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Scottish Parliament election

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Dignity on display

  • Brian Taylor
  • 9 May 07, 01:44 PM

It was Walter Bagehot, I believe, who divided constitutional politics into two sections, the dignified and the efficient.

As I recall, the dignified stuff was the flummery designed to impress the citizens while the efficient was the work, often behind the scenes, where the real business was settled.

I'm probably traducing Bagehot's tome shamefully, for which apologies to Walter, his heirs and successors.

Anyway, the dignified element was fully on display at Holyrood today - for the swearing in of our new MSPs.

Still a bit to go before we can down to the efficient aspects.

I rather like the swearing in ceremony. It contrives to be decently dignified - without being at all pompous or silly.

New and returning members take the loyal oath in English, repeating it in sundry other languages according to choice. Today we had Gaelic, Scots - and Urdu from Bashir Ahmad.

Labour members wore red roses - but were of course outnumbered, just, by the Nationalists with McDiarmid's "little white rose of Scotland" proudly displayed on their outfits.

But still no government. And still no Presiding Officer. Exceptionally, that latter decision has been deferred to next week.

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 03:41 PM on 09 May 2007,
  • Anthony wrote:

Brian, Have you seen an article in the Herald which questions the legal competence of the Scottish Parliament to pass an independence referendum bill. Interesting stuff. I suspect that this could have a big impact on coalition talks between the SNP and the LibDems. The SNP will be a less reluctant to ditch their referendum pledge after reading this article. Anthony

  • 2.
  • At 04:19 PM on 09 May 2007,
  • derek barker wrote:

The war of the roses and stems apart;i'll tell you what strikes home to me in all this slapstick,is this! politicians have no more sleazy wholes to hide in,the curtain has feel down and they all stand exposed,look, here is a posing question?if the Nothren Irish M.P's had refused to reconvene, they would have lost their job's and pay,how much an influence was that?at this time they are all arguing about lost positions and first minister post,it's a shambles,which exposes the "TRUTH" politic's has become an affluent career.

  • 3.
  • At 04:20 PM on 09 May 2007,
  • Scothighland wrote:

Why do Ulster politicians get off swearing an oath to the English crown
And We dont,responses please!

"Traducing" Bryan? "Traducing"? Ye gads! Gadzooks sirrah!

There we are wondering why the unwashed populace appears so irredeemingly uncommitted to the electoral process! Traduce me no more traduces sir. Plain speech is required as the order of the day!

Seriously - maybe its not just politicians who need to think about changing what they do to attract people back to voting. Much as I love your political commentary it seems a little aimed at the "insiderati" does it not?
Political commentary for the masses! Down with the traducers!

  • 5.
  • At 06:29 PM on 09 May 2007,
  • Matthew wrote:

What's Derek Barker on about? The SNp are trying to form a coalition, they can't magic one out of a hat. If they don't get one then they'll go on a minority government. Until the nature of a coalition is worked out then it could be premature to choose the Presiding Officer.

Whatever deal is agreed, we're talking about the next four years here. Both of the previous Partnerships for Government have been flawed by being rushed - it makes sense to take a couple of weeks to work it out with the civil servants.

  • 6.
  • At 09:37 PM on 09 May 2007,
  • robert beveridge wrote:

Now here is a thought- the white and red roses

is Glasgow more like Lancashire and Edinburgh more like Yorkshire? can there be such parallels? the stuart emblem - the white cockade lost at culloden but thankfully this time it looks different

robert bev

  • 7.
  • At 09:09 AM on 10 May 2007,
  • Peter, Fife wrote:

Presiding Officer.

Who has declared their desire to do the job?
She has seen the glory of the coming of the post
She is in the frame ‘cause she wants the glory most

Who has to be considered?
She has none to please, she alone will decide
Whilst others choose to keep their limited flocks on side

Will other wannabes simply be too late to subscribe?
If the SNP choose to govern on their own
Some may never reap the crops they themselves have sown

What are the dangers of the lady’s success?
Observers reflect all in the chamber seems well
It may still be difficult for those named Camp bell

  • 8.
  • At 05:59 PM on 10 May 2007,
  • Mary Maxwell-Irving wrote:

Is it not clear that the Lib Dems have been told by ‘down south’ not to play ball and not to take part in any coalition negotiations whatsoever? No other excuse for their utterly pathetic behaviour rings true. I suggest that Gordon Brown and Menzies Campbell have got together to agree this(despite their hot denials) and that the Scottish Lib Dems therefore have no leeway whatsoever. The SNP and Greens are therefore wasting their time trying to get them to talk. This is disastrous for the stability of Scottish government.

If the SNP overtures come to nothing, I believe that this appalling interference should be exposed. All the political pundits are skirting round the subject, trying to put up feeble excuses for the Lib Dems and all seem afraid even to speculate on a deeper and more sinister reason for their behaviour.

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