Devoid of vision and putting focus on the wrong issues
◆ As First Minister marks a year in office, the vultures are circling amid growing disillusionment with the Scottish Parliament, says Kenny Macaskill
Increased disappointment with Holyrood is, in some ways, to be expected. Scotland’s not unique with its growing contempt for politics and politicians, with a political malaise afflicting most western democracies. But here, where constitutional politics are to the fore, it’s heightened.
Westminster isn’t exactly excelling and that’s before a swap in administration which will see little discernible change. Unionists crowing at Holyrood’s current difficulties should ponder what’s coming down the line when Starmerism becomes a continuation of Sunakism.
It’s a position Holyrood has been in before. Those who served in the early years wellremembertheopprobrium faced as many felt let down by devolution. Much was focused on that “bloody building” as the early years were overshadowed by where to site the institution and its cost.
The difference now is that most of the disappointment then was caused by circumstance. Of course, mistakes were made. Commemorative medals for MSPS were not welcomed even by members and Donald Dewar’s fixation on avoiding building a nationalist shibboleth at the old Royal High School irritated many.
But the reality was that disappointment was always going to come. Expectations of the parliament were so high for many that no institution could deliver them, let alone a devolved chamber with limited fiscal powers. Some thought independence had been achieved, for others it was more prosaic and simply that jobs would come, with the health service invigorated, and society transformed.
The reality was that only limited progress could be made, though perhaps more should have been done. But still expectations just couldn’t be fulfilled. It was the same in other countries with significant constitutional change, even if with more powers. In the Baltic states, many thought liberation from the Soviet yoke and the arrival of capitalism would see a land of milk and honey flow. There was disappointment when it wasn’t like that, but it could never have been.
This time, though, it’s not circumstance but self-inflicted. The Scottish Parliament has been established and its limited powers are recognised. That’s no doubt partly why support for independence remains high. It’s the political choices being made by Humza Yousaf ’s administration and often the institution more widely that are moving even committed nationalists to vent their frustration. He inherited a poisoned chalice from Nicola Sturgeon a year ago. But he sought that and continues to trumpet her record. He’s a nice guy but devoid of vision, with a Cabinet of limited ability, and is pushing issues that will further alienate many. Energy costs and the economy are to the fore, yet the perception is that the focus is hate crime and abortion buffer zones. It’s fine to be virtuous on Gaza but you’re the FM for Scotland. Independence platitudes have demotivated the core nationalist vote and warm words on almost everything else is breeding contempt more widely.
Powers may be limited but a focus on core issues, competency and even fire and passion for the grassroots are all missing. This time the disappointment in Holyrood’s self-inflicted and the vultures are circling him.