When the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament were set up, there was a substantial gap in their powers in Scotland’s favour. The Welsh administration couldn’t pass primary legislation before last March’s referendum, and even the Assembly name was second-tier, akin to the second-tier devolution Scotland voted for in 1979.
And yet there are issues where this notionally weaker body has forged ahead of the Scottish Government. In 2000 a Lab/Lib Dem coalition banned GM crops, but two years later a Scottish Executive of the same colour ignored a vote at Lib Dem conference and went ahead with plantings.
Today sees the now Labour-only Welsh Government take another step ahead of Scotland with what looks potentially like a massive switch in transport policy in favour of walking and cycling, just as Scottish Ministers plan to head in the opposite direction by spending billions on duplicate road capacity.
As a supporter of independence I’d like to see Scottish Ministers flexing every muscle they have to improve this country using the powers devolved already: that’s the best way to demonstrate the need for the full powers of an independent nation. So why are Welsh Ministers better at doing that than Scottish ones?
#1 by Aidan on May 9, 2012 - 12:28 pm
The small c conservatism of all the post-Devolution Scottish administrations is pretty disappointing.
#2 by Angus McLellan on May 10, 2012 - 1:18 am
I don’t disagree, but there are reasons why we might have expected that.
For one thing the fiscal settlement contains strong incentives for Scottish governments to play it safe. If you’re in government at Westminster and have some wizard plans that turn out to have been poorly costed – as if! – you can borrow money or raise taxes. Things are not so simple when you can’t borrow and are funded mainly by a block grant. A bright idea gone wrong can’t be hidden under the carpet.
A radical government – right, left or centre – would take the risks. However the four largest parties are anything but radical leaving only the Greens in parliament with much in the way of ideas. It might have been a bit different if Tom Harris and Murdo Fraser had won, but in both cases play-it-safe won the day.
#3 by Barbarian on May 9, 2012 - 1:29 pm
Perhaps it is because Scottish ministes today only want policies that will benefit the independence campaign or their donors.
Transport for example – no sign of an attempt to regulate or freeze fares.
“Shovel ready projects” – how about insultating every home in Scotland rather than building train sets, bridges and more bloody roads (Aberdeen bypass excepted). Better insulation = lower energy costs = more money to spend.
#4 by John Ruddy on May 9, 2012 - 1:50 pm
I’ve wondered whether the SNP’s strategy was to be competent enough, not doing anything which might rock the boat etc.
I agree that all administrations have been relatively conservative (small c), but the Labour/Lib Dem one DID do many things which were radical, such as the right to roam, the smoking ban (Labour STILL gets grief from some people over that no) etc – all of which were right, but not necessarily universally popular.
#5 by James on May 9, 2012 - 3:42 pm
Land reform also – a step in the right direction there, agreed. Maybe I’ve been too critical 😉
#6 by Barbarian on May 9, 2012 - 11:05 pm
Sounds about right. Competentcy was better in the last parliament. Now they have a majority methinks they are following tradition by thinking they know what is best for us.
Cynical as usual I know, but perhaps it is because they have a majority, there is nowhere to hide!
#7 by Cameron on May 9, 2012 - 2:21 pm
Why the assumption that banning gm crops is the absolute right thing to do? Perhaps they didn’t ban it because GM crops are an employer in Scotland with the likes of the SCRI but it isn’t in Wales?
#8 by James on May 9, 2012 - 3:38 pm
Perhaps, we can disagree on the policy, but Lib Dem Ministers ignored their party’s views on it here but not in Scotland.
#9 by An Duine Gruamach on May 9, 2012 - 4:07 pm
Och, well, there ye go 😉 It’s a fine Lib Dem tradition.
#10 by Luke Nicholas on May 9, 2012 - 4:57 pm
This is a solid proposal from Wales. It took 5 years to come to fruition though, due to Labour’s torturous “LCO” law-making system that we only managed to do away with last year.
In general though although you’ve pointed to GM crops we have been held back in Wales alot, regardless of which party is in power. All of the parties here envy Scotland’s renewables industry and the lack of powers Wales has compared to Scotland on deciding energy permissions and any conditions related to them. We also haven’t been able to do anything substantial on criminal justice because of the powers we lack when compared with Scotland.
James is right to draw attention to this good piece of legislation but in general the picture here is of envy for what goes on in Scotland (short of independence).