Blog posts by Davide Vampa

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Centre on Constitutional Change

Hamilton Again? A By-Election and the Fragmenting Map of Scottish Politics

In October 1967, a political earthquake struck the Scottish town of Hamilton. The Scottish National Party, until then a marginal force, surged to prominence when Winnie Ewing captured a Westminster seat long held by Labour. That by-election was transformative, marking the start of the SNP’s ascent into mainstream politics – a journey that would ultimately result in devolution, nationalist government, and a close-fought referendum on independence.
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Centre on Constitutional Change

What Italy Can Teach about Reform UK’s Rise in Scotland

As Reform UK moves beyond its English heartlands and gains ground in Scotland, Davide Vampa draws lessons from Italy’s populist radical right to understand what this shift might mean. He shows how successful populist parties can exploit political fluidity, rebrand across regions, and expand their reach – but also highlights the challenges of uniting diverse territorial interests under a single, coherent message.
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Centre on Constitutional Change

CCC course awarded Jacqui Briggs Prize from the Political Studies Association

A team of academics from the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh has received the 2025 Jacqui Briggs Prize from the Political Studies Association for outstanding contributions to advancing teaching and learning in political studies, for a course developed in collaboration with the Centre on Constitutional Change.

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Centre on Constitutional Change

As Reform UK sweeps to victory in English local elections, is a new era of polarisation coming to Scotland?

Davide Vampa analyses the shifting dynamics of Scottish politics in the wake of Reform UK’s rise and its unprecedented success in the 2025 English local elections. He argues that the SNP’s attempt to revive political polarisation – this time by targeting Nigel Farage’s party – may yield short-term gains but carries significant long-term risks. As traditional divides centred on constitutional issues weaken, new forms of populism are beginning to unsettle Scotland’s once-distinct political trajectory.

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