Tag: democracy

COSLA elects new leadership team

Councillor Shona Morrison (Moray, Council) has been elected as the 16th President of COSLA following a meeting of the full Convention in Edinburgh yesterday.

Councillor Steven Heddle (Orkney Islands Council) was appointed Vice-President at the same meeting.

Commenting following the meeting COSLA’s new President Councillor Morrison said: “I am honoured to be elected President of COSLA and excited to take on this opportunity in one of the top political jobs in Scotland.

“I look forward to continuing the progress which has already been made on a cross party basis over the last five-year term.

“I am clear about the pressures faced by Local Government and the challenges and opportunities ahead. This is an important job and a challenge I will relish and give my all to. I am a politician and a member of a political party, however my focus in this role will be on the ‘Team Local Government’.

“Working with the Vice President and the Spokespeople at COSLA, I’m confident we will deliver on our key priorities as we work together to be the voice for local Councils and champion the essential services they continue to provide under increasingly challenging circumstances.

“I would like to congratulate Cllr Heddle on their election as Vice-President and also pay tribute to the sterling work done by my predecessor Councillor Alison Evison and Vice President Councillor Graham Houston.”

COSLA’s new Vice President Councillor Heddle said:  “I am delighted to be elected to the position of COSLA Vice President. It is a wonderful opportunity and a role that I am honoured to take on, on behalf of the whole of Local Government.”

Following the announcement of Councillor Shona Morrison, Moray Council as the new COSLA President and Councillor Steven Heddle, Orkney Islands Council as the new COSLA Vice- President, the five Spokespersons have also been announced today (Friday), covering key policy areas.

This means that the full COSLA Political Team is as follows:

  • President – Cllr Shona Morrison, Moray Council.
  • Vice-President – Cllr Steven Heddle, Orkney Islands Council.
  • Resources Spokesperson – Cllr Katie Hagmann, Dumfries and Galloway Council).
  • Health and Social Care Spokesperson – Cllr Paul Kelly, North Lanarkshire Council.
  • Community Wellbeing Spokesperson – Cllr Maureen Chalmers, South Lanarkshire Council.
  • Environment and Economy Spokesperson – Cllr Gail Macgregor, Dumfries and Galloway Council.
  • Children and Young People Spokesperson – Cllr Tony Buchanan, East Renfrewshire Council.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: ‘It’s time to talk about independence’

FIRST MINISTER FIRES STARTING GUN FOR INDYREF2

Setting out the fresh case for Scotland to become an independent country began today as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared ‘It’s time’ and published new analysis showing the prize of independence is a wealthier, fairer Scotland.

The Scottish Government analysis – Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why Not Scotland? – details how neighbouring countries such as Sweden, Ireland, Denmark and Finland use their powers of independence to achieve economic success, business dynamism and fairer societies.

The evidence shows that:

  • the comparator countries are all wealthier – some a lot wealthier – than the UK
  • income inequality is lower in all the comparator countries
  • poverty rates are lower in all the comparator countries
  • there are fewer children living in poverty in all the comparator countries
  • the comparator countries all have higher productivity – often significantly higher – than the UK
  • business investment tends to be higher in all the comparator countries     

It is the first in a series of papers called Building a New Scotland that will together form a prospectus for an independent Scotland to enable people to make an informed choice about Scotland’s future before any referendum takes place.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Today, Scotland – like countries across the world – faces significant challenges. But we also have huge advantages and immense potential. The refreshed case for independence is about how we equip ourselves to navigate the challenges and fulfil that potential, now and in future.

“In their day to day lives, people across Scotland are suffering the impacts of the soaring cost of living, low growth and increasing inequality, constrained public finances and the many implications of a Brexit we did not vote for. These problems have all been made worse or, most obviously in the case of Brexit, directly caused by the fact we are not independent.

“So at this critical juncture we face a fundamental question. Do we stay tied to a UK economic model that consigns us to relatively poor economic and social outcomes which are likely to get worse, not better, outside the EU? Or do we lift our eyes, with hope and optimism, and take inspiration from comparable countries across Europe?

“Comparable neighbouring countries with different characteristics. Countries that, in many cases, lack the abundance of resources that Scotland is blessed with. But all of them independent and, as we show today, wealthier and fairer than the UK.

“Today’s paper – and those that will follow in the weeks and months ahead – is about substance. That is what really matters. The strength of the substantive case will determine the decision people reach when the choice is offered – as it will be – and it is time now to set out and debate that case.

“After everything that has happened it is time to set out a different and better vision. It is time to talk about making Scotland wealthier and fairer. It is time to talk about independence – and then to make the choice.”

Scottish Government Minister and Scottish Green Party Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said: “This paper sets out a detailed, evidence-based assessment of how the UK performs in comparison to a group of European countries.

