Jim Dowson was the ultra-loyalist's political "guru"
“Right now, the very last person the tinderbox of Edinburgh needs to see is the revolting Jim Dowson. Dowson is a notorious extremist who has placed himself at the heart of riots in Edinburgh. Dowson’s attempts to claim he is acting as some sort of peacemaker are, of course, ludicrous. It is clear that individuals from the Orange Volunteers of Scotland are coordinating the violence. The month-long protests have become a lightning rod for loyalist disaffection. That requires a political solution. It is into this toxic mix that this self-aggrandising and self-enriching hatemonger has waded in. The mob will not rule in Scotland or anywhere else, but patient talking, proper policing and intense politicking will. Dowson must step away from the megaphone and let reasoned voices solve this situation.” - Extremist Jim Dowson is no peacemaker, Daily Record Editorial (2013)
During the Scottish Conflict between the SNLA and the Government, a small number of Loyalist Paramilitaries had popped up, funded by the Security Services and Civil Guard, these would slowly melt away as the Junta liberalised and Britain transitioned to democracy. Whilst the vast majority of Scots were happy with autonomy, as suggested by the referendum result, a small subset of unionists were becoming increasingly radicalised. This allowed these loyalist paramilitaries room to regrow. Directly after the referendum, a group of former Civil Assistance, and other assorted far-right activists under the leadership of Jim Dowson and Gary Raikes announced the reestablishment of the Orange Volunteers of Scotland or OVS.
The OVS had been the largest loyalist paramilitary during the Scottish Troubles, now in its reconstituted form, Dowson pledged in a Youtube video the OVS would take a stand against attempts to make Scotland into an independent socialist republic. Initially action taken by the OVS would remain largely peaceful, such as flag waving protests outside major town halls, these activities would become increasingly proactive and intimidatory, as OVS members would invade meetings by separatist parties chanting slogans. Threats would extent to politicians personally, in one notable instance OVS activists shadowed RISE leader Patrick Harvie, chanting homophobic slurs and threats to his safety. This would lead Harvie and other leading RISE politicians to invest in private security,
A sitting Scottish politician hadn't been assassinated for almost eight years
By August the OVS would move into open violence, pipe bombs became increasingly common as Ed Lleywllyn, John Swinney and Police Commissioner Stephen House were all targeted by letter bombing campaigns. Whilst none of the three were hurt, House came dangerously close as bomb disposal experts were called to his offices and Tulliallan Castle, Scottish policing’s headquarters, had to be evacuated. The attempt on House’s life showed how militant loyalist tactics had changed, rather than working with agents of the British state, the OVS had turned on the police, seeking to forge their own form of loyalism against the Westminster establishment.
“Militant loyalists have been blamed for sending a letter bomb to secretary of state Ed Llewllyn. Queen Elizabeth House was evacuated after the device was found in a post room shortly after 10.30am yesterday. The landmark building is used by the Public Administrations Secretary when in Scotland, as well as the Scottish Executive Committee. The latest letter bomb is the fourth to be intercepted in recent days. In a statement the OVS also claimed responsibility for sending letter bombs to PSS Chief Constable Stephen House. A similar device was posted to the offices of the Public Prosecution service in Glasgow earlier this week. The OVS has also claimed responsibility for sending that bomb. Police last night said yesterday's device was "similar in make up to the devices found in recent days".” - Condemnation over letter bomb, Severin Carrell, The Guardian (2013)
On the 9th of August loyalist rioting would take place in several major cities across Scotland. Nearly 200 police officers and thousands of passers by were injured in the violence as over 3,000 loyalists looted businesses. Bricks and fireworks were thrown at officers, and they were also attacked with scaffolding poles and paving stones ripped from the city's streets. 23 people, most of them OVS activists, were arrested and charged with inciting the riots. The violence was roundly condemned across the political spectrum with Public Administrations Secretary Edward Lleywllyn flying to Edinburgh personally to survey the damage.
Most damming for National, one National Party provincial legislator, Ross McFarlane had been hospitalised after taking part in the rioting himself. Video footage showed McFarlane, seemingly intoxicated, burning a Scottish flag and shouting sectarian abuse, before being struck by a rubber bullet. Whilst McFarlane was immediately expelled from the damage was already done, many in Scotland's separatist community fundamentally distrusted National, and this incident had only gone to prove National’s biases, further undermining William Hague and the Westminster Government’s ability to work as an honest broker between the two Scottish communities.
Violence by loyalist militants had been on the decline before the referendum result
With tensions running high ahead of Scottish Parliament elections, calls grew to dispatch further security forces to the Scottish provinces. Home Secretary Steven Woolfe announced a further 1,000 police officers from other regions of the UK would be temporarily transferred to Scotland to keep the peace over the course of the campaign. This wouldn’t be enough for some people, with National MP John Lamont calling for troops to be dispatched to Scotland. The Worker's Party of Scotland’s Aamer Anwar warned Scotland was on a slippery slide towards the return of military occupation”. With violence in the streets and police officers bused in from the south, Scotland began to look like the bad old days.
The violence also occurred on the 40th anniversary of the start of Operation Fork, where in 1973 British troops were sent in Scotland to suppress anti-Junta activities and crack down on SNLA activity. This was roundly seen by historians as the beginning of the Scottish Conflict and one of the darkest periods in Scottish history. Scotland civil society was drifting further and further apart. Even within Scotland’s various communities rifts were growing, with the collapse of the tripartite, Scotland’s main separatist parties were no longer talking, in the unionist camp Unity was displacing both major parties as National moved to the right, Scotland’s election was likely to be chaotic.
“My door is open when circumstances need it. We will never put narrow party or sectional interests above what we judge to be the interests of the community as a whole. Huge strides forward have been taken in Scotland over recent years, and the main paramilitary campaigns have ended. The constitutional issue has been settled on the basis of consent and relations across these provinces have never been stronger. It gives you the opportunity now to move on from the politics of endless negotiations, to making these institutions work. So let’s work together to make autonomy a success. Let’s work together to revive the economy. Let’s work together to build a shared future. And in working together be assured that you have a Prime Minister, and a Government that will always stand by the people here in Scotland.” - William Hague in a speech opening the Scottish Parliament Building (2013)
Hague didn't want to be know for destroying the Scottish peace process
