Introducing to the

Scottish public, the

one and only Devo Max...

 

Bob Smith

 

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The Cafe

Kenneth Roy's comments (26 January) on the poor response by the party leaders to the independence question, including his views on Alex Salmond's comments when introducing it, bring back statements which were made at the time of the formation of the parliament that it would take a generation before the parliament would truly emerge as a solid foundation of Scottish society, with the country's best politicians acting in a manner which would underpin envy aspect of that society. If the referendum produces a vote in favour of independence, we can wait no longer for that emergence to happen.
     While there are very few people who would argue seriously that the parliament is a failure so far as it goes at present and who would disagree with the proposition that it helps to create a sense of national identity for Scotland, if indeed, that is seen to be important, for so long as it remains tied to the party political system, the parliament is always going to be subject to the petty squabbling and point scoring which seems to be the modus operandi of today's politicians at every level.
     Given that a yes vote, by definition, leaves the SNP as a party without a principal policy to hold it together, there would be a real opportunity to break the party system once and for all, to create a legislative body where the people of the country who care passionately about what happens but who are deeply uncomfortable with following a party line all the time, are given the chance to create a fair society without vested interests and one in which party political dogma would have no place.
     Those elected to power would have the opportunity to apply their experience gathered in various walks of life to make a real difference to society. The current breed of graduates in politics whose only work experience is in the party office would have no influence over aspects of the real world in which they have never worked and in which theory very often bears no resemblance to reality.
     That opportunity was available when the parliament was first formed but was not taken as the whole process was hijacked by the self interest of the political parties. In the years since, during the time when minority government was in place, a pragmatism emerged which enabled progress to be made on many fronts. By reducing the influence of the party system, that pragmatism could be taken to a new level and Scotland could emerge as an international model of a fair society and a truly democratic country.

Ron Cole