Minority Government

1
Minority Government

• Has the SNP made it work?

2
The Maths
The SNP, with 47 MSPs, is the majority
party. But it is in the minority if all the
other parties vote against it! The Government
has had to pass its legislation on an issue by
issue basis or by the strength of argument,
rather than the strength of numbers
3
First Minister in control of chamber
Alex Salmond has, to date, commanded the Scottish
Parliament at FMQ. He has seen off two Scottish
Labour leaders and one Liberal Democrat. This
has raised the morale of the minority Government
and undermined the opposition.
First Ministers Questions
4
Salmonds step by step approach
Alex Salmonds approach to independence is to
promote the Scottish identity within the Scottish
public (e.g. via The Homecoming) and increase
the powers of the Scottish Parliament step by
step.
5
Quality not Quantity in Ministerial team
The SNP has opted for a smaller ministerial team
than previous administrations Cabinet Secretary
for Justice Kenny MacAskill Cabinet Secretary
for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney
Cabinet Secretary for Health Wellbeing Nicola
Sturgeon First Minister Alex Salmond Cabinet
Secretary for Education Lifelong Learning Mike
Russell Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs
the Environment Richard Lochhead
Scottish Cabinet meetings around the country
6
Early defeat 2007, Edinburgh Trams
The scheme was voted through by 81 votes to 47
after parties joined forces against the SNP. The
Government would have stopped the construction
and spent the funds on improvements to dangerous
roads e.g. A9 to Inverness. And we still dont
have the trams!
Edinburgh Trams. Value for Money?
7
But legislation is not needed for everything
The SNP Government does not need legislation to
pass all of its policies. First Minister Alex
Salmond can use his Executive powers to introduce
new policies e.g. the phased abolition of
prescription charges.
Phased abolition of prescription charges
8
Achievement Abolition of Bridge Tolls
Tolls have been abolished on all of Scotlands
road bridges. The SNP Government is trying to
raise funds for a replacement Forth Road
Bridge. In the new era of budget cuts, would
tolls funds have come in useful?
9
Achievement Abolition of Graduate Tax
In 2008, the SNP Government abolished the
Graduate Endowment, saving graduates paying the
2,289 tax. The bill was supported by the SNP,
the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, Margo
MacDonald and one Labour MSP, Elaine Smith. The
Opposition argued that the 17 million cost could
have been put to better use. There is a
speculation that a new Graduate Tax could be on
the agenda
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Balanced by failure to cancel student debts
We have to recognise that there are a number of
restrictions, outside this Governments control,
which may prevent us fully delivering on all of
our commitments. (then) Cabinet Secretary for
Education Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop
11
The Concordat

• The Concordat agreed between the SNP Scottish
  Government and COSLA in 2007 is based upon
• Reducing ring fencing of projects by the
  Scottish Government
• Freezing Council Tax increases
• Establishing Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs)
• Some local authority leaders feel that they have
  been given insufficient funds to meet Concordat
  commitments on class sizes and free school meals
  for P1-P3

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The Council Tax Stays!
The SNPs proposed Local Income Tax has been
abandoned. The opposition parties refused to
support it. Its back to the drawing board.
In the light of budget cuts putting further
pressure on local authorities, will COSLA
continue to support the Concordat?
13
Parliamentary Opposition
Scotlands three main Opposition parties are
opposed to independence and also to having a
referendum on independence. Labour has 46 MSPs,
the Conservatives have 17 and the Liberal
Democrats 16. This means that the SNPs
Referendum Bill can be easily outvoted unless one
of the parties can be won over.
14
Failure of Key Policies
The maximum class size of 18 in P1-P3 is now an
aim, rather than a pledge.
The Scottish Futures Trust has been criticised as
little different from PPP.
The Alcohol Bill, is in danger after Opposition
parties defeated plans for minimum pricing.
15
Opinion Polls
The Scottish publics mood towards independence
is difficult to measure. Opinion poll answers
depend on the wording of the question! There has
been no clear majority for independence.yet