“It shows how we are being held back environmentally, socially and economically by a UK Government that does not have the interests of the people of Scotland in mind. And it shows that with the powers of independence we could make different decisions than those made by the UK government, and build a more prosperous, equal and greener Scotland.

“As we seek to deliver the transition to a net-zero economy and address a cost of living crisis that is being turbo-charged by Brexit, there could not be a more important time to give the people of Scotland a choice over our future.

The Building a New Scotland papers will help ensure that choice is an informed one, and I hope that everyone will join us in a positive and constructive national debate about Scotland’s future.”

independence-modern-world-wealthier-happier-fairer-not-scotlandDownload

Candidacy rights for foreign nationals

Bill passes allowing nationals from certain countries to stand as local councillors

An electoral reform bill allowing nationals from countries where a relevant treaty has been agreed, including Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain, to become local councillors has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

All resident nationals from these countries will be able to stand for election as a councillor in Scotland, even if they only have limited leave to remain and even if that leave is set to expire during their term of office, under the Bill.

This follows changes made in 2020, which ensured all resident nationals from EU countries can vote in local elections and that those with settled status or pre-settled status can stand as candidates in local government elections.

The Bill will grant candidacy rights in Scottish local government elections to people from Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain living in Scotland who do not have settled status or pre-settled status in accordance with the treaties covering local election participation.

The Bill also allows Scottish Ministers to add to the list of countries through regulations if further treaties are signed.

Minister for Parliamentary Business George Adam said: “This Bill makes a small – but important – change to the law to ensure all nationals of Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain can stand as candidates in Scottish local government elections.

“Scots Law already allows Scotland to go further than most other countries in allowing all resident foreign nationals with any form of leave to remain to vote in Scottish Parliament and Scottish local government elections, but candidacy rights are limited to those with indefinite leave to remain and EU nationals with pre-settled status.

“This is all about open, fair, wide and transparent democracy and I look forward to further debate over the course of the year on a wider expansion of candidacy rights.”

Democracy Isn’t Working

In an exclusive poll of 10,000 voters – five times the normal sample size for surveys of voter sentiment  – Tortoise has found British democracy isn’t working.

Twelve years since the Conservatives took power and six since the EU referendum, voters are dissatisfied with their representatives, divided by demography and distrustful of a system that seems stacked against them.

  • Barely half of voters think of Britain as a functioning democracy.
  • Nearly a third want a strong leader unconstrained by parliament when it comes to making big decisions.
  • Three quarters think MPs don’t care much or at all about their everyday concerns.
  • Four fifths feel they have little or no say in how the country is run.
  • 45 per cent of voters would vote to rejoin the EU if there was another referendum, compared with 40 per cent who’d vote to stay out.

The full findings can be found here:  Democracy in Britain . The poll was designed with the pollster Peter Kellner, and carried out by Deltapoll.

  • By 2:1, they think it doesn’t make much difference which party is in power
  • Nearly six in ten say “rich and powerful people having more political influence than ordinary voters” tops a list of the worst features of British democracy.
  • More than two thirds (68 per cent) across all age ranges say young people don’t have enough respect for traditional British values. 

James Harding. Co-founder and Editor of Tortoise Media, said: “Democracy is in trouble in the UK.  Only one person in five thinks democracy gives them any real say in how the country is run; nearly a third of people say the country needs a strong leader who doesn’t need to consult Parliament; and the biggest concern is that democracy works for the rich and powerful, not them. 

These are just some of the findings of the poll of 10,000 people that we commissioned at Tortoise to look at the state of democracy in Britain.  It’s the first opinion poll done on this scale to ask the question: “Does democracy work for you?” 

There are plenty of international surveys charting the decline of democracy around the world, where dictators, populists and pseudo-democrats are rolling back the rule of law.  But we’re too complacent about the democracy crisis at home: people are losing faith in Britain’s political system. 

Tortoise is a slow newsroom; we’re not trying to chase more breaking news, but understand what’s driving it.  Over the coming months, we are going to be holding ThinkIns across the country trying to get to the truth about Britain’s broken democracy – and, we hope, gather ideas on ways to mend it.”

Peter Kellner, leadinghttps://mailchi.mp/tortoisemedia/people-minus-power-1 pollster: “We all know the mantra. Britain has its problems but, for all its faults, our nation is a mature, stable democracy whose future is secure.

“That view could be dangerously complacent. Deltapoll’’s research for Tortoise suggests that the risks of our democracy fraying are greater than we might think. Barely half the public think Britain is democratic, and 14 million want a strong leader who does not have to answer to Parliament.

