Symbols of shared Britishness are less important in sustaining the union than economic and political factors

The Referendum on Scottish Independence in September 2014 provides a valuable context for studying territorial identities in the UK. In the United Kingdom, comparing the diversity of ‘national’ experiences helps us to understand the salience of national symbols. David McCrone and Frank Bechhofer show that although these symbols are important, they will bear less on the outcome of the forthcoming vote than will economic and political factors.