Introducing Scottish Politics

1
Introducing Scottish Politics

• May 2006

2
Why did you choose to study in Scotland?
3
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?

4
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

5
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

6
Scottish Parliament

• First Minister Jack McConnell
• 129 MSPs
• Six main parties
• Has power in devolved areas
• Housing
• Health
• Education
• Legal system
• Raise taxes!
• Planning

7
History of the Scottish Parliament

• 1707 Parliament suspended
• 1997 Referendum for a Scottish Parliament
• 1998 Scotland Act passed
• 1999 Scottish Parliament re-convened

8
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

9
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
10
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
11
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

12
Getting Involved

• Visit your MSP
• Attend Parliamentary Debates
• Attend Committee Meetings
• Respond to Consultations
• Start a Public Petition

13
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/committ
  ees/petitions/index.htm

14
Scotlands Political Parties
www.scottishlabour.org.uk
www.scotlibdems.org.uk
www.scottishtories.org.uk
www.snp.org
www.scottishsocialistparty.org
www.scottishgreens.org
15
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

16
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

17
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

18
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!

19
Why make Scotland your home?
20
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?

21
Introducing Scottish Politics

• May 2006