Latest news with #Holyrood
Scotsman
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
The martyrdom of ex-Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross must not be in vain
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Martyrdom of Douglas Ross just might go down in Holyrood history as a turning point. Others should raise their voices to protest that there is only so much evasion and sanctimony that sentient beings should be expected to tolerate in silence. There have been 25 years to judge whether Holyrood's procedures are in need of review or if its potential as a place of national debate and scrutiny could be improved upon. It is a measure of the delusions which pervade the place that nobody seems to consider institutional self-criticism a priority. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I have no doubt Scotland's great issues of the day were more intelligently debated in public forums before Holyrood existed. This was not only at Westminster though, contrary to myth, MPs spent a lot of time debating distinctive Scottish issues and legislation. And they weren't required to do it via four-minute speeches as Holyrood's ridiculous rules of debate demand. Douglas Ross points something out in the Scottish Parliament chamber (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images Soporific Pre-devolution, far more attention was also paid to forums like the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the annual congress of the Scottish TUC, the party conferences and so on, involving big issues, big people, big ideas. They couldn't legislate but they could argue and influence. Ironically, much of that influence was latterly directed towards creation of a devolved parliament. Holyrood duly superseded these institutions and added a democratic layer to devolved policy-making. The accompanying theory was that it would reflect a Scotland of all the talents; a showcase for our democratic intellects and a font of original thinking. To say the least, it hasn't worked out like that and expectations have long since been lowered accordingly. Most MSPs appear content with their three-day week and home-in-time-for-tea formula. It produces legislation which is repeatedly abandoned or found to be deeply flawed, while the dynamic of political debate is stifled by a leaden environment, originally designed to be 'consensual' but now merely soporific. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Since the future existence of Holyrood is not in question, it is surely time to ask how it could actually encourage people to believe in it as a vehicle for healthy debate, creativity and progress. Every party should be challenged to make a manifesto commitment to review the workings of the Scottish Parliament with a view to reviving these ambitions. Saving money Similarly, any aspirant party of government should commit to a comprehensive spending review after next year's elections, with every spending silo subjected to intense scrutiny. To me, one of the most remarkable recent confessions came from public finance minister Ivan McKee, who said there are £5 billion of 'backroom savings' to be found in the Scottish Government's budget. At this point, the issue of wasted money intersects with the quality of parliamentary scrutiny at which Holyrood has repeatedly proved itself not fit for purpose, despite the best efforts of some MSPs. As far as I can find, Mr McKee's extraordinary admission has never been debated in the Holyrood Chamber with the First Minister held to account for £5bn. But let's return to Mr Ross, with whom empathy does not always come naturally. However, his dismissal by the Green Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone, merits textual analysis in his defence. The red card came during First Minister's Questions when the Scottish Tory leader, Russell Findlay, was challenging Mr Swinney on net-zero targets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Findlay's opening gambit was about the impact on agriculture. Quoting from the Climate Change Committee, he said that reaching the targets for this sector would mean 'the number of cattle and sheep in Scotland would need to fall by two million over the next decade' while Scots would need to 'eat one third less meat'. Reasonable to expect answers By any standards, these statistics and their implications are worthy of a serious response. If they are unfounded, Mr Swinney could have said so. If they are the price to be paid for higher objectives, he could have defended them. It would have been an interesting exchange. Instead, there was bland, dismissive verbiage that added nothing to human knowledge. So Mr Findlay moved on to heat pumps, citing the fact that fewer than one per cent of Scottish homes are fitted with them. To meet targets, that would need to increase to 70 per cent which is before you get to the question of how they would be paid for. Again, this was a perfectly reasonable subject to expect an answer on but heat pumps are one of many abandoned causes Mr Swinney opts not to talk about. So he completely ignored the question and reverted to sanctimonious mode in order to plead his deep commitment to farmers and denounce the wickedness of Brexit. Yes, Brexit! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tolerating long-winded evasion At that point, a more agile Presiding Officer might have gently pointed out that he'd already done farmers and questioning was now onto heat pumps. It is a comment on Ms Johnstone's unfailing tolerance of long-winded evasion by First Ministers' past and present that nobody would have harboured any such expectation of her. Enter Mr Ross, stage right. According to the official transcript, he was not actually recorded as saying anything but whatever form his protest took was enough to get him thrown out. Then it was back to Mr Swinney rambling on about Brexit, which absolutely nobody had asked him about. In Ms Johnstone's view, all of that satisfied parliamentary accountability, which she is paid £126,452 a year to defend. In fact, it was a demonstration of why hardly anyone takes the proceedings at Holyrood very seriously or regards it as the forum for national debate and enlightenment that it was once supposed to grow into.
Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
SNP's Swinney willing to debate Farage before crucial Holyrood contest
John Swinney accused Labour of having 'given up' on winning a crucial Holyrood by-election as he said he would be willing to hold a debate with Nigel Farage, Reform UK's leader, ahead of next week's vote. The Scottish First Minister was speaking as the campaign for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse vote entered its final weekend. With the 'crucial' vote taking place on Thursday June 5, Mr Swinney said backing the SNP candidate means people in the area will 'elect an MSP who will deliver on their priorities'. He insisted the battle is a 'straight contest' between the SNP and 'the ugly, divisive politics of Nigel Farage' and said he is willing to debate the Reform leader following a similar challenge laid down by Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader. Labour insisted the by-election – taking place after the death of Scottish government minister Christina McKelvie – is a 'chance to call time on SNP failure and choose a new direction'. Dame Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour deputy leader, insisted only her party can defeat the SNP as Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, visited a factory in the constituency. She said Reform UK 'can't win' the seat, while adding that the SNP 'does not deserve' to do so. Dame Jackie said: 'We can see the consequences of SNP incompetence right across this community – people languishing on NHS waiting lists, high-street shops struggling to stay open, and kids not getting the education they deserve. 'It's clear the SNP does not deserve to win this by-election and only Scottish Labour can beat them.' She added that Reform UK, led by Mr Farage, 'can't win here', declaring: 'This is a direct fight between Scottish Labour and the SNP, no matter how much Reform and the SNP want to pretend otherwise. 'This weekend, Scottish Labour campaigners will be talking to voters the length and breadth of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse so we can deliver a new direction for this community and elect local champion Davy Russell.' Mr Swinney accepted 'things are really tough right now for many people, with the cost of living a real issue'. But the First Minister insisted that 'while others shout, the SNP is acting'. He pointed to action his party is taking at Holyrood to scrap peak-rate rail fares, to pay winter fuel payments to pensioners, and to end the two-child cap on some benefits – a move expected to come in next year. Mr Swinney added: 'Labour have let people across Scotland down, and they have quite clearly given up on this by-election. 'Thursday's vote is now a straight contest between the SNP and Nigel Farage, and I am urging people to reject the ugly, divisive politics of Nigel Farage and to unite behind the SNP.' He added: 'I would, of course, debate with Nigel Farage. 'But what's important is that we've got a contest on Thursday, which is an attempt by Farage to insert his politics of racism and poison into Scotland. 'I want to make sure the SNP wins the two-horse race in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.' Mr Farage is expected to visit the constituency next week to support Reform's candidate, Ross Lambie. The 41-year-old architect said he believed people were fed up with years of broken promises from opposition parties, which he said were 'panicked' by indications of growing support for his party. 'There's a real sense of urgency among people that things need to change quickly. But what they hear from Labour is that they might turn things around and start cutting taxes in 10 years. 'The SNP released its 19th annual programme for government a few weeks ago and there was nothing exciting in that. So people are actually a bit panicky. 'They feel there's been a lost generation – if you're in your 30s in Scotland, your whole adult life has been in a country with limited economic growth and falling standards in health and education.' Katy Loudon, the SNP's candidate for the seat, declared if she is voted into Holyrood, she will 'get on with the job from day one'. She said: 'This by-election is an opportunity to put the priorities of people in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse first, and my promise to local people is this: I will always stand with you, fight for you and deliver for you.'
