Values of Britishness
First Minister Jack McConnell
The Values of Britishness
London conference
A Scottish perspective
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Six and half years after devolution, it is great to represent a country that is taking a new path. And it is great to watch young Scots grow and develop - proud to be Scottish and relaxed about Britain.
Today, I want to talk about three things.
To contribute to the debate on British ness from the Scottish perspective. To highlight the fact that diversity, and the values that celebrate diversity, should be the most important aspect of this debate.
And - I want to make a case for change. For the institutions of Britain to change and more enthusiastically and instinctively understand and meet the wants and aspirations of all of Britain. To recognise and celebrate the fact that Britain is a complex place with an exciting mix of national and ethnic identities.
But first of all I want to talk about Scotland, the best small country in the world
In two years time we celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Union of 1707.
Three centuries which have seen the bitter struggles of the early 18th century, the Scottish enlightenment of the decades that followed, the industrial changes and the growthof the Empire in the 19th century, the world wars and the creation of a modern democratic welfare state in the 20th. But three centuries which - at different times and in different ways - have seen Scotland's relationship with, and identity within, the UK continue to provoke debate, analysis and controversy.
In 1999 the devolution of legislative and administrative powers from Westminster to Scotland was a monumental reform of Great Britain.
Coupled with the creation of a Welsh Assembly, a Greater London Authority - and perhaps, most importantly, the peace process in Northern Ireland these were arguable the greatest constitutional changes inside the UK for 300 years.
The scale and significance of the change are so great that it is inconceivable that it has not changed what Britain is - or what being British stands for.
For Scots - and for being Scottish, there is no doubt that there is a greater sense of Scottish identity. Today I believe it has also followed that confidence is rising and there is a greater understanding and awareness of all things that contribute to Scottishness - good and bad.
In aspects of politics, economics and in culture, Scotland is taking a different path.
There are of course the headline policy differences.
In the first two years they were about paying to provide more. The abolition of university tuition fees and the re-instatement of the student grant. The provision of free personal care to older people who need it. We believed they were right for Scotland.
But as devolution has developed there are other areas, where it was not just a choice about whether or not to spend more resources.
We made a firm decision last year to ban smoking in all public places. A clear decision - that has public support and was overwhelmingly agreed by the Scottish Parliament. The comprehensive ban will be in place on the 26th March. I argue that we had to take the most radical position - because the Scottish smoking rate, cancer rate and death rate is one of the worst in Europe. Therefore this decision was the most 'Scottish' course of action to take.
We have created a National Full Time youth volunteering programme, to give young Scots an additional option to their choices facing them when leaving school. Based on the 'Americorps' model - Project Scotland aims to open doors of opportunity by providing youngsters with experiences that perhaps aren't so easy to come by in the lecture room, or the workplace. Creating a parity of options with the more traditional post school destinations - but more significantly, building civic responsibility entrenched in a feeling of national belonging.
Enterprise education has been a quiet little revolution that has been happening over the last four years in the Scottish classroom. Internationally recognised now as the most systematic and complete implementation of enterprise education - our programme - Determined to Succeed has engaged Scottish entrepreneurs and corporate Scotland in a way that has never been achieved before. And it is telling kids to aim high - so they are never again told not 'to have ideas above their station'
And perhaps - the most significant thing of all - has been our drive to attract Fresh Talent to live and work in Scotland.
The projected decline of Scotland's population inspired us into a series of actions that would attract new people to live and work in Scotland. There was a clear need to reverse that trend and it was important to attract enough people to stop that decline.
But Fresh Talent is about more than just numbers. It is about the kind of Scotland we are. It is about creating the conditions for a modern, enterprising, 21st century country. It is about political leaders saying that greater cultural diversity will make Scotland a better, more enterprising, more successful place.
This is a difficult argument to make. And there aren't very many making it elsewhere.
But after 3 ½ years of debate, we have built a broad coalition of support. Business, trade unions, politicians, academics and some editors support in migration and the principles behind it.
And perhaps most significantly, we have seen in the past two years a net inflow of people into Scotland.
It is a novel experience for Scotland to be experiencing a greater number of people moving into our country than are leaving. Possibly the first time since the Vikings!
These four examples - the smoking ban; Project Scotland; Determined to Succeed and Fresh Talent - are things I believe, over the medium term, have the potential to change what it is like to live, work and grow up in Scotland.
Confident Scotland
I believe that the combination of the act of devolution and good policy decisions, mean that our national confidence is beginning to increase.
When I was growing up being Scottish was more about not being English. And in the 1980's about not being Tory - than it was about a positive expression of our culture and our background.
Now - I believe that has changed. That our definition of what it is to be Scottish has become a more positive statement. It is different things to different people - but it is about our heritage, accent, country side and arts and sport. It is about our values and our character.
And it is clear that the Highlands and Islands are leading the way. Arguably the traditional image of a Scot is the image of a Highlander but many have documented the oppression of those who live in the north.
