Forth bridge closed until new year

[RyeSloan]

I keep seeing this posted about the parliament would never be in a situation like we have with the SNP and the potential stranglehold they have on the chamber and the committees...Who said this? When was it said? Why can't we have a situation in Scotland, just like the rest of the UK with a Parliament with a majority. I know we have an Unicameral Parliament, however, it wasn't the SNP who set it up. I'm all for holding the Gov to account, but who set it up this way. Might it have been someone who wanted it this way?

I don't think so....to my imperfect memory the whole premise of the voting system was to 'ensure' there would be no stranglehold by one party.

I'm not overly bothered by the way, I kind of like the idea that a government can get in and get things done but you must see that committees dominated by the majority party investigating the actions of the majority party is maybe not the strongest of checks or balance.

And that's not a specific SNP point, merely an observation that Scotland's parliamentary process is possibly not quite performing as designed.

[RyeSloan]

I don't think there's been an important government committee where the ruling party hasn't had a majority. It's a majority, it's not exclusive, it's an accepted advantage of being the ruling party. These committees take expert advice, from the likes of ICE, and produce a report. If everyone agrees it's hunky dory :-) It might not be. Reports similar to this one and I've seen a good few are contradicted by minority reports. They're normally published at the same time. In the absence of a minority report it would seem the other members/parties saw no mileage in contesting the findings ... I'll leave it there :-)

Wasn't aware of the minority report option, interesting.

[marinello59]

So rather than providing something constructive within the system, that could for example be used by his/her leader to hold to account, call for answers (bash) the SNP in the chamber, he's had a wee whinge that no one needs to pay attention to.

Of course if he had produced something or even had his counter view noted in the main report he would have been accountable and answerable for the contents to the parliament.

Any thoughts on why he wouldn't want to be accountable for his comments?

Honest answer?
I have no idea. Maybe he was as ignorant as me of the minority report option. :greengrin

[marinello59]

I don't think so....to my imperfect memory the whole premise of the voting system was to 'ensure' there would be no stranglehold by one party.

I'm not overly bothered by the way, I kind of like the idea that a government can get in and get things done but you must see that committees dominated by the majority party investigating the actions of the majority party is maybe not the strongest of checks or balance.

And that's not a specific SNP point, merely an observation that Scotland's parliamentary process is possibly not quite performing as designed.

Agreed. It isn't a party political point at all.

[ronaldo7]

I don't think so....to my imperfect memory the whole premise of the voting system was to 'ensure' there would be no stranglehold by one party.

I'm not overly bothered by the way, I kind of like the idea that a government can get in and get things done but you must see that committees dominated by the majority party investigating the actions of the majority party is maybe not the strongest of checks or balance.

And that's not a specific SNP point, merely an observation that Scotland's parliamentary process is possibly not quite performing as designed.

FWIW I agree that the committee system needs updating. It's been discussed by the outgoing presiding officer, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to change.

[marinello59]

FWIW I agree that the committee system needs updating. It's been discussed by the outgoing presiding officer, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to change.

It's not something that has an easy fix. I won't hold my breath either but I will cross my fingers.:greengrin

[RyeSloan]

FWIW I agree that the committee system needs updating. It's been discussed by the outgoing presiding officer, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to change.

Well if I was the SNP I wouldn't be rushing to change it either! It's also not easy to see how anything but a significant change would be needed nor quite what an effective alternative would be without a second chamber. And I'll quickly add that even more elected (or not elected!) people fiddling around with the work of government is absolutely the last thing we need

On the plus side it should allow the government of the day to crack on and implement their policies. For better or worse at least there can't be any complaint about not being able to do so (barring the big bad Tories darn sarf of course ;-))