Scottish nationalism.

A public opinion poll in 1996, found that 20% of Scots favour outright separation from England. The same poll found that the vast majority of Scots take a more moderate view, but only if the United Kingdom transfer most of its powers to Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. Less than 20% of Scots say the current arrangement should be preserved unchanged. The Scots signed the Treaty of Union with England in 1707. By doing so, they gave up their parliament, currency, and much of their sovereignty. In return, Scotland got unrestricted access to markets in England and its growing empire. David McCrone, a specialist in nationalism at the University of Edinburgh, says that "Everyone thinks about nationalism as deeply rooted in ethnicity and ancient hatreds. Usually, it's about economic and political factors." With the growth of the European Union and the decline of England as a power, Scotland no longer has strong economic motives for remaining tied to its southern neighbour. Hence, the rise in Scottish nationalism along with an explosion of interest in Scottish culture, and a growth in the use of the Gaelic language. This renewal of a separate Scottish identity is especially strong among young people. Most Scots want their old parliament back and they want to run their own internal affairs. At present, Scotland is administered from the Scottish Office in London by about 10,000 civil servants. Under the most likely new arrangement Scotland will get its own legislature and continue to send its 72 Members of Parliament to London. England will retain control of foreign affairs, defence, and overall economic policy; all other powers will be transferred to Edinburgh.