In 2016, Alistair MacDonald, Senior Policy Analyst, British Council stated that "The establishment of the new Scottish Parliament in 1999 has seen a revival in political debate with levels of public engagement significantly higher than elsewhere in the UK and much of continental Europe.  Scotland has long been an incubator of radical thinking with influence far beyond its borders. Whether it is Thatcherite market liberalisation, the birth of the Labour movement, or the thinking of the modern Scottish Nationalist Party, there is a direct line from the insights of Adam Smith and the humanity of Robbie Burns to many of radical political movements of recent times."

While this may be true nowadays, in reality neither the U.K. government nor the monarchy played any significant direct part in the debate and progress of the years of Scottish Enlightenment, other than providing political stability.  Rather, the movement was spearheaded by individuals and strong, independent institutions.