A SCOTTISH LibDem politician has been rounded on by academics after claiming academic research about anti-Scottish sentiment in England is “Trumpian hogwash”.
Alex Cole-Hamilton took issue with a study about rising levels of animosity south of the Border as a result of Brexit.
The Edinburgh Western MSP raised his objections in response to a Sunday National story about the research, which he dubbed “dangerous”.
The LibDem backed up his assertions by recalling supposed well wishes from Londoners on the night of the 2014 independence referendum – almost two years before the Brexit vote took place.
READ MORE: Brexit triggers spike in anti-Scottish sentiment in England, study finds
Responding to a column by the authors of the study, published in the Sunday National, he tweeted: “On the night of the independence referendum, I had to walk a mile through central London in a kilt on my way to an awards dinner.
“The love for our country was palpable, I was greeted by calls of ‘we love you!’ and ‘Stay with us Scotland’.”
Referencing the Sunday National article, the MSP added: “This is dangerous, Trumpian hogwash.”
On the night of the independence referendum, I had to walk a mile through central London in a kilt on my way to an awards dinner. The love for our country was palpable, I was greeted by calls of “we love you!” and “Stay with us Scotland”.
— Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP🔶 (@agcolehamilton) February 7, 2021
This is dangerous, Trumpian hogwash.👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/t1aPEwEjQp
The study which the MSP referred to was carried by academics from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
Led by honorary senior research fellow Dr Duncan Sim and political science professor Murray Stewart Leith, they concluded there has been a “shift in atmosphere” in England towards those perceived as “foreigners” after the Brexit vote.
Some Scots living in England have reported an increase in incidents such as “sneering contempt” and “abuse about Jocks”, the researchers found.
Cole-Hamilton’s dismissal of the study, based on an anecdote from two years before the period studied, was condemned by other academics.
READ MORE: Charting the increase of anti-Scottish hostility in England
Professor Iain Docherty, dean of the Institute for Advanced Studies at Stirling University, suggested it was the LibDem who was exhibiting Trumpian behavior.
He commented: “I’d have thought that dismissing published academics with a track record in this area of research without any engagement with their actual argument was ‘Trumpian’ myself.”
Mike Danson, professor of enterprise policy at Herriot-Watt University, added: “A quite disgraceful attack on the reputations of two excellent researchers, both with decades of peer-reviewed outputs to confirm their professional standing. Is it now official LibDem policy to try to undermine experts for political gain?”
A quite disgraceful attack on the reputations of 2 excellent researchers, both with decades of peer-reviewed outputs to confirm their professional standing. Is it now official LibDem policy to try to undermine experts for political gain?
— Mike Danson (@MikeDanson1) February 8, 2021
UWS has been approached for comment.
Others took issue with Cole-Hamilton’s anecdote from the night of the independence referendum in 2014.
SNP MSP James Dornan tweeted: “On the night of independence referendum, I had to leave my private dinner with the directors of Celtic FC where they offered me the manager’s job, I then had to rush to discuss my forthcoming role as the next James Bond, say goodbye to my date Kate Moss then head for the count.”
BBC Sport pundit Michael Stewart added: “The guy is an utter embarrassment.”
The UWS study of anti-Scottish sentiment in England was drawn from research on the Scottish diaspora which considered the views of people who had returned home after living elsewhere.
Sim told the Sunday National: “Scotland has quite a low birth rate and our population grows mainly as a result of immigration.
“Post-Brexit the Government in Westminster is trying to cut back on immigration, so we thought one way Scotland could offset the loss of European migrants is to try and attract back Scots who have gone abroad.
“I started analysing the questionnaires we got back. A lot of people who were coming back from England were emphasising their family connections and were coming back because they thought it was a better quality of life and were fed up with London anyway.
“But a surprising number said there is a real shift in atmosphere in England, it is not such a nice place anymore.”
Sim explained the concerns raised over hostility to immigrants which was beginning to “spill over” into anti-Scottish attitudes led to a second survey of Scots living in England.
Again, this found a number of people who said they were aware of a change in atmosphere and increased hostility towards migrants.
The professor continued: “What made a difference in the Brexit referendum is to do with the political rhetoric and where the politicians are coming from.
“There was never the anti-immigrant rhetoric in any of the political parties [in Scotland] in the way there was really at the heart of government in Westminster.
“That then trickles down and influences people’s opinions. It has led to a definite shift I think south of the Border.”
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