Unlock Democracy: Devolution Question should be discussed UK-wide, not just by Scottish elites

Tuesday, 2 December 2008 12:00 AM

Responding to the publication of the Calman Commission's First Report, Deputy Director of Unlock Democracy Alexandra Runswick said:

"Like the Calman Commission, we strongly believe that Scottish devolution has been a great success. The rest of the UK would benefit from greater devolution and decentralisation as well.

"However, the implications of furthering Scottish devolution affect the whole of the UK, not just Scotland. There is a real danger that if it looks at Scottish devolution in isolation of the wider constitutional settlement, the conclusions of the Calman Commission could prove to be even more divisive than the status quo.

"Sadly the First Report suggests this may well happen. For example, it warns against greater financial autonomy on the grounds that it would lead to less 'shared social citizenship.' That may be true in Scotland but the experience suggests that, if anything, the lack of financial autonomy is causing resentment in England and goes to the heart of Tam Dalyell's West Lothian Question. Fundamentally, we believe this to be a false dichotomy; a fairer and more transparent financial settlement will be good for Anglo-Scottish relations on both sides of the border.

"Finally, the competition between the Calman Commission and the Scottish Government's own National Conversation is divisive and will potentially lead to a stalemate. Neither review has shown much interest in engaging the public beyond the usual suspects. Unlock Democracy continues to call for a Scottish-wide Convention lead by citizens, not the great and the good, feeding into a wider process involving people from across the UK."

ENDS

Notes:

(1) The First Report of the Calman Commission is available from: http://www.commissiononscottishdevolution.org.uk/index.php.

(2) Unlock Democracy (incorporating Charter 88) is the UK's leading campaign for democracy, rights and freedoms.

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