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Secessionist Politics and Religious Conservatism: The Scottish National Party and Faith-Based Interests

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>10/2008
<mark>Journal</mark>Politics
Issue number3
Volume28
Number of pages9
Pages (from-to)188-196
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The Scottish National party's 2007 devolved election campaign was endorsed by two prominent ‘conservative’ Christians – Brian Souter, one of Scotland's richest men, and Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the leader of the Scottish Catholic Church. The article offers two explanations for this, both linked to the improved opportunity structure created by devolution: first, the Scottish Labour party lost the trust of these faith-based interests over the ‘Section 28’ episode, a significant factor due to the more competitive devolved party system; second, there is evidence to suggest that these faith-based interests believe an independent Scotland would create improved opportunities for influencing social policy.