Scottish Democracy?

Question

Is Scotland really a democratic nation - or does Westminster still have the overall power? Just the fact that "Devolution" means that Westminster can take Scotland's power away again at any time?

Answer 1

Regardless of whether you support an independent Scottish state or Scotland remaining part of the UK, it is hard to give any credit to the idea that Scotland isn't a democratic country, after all whatever their stance on the constitutional issue, not one of the four elected Scottish parties say we aren't a democratic country.

In constitutional theory the Parliament of the UK is sovereign and all other institutions (UK Government, devolved governments and parliaments, local authorities, police forces, health boards etc...) derive their authority from the legitimacy of that sovereign Parliament and the supremacy of the elected House of Commons within it.  The Commons is supreme in Parliament because it represents the people, and is the embodiment of their sovereignty.  Over recent decades the UK has established a principle (and remember our whole constitution is based on principle) that constitutional change requires the support of the people in a referendum - and because the devolved institutions were created following referendums, it is accepted by all parties that they have a democratic legitimacy and could not be removed without the people's consent in further referendums.  So while theoretically Westminster remains all-powerful, in practice there are very real limits on that power.

Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales are each recognised by UK law as nations of the United Kingdom, and the state is based upon the 1707 treaty between two sovereign nation-states, England & Scotland.  There is absolutely no suggestion from any politicians that these nations do have a sovereign right to determine their own status, and all parties have recognised that should any of them vote democratically to seceede from the UK then they are entitled to do so.  So Scotland is much like Texas, Quebec, New South Wales or Bavaria; a sovereign and constitutionally protected part of a larger nation-state.

As for representative democracy well Scotland elects 52 Members of Parliament (UK Parliament) which is what our share of the total British population should be; we elect 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament; have 32 local authorities that are fully democratically elected and 7 members of the European Parliament.  There are also ongoing discussions about Scotland electing members of regional health boards and even local mayors (called provosts).  So we're a very democratic country.

Answer 2

I would vote for Scotland having it's full Independence!I think it was Alex Salmond who said !It would be on  CROSS less on the Union flag!And it would be one CROSS less the Welsh and English income tax payer would have to be keep 'forking out'!It would be great to see Scotland paying for it's own Pensions,Defence,Education,Police force!Iwould like to see the ship building for the Royal Navy kept in England or Wales!

Answer 3

i think it's demo.  i've been there and i'm scotish