Scotsman
a day ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Swinney says Presiding Officer ‘always acts impartially' after Ross ejected
First Minister defends Alison Johnstone against accusations of bias following row in Holyrood chamber Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... John Swinney has backed Holyrood's Presiding Officer after the Scottish Conservatives accused her of bias for kicking their former leader Douglas Ross out of the debating chamber. Mr Swinney said she 'always acts impartially' and upholds the rules of the Scottish Parliament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad During a fiery session of First Minister's Questions on Thursday, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone took the rare move of ordering Mr Ross to leave the chamber and barring him for the rest of the day. Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone and Tory MSP Douglas Ross | Getty She said Mr Ross had 'persistently refused' to abide by Holyrood's standing orders, which make clear MSPs should treat each other courteously. Her intervention came as Tory MSPs heckled the First Minister as he clashed with Russell Findlay over the Scottish Government's net zero policies. But the decision to expel Mr Ross angered his Tory colleagues, who said Ms Johnstone was regularly treating them unfairly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Conservatives said they would be 'seeking discussions to reiterate that the Presiding Officer should not show blatant bias'. Ms Johnstone was elected as a Green MSP, but Holyrood's Presiding Officer is expected to be neutral and incumbents give up their party affiliation when taking on the role. The First Minister was asked about the Conservatives' claims as he visited a distillery near Glasgow on Friday. Impartial 'on all occasions' Mr Swinney said: 'The Presiding Officer has got to make very difficult decisions about the conduct of parliamentary business, and it's important that at all times – and this is what the presiding presiding officer does at all times – is to reflect the rules and the Standing Orders of parliament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I'm absolutely certain that the Presiding Officer exercises that judgement impartially on all occasions.' Pressed on whether Ms Johnstone is biased in her role, Mr Swinney said: 'The Presiding Officer acts impartially on all occasions, and there is absolutely nothing that anybody could suggest otherwise. 'The Presiding Officer has a difficult job to do to make sure that Parliament operates to the rules that parliament itself has directed. 'And I think it's very clear from the conduct of the Presiding Officer on all occasions that she always acts impartially.'
Daily Record
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Hamilton Labour candidate insists grassroots campaign is "definitely working" in crunch by-election
Davy Russell says he has made a "conscious decision" to prioritise doorstep canvassing, and says the June 5 contest remains between his party and the SNP Labour by-election candidate Davy Russell insists his doorstep-focused campaign will prove to be the key to unlocking victory in next week's crunch Holyrood poll in Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse. He says the contest remains between his party and the SNP, despite the notable rise of Reform – adding that Nigel Farage's party will 'definitely come third' behind the two original frontrunners – and adds that he is confident the campaign strategy of repeatedly visiting thousands of voters' homes will deliver victory on June 5. The first-time candidate has made much of his credentials as a local resident and says he would be an 'outspoken' MSP for his home constituency, telling the Hamilton Advertiser: 'I want to make a difference and I think I can make a better job' than his rivals. Mr Russell said of his highly-localised campaign: 'I made a conscious decision at the start that I was going back to basics, actually chapping doors, speaking to people and listening to what they're saying, rather than getting dragged into UK issues. 'I have fought the campaign on local issues that mean a lot to the people of Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse and it's been very effective. Social media is all personal attacks on me but they don't come up with alternative policies or programmes. They see me as a threat because I'm the one that's chapping the doors. 'The grassroots campaign is definitely working and it's a big help that I'm actually local because I can relate to the issues. I've lived here all my life and I'll be a fighter for the people of this area, who are great but have been let down because of waiting lists in the health service, the state of the town centre, the housing waiting list – there are numerous issues that need investment into the place and to invest in people.' Mr Russell said: 'The state of Hamilton town centre is a big one, in the top three of people's issues. It's needing investment, to wipe the board and start again. We should be looking at the York model where it's boutique shops, cafes, bars and bespoke shops rather than trying to compete with big out-of-town retail centres, and we need people to live in the town centres as well. 