Scotland’s devolved government has grappled with a decade of suboptimal decision-making, plagued by an unyielding fixation on constitutional disputes, according to a report from Gordon Brown’s Our Scottish Future thinktank, which has close links to the Labour party.
The report contends that vital reforms in public services and economic investments have been stifled due to an incessant focus on referendums and elections, with Scotland’s persistent pursuit of a fresh independence vote keeping the nation in a perpetual state of “constitutional and political high alert” since the 2014 referendum.
Under the leadership of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her successor, Humza Yousaf, the Scottish government has suffered from an overload of “consultitis,” with over 1,000 consultations, plans, and strategy papers published in just nine years.
Since September 2014, a staggering 529 strategy papers or plans and 669 consultations have inundated the government, with 113 focused on health and care, 60 on the economy, and 82 on climate change.
Since Yousaf took office as the First Minister in March, the number of ministers in the Scottish National Party and Scottish Green Party government has surged to 30, up from 18 during Alex Salmond’s tenure, rendering the devolved administration unwieldy and announcement-driven, sapping resources and causing a considerable implementation gap.
Despite achievements like the new road bridge over the Firth of Forth and advancements in patient safety, the report highlights significant shortcomings in educational reforms, the Scottish ferries scandal, unfulfilled care system reforms, the botched census, and slow action on climate change.
The report recommends capping the number of ministers, establishing a robust finance division akin to a mini-Treasury, creating a dedicated delivery unit, and empowering committee conveners within Holyrood, including improved compensation.
This report forms part of a series of reform proposals from Gordon Brown’s thinktank, focusing on enhancing devolution and constitutional reforms to counterbalance the Scottish government’s calls for independence.
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In her role as the First Minister, Sturgeon argued that she possessed a mandate to pursue Scottish independence. The Scottish National Party (SNP) had consistently emerged victorious in every Scottish and UK election since 2014. Sturgeon also pointed out that the EU referendum had exposed a significant democratic deficit, as 62% of Scots had voted to remain in the European Union.
However, there has been a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the Scottish government, and support for the SNP has been on the decline. A recent poll conducted by the Scottish Election Study revealed that the government had a net satisfaction rating of -20. Only 32% of voters expressed support for the SNP in the upcoming general election, compared to 38% for the Labour Party.
The Scottish government was contacted for a response, and the SNP issued a statement through MSP Stuart McMillan, who acknowledged the report’s recognition of Scottish achievements, including the introduction of the £25 Scottish child payment.
McMillan stated, “The report once again highlights the negative actions of the UK government, underscoring how their disregard for Scottish ministers and their reluctance to devolve important powers are hindering Scotland’s progress. The SNP government is actively working to improve the lives of its citizens, and Scotland can follow the example of successful European nations like Ireland, Sweden, and Denmark by gaining the powers of an independent country.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish government affirmed, “The Scottish government’s priorities are clear – addressing poverty, fostering a fair, sustainable, and growing economy, and enhancing Scotland’s public services. Landmark policies such as the Scottish child payment and new initiatives like bonds to raise funds for public infrastructure investments reflect the positive strides being made.”
