ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the question of why the members support independence. SNP members appear more deeply committed to independence, and Scottish Greens display more diverse motivations for supporting independence. The chapter looks at the underpinning values, identities and opinions of the memberships and the extent to which the referendum surge changed the parties ideologically. This involves assessing how much the two parties cohered ideologically, a pertinent question given their record of working together in government. The parties’ memberships vary in their perspectives, with Greens less likely to reject Britishness and more inclined to perceive themselves as ‘left-wing’. Nevertheless, there is evidence that these two different parties have become a little more similar. As for the strategic question of when to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence, the members (of both parties) were overwhelmingly pragmatic.
