Introducing Scottish Politics

May 2006

Why did you choose to study in Scotland?

About You

• Tell me about the political system in your country

• At the end, I will ask you:

– What could Scotland learn from your country in terms of politics?

– What could your home country learn from Scotland in terms of politics?

Setting the Scottish Political Scene

• Scotland is a country within the United Kingdom

• Scotland has self-government i.e. devolution– Scottish Parliament– Scottish Government (known as

Scottish Executive)

• Scotland is not an independent nation

UK Parliament

• Prime Minister Tony Blair• 59 Scottish MPs out of 646• Passed 1998 Scotland Act• Three main parties• Has power over Scotland in

‘reserved’ areas:– Economy– Defence– Social Welfare– Foreign Affairs– Immigration– Energy

Scottish Parliament

• First Minister Jack McConnell

• 129 MSPs• Six main parties • Has power in ‘devolved’

areas:– Housing – Health– Education– Legal system – Raise taxes!– Planning

History of the Scottish Parliament

• 1707: Parliament suspended

• 1997: Referendum for a Scottish Parliament

• 1998: Scotland Act passed

• 1999: Scottish Parliament re-convened

What Does the Scottish Parliament Do?

• Passes legislation in devolved areas– 99 Acts of Parliament passed in 7 years

• Committees Hold Inquiries– European and External Affairs Committee and Fresh

Talent Initiative

• Holds the Scottish Executive to account– Question Time

• Gives people of Scotland a voice– Scottish Solutions for Scottish Problems

Composition of Parliament

• 129 MSPs

• 73 Constituency MSPs

• 56 List MSPs

Labour 50

SNP 25

Tory 17

Lib Dems 17

Greens 07

SSP 06

Independents 06

Presiding Officer 01

Who is Your MSP?

• www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/index.htm

– Allows you to search by postcode

• Call the Scottish Parliament on 0131 348 5000

• Your MSP will help you on any issue

• How to contact MSP is explained on the web address above

George Reid MSP

Anne McGuire MP

Scottish Executive

• Scottish Executive is the name for the devolved government of Scotland

• A coalition government between majority Labour party and minority Liberal Democrat party

• First Minister Jack McConnell is head of the Scottish Executive

• Various other Ministers for Health, Education etc

• Consults with Scotland before new legislation

Getting Involved

• Visit your MSP

• Attend Parliamentary Debates

• Attend Committee Meetings

• Respond to Consultations

• Start a Public Petition

Useful Websites

• Scottish Parliament– www.scottish.parliament.uk

• Scottish Executive– www.scotland.gov.uk

• UK Parliament– www.parliament.uk

• Public Petitions– http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/

business/committees/petitions/index.htm

Scotland’s Political Parties

www.scottishlabour.org.uk www.scotlibdems.org.uk www.scottishtories.org.uk

www.snp.org www.scottishsocialistparty.org www.scottishgreens.org

Achievements of the Parliament

• Ban on smoking in public places

• Reformed Scottish housing

• Reformed many aspects of Scottish life

• Allowed Scottish solutions to Scottish problems

Problems with the Parliament

• Devolved and Reserved Issues cause tension

• Inconsistent Devolved and Reserved Issues

• Stays in line with UK Parliament

• Hostile Media

• Cost of the Parliament Building

Scottish Solutions to Scottish Problems

• Scotland has a declining population

• Scotland needs more people to come and live here more than other parts of the United Kingdom

• But Scottish Parliament has no power over this issue

• Scottish Executive developed Fresh Talent Initiative and now two year visa extension applies only in Scotland

• Caused tensions with other parts of the UK

Differences from UK Parliament

• Closer to the people of Scotland

• More accessible and user friendly

• More consensual and co-operative

• More political parties so more perspectives

BUT

• Like UK Parliament, the Party will always come first!

Why make Scotland your home?

Closing Discussion

Q1. What could Scotland learn from your country in terms of the political

system?

Q2. What could your home country learn from Scotland in terms of the political

system?

Introducing Scottish Politics

May 2006