Nearly 1/2 of Scots feel deceived by economic case put for independence - poll

A Survation poll in the Daily Record reports that nearly one half of Scots (47%)  feel that they were deceived in the economic case for independence put forward by the 'yes' campaign in the independence referendum

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scots-back-snp-huge-numbers-5007758#rlabs=1

15 years of Scots control over huge budget for health and no impact on health inequalities

In an extraordinary admission the Health and Sport committee of the Scottish Parliament has reported that despite the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government having had responsibility for almost all aspects of health policy in Scotland for over a decade and a half, and having launched a number of intiatives to deal with the issue, gross health inequalities between social groups and geographical area in Scotland have remained unchanged.

In the current financial year NHS Scotland will spend £12billion or £2400 per Scot - 35 per cent of the of the devolved Scottish budget

For a more detailed analysis visit
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/15-years-of-health-policy-devolution-makes-little-impact-on-health-inequalities-in-scotland/

New Scots leader transforms Labour's prospects in Scotland - LSE British Policy and Politics blog post

How Jim Murphy's election as Scottish Labour leader transforms the party's prospects in Scotland in 2015 and 2016

- extended analysis in the London School of Economics British Policy and Politics blog by Norman Bonney

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/labours-leadership-election-result-in-scotland-will-transform-the-scottish-political-landscape/

New leadership will transform Labour's propects in Scotland in 2015

Jim Murphy, the newly elected Labour Party leader in Scotland, has the capacity to transform the current unprecedented low morale and standing of the party in Scotland. Having succeeded in the referendum campaign in ensuring that Scotland remained part of the United Kingdom and putting forward proposals for an even stronger Scottish Parliament the party should be celebrating success and future potential rather than nursing a sore head at the apparent resurgence of nationalist forces.

Jim Murphy transform that situation and will make a formidable Scots Labour leader. Like Donald Dewar who led the devolution campaign that established the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and became its first First Minister Murphy is greatly experienced in UK Westminster based politics and government as well as being very familiar with the Scottish political scene, He will be able to bridge the gap between Holyrood and Westminster that the previous more Scottish based Labour leader Joanne Lamont proved unable to do.

This, too, was the advantage that Murphy held over his Edinburgh and Lothian based rivals in the contest,Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay. Not only does Murphy have this advantage but he demonstrated great campaigning strategy potential during the referendum campaign when he campaigned in a 100 towns across Scotland in a 100 days.

Citizens and pundits can be assured that the election of the new leader will result in a transformation of Labour's prospects in Scotland and a far better performance in the May 2015 UK General Election than is suggested by current opinion polls. The new year will bring new politics to Scotland

Democratic Audit blog - Norman Bonney comments on The Smith Commission proposals for more devolved powers for Scotland

In a blog published by Democratic Audit, Norman Bonney comments on the Smith Commission's proposals for additional devolved powers for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government

• A step forward that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government should be responsible for raising more of the funds that they expend
• a welcome to steps to improve the coordination of work by the two arms of Scottish government - the devolved legislature and executive on the one side and the UK government on the other
• a welcome to public education measures to improve understanding of the workings of devolved and UK government
• devolution of air passenger duty could lead to beggar my neighbour policies across the Scotland/England border and within England
• doubts, based on past track records, about whether devolution to local communities in Scotland will be achieved
• It is right that the BBC should continue to be responsible to the UK Parliament

The full account of the argument can be accessed at  http://www.democraticaudit.com/?p=9774

Smith Commission on further devolution: Democratic Audit publishes blogger's comments

Democratic Audit has published part of Norman Bonney's comments on the report of the Smith Commission on additional powers for the Scottish Parliament in a collection of expert's comments at
http://www.democraticaudit.com/?p=9547

At least Jim Murphy is honest about religion and politics - unlike most other Scottish elected politicians

The best that can be said about the appeal by Scottish Labour leadership contender Jim Murphy to religious voters is that, at least he is honest and transparent.

Few other elected Scottish politicians openly profess their religious faith and their role in shoring up religious privileges in Scottish society. Most prefer not to make a public issue of the role of religion in politics for fear of upsetting influential religious minorities.They remain silent and assent to religious divisions in schooling, religious voting nominees on education committees, enforced religious observance in schools, and additional Scottish Government financial subsidies to religious organisations which already benefit from taxation relief because of their charitable status.


Even the much vaunted democratic assembly that is the Scottish Parliament recoils from open public debate about these matters – suppressing attempts to have a public discussion of these and other religious privileges.