The Banalisation of Scottish Politics

Week in, week out the only political news in Scotland is about minor scandals. The insignificance of these in the grander scheme is pretty staggering – a republican minister requested more information on proposals regarding the Queen’s security, Iain Grey borrowed a tent, Alex Salmond took his dentist to dinner, Nicola Sturgeon did something to help a constituent (albeit without fully investigating the case).

Every Thursday without fail, Iain Grey fails to question the First Minister on the Scottish Government’s policies, instead focusing on these pathetic little scandals. Scandals, which it should be noted, he and his front bench spend considerable time drumming up on Good Morning Scotland, in the Scotsman and in the Herald. Even journalists are beginning to get sick of it, with both Iain McWhirter and Joan McAlpine condemning this banalisation of Scottish politics.

Of course, this isn’t entirely about Labour failing to equip themselves with an competent leader and their abysmal failure to either provide real, grown-up opposition or make compromises with the SNP. After all, Alex Salmond plays up to the scandals. Why shouldn’t he? The SNP formula for dealing with Labour’s scandal-based tactics generally leaves him in the clear and Grey looking like the small man of Scottish politics.

Politics in Scotland should not and cannot be based on such abysmal bun-fighting. It justifies the reputation for parochialness which the Scottish Parliament has amongst the England-based media and disgraces not just the politicians but the entire country. If neeps like Iain Grey and Mike Rumbles are amongst our best and brightest elected individuals, then what does that say about Scottish voters?

This banalisation must cease. We have one of the most innovative systems of government in the world, which was held up as an example to all in 1999. We should be leading the way with devolved government and showing the British Government ways in which it can improve itself, in much the same way that we led the way with the Smoking Ban.

A few suggestions for the various parties which may help end this sorry state of affairs:

- Remove Iain Grey from his position. Replace him with someone who who is prepared to act as a statesman rather then as a red-top journalist.

- Forget GARL. We had enough white elephants built in the 8 years of Lib-Lab Government.

- Compromise on Minimum Unit Pricing. Everyone else is, so why won’t Labour?

- Bring forward more legislation. The SNP’s legislative agenda has been light due to the problems creating compromise (as MUP demonstrates), but this doesn’t explain why none of the other parties or the committees aren’t pushing for more legislation of their own or compromising with the Government to create legislation.

- Forget the Westminster Election. Both the SNP and Labour are leading in Scottish polls for Westminster. What’s going on in the Scottish Parliament doesn’t seem to be affecting that, so how about we stop the time wasting and posing.

- MSPs, ask your self, every time you form an opinion, stand up to speak or reach for the voting button “Is this good for the people of Scotland?” Not just Labour voters, not just SNP voters, not just Glaswegians or Highlanders or sink estates – all of us. If the answer is yes, then vote for it. You don’t have to agree with it, but the job of MSPs is to do what is in the best interests of Scottish People, what will make us a stronger country and what will give us the best future.

We cannot accept the mindless bickering in the Parliament today. There are more important issues at stake – alcoholism, knife crime, climate change, unemployment, council tax cuts and many more.

End the banality of Scottish Politics now.