However , now we are increasingly looking at the region as an exemplar for the rest of Scotland. This might not sound like much. But it was unthinkable over the last 3 centuries that the Highlands and Islands would be held up as an example to others. That a lead would be taken from the north of Scotland.
For three hundred years Highlanders were told that there was nothing good in their way of life, their traditions or their culture. And as a result, they suffered depopulation, declining cultural confidence and economic stagnation.
Looking at the historical context it is remarkable:
· That today, after hundreds of years of de-population, the number of people living in the Highlands and Islands is growing;
· that the unemployment rate is no longer a multiple of the Scottish rate - but a fraction of it;
· that in 2007 Scotland as a whole will celebrate a year of Highland culture;
We can see the psychological impact all these things are having - not just on those who are now growing up in the Highlands and Islands. But on Scotland as a whole.
The Highlands and Islands are the best example of a renewed confidence and pride in Scottish culture.
I also believe today that while Scots from all backgrounds, religious and ethnic origins have a strengthened Scottish ness which is their primary source of identity, we are individually and collectively becoming more relaxed about Britain too.
Most Scots accept Britain as an economic and political reality, while culturally defining ourselves as Scottish rather than Asian, Irish, Italian, protestant or catholic. And this is a progressive change.
30 years ago, a young Indian apprentice in the Glasgow shipyards was asked whether he was a Protestant or a Catholic. He answered, I am a Sikh. The questioner responded, aye, but are you a Protestant Sikh or a Catholic Sikh?
There are still differences and problems today, but, now, in our own way, perhaps Scots and Scotland are moving on.
No longer endless historical grievances, less of a chip on the shoulder and less of a cringe and lack of confidence too.
The 21st century challenge for Scotland - and for Scottish ness - is to be more inclusive, have greater diversity and given our demographics, to be open and welcoming.
There are huge strengths to be gained by being a country that has a healthy flow of international comings and goings. Young Scots travelling , working and experiencing other countries and returning with a fresh outlook on life. Equally we want Scotland to be a contender as a destination of choice for international talent seeking to broaden their horizons too.
Scotland has been an emigrant nation for hundreds of years but I am certain it is better to be an immigrant nation than an emigrant one.
Definition of British ness
Of course there is an association between Britain, and the British people, and a set of values, a global role and a shared recent history.
Britain and British ness is associated with democracy, justice, decency and a creative ability to adapt and change.
Indeed in Europe, in North America and further a field, people look at the development of devolution and marvel at the way such a centralised state as the UK could change so significantly, so smoothly. But we did, and despite the best efforts of some on both sides of the border to whip up discontent, devolution is accepted as a settled will.
British ness has been forged - not in the tea rooms of Westminster, or the lawns of the Home Counties, but from massive social and economic change, from war and from the conscious decision of a diverse people to stick together and expect their fair share of the future.
There are, and there always have been moments in time, when the people of Great Britain stand together and take pride.
From sporting successes - Amir Khan wrapped in the Union Jack; cheering on Kelly Holmes and watching the curling final of the winter Olympic four years ago. You know. Curling was always Scotland's national sport.
To the major wars of the twentieth century, there are moments when we all put to one side our distinctive identities within the UK and stand together.
So, most Scots don't have a problem with Britain and British ness. Resentment and criticism only builds when British ness is mis applied.
When those who lead the great British institutions - government, politics and the media - fail to distinguish between England and Britain, or patronise Scots through self conceit or ignorance.
Shared national purpose
For too long, too many in England as well as Scotland, on the right and the left have confused the celebration of identity with nationalism. And they have as a result declined to recognise its importance.
Of course, a politics of identity can develop into the worst kind of nationalism with all the hatred and envy which distorts judgement and fuels tensions.
But we can celebrate different identities without threatening Britain. We will not be greater than the sum of our parts if we start by denying the parts don't exist or that they have their own validity.
It is argued that in a more insecure world people feel a need to be rooted and they draw strength from a shared purpose.
That is true, but a shared national purpose for Britain should be a shared national commitment to truly celebrate the diversity that makes us strong. A shared national understanding of - and willingness to learn about - each other, a shared national energy that comes from innovation and celebrating success.
There is danger in trying to develop a single notion of Britishness, but significant reward in recognising and encouraging the renewal of the different identities that have made Britain strong in the past.
If we are to agree that Britishness is anything, then it can only ever be a definition of diversity.
If Britain is to adapt and succeed, then Britain's institutions need to embrace the diversity of the component parts of the United Kingdom. They need to encourage and celebrate diversity rather than deny or ignore the differences around the UK in defence of an outdated notion of British ness.
That means say England when you mean it. And say Britain when we are talking about the whole country. It means accepting that different problems needs different solutions, different people may have different priorities, and different identities - ethnic and national - need recognition.
It means government, UK political parties, the British media and the institutions which are largely located here in metropolitan London must - as, for example, the British Council have already done - accept and embrace post devolution Britain and multicultural Britain. And therefore, celebrate a diverse British ness by also celebrating and promoting the many other identities - including Scottish ness - which give us strength.
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