“I have never seen such disturbing figures. They flow from widespread contempt for our politicians. Two thirds of the public think MPs are “mainly out for themselves” rather than genuinely interested in public service and their constituents. Even more, three in four, do not trust MPs to “care about the concerns of people like you”.

“As a result, the adjectives that people choose most, from a list of eight to describe Britain’s democracy these days are “uneasy”, “disgusted” and “angry”, while the adjectives they choose least are “confident”, “happy” and “proud”. It’s impossible to avoid the conclusion that British democracy is in deep trouble with the electorate.”

Joe Twyman, Co- Founder of Delta Poll: “Tortoise has commissioned one of the largest surveys ever conducted in this country to look closely at democracy in Britain, including how the British people feel it works for them and for others.

“A representative sample of more than 10,000 adults from across Britain took part, and while the results may make for some uncomfortable reading, the data paint a very important and necessary picture that invites close examination.

“You cannot address a problem by simply pretending – or even hoping – that it does not exist.”

Council: Lorna Slater calls for Labour and Lib Dems to reject Tory alliance

The Scottish Greens co-leader and Lothian MSP, Lorna Slater, has called for Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors in Edinburgh to work together with other progressive parties, rather than lining up in an alliance with the Tories.

Her call comes as Edinburgh Councillors vote to form an administration. This week the membership of the Edinburgh Green Party voted to support a draft coalition agreement with SNP councillors and will take the proposal to today’s Council meeting.

Scottish Greens MSP Lorna Slater said: “The last 24 hours have seen Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians in Westminster and Holyrood taking a stand against the cruel and out of touch Tory government and rightly calling for the Prime Minister to resign.

“We are living in a cost of living crisis and thousands of people across our city are struggling to make ends meet. The Tories do not have any solutions, and are actively making it worse. Energy bills are skyrocketing and the Tory solution is more cuts and austerity.

“This month’s election saw the Conservatives losing half of their councillors and thousands of votes in Edinburgh. Many people across our city will be shocked to see Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors lining up in alliance with the Tories to form an administration.

“It is time for progressive parties to work together and build on the achievements that were made over the last term. That is why, even at this late stage, I am urging Edinburgh’s Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors to work with us, rather than lining up with the Tories. 

“We must grasp this crucial opportunity to build the fairer, greener city that our communities voted for.”

The SNP is the biggest party in Edinburgh, returning 19 councillors at this month’s elections.

The SNP has ran Edinburgh with the support of Labour in a so-called ‘Capital Coalition’ for ten years, but Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar ruled out any further coalitions in the run up to the local government elections.

Speaking after Labour launched it’s manifesto for the council elections, Mr Sarwar was emphatic: “And I think it’s right for us to say we shouldn’t be picking and choosing which is the good versus the bad. Both are bad for our country. Both are decimating local communities. And therefore I think it’s right that we see no formal coalition with the SNP or the Tories.” 

That seemed clear enough – but it now appears Mr Sarwar actually ruled out coalitions with the SNP, but finds partnerships with the Tories quite acceptable? For some disgusted Labour supporters that really is a step too far.

Mr Sarwar denies misleading voters.

5th MAY ELECTION RESULTS (62 councillors elected)

SNP – 19

LIB – 13

LAB – 12

GRN – 10

CON – 8

The council meeting takes place this morning at 10am. We will know who will be running our city later today.

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils meets online this Thursday

The Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC) will meet on Thursday 26 May, at 7pm on Zoom.

(See the Zoom link at the foot of this email.)

*** Agenda ***

1. Presentation by Charlie Raeburn on the ‘Observatory for Sport in Scotland’.

This is a community sports initiative — involving central and local government, as well as the private sector — aimed at tacking Scotland’s health and activity crisis. (See https://oss.scot.)

2. Best practice for community council treasurers? Solutions to banking problems for small organizations? Discussion led by Judy Wightman, EACC Treasurer and Chair of Ratho & District Community Council. 

3. Removal of litter bins from parks and greenspaces. Issue to be raised by Tim Parker, Trinity Community Council.

4. Any other business.

EACC meeting, 26 May 2022 19:00 

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8213251547?pwd=cVM5Y1pQZFUrZVV2cnIwUDV1MjF5QT09

SIMON HOLLEDGE

Secretary, Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC)

Simon.Holledge@gmail.com

@EdinCCs

MSPs to look at role of parliament and governance in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee is to hold hearings to examine how devolved structures and conventions are working in the post-EU landscape.

