In 1999, it felt like we were all in it together but that’s been lost

A spirit of co-operation in the first days of devolution has been replaced by Scottish politics being “entrenched” along party lines, according to Sandra White, one of the Class of 1999.

Retiring at 69, she believes the Scottish Parliament has given the country a self-confidence it lacked before devolution. She said: “Scotland was forgotten about in Westminster. It passed about two bills a year regarding Scotland, if even that. Now bills go through the Scottish Parliament every other week.

“It has given the Scottish people much more confidence having a parliament that is accessible to them.”

Her highlights include the abolition of prescription charges and the provision of free school meals, as well as the adoption of her bill on responsible parking.

But she believes politicians are less willing to reach across the political divide than they were when the Scottish Parliament was established.

She said: “When we were elected in 1999, it was new to everyone and we were all swimming around trying to figure out how you did things.

“People supported each other regardless of parties. I got support from Marlyn Glen, David Mcletchie, Annabel Goldie and Margaret Smith. We got together and did our best to make the Parliament work.

“But there is an impasse now. The unionist parties have seen how the SNP has grown and the support it has in Scotland. Maybe they feel a bit threatened by it. There has to be a healing process in the next parliament if they wish to go forward.

“I disagreed with lots of things from other parties, and sometimes my own party, but I always listened. It has become entrenched along party political lines. Politicians have to work together for the good of the people of Scotland, particularly on issues like poverty and drugs. People shouldn’t be living in poverty and going to food banks in a rich country like Scotland.”

Asked if the SNP was partly responsible for the impasse, she said: “In a way because we want more powers and we want independence. The Parliament has to grow, it can’t be stagnant, and to grow it needs more powers.”

White will be campaigning for the party during the Holyrood election campaign, but also plans to protest at Faslane against the UK Government’s plans to increase its number of nuclear warheads, bringing her political career full circle.

She said: “I started protesting at Faslane in the early 1980s, myself, Linda Fabiani and others.”