Mention might also be made of the comment by a deputy chief constable of Police Scotland, in September 2021, that a lot of time had been spent on how to define sectarianism, and action was then required. Public order was the principal issue.

Notwithstanding these attempts at specification, Bambery has provided a detailed study of the anti-Irish racism variety of sectarianism. The historic evidence makes for uncomfortable reading and, sadly, comes as no surprise.

The strength of this excellent book lies in the sustained narrative of the extensive criminal and bad behaviour (recalling that not all bad behaviour necessarily breaches the criminal law) to demonstrate the continuous efforts at the denigration of the Irish over many generations.

The extensive sectarian abuse in Edinburgh in the 1930s defies any comprehension now, and certainly cannot be excused. The anti-social conduct was appalling in its extent but perhaps the suggestion of it having “a whiff of a pogrom” is misplaced.

Further, the following comments on the text are not offered in any attempt to diminish the truly malevolent nature of the grim events narrated. The thrust of the arguments of the author is understandable, but manner of presentation of the justifiable points may be queried.

Firstly, he writes, “folk memories” are “not just myths and within families memories of discrimination survive”. That is true for many events: yet, the credibility and reliability of oral history, however compelling or repeated accurately, must be considered alongside other relevant evidence.

Secondly, some assertions seem odd – “Though now regarded as a predominantly Catholic town, nineteenth-century Coatbridge was home to a thriving migrant community”. Regarded by whom? Do they even now place all towns into religious categories?

Thirdly, it is said that one riot of 1886 in Partick, led to subsequent court cases in which “judges handed down stiff sentences to Catholics while letting their opponents walk free”. Whatever the accuracy of that criticism of lawyers, no source reference is provided.

Finally, in the same vein, extensive reference is made to criminal prosecutions in modern times. References are provided for most of these cases but those with knowledge of some or all of the cases might doubt whether the details really do support the point made.

These are not intended to be pedantic points for their own sake, but rather as ones that necessarily require attention for clarity in a matter of great importance. There may now need be a need, in political history, greater attention to legal detail for the sake of historic accuracy.

The review in the Scottish Legal News of the recent work of Gordon J. Barclay and Louise Heren has emphasised the need for such attention to detail rather than mere repetition of folklore.

Bambery brings a Marxist perspective to bear on the causes of sectarianism. Throughout the book he argues that “while support for sectarianism among the elite in Scotland, or more particularly in the west of Scotland, was not on the scale of elsewhere it cannot be dismissed”.

Further, “one central argument” is that there cannot be a separation of “the rise of both the Orange Order and sectarianism in Scotland from the role of Scotland in colonising Ireland for the British Empire and in repressing subsequent Republican movements which challenged colonial rule”.

Apart from that big picture view, the anti-Irish racism in issue, “trickles down from the top encouraged by elite voices. It is people who pick up on this and carry out racist attacks, but they are incited to do that from above”.

Perhaps it is true that there is no good news in history: the excellent work of Chris Bambery, expanding on an acclaimed article on the same theme, supports that point as it applies to the comparatively recent past in Scotland. The bigger picture beyond this place is a loss of religious commitment that may show up comparable criminal and bad behaviour elsewhere.

‘The Old Divide’: A History of Sectarianism in Scotland by Chris Bambery. Published by Tippermuir, 340pp, £11.99.