Health inequality and governance in Scotland since 2007

Abstract

politicians ignore at their peril. While the SNP have skilfully tapped into this mindset to advance their cause for independence, it may prove to be no more than tactical manoeuvring rather than a genuine attempt to chart a quite different and distinctive destiny for a population of around 5 million people. In a global economy, no country is an island and to keep at bay the rapacious transnational conglomerates, including the big consultancies and ‘advisers’ that are busy hollowing out the public realm in England, demands both eternal vigilance and political courage of a kind that will tax the most socially enlightened politician. This is perhaps the true nature of the experiment underway in Scotland, namely, the attempt to break with the Anglo-Saxon tradition and to replace it with an ethos marked by collectivism, reciprocity and a commitment to public services. As Fox concludes, to succeed may well require taking account of Scotland’s unique culture, history and politics. But, against this context, as Fox points out, reducing health inequalitywhile at the same time increasing economic growth is perhaps the greatest challenge and one for which we