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	<title>Earth: Mostly Harmless &#187; nationalism</title>
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		<title>Devolution: 10 years on</title>
		<link>http://www.earthmostlyharmless.net/2009/05/06/devolution-10-years-on/</link>
		<comments>http://www.earthmostlyharmless.net/2009/05/06/devolution-10-years-on/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2009 12:46:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>G W</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics & Society]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[devolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[federalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nationalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scotland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish independence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scottish Parliament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[snp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UK]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.earthmostlyharmless.net/?p=641</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I don&#8217;t have anything particularly noteworthy to say about it, but I wanted to mark the fact that ten years ago, Scotland voted in the first ever election in the newly-reformed Scottish Parliament. I was too young to vote in &#8230; <a href="http://www.earthmostlyharmless.net/2009/05/06/devolution-10-years-on/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I don&#8217;t have anything particularly noteworthy to say about it, but I wanted to mark the fact that ten years ago, Scotland voted in the first ever election in the newly-reformed Scottish Parliament. I was too young to vote in the first election, but I now take a reasonably keen interest in Scottish Parliament politics.</p>
<p>Overall, I view devolution as a success, and I think that the political process has both encouraged and reflected the diverging political environment between Scotland and the UK as a whole. For me, it has meant a more open, honest political process, some big public health wins (such as the public smoking ban), and most importantly, a greater sense of confidence in Scotland. It has also had its faltering, embarrassing moments, and periods of total farce.</p>
<p>I am curious about further powers, something that almost everyone agrees the Parliament needs.</p>
<p>A referendum on independence for Scotland is planned for next autumn. The Scottish National Party presented the referendum bill against unfavourable parliamentary arithmetic in March (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7924661.stm">and failed</a>), but it&#8217;s likely to re-introduce it at some point. One would hope that the effect of the opposition to the bill would be to add additional options (a three-way poll, including a &#8216;devolution max&#8217; option as well as independence and the status quo) rather than to prevent the whole enterprise altogether.</p>
<p>Consider this an open thread. What does devolution mean to you? Would independence give Scotland the clout it needs? Is &#8216;devolution max&#8217; or some kind of more entrenched federalism the way to go?</p>
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