The Union Flag, perhaps the most significant symbol of Unionism in the United Kingdom

Unionism in Scotland is the belief in that Scotland should remain in the United Kingdom in its present structure as a union between its main constituent countries. As the predominant force in Scottish politics, there are many strands of political Unionism in Scotland, as well as sympathisers with Unionism in Northern Ireland. Unionism is a movement often categorised primarily as being in opposition to Scottish independence. Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official languages English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Office... Walter Thomas Monningtons 1925 painting called Parliamentary Union of England and Scotland 1707 hangs in the Palace of Westminster depicting the official presentation of the Acts of Union, the law that formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain. ...

The Union

Walter Thomas Monnington's 1925 painting called Parliamentary Union of England and Scotland 1707 hangs in the Palace of Westminster depicting the official presentation of the law that formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

The union between the Kingdoms of Scotland and England (also including Wales as a possession) was created by the Acts of Union 1707 which united the governments of what had previously been independent states (though they had shared the same monarch in a personal union since 1603) under the Parliament of Great Britain. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 26 March) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... A state is a set of institutions that possess the authority to make the rules that govern the people in one or more societies, having internal and external sovereignty over a definite territory. ... A personal union is a relationship of two or more entities that are considered separate, sovereign states, which, through established law, share the same person as their respective head of state. ... King James I of England/VII of Scotland, the first monarch to rule the Kingdoms of England and Scotland at the same time Events March - Samuel de Champlain, French explorer, sails to Canada March 24 - Elizabeth I of England dies and is succeeded by her cousin King James I of... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ...

With the Act of Union 1800, Ireland merged with Great Britain into what then formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The history of the Unions is reflected in various stages of the Union Flag which in effect forms the flag of the UK. The Act of Union 1800 merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Wales and Scotland under the Act of Union 1707) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Union Flag (more commonly known as the Union Jack) is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ...

The majority of Ireland left the United Kingdom in 1922, however the separation of Ireland which originally occurred under the Government of Ireland Act 1920 was upheld by the British Government and the Unionist-controlled devolved Parliament of Northern Ireland, and it remains within the state today, which is now officially termed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act, 1920 (this is its official short title; the formal citation is 10 & 11 Geo. ...

The year 2007 sees the 300th anniversary of the mainland British union. Official celebration is excepted to be muted due to the proximity of the Scottish Parliamentary elections, two days after the date of the first meeting of the Parliament of Great Britain on the 1st of May. The union has become a subject of great historical interest recently, with a number of books and television series being released - surrounding January, the anniversary of the signing of the Union treaty but not actual incorporation, the issues was heavily covered by the media. It has been suggested that Wedding anniversary be merged into this article or section. ...

Status of the term

The term unionist is typically not one of self-identification in Scotland, although it is liberally used by Scottish nationalists and some political commentators.

This can be explained in a number of ways. A matter to consider is that unionism is the status quo in Scotland, it is not a single movement and is not revolutionary in any way. Secondly there are other uses of the term in Scotland which, at least historically, took precedence. Amongst these is the name of the Unionist Party, which was the full title of the Tory party in Scotland before the organisation formally merged with the Conservative and Unionist Party in England and Wales. This party was often known simply as 'the Unionists'. It should be noted, however, that the 'Unionist' in the present title of the Conservatives was added as a reference to Irish Unionism after a merger with the Liberal Unionist Party and has nothing to do with the name of the former Scottish party . Disambiguation: you may be looking for Scottish Unionist Party (modern) The Unionist Party, referred to as the Scottish Unionist Party outside Scotland itself, was the main Tory political party in Scotland between 1912 and 1965. ... The term Tory (from Irish Gaelic tóraighe, an outlaw or guerrilla fighter, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms — literally meaning pursued man) applied to the Tory Party, the ancestor of the modern UK Conservative Party. ... The new logo of the Conservative Party The Conservative Party is the largest centre right political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Liberal Unionists were a British political party which split away from the Liberals in 1886, and had effectively merged with the Conservatives by the turn of the century, the formal merger being completed in 1912. ...

The term may also be used to suggest an affinity with Northern Irish Unionism, mentioned above, rather than Unionism in Scotland. Commentary on Irish politics is seen as politically sensitive in many spheres of Scottish society, particularly in the west and other areas which shared immigration from Ireland.

Unionism and political parties

Scotland's location (in dark blue) within the United Kingdom

The three largest and most significant political parties which support Unionism in Scotland are the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative and Unionist Party. It should, however, be noted that within the structure of the Union, the three parties main Unionist parties have differing beliefs of what Scotland's status should be. The Conservatives were often seen as the most absolute Unionists, particularly in opposing the creation of the Scottish Parliament, brought about by the Labour Party in their pursuit of the principles of Home Rule and devolution. The Liberal Democrats, believe in even further powers (at least in theory if not practise) for the Scottish Parliament in the form of UK federalism. Created by Morwen. ... Created by Morwen. ... This article is about the Scottish Labour Party founded in 1976. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Conservative Party is one of the two largest political parties in the United Kingdom and the most successful party in political history based on election victories. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... Devolution or home rule is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a state to government at national, regional or local level. ... Political federalism is a political philosophy in which a group or body of members are bound together (Latin: foedus, covenant) with a governing representative head. ...

