- Reform Scotland calls for end to “lazy” divisions based on constitutional tribes
- Proposes a range of cross-party policies to strengthen devolution and improve outcomes
Reform Scotland, the independent, non-partisan think tank, today publishes Working Better, Together – its mini-manifesto ahead of the General Election
As Holyrood marks its quarter-century, the think tank calls on all parties to work together on non-constitutional, non-ideological improvements which would make devolution perform better for the people of Scotland.
Reform Scotland has outlined six areas for change:
- Tidying up the inefficient and messy split in welfare powers, by devolving all of welfare to the Scottish Parliament
- Incentivising entrepreneurship and growth through a new economic settlement which devolves more powers over borrowing and Corporation Tax
- Tackling Scotland’s serious demographic problem by allowing divergence between the immigration policies of Scotland and the rest of the UK
- Promoting joint working, not just between London and Edinburgh (for instance on net zero) but also between Edinburgh and Scotland’s regions, through decentralisation of power away from Holyrood
- Strengthening the Scottish Parliament’s institutions, particularly its committee system
- Encouraging cross-party politics on issues of national importance, such as funding healthcare, higher education and infrastructure
The full paper can be read here.
Chris Deerin, Director of Reform Scotland, said:
“Discussions around the balance of powers at Holyrood have become too tangled up in the constitutional debate. There are real problems with the current settlement – for example, in the Scottish Parliament’s over-reliance on a single tax. But rather than find compromises and solutions, politicians too often retreat to their familiar constitutional positions – Unionists not wanting to “give in” to the SNP, or Nationalists pushing for full independence rather than seeking to make devolution work better.
“As a result of this lazy divide, consensus and long-term policy discussion is all too rare.
“As Holyrood marks its 25th birthday, and with a General Election on 4 July, there is an opportunity to seriously consider changes that would make devolution work better for the people of Scotland.”
ENDS