Scotland in Union

Scotland in Union launched in March 2015, with the aim of promoting Scotland's place within the UK. The group was created in the wake of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, in which 55 per cent of those who voted chose to keep Scotland within the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11453045/Unionists-can-hold-back-the-SNP-if-they-act-together.html|title=Unionists can hold back the SNP 'if they act together'|first=Simon|last=Johnson|date=6 March 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|url-access=subscription}} Scotland in Union is a not-for-profit private company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland.{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC492324|title=Scotland in Union SC492324|website=Companies House}}

The organisation was initially led by its founder Alastair Cameron, a former Army captain. In January 2017, Scottish Labour's former Justice spokesperson Graeme Pearson was announced as Chief Executive.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15041108.ex-labour-msp-graeme-pearson-takes-on-scotland-in-union-role/|title=Ex-Labour MSP Graeme Pearson takes on Scotland In Union role|date=23 January 2017|work=The Herald|url-access=subscription}} In August 2017, former Labour MP Pamela Nash took over the role,{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/pamela-nash-to-lead-pro-uk-scotland-in-the-union-campaign-group-1-4537842|title=Nash to lead pro-UK Scotland in the Union campaign group|date=21 August 2017|work=The Scotsman}} stepping down in March 2024. Since March 2024, SIU has again been led by founder and Chair, Alastair Cameron.

Online, SIU maintains a website, a Facebook page, a Twitter/X account, an Instagram account, LinkedIn, Tik Tok, as well as having a presence on more recently created social media platforms such as Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky. Social media is where SIU engage with supporters and encourage others to join their campaign.

On their website, SIU publishes updates, requests donations and highlights specific campaigns like petitions, local by elections or tactical voting campaigns and nationwide elections.

SIU has commissioned opinion polling on Scottish independence on several occasions, with a particular focus on the question of whether people think Scotland should remain part of the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/scottish-independence-poll-majority-scots-will-vote-remain-uk-1407469 |title=Scottish Independence: Poll - majority of Scots will vote "remain in the UK" |first=Scott |last=Macnab |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=17 September 2019 |accessdate=16 February 2022}} In 2021, three political academics carried out a study which demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the Remain / Leave format and the 2014 Yes / No question formulation.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/would-the-scots-vote-for-independence/|title=Would the Scots vote for independence? The answer could depend on the question|date=5 October 2021|publisher=London School of Economics}} Another test of the effect of the question wording was carried out via a YouGov poll in March 2022, in which the sample was split and half were asked the 2014 Yes / No question and half were asked a Remain / Leave question; this poll found a significant difference in support for remaining in the UK, depending on the question asked.{{cite web|url=https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/0e05zst5xb/TheseIslands_Scotland_Results_220401.pdf|year=2022|title=YouGov / These Islands polling report|website=YouGov}} The most recent polling using Remain / Leave at the time of writing, which was conducted in September 2024, indicates that 59% of Scots would vote to remain and 41% would vote to leave, once undecideds are removed.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/new-poll-reveals-continued-support-for-the-uk-and-growing-discontent-with-snp-performance|title=New Poll Reveals Continued Support for the UK and Growing Discontent with SNP Performance|website=Scotland in Union|date=13 September 2024 }}

Polling commissioned by SIU has also asked when people think another referendum on Scotland leaving the UK should be held, if at all; and has asked people about priority areas for Scottish politicians. One example of this was a poll in May 2022 which found that only 29% of Scots wanted another referendum before the end of 2023.{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Peter |date=8 May 2022 |title=New Scottish indy poll shows just 29 per cent want referendum by end of 2023 |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-independence-poll-2023-vote-26904429 |website=Daily Record |language=en}} Another poll in September 2022 found that only 7 per cent of Scots think independence is among the most important issues for the Scottish Government.{{cite news |last=Walker |first=David |date=7 October 2022 |title=SNP condemned for how they have run the country by voters in new poll ahead of conference |url=https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-condemned-how-run-country-28178247 |website=Scottish Daily Express |language=en}} This was again confirmed in September 2024 with new polling showing only 7 per cent of Scots believe independence should be a priority for the Scottish Government.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/new-poll-reveals-continued-support-for-the-uk-and-growing-discontent-with-snp-performance|title=New Poll Reveals Continued Support for the UK and Growing Discontent with SNP Performance|date=13 September 2024|website=Scotland in Union}}

