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{{Short description|Scottish epithet}}
The term '''Wee Free''' was an [[epithet]] commonly used to distinguish two [[Scottish Presbyterian]] Churches after the union of 1900: [[Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)|The Free Kirk]] and The [[United Free Church of Scotland|United Free Kirk]]. Since the United Free were approximately 25 times larger, but hard to distinguish without some knowledge of Scottish history and theology, the rhyming Scottish [[diminutive]] became used as an epithet of the post 1900 Free Kirk. The epithet Wee Free was also applied to a small group in the 1918 [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] Party who on principle did not want to go into coalition with the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] Party. The [[Independent Liberal Party (UK, 1918)|Wee Free Liberals]] either did not get, or refused, [[Coalition Coupon|the coupon]] signed by [[David Lloyd George]] of the Liberals and [[Bonar Law]] of the Conservatives.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beaverbrook |first1=Lord |title=The Decline and Fall of Lloyd George |date=1963 |publisher=Duell, Sloan and Pearce |location=New York |page=14 |edition=first |url=https://archive.org/stream/declineandfallof006894mbp#page/n23/mode/2up/search/wee |access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref> The ''Wee Free'' in modern usage is used, usually in a pejorative way, of any small group who because of their, arguably obscure, religious principles choose to remain outside or separate from a larger body. A Wee Free attitude might show as a preference for being part of a smaller but ideologically sound group rather than a larger compromised one.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maguire |first1=Patrick |title=Vince Cable's "exotic spresm" moment disguises bigger questions for the Liberal Democrats |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/09/vince-cable-s-exotic-spresm-moment-disguises-bigger-questions-liberal-democrats |access-date=18 September 2018 |agency=New Statesman |date=18 September 2018}}</ref>
== Origin ==
In 1900 the Free Church
== Background ==
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== Politics ==
[[
== Modern
Denominations other than the Free Church are also regularly called Wee Frees in the press. For example, the epithet has been used about the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland|Free Presbyterians]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Munro |first1=Alasdair |title=Scottish independence: Self rule would be a 'provocation of God' say Wee Frees |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-independence-self-rule-would-be-a-provocation-of-god-say-wee-frees-1-2363261 |access-date=29 April 2017 |publisher=The Scotsman |date=19 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burns |first1=Janice |title=Bible-basher Beat Children With Leather Belt |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/bible-basher-beat-children-with-leather-belt-959564 |access-date=29 April 2017 |publisher=The Daily Record |date=1 July 2012}}</ref> and even the [[United Free Church of Scotland|United Free]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duke |first1=Barry |title='Wee Frees' minister wins lottery but his church won't see a penny of the dosh |url=http://freethinker.co.uk/2010/11/11/%E2%80%98wee-frees%E2%80%99-minister-wins-lottery-but-his-church-wont-see-a-penny-of-the-cash/ |access-date=29 April 2017 |publisher=The Free Thinker |date=11 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary – Craigie Aitchison |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/6860258/Craigie-Aitchison.html |access-date=29 April 2017 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=21 December 2009}}</ref>
== The Wee Wee Frees ==
[[File:Churches of Scotland timeline.svg|thumb|500px|Timeline showing the evolution of the churches of Scotland from 1560 including pejorative epithets]]
There is no group specifically known as the Wee Wee Frees. Groups coming out of the Free Church include the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland|Free Presbyterian Church]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Andrew |title=Sabbath on Skye |url=http://digitalnomad.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/20/sabbath-on-skye/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923031128/http://digitalnomad.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/20/sabbath-on-skye/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 23, 2013 |website=Digital Nomad 20 September 2013 |date=20 September 2013 |publisher=National Geographic |access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peterkin |first1=Tom |title=Spinster's £1m to Wee Wee Frees |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1416287/Spinsters-1m-to-Wee-Wee-Frees.html |access-date=29 April 2017 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=16 December 2002}}</ref> in 1893 from which the [[Associated Presbyterian Churches]] split in 1989. [[Free Church Continuing|The Free Church (Continuing)]] sometimes is labelled with the derogatory ''Wee Wee Free'' or even ''Wee Wee Wee Free'' term.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cramb |first1=Auslan |title=The 'sinners' set sail for the Hebrides |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3651571/The-sinners-set-sail-for-the-Hebrides.html |access-date=18 September 2018 |agency=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |date=13 April 2006}}</ref>
== In literature ==
[[Terry Pratchett]]'s [[Wee Free Men]] is an epithet for his [[Nac Mac Feegle]] who appear in some of his [[Discworld]] novels.
== See also ==
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[[Category:Epithets]]
[[Category:Ethnic and religious slurs]]
[[Category:Political
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