Building on democracy

Four hundred editions ago, Holyrood magazine was launched on to the political scene as the new Scottish Parliament held its first meeting in May 1999. Representing a new voice for Scottish politics, it has become a powerful and incisive commentary on the politics, procedures and personalities of Scotland’s first parliament since 1707 and the first informed, ongoing review of how a modern parliament works.

The magazine has become an essential read, picking up many awards on its journey.

And hasn’t there been a great deal to write about?

We are now part way through the 20th anniversaries of four significant and momentous events to both remember and celebrate. These events have changed the course of British and Scottish political and constitutional history: the Scotland White Paper in 1997, the ‘Yes-Yes’ referendum of the same year and the Scotland Act of 1998. 

This remarkable sequence of events culminated in the first meeting of the new Parliament in May 1999 and the memorable official opening in July. A visit by the Queen, a fly-past by the Red Arrows and Concorde, and a rendering of Robert Burns’ ‘Is there for honest poverty’ by Sheena Wellington, completed a day of understandable excitement, pride, passion and a few tears. The sense of a new era opening up for Scotland was palpable.

But there was also a remarkable speech by the late Donald Dewar, Secretary of State for Scotland, who was both the inspiration and architect behind this sensational day in the history of our country. These were his finest moments. Historical analysis and the reading of parliamentary reports will never provide the full picture of how one man’s sharp intelligence, political skill and sheer grinding hard work helped to make Scotland’s dream such a successful reality. 

Of particular significance in assessing Donald Dewar’s legacy are his clearly held ideas as to how the future of devolution, and by definition, the future of Scotland, would unfold. The day after the passing of the Scotland Act, Donald Dewar said, “clearly the debate should not stop when the doors of the Scottish Parliament open”, and in the same speech, added: “It would be even more absurd to believe that the UK can saunter in to the future with precisely the same set of arrangements that had served it in the past.” 

In recognition of his realism and the uncertainty of constitutional politics, Donald Dewar was even more explicit in predicting that devolution would be a process not a destination. This was reinforced in his memorable and far-reaching speech at the opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999, when he said: “For any Scot, today is a proud moment: a new stage on a journey begun long ago and which has no end. Not an end; a means to greater ends.” 

No one should be in any doubt that he was conscious of Scotland’s role in the UK and a great supporter, but he had that sense of presence and history to acknowledge that the constitutional genie was out of the bottle – there was no going back and that the Scottish Parliament, people and political parties would now shape what happened next. His insights were remarkably prescient! This is the political battlefield that is Scotland today. 

It seems appropriate to reflect on the symbolism and substance of the devolution years. History shows that it is given to few politicians to fulfil their destiny. Donald Dewar was without doubt one such politician; and, as with his physical stature, he will stand head and shoulders above others in terms of how posterity will view him. It is a profound tragedy that he did not see the fruits of his labour. If he had lived, Scotland’s first First Minister might have changed the face and direction of Scottish politics in so many ways. But, sadly, we will never know. In his relatively short period in power, he left a lasting mark and will be remembered as one of Scotland’s outstanding statesmen. It was left to four of us to follow humbly in his footsteps.

by Kate Shannon

Interview: Mike Russell on the uncertainty surrounding Brexit

The formative early years of the Parliament from 1997 to 2007 involved the monumental task of setting up a new and unique parliament from scratch. No models, no templates and no design plans, but the clarity of a white paper, the Scotland Act and the work of the Constitutional Steering Group gave us a head start. Cross-party support ensured remarkable progress. The first few years set the scene for real progress to be made, practically and politically. 

The development of politics and the Parliament from 2007 to the present day was markedly different. The Lib-Lab pact was losing momentum. People’s expectations were growing. Electors were more volatile and restless. What could be conceived of as the ‘end of the beginning’ of developing the new Parliament, reflected a changing mood in the country. But of greater significance, identity politics and nationalist thinking were pushing hard for attention and a coalition of opposition was building up against both Labour and the Liberals.

Political success can be very transient and the business of politics unpredictable. The result has been nearly 11 years of SNP control of the Parliament and Government. This has changed the mood and direction of the political debate. The Scotland question came to the fore with independence gaining traction, culminating in the Yes vote to remain in the United Kingdom in the 2014 referendum.

And while Brexit is now dominating the constitutional debate, the ‘big political question’ has often tended to overshadow both the remarkable achievements of the Parliament and its ongoing all-party legislative and diplomatic successes. Scotland’s First Ministers have played a significant role, but credit must also be given to the hard work and commitment of its 129 MSPs. For our millennials, they have never known a Scotland without its Parliament and for the rest of us, it seems that it has been there forever!

Scotland’s role on the international stage has been considerably enhanced. I was fortunate enough to host in Scotland the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, the soon to become President of

China, Hu Jintao, and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Secretary of State John Reid and I had an audience with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican – the first meeting between government ministers from Scotland in 500 years. We also drew closer to nations and colleagues in Europe and strengthened our links with the EU in Brussels. 

Of particular importance are the strong links between Scotland and the United States. These have been strengthened by being the first and indeed only Scottish Government minister to meet a US President, George W Bush, in the Oval Office in the White House. Following that visit and with the help of the British Ambassador, we established the post of Scottish First Secretary in the British Embassy. None of this happened, or could ever have happened, at Westminster.  

The new Parliament has also legislated with remarkable skill, modernity and at times, courage, to tackle old ideas and confront massive injustice. Personal care at the point of need; the banning of smoking in public places; tuition fees free at the point of need; minimum unit pricing for alcohol; and ensuring that education and health remain firmly rooted in publicly provided services, free of the dismantling and commercial activities of the UK Government in England. 

Scotland is a better place, a different place, a more modern place and an ambitious country that is continuing its constitutional journey. The politics and uncertainty of our future should never detract from how far we have come in the last 20 years. We also have a better sense of ourselves and a bit more confidence. But let’s be in no doubt, regardless of final destination, Scotland, its people and parliament, have much to do to become a country with Nordic standards of living and contentment.

Donald Dewar’s oft-quoted comment, as he read the opening sentence of the Scotland Act, “There shall be a Scottish Parliament – I like that” will inspire future generations to say, me too!

And as for the 500th edition of Holyrood magazine, who knows what its journalists will be writing about and reporting on.  The settled will of the Scottish people seems as far away as ever. What happens to a genie when it is out of the bottle?