10 years on: Devolution has largely failed
Cllr Cameron Rose, a Conservative councillor on Edinburgh, says that as measured by results devolution has been nothing to boast about.
The tenth anniversary of devolution in Scotland was celebrated last week. Last month the Calman Commission on devolution in Scotland recommended a range of additional powers (including tax raising powers).
The foundation of its recommendations is the assertion that ‘devolution has been a remarkable success’. To be fair to the Commission, such was the tenor of many of the submissions the committee took. But whilst many of the recommendations are reasonable the basic assertion is cosy and self congratulating and needs to be challenged for the sad lack of ambition it reveals.
The report recalls the purpose of devolution: ‘Its purpose is to serve the people of Scotland and to make their lives better’.
Certainly it has provided a closer link between citizens and elected representatives. There have been a few useful pieces of legislation and it has enabled Scotland to set the pace in some areas such as anti-smoking policy (though it would have come to Scotland anyway) and Climate Change legislation (if you are one of the reducing band who think that is a good thing).
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