A poll conducted by Survation in March 2025, commissioned by Scotland in Union, surveyed over 1,000 Scots on their views regarding security, nuclear deterrence, and international alliances. The results indicated that 47% of respondents felt Scotland is more secure as part of the United Kingdom, compared to 35% who believed security would be maintained if the UK were dissolved. On the issue of Trident, the UK’s nuclear deterrent, 56% supported its retention, while 22% opposed it. The poll also found strong support for the UK’s international memberships, with 80% valuing Nato, 76% backing UN Security Council membership, and 74% favouring G7 participation. Scotland in Union highlighted these findings amid ongoing debates over Scottish independence and the SNP’s opposition to nuclear weapons.{{cite web |url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/new-poll-scots-feel-more-secure-in-uk-and-back-trident-as-international-tensions-mount |title=New poll: Scots feel more secure in UK and back Trident as international tensions mount |publisher=Scotland in Union |accessdate=March 28, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/scottish-people-back-nuclear-deterrent-uk-snp-7kjm7kp2s |title=Scottish people back nuclear deterrent |publisher=The Times |access-date=March 28, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scots-support-retaining-the-uks-nuclear-deterrent-poll-shows-5047435 |title=Scots support retaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent, poll shows |publisher=The Scotsman |accessdate=March 28, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/24/scots-back-trident-despite-out-of-touch-snp-opposition/ |title=Scots back Trident despite ‘out-of-touch’ SNP opposition |publisher=The Telegraph |accessdate=March 28, 2025}}

To coincide with the annual publication of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland figures, known as GERS, SIU introduced a new method to break down the 'UK dividend' from which Scotland benefits,{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/union-dividend-of-1941-for-every-person-in-scotland|title=UK dividend of £1,941 for every person in Scotland|website=GOV.UK}} for local communities across Scotland.{{cite web|url=https://www.ukdividend.co.uk|title=UK Dividend|website=Scotland in Union}} In addition, SIU's Chief Executive, Pamela Nash, has written articles to highlight the benefits to Scottish public spending which come from sharing across the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/scottish-governments-latest-gers-figures-will-show-simple-truth-scotland-better-united-kingdom-pamela-nash-2952340|title=Latest GERS figures will show simple truth|last=Nash|first=Pamela|date=25 August 2020|website=The Scotsman}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/gers-figures-why-the-numbers-show-scotland-is-better-together-with-uk-3818006|title=GERS figures: Why the numbers show Scotland is better together with UK|last=Nash|first=Pamela|date=25 August 2020|website=The Scotsman}}

SIU has also highlighted the Scottish Government's Export Statistics Scotland publication,{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19663522.independence-warning-scotland-relies-exports-rest-uk/|title=Independence warning as Scotland relies more on exports to rest of UK|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=21 October 2021|website=The Herald}} to increase awareness of the proportion of Scotland's trade with the rest of the UK and to call for more open acknowledgement of Scotland's trade situation.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/why-honesty-from-nicola-sturgeon-on-exports-for-independent-scotland-is-long-overdue-pamela-nash-3428611|title=Why honesty from Nicola Sturgeon on exports for independent Scotland is 'long overdue'|last=Nash|first=Pamela|date=22 October 2021|work=The Scotsman|url-access=subscription}}

