We need same spirit that drove campaign

TWENTY years ago today, people across Scotland were heading to the polls to change the course of history and re-establish the Scottish Parliament. For decades, a determined cross-section of Scottish society, trades unions, clergy, academics and politicians from across the political spectrum campaigned together for that devolved legislature. A new kind of politics was offered with the late Labour leader Donald Dewar campaigning alongside the SNP’s Alex Salmond and the Liberal Democrats’ Jim Wallace. That was delivered with a new kind of Parliament, one elected by proportional representation, where a parliament of minorities was set to be the norm. Politicians have had to reach out beyond their own ranks and seek agreement, enriching politics. No party can claim to have a monopoly of wisdom. And it can still lead to dynamic government, as last week’s programme for government, the most ambitious anywhere in the UK, demonstrates. Westminster could do with recapturing some of the spirit of that referendum 20 years ago.

Since the EU referendum 15 months ago, little progress has been made, nor are we any clearer on what Brexit means.

Decisions being taken right now will have implications for the environment, workers’ rights, opportunities for young people and jobs.

We will all be at the mercy of the Brexiteers’ lack of planning, incoherence and chaos.

The Tory extreme Brexit was clearly rejected at the general election, which stripped the Tories of a majority.

All parties need to now work together to seek compromise and that could have its roots in Scotland.

If the new Scottish Labour MPs could persuade their colleagues to support staying in the single market and customs union, then they would find allies with the SNP, Westminster’s third biggest party, as well as the other opposition parties.

Scotland’s 13 Tories, whose leader backed the single market last year, would then be all that was needed for a majority. That would provide a soft landing and give businesses and the rest of us the certainty needed.