Constitutional Distractions
16 Aug 2007
A letter published in The Herald
Sir,
The Scottish Parliament is de facto sovereign in most respects. It controls taxes that account for some 9% of government expenditure – giving it more fiscal leeway than would ever be used. On health, education, justice and policing it might as well be independent. It also has broad regulatory powers influencing transport, energy, housing and industrial development. Even on welfare it has found ways to mould the system by distributing cash. Only on foreign affairs is it seriously constrained – but the influence of an independent Scotland would be nugatory, so this is hardly a big loss. So what do we hear from our politicians? Ideas to reform the worst health service in Europe? Plans to revive our failing schools or deal with urban crime and poverty? Nothing of the sort. Just another tortuous ‘conversation’ about the constitution. What Scots would really like to hear, I suspect, is silence on this issue for a generation. The political parties could then address the very serious social and economic problems we face with the largely unused powers they were given eight years ago.
Tom Miers
Executive Director
Policy Institute