In late 2022, after the UK Supreme Court had ruled that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence,{{cite web|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/supreme-court-judgment-on-scottish-independence-referendum/#:~:text=In%20a%20unanimous%20judgment%2C%20the,and%20what%20might%20happen%20next.|title=Supreme Court judgment on Scottish independence referendum|last=Torrance|first=David|date=23 November 2022|website=The House of Commons Library}} SIU launched a campaign to demonstrate alternative uses for the £20m the SNP administration was still apparently allocating to a referendum in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1709178/sturgeon-news-indyref2-snp-independence-scotland-budget-flynn|title=Sturgeon poised to step up independence push as SNP unveils plan for IndyRef2 legislation|last=McGrath|first=Kieran|date=14 December 2022|website=The Scottish Daily Express}} After the SNP announced that the £20m was in fact being diverted to the fuel insecurity fund, which was one of the suggestions SIU had made, this change was welcomed by SIU's Chief Executive.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23194399.salmond-accuses-snp-ministers-flying-white-flag-indyref2/|title=Salmond accuses SNP ministers of 'flying the white flag' over Indyref2|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=15 December 2022|website=The Herald}}

SIU also launched a 'End The Spend' petition calling on the SNP government to stop wasting taxpayer money trying to break up the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/end-the-spend |title=End The Spend|website=Scotland in Union}}

SIU's first campaign was to encourage tactical voting against the Scottish National Party during the 2015 UK general election.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/05/scottish-tactical-voting-campaigns-snp-landslide-fears-union-general-election|title=Scottish tactical voting campaigns launch over SNP landslide fears|first=Libby|last=Brooks|newspaper=The Guardian |date=5 March 2015|via=www.theguardian.com}}

SIU also encouraged tactical voting in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, and in November 2019, SIU launched an online tactical voting guide for Scottish voters in the run up to the 2019 UK general election. This guide suggested which party people should vote for in their constituency if their priority was to stop the SNP.{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/pro-union-tactical-voting-guide-launched-to-thwart-snp-1-5053534|title=Pro union tactical voting guide launched to thwart SNP|last=Macnab|first=Scott|date=28 November 2019|website=The Scotsman}}

In the run up to the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, SIU launched its tactical voting campaign for voters whose priority was stopping an SNP majority and another referendum. An SNP majority was stopped, with Sir John Curtice commenting that tactical voting probably played a part in this outcome.{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/scottish-election-2021-how-the-snp-was-denied-a-majority-by-tactical-voting-professor-john-curtice-3230002|title=Scottish election 2021: How the SNP was denied a majority by tactical voting|last=Curtice|first=John|date=10 May 2021|work=The Scotsman}} According to a Scottish Election Study by academics across the UK, released in May 2022, "significant numbers of people voted for both the Conservatives and Labour as part of efforts to defeat the SNP and strengthen the Union".{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/hopes-and-fears-of-independence-set-holyrood-record-for-tactical-voting-n0jtwzxpg|title=Hopes and fears of independence set Holyrood record for tactical voting|last=Andrews|first=Kieran|date=11 May 2022|website=The Times|url-access=subscription}}

SIU promoted tactical voting during the campaign for the 2024 United Kingdom general election.{{cite news|url=https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/new-general-election-tactical-voting-32930763|title=New General Election tactical voting guide to kick out SNP launched by Scotland in Union|date=31 May 2024|website=Scottish Daily Express}} After the election, SIU noted in an email to supporters that in every constituency in Scotland, the party recommended by SIU as a pro-UK tactical voting choice had come first or second.

SIU has run a series of campaigns to highlight poor performance by nationalist administrations. These have mostly used data obtained via Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requests, and have included items covering health and income inequalities{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/snp-accused-letting-down-patients-24033305|title=SNP accused of letting down patients in most deprived parts of Scotland|last=McCall|first=Chris|date=4 May 2021|website=The Daily Record}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/double-the-number-of-babies-from-poor-areas-require-urgent-care-compared-to-wealthy-3969191?amp|title=Double the number of babies from poor areas require urgent care compared to wealthy|last=Grant|first=Alistair|date=30 December 2022|website=The Scotsman}} and cancer waiting times.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/half-of-men-miss-target-time-for-urgent-prostate-cancer-treatment-kwp9l82r6|title=Half of men miss target time for urgent prostate cancer treatment|last=Puttick|first=Helen|date=28 December 2022|website=The Times}}

