MINORITY RULE � MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY

With the dust now beginning to settle on Scotland�s latest round of local government and Scottish Parliament elections, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge of the new political landscape.

At a national level, it is clear that minority government will result in a high level of compromise and horse-trading as the Scottish National Party administration attempts to push though its programme for government.  Equally the other parties in the Scottish Parliament will be seeking to take advantage of the delicate balance of political representation to try to implement their own priorities on an issue by issue basis.

This is a new form of politics for Scotland and, from the point of view of Chambers of Commerce, represents a golden opportunity to help steer future economic policy.  Chambers in Scotland succeeded in ensuring that business issues were near the top of the various parties� manifestos for the Scottish Parliamentary elections this year, and this must now be built upon by targeted lobbying aimed at developing cross-party support for business policy priorities.  This lobbying has already started at Scottish Chambers of Commerce level, and already the Scottish Parliament has voted to abolish tolls on the Tay and Forth Road Bridges � a key priority for the East of Scotland.

Devolution has brought political decision making to a more local level and minority government should result in even greater opportunities for Chambers of Commerce to help shape government policy in the interests of the membership.

Garry Clark
Policy Manager
Scottish Chambers of Commerce
What�s your view? Email Garry at [email protected]

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