Over at the Endeavour Public Affairs blog, Leader of the Scottish Lib Dems Willie Rennie marks St Andrew’s Day, 30th November, by reflecting on the importance of Scottish identity … within the UK. Here’s an excerpt:

It is because I am a proud Scot that I want to see a constitutional settlement which gives us the best chance to get on in life. 2011 was the first year where the number of people aged 65 and over was higher than the number of those aged under 15. When it comes to providing stability for pensions, welfare and our economy I believe stronger when we work together across the UK partnership of nations.

It is sad that those who do not back the nationalist’s independence plans feel as though they have to qualify their loyalty to their country. That is not where we should be in the decade after devolution. …

I will continue to set out the positive case for remaining within the UK partnership of nations. The referendum debate cannot descend into the trading of insults or the questioning people’s fundamental loyalty to Scotland.

It was Alex Salmond himself who said “It is incumbent upon all of us, as parliamentarians, to lead by example and to ensure that the level of this hugely important debate matches the expectations of the people who elected us.”

As for my own St Andrews plans, I will spend the evening watching Borgen; a Danish political drama which charts the ups and down of coalition government. But that’s a story for another time.

You can read Willie’s article in full here.

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