Scottish Parliament

Scottish devolution at 20: some hits, some misses and that eternal maybe

Stephen Richard — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 18:07:49 +0000

Scottish devolution at 20: some hits, some misses and that eternal maybe

Primary Author or Creator

Christopher A Whatley

Stephen Richard Tue, 10/12/2021 - 19:07

Additional Author(s) / Creators

The Conversation

Date Published

Sun, 09/08/2019 - 12:00

Category

Devolution

Type of Resource

News Media

Fast Facts

Many hoped devolution would kill nationalism stone dead, to paraphrase George Robertson 1997 referendum. His Labour colleagues in particular failed to grasp Scots’ powerful sense of nationhood. It was another Labour man, the late Tam Dalyell, who argued that devolution could lead to independence. Alex Salmond asserted that independence was “rendered inevitable when the Scottish parliament was established”.

Resource Address (URL)

https://theconversation.com/scottish-devolution-at-20-some-hits-some-misses-and…

Keywords

Scottish Parliament

Devolution

Language English

Scotland: The New State of an Old Nation

Stephen Richard — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 16:27:43 +0000

Scotland: The New State of an Old Nation

Primary Author or Creator

Murray Stewart Leith

Stephen Richard Fri, 09/24/2021 - 17:27

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Duncan Sim

Date Published

Tue, 03/31/2020 - 12:00

Category

Independence

Type of Resource

Book

Fast Facts

At a time when the country's future has topped the agenda in Britain and abroad, this book unpicks the complex weave of Scottish politics, society and culture, providing an essential insight into Scotland's present - and its future.

More details

Scotland's future in the Union is in question.

Since Devolution in 1997, there has been a sea-change in Scotland's sense of itself. A distinct Scottish political culture has emerged: confident, assertive and increasingly divergent from that of its southern neighbours. Yet, as this timely and perceptive book shows, Scottish nationalism has been on the rise since the Second World War.

Today, the Scottish National Party are in the ascendant, winning nearly half of all votes cast in the 2019 General Election and most of the seats. The Scottish Parliament has been a legislative trail-blazer, enacting progressive legislation well before England and Wales. And Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union, putting it at odds with much of the rest of the United Kingdom on the most important political decision this century. The country has transformed from the socially and politically conservative climate of the post-war period to a nation contemplating, for the second time, a move to independence - for all the uncertainty and turmoil that would bring.

Resource Address (URL)

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/scotland-the-new-state-of-an-old-nation/978178499…

Keywords

Scottish politics

Scottish nationalism

European Union

Scottish National Party

Scottish Parliament

Language English

Our House is on Fire

Stephen Richard — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 21:37:02 +0000

Our House is on Fire

Primary Author or Creator

George Gunn

Stephen Richard Thu, 09/02/2021 - 22:37

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Bella Caledonia

Date Published

Thu, 09/02/2021 - 12:00

Category

Scottish government

Type of Resource

News Item

Fast Facts

The deal passed in the Scottish Parliament is the beginning of a quest to make clear some definitions and to lead the country away from constitutional meaninglessness, cruel political comedy and out of the deliberately constructed tragic dead end of devolution.

Resource Address (URL)

https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2021/09/02/our-house-is-on-fire/

Keywords

Devoution

Scottish Parliament

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Climate Emergency

Language English

A House of Citizens for the Scottish Parliament

Stephen Richard — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 18:51:21 +0000

A House of Citizens for the Scottish Parliament

Primary Author or Creator

Common Weal

Stephen Richard Sat, 07/31/2021 - 19:51

Alternative Published Date

2020

Category

Scottish government

Type of Resource

Policy Paper

Fast Facts

The recent Citizens Assembly on the future of Scotland has painted a considered and compelling picture of what an improved democracy in Scotland could look like, including a proposal, supported by 83.5% if its members, to complement the elected Scottish Parliament with a permanent citizens’ assembly (with regular rotation of membership), i.e., to establish a House of Citizens in the Scottish Parliament. Such a House of Citizens could place Scotland at the forefront of democratic innovation and make it a global leader in citizen empowerment and engagement; we strongly recommend this proposal be adopted by all political parties to increase the level of trust in our political institutions and decision-making.

More details

The instigation of one of the world’s first House of Citizens in a parliamentary] setting would be a momentous decision and put Scotland at the forefront of democratic innovation and citizen empowerment and engagement. It will, by necessity, be an immense learning experience and governments around the world would all turn to Scotland to observe the outcome. Such a House of Citizens is feasible, popular, and indeed an urgent necessity. It would increase public trust in legislative decisions and boost the confidence of MSPs that their bills and laws have broad, well-justified public support.

It would counter the perceived capture of the political process by elites and other vested interests by putting everyday people’s voices directly into the legislative process. It would, indeed, be more than simply the inclusion of people’s views into the legislative process. What these deliberating members of Society will deliver is more than mere public opinion: they will increase the legitimacy of the Scottish Parliament by producing informed public judgements.

Resource Address (URL)

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/685/attachments…

Keywords

Scottish Parliament

Second Chamber

Citizens Assemblies

Language English