Tag: democracy

Democracy Matters: Communities want more local powers

New powers across areas of health, environment and leisure services could be given to local communities. Initial findings from the Local Governance Review published today, show that people overwhelmingly want more say about how public services are run in their area.

The review received more than 4,000 responses from across Scotland.

Publication today is the start of a process that could mean communities are given direct control of specific public services.

The Scottish Government is working with COSLA on the next stage of the review, which will look further into the type of powers communities would like to control. The results of the review will be published in 2021.

Communities and Local Government Secretary, Aileen Campbell, said: “A wide range of people with very different backgrounds, experiences and interests overwhelmingly responded that they want to have more say about how local public services are run in their area. 

“We want to see a step-change in democracy in Scotland where decisions on public services are made in communities – where they have the biggest impact.

“Options are open as to what services are devolved, and there is still a lot of detailed work to do but we have the opportunity to shape the future of democracy so local communities can really flourish.”

COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison said: “The initial stages of this review have made clear that local, democratic choice and control matters to people’s lives.

“There is now a need across the country to achieve improved outcomes for our communities, particularly those communities suffering persistent inequality.

“With leadership from Local Government and the Scottish Government, we will continue the conversation to get it right and give communities more say in decisions that impact on them.”

Director for Electoral Reform Society Scotland, Willie Sullivan, said:  “The biggest threat to democracy is that it does not grow and adapt quickly enough to meet the expectations of citizens.

“It’s clear that we have to remake democracy and governance for a time of rapid social and technological change and authoritarian threats. The only way to do this is from the local up and along with as many people as possible. The Scottish Government and COSLA seem to be embracing these ideas.

“Doing this well and getting it right will take time and attention. We welcome the progress made and will keep ensuring that democracy is at the centre of the hope for future transformation so that Scots can know the power and pride of running their own towns and villages”

Director of National Development for BEMIS Scotland, Mrs. Tanveer Parnez, said: “Utilising a human rights-based approach, in addition to facilitating participative democracy, within the Local Governance Review and associated Democracy Matters conversations, present an attentive and much needed approach to advancing democratic participation, active citizenship and empowerment for diverse communities at several levels.

“We have seen the impact of this approach through the positive and dynamic participation from diverse local communities in the first consultation phase, and we are fully committed to enhancing and progressing the equal partaking and participation of diverse communities in the next round of engagement and any new decision-making arrangements.”

Local Governance Review – Democracy Matters report

Read the full joint statement. 

The Local Governance Review has been delivered in partnership with COSLA and was launched to give local communities more say about how public services in their area are run.

We are encouraging everyone to get involved and help strengthen democracy in a way that makes Scotland a better place for all. If you want to stay in touch, you can sign up to our newsletter, email us at democracymatters@gov.scot and follow us on Twitter @CommEmpower.

All you need to know about the European Elections

We never thought it would come to this, but …
The UK should have left the EU on 29th March, but as we all know it didn’t happen. We are now due to leave on or before 31st October, but because we are still currently part of the EU we must take part in the European elections – even if our newly-elected MEPs will only be in post for a matter of weeks.
The last time European elections were held (in 2014), the UK spent £109m on them.
The elections for the European Parliament will be held a week today on 23 May 2019. Voters will choose 73 MEPs in 12 multi-member regional constituencies across the UK. Each region has a different number of MEPs based on its population.

Continue reading All you need to know about the European Elections

Brexit highlights cracks in broken Britain

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today outlined the steps the Scottish Government will take to progress the debate on Scotland’s future in light of Brexit, and the action to be taken to protect the option for an independence referendum to be held within the current term of the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading Brexit highlights cracks in broken Britain

Letters: Brainwashed Britain?

Dear Editor

The banking organisations, through incompetence, nearly made the country bankrupt but the debt was passed on to the people to shoulder. They had to accept a lot of unemployment, higher prices in the shops, frozen wages and severe cuts to public and social services.

To avoid any resistance, the authorities launched a campaign of diversion and blame. Everyone can remember how different sections of society were blamed in turn: the unemployed for not working, the disabled for being on benefits – all were targets to be blamed.

This went on for many years and people had taken enough of austerity; there was a growing mood for change, calling for the authorities to take the banking industry into public ownership and impose tighter controls over financial institutions.

This fast-growing popular demand was greatly feared by the political elite. It took them quite a while to develop an idea to divert these demands, but after eight years they were successful. It was a continuation of the blame game, but this time not blaming our own people but any and all those coming from Europe – and the idea of a Referendum was born. They concentrated on three main issues: Control, Laws and Migration.

  1. Since the referendum we have lost thousands of people wh o formerly worked in our social services and the NHS: these services are now struggling to keep going.
  2. Most laws from the EU have been beneficial, adding to workers’ rights and conditions of employment. EU laws also protect the environment. The UK Parliament as a law-making body remains in control.
  3. This is the most mentioned issue. For whom are the demanding control? The British people have already said they wanted the banks to be publicly owned and demanded tighter controls on financial institutions. Control is such a loose word that can be manipulated by individuals for the benefit of the few.

The promoters of the referendum conducted a continuous campaign of national ‘brainwashing’. Putting relentless pressure on people is not a new idea, as a look back at recent history will confirm.

But unfortunately nearly 50% of the population were aware of the implications of a break with Europe that is our biggest trader of imports and exports, and closest.

A. Delahoy,

Silverknowes Gardens

Polls open for Leith Walk by-election

The people of Leith go to the polls today to vote in the Leith Walk by-election. Polling stations opened at 7am and voters have until 10pm to cast their vote to elect a new councillor for Leith Walk.

Leith Walk

The sun shone on Leith Walk yesterday as elections officers delivered ballot boxes, ballot papers and polling stations to Pilrig St Paul’s Church Hall, one of nine polling places being used for the vote.

Today (11 April), constituents will select a new councillor for the ward, which is the most densely populated area in Scotland, with an electorate of 24,197.

Residents in Leith Walk, Broughton, Bonnington and Hillside who are aged 16 or over, are an EU citizen and have registered to vote can participate in the by-election.

Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Andrew Kerr, said on the eve of poll: “As with any electoral event in Edinburgh, our Elections team work hard to ensure it runs smoothly, which we see in action today.

“As we approach the Leith Walk By-election I would encourage residents to make a trip to their local polling place to have their say and help elect a councillor to represent the community on matters affecting the ward and the entire city.”

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 11 April and will be at:

Lorne Primary School
Norton Park Conference Centre
Holy Cross RC Primary School
Ebenezer United Free Church Hall
Royal Navy and Royal Marine Association Club
Broughton Nursery
Pilrig St Paul’s Church Hall
McDonald Road Library
Leith Walk Primary School

The candidates are:

Steven Alexander, UK Independence Party (UKIP)
Jack Caldwell, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Nick Gardner, Scottish Labour Party
Kevin Illingworth, Independent
David Don Jacobsen, Socialist Labour Party
Tom Laird, Scottish Libertarian Party
Dan McCroskrie, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Rob Munn, Scottish National Party (SNP)
John Ferguson Scott, Independent
Lorna Slater, Scottish Green Party
Paul Mitchell Stirling, The For Britain Movement

The result of the by-election will be announced once the votes are counted after polls close at 10pm on Thursday, 11 April.

Find out more about the Leith Walk by-election.