Forward our cities
city). Between them, they drive the Scottish economy and they drive job creation. At the moment, they do this in spite of the Scottish Government. Understandably. Because the biggest threat to Alex Salmond is not Johann Lamont – it is Gordon Matheson and Andrew Burns, the respective leaders of the Glasgow and Edinburgh city councils.
Why? Well, earlier this year the United States National Intelligence Council published
a report describing global trends that will transform the world within a generation. A thoughtful piece in the New York Times this month, by Parag Khanna of the New America Foundation, pointed out that one of its predictions – a Non-State World – is coming true already, with cities taking over; supplanting the governments of their own countries as the engines of growth, the shapers of the future.
What is true in China, is true in the developed world. New York and London are virtually autonomous city states now. And they are listened to. Mayors Bloomberg and Johnson tell Obama and Cameron what they want, not the other way around. Think that through in a Scottish context. Edinburgh could leave Scotland tomorrow. A worldclass university. The associated spin-off industries. Financial services. Add in Glasgow and you get the fourth-largest financial centre in Europe, and a film, TV and music industry.
Devolution is not an event, it’s a process. One that draws power down and down to its most appropriate level. If the city-state is the future of the world, it’s certainly the future of Scotland.
Elected provosts would short-circuit this, but they are not necessary. Civic leadership is as civic leadership does. Who speaks for Edinburgh? The politicians who brought you the trams. Who speaks for Glasgow? The politicians transforming the nature of urban space. Cities and city leadership are critical for Scotland’s future. Will they get the freedom they need?