New research from the University of Dundee casts doubt on the assertions of CBI Chief Digby Jones that anti-English prejudice is putting English people off coming to live and work in Scotland.
The research being carried out by Murray Watson in the Department of History has shown that English people have been coming to Scotland in ever increasing numbers since the early 19th century and their numbers are expected to have exceeded 400,000 when the 2001 Census results are published next year.
The three-year study was based on in-depth interviews with English-born people living all over Scotland. On the question of anti-English feeling, 94% of the sample said that this was not a serious problem. Of those surveyed, 88% said that their neighbours and work colleagues had accepted them and that they had assimilated easily into Scottish society, while 67% commented that they preferred the quality of life in Scotland to that in England. This was described in various terms from scenery to environment, less stress, less overcrowding, fewer traffic jams and above all the neighbourliness and community spirit they found in Scotland.
Nearly half said that after a few years living in Scotland they gained an appreciation of the differences between the two countries and that they began to feel more Scottish and British than English. This was expressed, amongst other ways, by singing Flower of Scotland at Murrayfield or joining the SNP. Only 18% remained steadfastly English in their outlook, though most of those wanted to continue living and working in Scotland.
Murray Watson said, "Of course anti-Englishness does exist and surfaces on occasions, especially when Scotland plays England at rugby and football. It is surprising that the English, of all people, who are Scotland's largest migrant group in modern history, have effectively been invisible in Scottish society. The English have been coming to Scotland for a whole variety of peaceful reasons since before the Treaty of Union. Their numbers have increased in the twentieth century and look set to continue to do so in spite of Digby Jones' comments and Ross Finnie's intemperate remarks."
By Jane Smernicki, Press Officer 01382 344768 j.m.smernicki@dundee.ac.uk