Scottish devolution Historical background; Political questions; How Parliament operates; Policy outcomes; Public Attitudes
Historical background 1707 Act of Union – a decapitation Law, Education, Religion: different policy settlement 1974 election: disenchantment, economic slowdown, oil 1979 referendum: needs 40% electorate Barnett formula: overspending on Scotland?
A crisis of legitimacy? Thatcher at Westminster but Tories in Scotland? Exemplified by Poll Tax Scottish Constitutional Convention (1993): TUs, churches, pressure groups, Labour & the Liberals Established devolution as Labour policy
Referendum 11 th September 1997: Turnout: 59% YES to Parliament: 74.3% YES to tax varying powers:63.5% Scotland Act 1998 Elections 1999 Blair: ‘the powers of a parish council’
Walking a tightrope? First step to independence? The West Lothian question Money & tax The Barnett Formula
The Parliament 129 MSPs Unicameral Strong committee system FPTP & AMS: 73 constituencies & %^ List MSPs in 8 regions (European regions) Horseshoe chamber
Powers Health, education, local government, housing, economic development, transport, law and home affairs, environment, agriculture, fisheries & forestry Reserve powers (Westminster) Foreign policy, defence, finance, employment & social security
New politics? Coalition politics Sophisticated electorate Smaller parties do well Free personal care Tuition fees Lead on smoking ban
Public attitudes ‘Ordinary people will have more say in how Scotland is governed’ %64%44% Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2000
A social democratic settlement? Redistribute income & wealth: % agreeing (Paterson, 2001) ScotlandEngland