In January 2023, SIU released polling (conducted in December 2022), showing that most people in Scotland thought that the SNP is performing poorly in its handling of key public services.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/majority-scots-losing-faith-snp-28903379|title=Majority of Scots losing faith in SNP record on key public services, poll finds|last=McCall|first=Chris|date=9 January 2023|website=The Daily Record}}

In September 2024 SIU Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 request revealed that Scotland's NHS has paid out over £11million in compensation to cancer patients whose treatment was delayed.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/nhs-scotland-pays-out-massive-33497897|last=Aitken|first=Vivienne|title=Scotland's NHS pays out huge £11.5m compensation due to cancer treatment delays |date=20 August 2024|website=The Daily Record}}

SIU has used billboards on several occasions, including in 2016, when SIU paid for a large billboard advert near the SNP conference in Glasgow, urging Nicola Sturgeon to "change the record" on independence and rule out another vote.{{cite news|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-independence-rally-planned-outside-snp-conference-25478|title=Scottish independence rally planned outside SNP conference|last=Green|first=Chris|date=13 October 2016|website=i}} In 2017 in Aberdeen, again outside the SNP conference, SIU organised an advertising van with the message 'Referendumb' that was unveiled to awaiting press as SNP members gathered for the conference.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/referendumb-billboard-unveiled-pro-union-10046232|title='Referendumb' billboard unveiled by their activists as the SNP gathered for their party conference in Aberdeen|last=Clerkson|first=Tony|date=17 March 2017|website=Daily Record}} A billboard campaign was launched again in 2021 in the run up to the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/vote-for-scotland-s-priorities-not-the-snp-s|title=Vote for Scotland's priorities - not the SNP's|date=27 April 2021|website=Scotland in Union}}

In September 2018, SIU launched a 'Yawn' campaign, using newspaper advertisements. This was a campaign aimed at people who are 'tired' of the constant constitutional debate; "SNP politicians are still campaigning for an independence referendum that Scotland does not want. Tired of this?" The campaign gained additional media attention when a Police Scotland Twitter account tweeted in apparent support of the campaign, before deleting their tweet.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-45692102|title=Police Scotland anti-independence tweet deleted|date=29 September 2018|publisher=BBC News}}

Scotland in Union has held local political and social events, mostly in Scotland, but also in London and online. The events have ranged from talks about Scotland's economy, to Burns Night celebrations and events to mark St Andrew's Day, to a Parliamentary reception in at the House of Commons.{{cite news|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-s-house-of-commons-parliamentary-reception|title=Scotland in Union's House of Commons Parliamentary Reception|date=10 February 2023|newspaper=Scotland-In-Union}}

