The Scottish National Party, embodying a left-wing version of identity politics, wiped out Labour in Scotland, allowing the Conservatives to gain an absolute majority in Parliament. The government of Prime Minister David Cameron – who has focused on British identity, rather than the UK’s common destiny with Europe – will undoubtedly hold a referendum on the UK’s continued membership in the European Union, with unpredictable consequences.
巴塞罗那—最近的英国大选是一个显著的例子，表明了民族身份问题如何左右着欧洲政治格局。持有左倾身份政治观的苏格兰民族党（Scottish National Party）在苏格兰重挫工党，让保守党赢得议会绝对多数。首相卡梅伦的政府——卡梅伦一直关注英国身份而非英国和欧洲的共同身份——将毫不迟疑地举行关于英国是否继续留在欧盟内的结果难料的公投。