Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 20 on 10/04/2005.

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Politics alive and well in Scotland

With the United Kingdom in the grips of General Election fever, I am not at all surprised that some of my trans-Atlantic and pan-European friends remain baffled by the defining differences between our Scottish and United Kingdom parliaments. I can assure them that there are many of us here in Scotland who are equally challenged.

However, we are only two terms into our reinstated Edinburgh legislature, and such institutions do take time to settle down. Added to this, there is still some uncertainty as to which and who does what, but that is easily remedied. Put in a nutshell (sic), Holyrood looks after Scotland’s domestic interests while the bigger picture is administered from Westminster. Then there is our representation at the European Parliament in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, but I really don’t want to go into that just now.

Suffice it to say that despite the misgivings of many of us, our devolved system of government seems to be working remarkably well. Taking into account the UK as a whole, Scotland’s economy appears to be flourishing as never before, as witness the building and retailing boom in our inner cities.

Three First Ministers in six years and the fiasco surrounding the building costs of Holyrood have not exactly helped, but the advent of a more localised legislature has justified the politicians’ claim that it would bring power closer to the people. And that it undoubtedly has.

Where else would you find an elected Senior Citizen’s Party MSP (Member.....

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By Roddy Martine

Section : Roddy Martine's World

Page number : 7