Loyalist: Encyclopedia II - Loyalist - Loyalists in Scotland

Loyalist - Loyalists in Scotland

A loyalist in Scotland is someone on the fringes of Scottish unionism and who is often stridently supportive of loyalism and unionism, although mainly concentrating on the Irish union, rather than Scottish politics.

Although a tiny fraction of the Scottish population, and less so in comparison to their Northern Ireland counterparts, their profile has become more prominent with strident demonstrations of their beliefs since the establishment of a Scottish Parliament - often seen at loyalist marches and through their support for Rangers F.C. in Glasgow, a city with a long history of sectarian violence.

At the extreme loyalism is supportive of violence, or threats, as a "defence": of loyalists, unionists, their version of Protestantism and Northern Ireland's and Scotland's positions as part of the United Kingdom.

Although far less active and organised in Scotland than their Northern Ireland counterparts, loyalists have been involved in a small number of activities over the years of the troubles in Northern Ireland. Most notable have been two pub bombings, spontaneous murders of people they perceive as enemies of their version of Protestantism and the smuggling of guns and explosives to Northern Ireland.

Loyalists within Scotland live within very small working enclaves in the major urban centres or industrial villages, in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, especailly Larkhall, Renfrewshire, West Lothian and Ayrshire. In areas such as the Highlands, Borders and the North East (including Aberdeen), there are relatively few.

Most of the loyalist paramilitary groups are supported by loyalists in Scotland, which include the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF), etc. Although it nominally repudiates these organisations the Orange Order in Scotland has members and flute bands who support and are members of these organisations.

Though loyalists claim to speak on behalf of Protestants and unionists, they do not have widespread political support. In fact many of the political representatives in their areas are often from the Labour Party and, far less so, the Scottish National Party. Neither party supports their programme.

Ideologically, Scottish loyalism is typified by a strident, and at times militant, opposition to Republicanism, Scottish independence and the Roman Catholic Church - particularly the existence of Roman Catholic denominational schools.

Recently, a 24-hour loyalist radio station, Scotland's first, has begun broadcasting through an internet server in Jersey. Calton Radio [1] has an exclusively loyalist playlist, with many songs celebrating the UVF and UDA and ridiculing the Pope.

A website, going by the name Red Hand Radio [2] has also been pulled up by the authorities.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Loyalists in Scotland", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki