'The Scottish Question': implications for the rest of UK and Scottish local governance

This project involves undertaking a (i) review of existing information and data gathered over the applicant's career, (ii) conducting further primary research (gathering new material, conducting elite interviews and comparative research on local governance), (iii) engaging in a range of novel knowledge exchange activities and (iv) the production of academic articles. The central aim is to explore the implications of the Scottish Question for rUK and for local governance in Scotland. The applicant will engage with policy-makers in rUK and at local level in Scotland on these matters and also with the BBC to develop engagement with a new cohort of voters, ie. 16/17 year olds in Scotland.

The applicant has gathered a considerable body of information on the SQ over three decades. This will contribute to informing debates amongst the public and policy-makers in different parts of the UK about the implications of the current referendum for rUK. However, the applicant has identified key gaps revealed by this body of research. This fellowship would allow the applicant to spend some time researching in both the National Archives at Kew and the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh. The applicant will also conduct interviews with elites in the London, North East of England, Wales and Northern Ireland on implications of the Scottish Question.

The fellowship will also allow the applicant to develop his work on local governance in Scotland. This current research involves interviewing key local officials and politicians on post-referendum local governance. The fellowship will allow this to be developed to include comparative research on localism and local governance in other states. It will allow him to carry out research in Shetland considering the place of Shetland in debates on the SQ. The fellowship will allow the applicant allow the applicant to engage with the policy-making community throughout Scotland on these issues.

There will be a heavier emphasis on completing the research element of the fellowship period in the first half of the period, followed by greater emphasis on knowledge exchange in the second. However, each activity (research and knowledge exchange) will run throughout the fellowship.

The knowledge exchange activities will take a number of forms, chosen to suit to the target audience. This will include:
producing and presenting public papers in different places in rUK and different localities in Scotland;
collaborating with the BBC to engage with the new electoral cohort of 16/17 year olds;
writing newspaper articles and blogs using web and twitter and web dissemination;
making every effort to attend and speak at appropriate public and policy events and conferences and relevant opportunities to disseminate findings;
production of series of accessible papers on 'The Scottish Question and...'
writing academic papers.

WHO WILL BENEFIT?
It is envisaged that research findings, knowledge exchange activities and outputs will be of interest to a wide audience including:
i. Scottish electorate;
ii. Wider public in rUK.
iii. Media in Scotland and rUK
iv. Younger voters
v. School teachers and those engaged with 16/17 year olds.
vi. Policy-makers in Scotland
vii. Policy-makers in rUK

HOW THEY WILL BENEFIT
i. Voting public in Scotland: the fellowship will provide information to help inform understandings of the UK-wide implications of constitutional change and the background to this debate. This debate is highly adversarial and the aim is to provide information that is balanced, nuanced and accessible.
ii. Public in rUK: there is as yet little appreciation of debates amongst the public in rUK on the SQ and this fellowship will aim to help inform the wider public in these parts of the UK of the issues as they might affect these areas. This will be done by setting the question into a broader historical context and setting out issues and options. Again it is intended to contribute to public debate with balanced, nuanced and accessible information.
iii. 16-17 year olds voting in the referendum: the fellowship will give the applicant an opportunity to engage to a greater extent than would otherwise be possible with a BBC project - 'Generation 2014' - to engage with this new electoral cohort through a series of related media events focused on a group of 16/17 year olds. It will allow the applicant to explore issues of concern and interest, identified through engagement with Generation 2014, around the SQ and to help to develop interest in and knowledge of broader UK-wide issues.
iv. Accessible information on the subject of fellowship will be offered to the Modern Studies Association webpage and newsletters.
v. Media: the applicant will offer to write articles for the print media on the themes of the fellowship including rUk and local governance implications of the debate.
vi. The applicant will write a series of paper, 'The Scottish Question and ...'. The series will be designed to provoke interest in and contribute to relevant debates. Papers will be sent to or brought to the attention of relevant policy-makers in different parts of the UK. They will be available in different formats including blogs and papers available on the web, advertised via twitter.
vii. The applicant will develop work completed for SOLACE and engage with local authorities senior officials and local politicians across Scotland throughout the duration of the project offering information and stimulating debate through various fora on issues of localism and governance in post-referendum Scotland.
viii. Scottish Leaders Forum network, a consensual body/network: the applicant will use his contacts through this consensual network to inform and stimulate debate.
ix. Information will be provided for Parliamentarians, Assembly Members and officials in other parts of UK on the implications of the debate for rUK targeted at specific groups through web, media and direct mailings.