At various events, across the UK and online, SIU has been joined and supported by politicians from across the main pro-UK parties including Ruth Davidson,{{cite tweet|user=RuthDavidsonPC|last=Davidson|first=Ruth|number=1486092241110278147|title=A pleasure to give the Immortal Memory for the @scotlandinunion annual Burns Supper.}} Anas Sarwar, Christine Jardine,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-s-glasgow-burns-supper-2020|title=Scotland in Union's Glasgow Burns Supper 2020|date=24 January 2020|website=Scotland in Union}} David Mundell,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-s-london-burns-supper-2020|title=Scotland in Union's London Burns Supper 2020|website=ScotlandinUnion|date=7 February 2020 }} Andrew Bowie, Mike Rumbles,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-s-westhill-meeting|title=Scotland in Union's Westhill Meeting|date=2 October 2018|website=Scotland in Union}} Martin Whitfield, Beatrice Wishart, Jackie Baillie,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/helensburgh-scotland-in-union|title=Helensburgh Scotland in Union|website=Scotland in Union|date=11 September 2018 }} Murdo Fraser, Alistair Carmichael, Johann Lamont,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/burns-night|title=Burns Night|date=7 February 2018|website=Scotland in Union}} Ian Murray, Alex Cole-Hamilton,{{cite tweet|user=agcolehamilton|last=Cole-Hamilton|first=Alex|number=1085563374744883200|title=Delighted to be giving the Toast to the Lassies at this year's @scotlandinunion Burns supper in Glasgow}} Willie Rennie,{{cite tweet|user=scotlandinunion|author=Scotland in Union|number=992478987250266113|title=A huge thank you to @willie_rennie for speaking at our event this evening, in Webster's Memorial Theatre, Arbroath. More events to follow in the coming weeks and months ahead.}} Wendy Chamberlain, Jamie Stone, Michael Shanks,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-burns-night-2024|title=Scotland in Union Burns Night 2024|date=26 January 2024|website=Scotland in Union}} Meghan Gallacher{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-burns-night-2024|title=Scotland in Union Burns Night 2024|date=26 January 2024|website=Scotland in Union}} Donald Cameron,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-s-burns-night-2023|title= Scotland in Union's Burns Night 2023|website=Scotland in Union}} Blair McDougall,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-burns-night-2025-in-glasgow|title=Scotland in Union Burns Night 2025 in Glasgow |website=Scotland in Union}} Jackson Carlaw,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-burns-night-2025-in-glasgow|title=Scotland in Union Burns Night 2025 in Glasgow |website=Scotland in Union}} Stephen Kerr, {{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/celebrating-a-decade-of-scotland-in-union-1-1|title=Celebrating a decade of Scotland in Union|website=Scotland in Union}} Daniel Johnson,{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/celebrating-a-decade-of-scotland-in-union-1-1|title=Celebrating a decade of Scotland in Union|website=Scotland in Union}} and Susan Murray.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/post/scotland-in-union-burns-night-2025-in-glasgow|title=Scotland in Union Burns Night 2025 in Glasgow |website=Scotland in Union}}

Scotland in Union is funded by donations from supporters.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/donate|title=DONATE | Scotland in Union|website=scotland-in-union}} Scotland in Union's accounts for the year to 30 November 2024, published at Companies House, showed reserves of £38,733.{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC492324/filing-history/MzQ2NjQwNzM3MWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|title=Scotland in Union Filing History|website=Companies House}}

In 2016, Scottish National Party MP Natalie McGarry apologised and paid compensation, after sending a tweet about the leadership of SIU. Ms McGarry later described the tweet as 'a serious mistake'.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/09/suspended-snp-mp-natalie-mcgarry-pays-damages-over-holocaust-denier-twitter-row|title=Suspended SNP MP pays damages over 'Holocaust denier' Twitter row|date=9 May 2016|website=The Guardian}} SIU's founder, Alastair Cameron, announced that the compensation money would be distributed to three charities: mental health charity Combat Stress, genocide awareness charity Aegis Trust and children's charity Lumos.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36247439|title=MP Natalie McGarry apologises over 'holocaust denier' tweet|date=9 May 2016|website=BBC News}}

In December 2017, SIU informed the police and the Information Commissioner that SIU had suffered a data theft.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15800760.police-probe-security-breach-at-scotland-in-union-campaign/|title=Police probe security breach at Scotland in Union campaign|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=31 December 2017|work=The Herald|url-access=subscription}} Subsequent to this incident, the Electoral Commission carried out an investigation of SIU's donations. Following the investigation, the Electoral Commission said it was “satisfied” that SIU had complied with its requirements.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16122844.unionist-campaign-cleared-after-probe-into-donations/|title=Unionist campaign cleared after probe into donations|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=28 March 2018|work=The Herald|url-access=subscription}}

• 2014 Scottish independence referendum
• Unionism in Scotland
• Scottish Labour
• Scottish Conservatives
• Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Better Together

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Category:Scottish independence

Category:Unionism in Scotland

Category:Cross-party campaigns

Category:2015 establishments in Scotland

Category:Political advocacy groups in Scotland