The Democratic Deficit

Voters in Scotland Have Different Priorities

What one sees is that voters in Scotland have consistently expressed different priorities to Brits south of the border.  

It feels like people south of the border have a different outlook. The prime example surely is the Brexit referendum, where 62% of the Scottish votes were for remaining in the EU. This was and remains disgracefully ignored by Westminster. Let us also remember that the 2014 independence referendum was fought on the premise that voting against independence would allow Scotland to remain in the EU - later proven to be a ruse.

Our Holyrood parliament was established in recognition of a desire amongst Scots to manage their own affairs. However, Westminster is in the habit of minimising the reach of Holyrood, introducing legislation, such as the Internal Market Bill, to curb Holyrood's powers, so that UK ministers can intervene in devolved areas. It is all too clear that power devolved is power retained, and time and again Westminster disregards the decisions of our democratically elected MSPs.

I believe that Scots will increasingly become aware of the democratic deficit and the Westminster bias, and that no matter which of the two large parties governs, the UK will continue to dominate the agenda against the will of the Scots as expressed (more) democratically through Holyrood elections.

 
Peter Glissov

28/04/23