After WWII Scottish heavy industry began to decline, steadily worsening conditions for its toiling masses.

This arguably brought to an end 200 years of useful economic alliance with England and made the London government look increasingly out of touch with Scotland’s needs ever since.

The response to this has been an increasing celebration of all things Scottish – a so-called Scottish Renaissance. The passion of involved can be seen at this 1990 singing of the Flower of Scotland, the country's unofficial national anthem at a Murrayfield Rugby match against England.

Associated are ongoing demands for increasing self-government from the political wing of this Renaissance: the Scottish National Party (SNP). This part has been increasingly successful in recent decades and vital in helping Scotland to secure its own parliament and wide-ranging independent powers.