanLittlewood,Dickens,Orwell,
CND,PlayforToday,BeyondtheFringe,theBeatles:thelistisrandom.InChaudhurisword,they
quickenedme,justasmenandwomenofmyparentsgenerationhadbeenquickenedbyShaw,
Wellsandnightschool.IfeltclosetothesesensibilitiesandinstitutionsIfeltwedemergedfrom
thesamenationalhistory.Thethoughtofseparationneveroccurred.
***

Isit,asVSNaipaulonceremarkedofBritishculture,allover?
Duringthepastdozenyears,theScottishNationalpartyhasworkedanastonishingtransformation,
turningthetablessothatunionismnowlookssentimentalthehomeofexhaustedtraditionwhile
independencestandsforenergeticprogress.Overthattime,thedeathofBritishnesshasbeen
predictedasoftenasthedeathofthenovel,butithasmanagedtosurviveandeventogrow.When
thefindingsoftheannualScottishSocialAttitudessurveywerepublishedlastmonth,theyshowed

thatsince2011thenumberofpeoplelivinginScotlandwhopickedBritishastheirnational
identityhadrisenfrom15%to23%,whilethosechoosingScottishhadfallenfrom75%to65%.
Timeandagain,theleadersoftheyescampaignhavestressedthatthesocialunionwillendureand
thatantiEnglishnessisoveranddonewith.IhaveheardSalmondsdeputy,NicolaSturgeon,talk
aboutherEnglishgranny,andwatchedMikeRussell,theMSPforArgyllandBute,tellanaudiencein
avillagehallabouthisEnglishmother,whosefatherorgrandfatheroncecleanbowledWGGrace.
Theresevenanoddlynamedgroup,EnglishScotsforIndependence.Nevertheless,inmostpolitical
conversation,Britishhasbecomeamissingword.

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AlistairDarling,theleaderofthenocampaign,andScotlandsfirstministerAlexSalmondbegto
differaboutScottishindependenceintheirsecondteleviseddebate.Photograph:DavidCheskin/PA
Scotlandisnotwhollysurroundedbytheseaunfortunately,thenationalistpoetHugh
MacDiarmidwrotein1934,andyettomanypeoplesouthoftheborderitmightwellhavebeen.(I
dontalwaysmeanmetaphorically:myfatherrememberedaLancashireworkmateaskinghimwhich
porthecaughttheboatfromwhenhewenthometoFife.)EnglishignoranceofScotlandhasalways
beenconsiderablylargerthanScottishignoranceofEngland.Someoftheimbalanceis
understandable:asthepolitical,administrativeandculturalcapital,Londonmadeitspresencefelt
everywhere.ButitmustalsobesaidthatwhatavariegatedcountrysuchasIndiawouldknowasa
programmeofnationalintegrationhasneverbeenseriouslyattemptedinBritain.MyScottish
stateschoolintroducedmetotheworksofKeatsandmademerotelearnthecausesoftheEnglish
civilwar,butIdoubtthatasixthformeratanEnglishstateschoolgottoknowmuchaboutBurnsor
theCovenanters.Theyear1707shouldmatterasmuchinEnglandasScotland,asoneoftheUnited
Kingdomsfoundationaldates,butuntilrecently,inmyexperience,fewpeopleinEnglandcould
identifyitssignificance.Fortheseandahundredotherreasons,itshardtoavoidtheconclusionthat
ScotlandtooktheBritishprojectmoreseriouslythanEnglanddid,andthatLondonscareless
stewardshipofapanBritishidentityandapanBritisheconomyfosteredthegrowthofScottish
grievanceandalienation.

Overthecourseofthereferendumcampaign,theyessidehasinsistedthatindependenceisnt
aboutidentity.Thismaybeonlyhalftrueidentitycomestotheforewiththepersistentideathat
ScotlandisinherentlymoreegalitarianthanEnglandbutAlexSalmondmadearemarkable
statementtwoyearsago,inthereferendumsconsultationdocument,wherehewrote,Scotlandis
notoppressedandwehavenoneedtobeliberated.Independencemattersbecausewedonothave
thepowerstoreachourpotential.Withoutwordslikeoppressionandliberation,thevocabularyof
nationalismisweakened,butinScotland,theirabsencehasenormouslybroadeneditsappeal.Inthe
SNPsbigchangebutnochangeversionofindependence,nobodysidentityisatrisk.Ifpeoplewant
tothinkofthemselvesasBritishaswellasScottish,thentheycankeepcalmandcarryon.As

Salmondwrote,soothingly,inthesamedocument:MuchofwhatScotlandwillbelikethedayafter
independencewillbesimilartothedaybefore:peoplewillgotowork,pensionsandbenefitswillbe
collected,childrenwillgoouttoplayandlifewillbeasnormal.
Britishidentitywillwithergradually.Ifitsurvivesatall,itwillbecomenarrow,eccentric,stridentand
romantic
Andofcourseitwill.ButgraduallyBritishidentitywillwither.Ifitsurvivesatall,itwillbecome
narrow,eccentric,stridentandromantic,likesomanyothernationalidentitiesthathavebeen
deprivedoftheirstatesandinstitutions.Ivalueittoomuchtowantthat.GordonBrownerredwhen,
asprimeminister,heattemptedtoenunciatehislistofBritishvalueswhichturnedouttobethe
valuesofmostcivilisednations.Hewouldhavebeenwisertohavewritten,asOrwelldid,aboutits
characteristicsratherthanwhatheimaginedtobeitslongstandingmoralbeliefs.Themarkersof
Britishnessformeincludeempiricism,irony,theadhocapproach,pluralism,andacriticalawareness
ofitsownrichandsometimesappallinghistory.Itssceptical,too:ithasseenathingortwoand
knowsnothinglasts.Butperhapswhatrecommendsitmostisthefrailsenescencethatmakesitan
undemandingkindofbelonging,andunexpectedlyfitsitforthemodernworld.Theuntanglingof
theinstitutionsmilitary,administrative,academic,ambassadorial,commercial,culturalthathave
sustainedthisidentitycantbutbepainfullydestructive.Thepast300yearshavenotbeenabout
nothing.
***
IwriteinaroomthathasaviewoftheFirthofClyde.Tridentsubmarinespassthisway,thoughI
rarelyseethem.Thesunisout,thewaterisblueandtheCowalhillsareturningbrownhereand
therewithdyingbracken.NiradChaudhurigrewupbesideriversasbroadasthis,andtheyformeda
brightpartofhismemory.Inthesecondvolumeofhisautobiography,hewritesofajourneyupthe
Padmabypaddlesteamer(built,asithappens,ontheriveroutsidemywindow),wherethedry
seasonhadexposedmanysandbanksandmadetheriveramassofserpentinestreams,likethe
backgroundofMonaLisa,ofcoursewiththedifferencethattherewerenorocks.Itwasthisscene,
observedasa15yearoldin1913,whichtaughthimthatbeautywasntconfinedtotheBritainofhis
schoolbooksthatitwasalsopresentinBengal.Andyetaftertheageof30heneversawthose
greatriversofthedeltaagain.First,hewaspreoccupiedbyhisnewlifeinKolkataandDelhi,and
then,whenIndiawaspartitioned,hisancestraldistrictfounditselfinthenewnationofPakistan.
MillionsofpeopleinIndiaweresimilarlydisplacedor,iftheystayedintheirhomes,found
themselveslivinginanewstate.
NotforamomentdoImakeacomparisonwiththepossiblebreakupoftheUKthatwouldbe
absurdexceptinoneregard.Tofindthatthecountryonegrewupinisnowaforeignstatewillbe
anoddfeeling.True,thebrackenwillstillturnbrownateverysummersend,thetrainwillstilltake
usfromGlasgowtoEuston,and,asAlexSalmondsays,childrenwillstillgoouttoplay,andpensions,
wehope,willstillbecollected.ButtheUnitedKingdomthatmadesomanyofuswillnolongerexist.
Ifithappens,Ishallgrieve.