'The health board is another and a real bugbear with people is a waiting list so long that people have to pay for their own operations and procedures. The SNP has been in power for 18 years, have run out of ideas and haven't got any solutions; they promised the earth for years and delivered nothing.' He called Reform's widely-criticised advert attacking Labour leader Anas Sarwar 'shocking' and said: 'That's gutter politics. That's not who we're about. We're playing a fair campaign and that's how it'll continue. 'As far as I'm concerned, there's a two-horse race between Labour and the SNP. One lady said to me last week that 'Reform are a flash in the pan'. They're running a national campaign in a local area. Yes, they'll get some votes from people who are disillusioned, but it's not a sustainable vote and they will definitely come third in this election.' He said of the remaining campaign period that he will 'keep going because it's working', adding: 'If you'd asked John Swinney about the campaign two weeks ago, he would have told you SNP's going to win, now he's telling you it's a three-horse race – that tells you he's worrying about it. 'People feel that they're ignored and that's why Reform is on the rise. It isn't washing with the voters, and the SNP are just out of ideas – they need to get round the doors and listen to people and understand how they're feeling.' Mr Russell told voters: 'If I'm elected their MSP I'll be here for them, I'll listen to them and I'll deliver for them – I'll fight for what's right. I'm not a career politician and what you see is what you get – no frills, no airs and graces, just a genuine person. 'The way I'm working the campaign is the way to go. I'm doing it the way used to be done and people are responsive to it.' Party leader Mr Sarwar has been a regular visitor to the constituency during the two-month campaign. He condemned Reform's campaign adverts as 'blatantly racist' and challenged leader Nigel Farage to a debate in the town ahead of Thursday's polling day. He told the BBC: 'This man has no idea where Hamilton is. Nigel Farage should ask his chauffeur to put Hamilton into Google Maps, come up here. I'll challenge him any time, any place in Hamilton. He can challenge me on my views, I'll challenge him on his views. And you can see that the people of Scotland will utterly reject him.' The full list of 10 candidates in the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election is: Collette Bradley (Scottish Socialist Party); Andy Brady (Scottish Family Party); Ross Lambie (Reform); Katy Loudon (SNP); Janice MacKay (UKIP); Ann McGuinness (Green); Aisha Mir (Liberal Democrats); Richard Nelson (Conservative); Davy Russell (Labour); and Marc Wilkinson (independent). * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
River City did not pass value for money test, BBC Scotland boss tells MSPs
Axed soap River City 'did not pass the value for money test', the head of the BBC in Scotland has said. Bosses announced plans to cancel the show, which has been running since 2002, next year, claiming viewing patterns had shifted. The decision has raised concerns about impacts on the screen sector in Scotland. But, appearing at Holyrood's Culture Committee on Thursday, BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said: 'I didn't take this lightly and I did think about the consequences for cast, for crew, for people who are impacted by the decision, of course I did. 'However, we have to put our audience's needs first and the audience for River City has declined significantly over the past five years.' Ms Valentine pointed to a number of new dramas set to be produced by the broadcaster, saying: 'What we'll do with these new dramas, which will absolutely cost more to make, but we'd expect them to deliver much bigger audiences than River City does. 'In terms of value for money for the audience, I'm afraid that River City didn't pass that test for us any longer, and the new dramas, we really hope will.' The police drama, Shetland, Ms Valentine said, brings in about 700,000 viewers in Scotland and up to eight million elsewhere in the UK, compared to just 200,000 for River City. Addressing concerns about the future of the sector, she said: 'River City is not the only game in town in terms of access to drama in Scotland, whether you're an actor, whether you're a director, whether you're a producer, whether you're a trainee. 'We offer these opportunities across a really wide range of content, it's not just River City that does that for us.' Ms Valentine also pointed to budgetary issues at the broadcaster, telling MSPs she doesn't 'have the money to do everything that I want to'. 'There are a million things that I'd like to do that aren't possible. 'So I have to make difficult decisions. 'This decision was made on the basis that the audience figures are not performing for us in the way that we need them to.' Cast and crew, as well as actors' union Equity, have already appeared before the committee to warn of the impact of the soap's cancellation.