The evidence sessions will look at:

  • Legislative consent (sometimes known as the ‘Sewel Convention’);
  • Implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Co-Operation Agreement (TCA);
  • Intergovernmental relations;
  • Retained EU law; and
  • Implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol

The effects of the UK leaving the EU, including UK and GB-wide arrangements put in place to replace EU systems (such as Common Frameworks and the UK Internal Market Act), as well as disagreements between the UK and Scottish Governments over issues including legislative consent, have all impacted on how the Scottish Parliament and Government work. These changes will be examined in detail by the Committee.

These hearings follow on from inquiries by the Committee into the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 and the UK Internal Market Act (UKIMA), as well as the Committee’s role in the first meeting of the UK-wide Interparliamentary Forum.

The Committee previously concluded that UKIMA has created a tension in the devolution settlement, with more emphasis on open trade than regulatory autonomy, when compared to the EU Single Market.

It also identified a risk that the emphasis on managing regulatory divergence at an inter-governmental level may lead to less transparency and Ministerial accountability, and a tension in the balance of relations between the Executive and the Legislature.

Speaking ahead of today’s first roundtable looking at the issue of legislative consent, Committee Convener, Clare Adamson MSP, said: “Leaving the EU has meant a significant change in the UK’s constitutional arrangements. Of course, this has implications for Scotland and its Parliament.

“Though many of these changes are very technical, they can have important implications. We have already put on record our concerns around a number of potential risks including less regulatory autonomy for devolved Parliaments, reduced democratic oversight, and a less consultative policy making process.

“As MSPs, we now want to examine what other changes mean for devolution.”

So far, the following roundtables are scheduled for the following dates:

Thursday 19 May: Legislative Consent after Brexit

Thursday 26 May: Implementation of the Trade and Co-Operation Agreement

Thursday 9 June: Intergovernmental relations

SNP are clear winners in Edinburgh Council elections

GAINS ALL ROUND AS TORIES TROUNCED

The Local Government Election results for Edinburgh’s 17 wards have been announced at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) following the vote on Thursday 5 May.

In total, 63 councillors have been elected to become the City of Edinburgh Council, with a 47.2% overall turnout for the city. A full list of councillors elected is available on the Council website.

The breakdown of elected members by party is:

Scottish National Party: 19 (No change on 2017 result)
Scottish Labour Party: 13 (+1)
Scottish Liberal Democrats: 12 (+6)
Scottish Green Party: 10 (+2)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist: 9 (-9)

Returning Officer Andrew Kerr announced the results over the course of the day. He said: “I’m pleased that so many people have turned out to have their say in Edinburgh. Thanks to voters for taking the time to participate, demonstrating the importance of local services to the public.

“I want to congratulate the successful candidates, and welcome new councillors to their role at the Council. I look forward to working with them all over the next five years.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank our Election team, whose hard work and dedication has enabled the smooth running of this election. It’s no mean feat, particularly here in the Capital, with 300 polling stations to set up and hundreds of staff to recruit and train.

“The team worked particularly hard to replace polling places, ending our use of schools, while ensuring each venue was as accessible and welcoming as possible for all voters.”

Turnout: 47.2% 
Electorate: 399,239 
Votes cast: 188, 601

It’s likely that the SNP will be seeking to form new alliances this weekend as they seek to form a new administration. While the SNP are the biggest party, with 19 of Edinburgh’s 63 councillors, they do not have a majority and they will have to work with others to get their programme through.

Scottish Labout leader has all but ruled out any deal with the SNP, so there will be no ‘Capital Coalition III’ with Labour in Edinburgh.

Mr Sarwar told journalists at the launch of the Labour Party’s manifesto last month: “We’ve had difficult situations in the past where decisions have been made by a Scottish Executive Committee that individual councils haven’t liked. But the reality is, it’s always been the case that the Scottish Executive Committee would sign off on any agreements. 

“And I think it’s right for us to say we shouldn’t be picking and choosing which is the good versus the bad. Both are bad for our country. Both are decimating local communities. And therefore I think it’s right that we see no formal coalition with the SNP or the Tories.”

Scottish Labour won’t renege on this commitment, will they?

For further details of the results and the Local Government Election, please see the Elections section of the Council website.

Ben Macpherson surgeries tomorrow

Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith 

This Friday, 6 May, I will be holding my regular ‘Drop-in Help & Advice Surgeries’ in Edinburgh Northern and Leith.

Do not attend if you are unwell. Please find the details below:

#HereToHelp

9:30am – 10:30am at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre (11 Pilton Drive North, Edinburgh EH5 1NF).11:00am –

12:00noon at Prentice Centre (1 Granton Mains Ave, Edinburgh EH4 4GA). 3:30pm –

4:30pm at Leith Community Centre (12A Newkirkgate, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6AD).

If you can’t come this Friday, and you need assistance from me as your local MSP, you can also contact my office via phone on 0131 600 0134 or email me at ben.macpherson.msp@parliament.scot