Also significantly the Tories in Scotland operated under the name of the Unionist Party until 1965 when they merged and became part of the Conservative and Unionist Party. Before that time, the party was separate but shared policies and presented a united front in the UK Parliament. There is also a small Scottish Unionist Party which broke from the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement and has no representation in either the UK or Scottish parliaments. The term Tory derives from the Tory Party, the ancestor of the modern UK Conservative Party. ... Disambiguation: you may be looking for Scottish Unionist Party (modern) The Unionist Party, referred to as the Scottish Unionist Party outside Scotland itself, was the main Tory political party in Scotland between 1912 and 1965. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... Logo of the Scottish Unionist Party The Scottish Unionist Party (SUP) is a small political party operating in Scotland. ... The Conservative Party is one of the two largest political parties in the United Kingdom and the most successful party in political history based on election victories. ... The Anglo-Irish Agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which aimed to bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland. ...

By a quirk of history Jacobitism was supported from the outset by Tories in both England and Scotland but also became identified with Scottish nationalism, and was popularised as a key part of the Scottish national identity by the writings of Walter Scott who was himself very much a unionist and a Tory. Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, wearing the Jacobite blue bonnet Jacobitism was (and, to a very limited extent, remains) the political movement dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England and Scotland. ... The term Tory (from Irish Gaelic tóraighe, an outlaw or guerrilla fighter, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms — literally meaning pursued man) applied to the Tory Party, the ancestor of the modern UK Conservative Party. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Portrait of Sir Walter Scott, by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time. ...

The significant opponents of Unionism in the Scottish Parliament are the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Scottish Green Party and the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) who seek a return to Scotland being an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. All three have representation in the Scottish Parliament, but only the SNP has representation in the UK Parliament. Again, these parties have separate reasons for their broadly similar aims - the SNP are civic nationalists, the Greens claim simply to support the move as a matter of decentralisation of power. The SSP are more complicated, and do contain a small anti-Nationalist (essentially Unionist and Internationalist) platform within their party in the form of the Scottish branch of the Socialist Workers Party and the International Socialists (Scotland). In the August 2006 schism of the Party, both platforms have announced their support of the splinter party - the Solidarity Movement, which again is essentially in support of an 'independent socialist Scotland'. This approach is criticised by some in the left, most vehemently[1] by the Communist Party of Great Britain, as being unsocialist. The Scottish National Party (SNP) (Scottish Gaelic: is a centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. ... The Scottish Green Party (Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the Green party of Scotland, and a full member of the European Federation of Green Parties. ... The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) is a radical left-wing Scottish political party which campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ... A state is a set of institutions that possess the authority to make the rules that govern the people in one or more societies, having internal and external sovereignty over a definite territory. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... This article is about the country. ... Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official languages English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Office... The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) is the largest political party of the far left in England[citation needed]. It sees itself as standing in the revolutionary socialist tradition. ... The International Socialists is the Scottish platform of the Committee for a Workers International in Solidarity (Scotland). ... Solidarity is a political party in Scotland, launched on 3rd September 2006 as a breakaway from the Scottish Socialist Party. ... The Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), which commonly calls itself the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), is a British Leninist political grouping, which publishes the Weekly Worker newspaper. ...

A number of small parties also have declared platforms on the matter of Scottish Unionism or Nationalism, including independent MSPs. MSP can refer to: Microsoft Project, project management software program developed and sold by Microsoft Microsoft Windows Installer Patch, Application patching framework by Microsoft Member of the Scottish Parliament, title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament Minneapolis-St. ...

Support for unionism in Northern Ireland

Mural in Belfast showing affinity between Loyalists in Scotland and Ulster.

The unionists of Northern Ireland have similar aims of maintaining the unity of their province with the United Kingdom. There is some degree of social and political co-operation between certain parts of Scottish society and Irish Unionism. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1030x803, 116 KB) Summary Photograph of Freedom Corner, Newtownards Road, Belfast. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1030x803, 116 KB) Summary Photograph of Freedom Corner, Newtownards Road, Belfast. ... Northern Irish murals have become symbols of Northern Ireland, depicting the countys past and present divisions. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... For the township in Canada, see Loyalist, Ontario In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official languages English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Office...

An example of this is support for the Orange Order, who parade in Orange Walks in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Loyalists in Scotland are seen as a militant or extreme branch of this unionism. Orangemen in traditional dress preparing to march The Orange Institution, more commonly known as the Orange Order, is a Protestant fraternal organisation based predominantly in Northern Ireland and Scotland with lodges throughout the Commonwealth and in the United States. ... Orange Walk could mean at least two things The Orange Walk District is an area of Belize. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Songs and symbols of unionism, particularly of the Northern Irish and Orange variety, are used by many supporters of Rangers F.C., the football club in Glasgow, who tend to display the Union Flag. Both Rangers and their main rival Celtic F.C., which has Roman Catholic roots, have a reputation for sectarian clashes and bitter opposition to each other, frequently characterised by religious taunts, chants and other provocations. This behaviour by some supporters is condemned by the management of the clubs and it should be emphasised that these symbolic gestures are often more decorative than indicative of any real commitment for or against unionism of any kind^{[citation needed]}. Not all Rangers supporters adhere to this "unionism", nor are all Celtic supporters Roman Catholic or supportive of Scottish or Irish nationalism. Although the religious roots of these clubs, and the affiliations of many of their supporters, undoubtedly play a part in conflict between them it is disputed how much this is due to religious and sectarian causes and how much due to sporting rivalry. Rangers Football Club is a football club from Glasgow, Scotland, which plays in the Scottish Premier League. ... Look up Football in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Union Flag (more commonly known as the Union Jack) is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ... Celtic Football Club (pronounced seltik in IPA; AIM: CCP) is a Scottish football club, competing in the Scottish Premier League, the highest form of competition in Scotland. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Sectarianism is an adherence to a particular sect or party or denomination, it also usually involves a rejection of those not a member of ones sect. ...

See also

• Scottish Unionist Party
• Sectarianism in Glasgow