Contents

Preface

Introduction

1: Setting the Scene Amidst Turbulent Politics

Early Politics and Enduring Values: Pits, Pulpit, Pitches and Politics

Social Democracy in Crisis: The Rise of Populism and the Political Right

Our Democracy Is Weak and Ineffective

2: The New Political Landscape

Towards a New Order: Building a New Consensus For Progressives

Transforming Politics

Democracy at Risk

The Citizen

The EU Referendum Campaign

Tory Obsession

The Broader Perspective

The Politics of Anger

Helping to Shape Our Thinking and Ideas

Britain, Brexit and Scotland: New Ideas

My Personal Political Journey

3: Brexit, a Cause Without a Case. Why Did It Happen?

The Rust Belt Analysis, Trump and Brexit

The Extreme Right in British Conservative Politics

What's the Matter With Social Democracy?

Britain is Changing

Dealing with Democracy

Absolute Sovereignty and the Primacy of our Laws

The European Courts

The Lies, Fake and Fraudulent News

Law Making

Immigration and Borders

Opt-Outs

The Trade Myth

Immigration and Trade

Confronting the Tories

Britain Not a Team Player

4: Identity – Sentiment, Nostalgia, Emotion and the Lure of Greatness

Embracing the Past

Sentiment and Emotion

Respect the People

5: Populism: Discredited Ideas in New Garb

EU Becomes the Problem

US Populism

The US As Our Friend and Saviour

6: Requiem For a Nightmare Brexit

7: The EU, a Case With a Cause: Going in a Different Direction

45 Years of Success

No Longer Rules the Waves

The Process of Brexit

Politics of Yesterday

Threat to Britain

Searching for a Role

Threat to the Union and Scotland’s Role In It

Locked into the Past

Churchill and Thatcher: Identity and Ambivalence

John Major’s Biography

Rethinking Our Role in Europe

Attacking Immigrants

The EU is the Role We Are Looking For

8: Scotland at a Crossroads

9: Scotland – the Story So Far

Our Changing World

Facing the Future

Creed and Constitution

Time for Action

10: The Way Ahead

References