Year zero : an inside view of the Scottish Parliament
"This study offers an insight into the inner workings of the Scottish Parliament, and a hands-on, insider view of the events witnessed since its inception. The author asks whether the Parliament has delivered what it promised the people of Scotland - a modern, accessible, transparent and responsive legislature, quite unlike Westminster - and explores the extent to which the new Parliament's aims and powers were realistically set, illustrating the ways in which it has reacted to the unpredictability of events. Starting with events on 7 May 1999, the day following the elections, in the course of the book Mike Watson looks at the formation of the Labour-Liberal Democrat partnership, party politics, the media, the workings of the Committees, the Cubie report, Section 28, the Ayr by-election, and the role and relationships between MSPs. He concludes by looking at lessons to be learnt and what the future may hold."--BOOK JACKET
xiii, 210 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 22 cm
9781902930268, 1902930266
45439576
Preface; 1. The New Scotland; 2. The Long Road to a Scottish Parliament; 3. The Scottish Executive: Scottish Government and Administration after Devolution; 4. Life on the Mound - MSPs and the Operation of the Scottish Parliament; 5. The Committee System of the Scottish Parliament; 6. The Legislative Process of the Scottish Parliament; 7. Pressure Group Scotland; 8. The Scottish Secretary, Scotland Office and Scotland at Westminster; 9. Devolution and Multi-Level Governance: Scotland, UK Government and the European Union; 10. Parties, Elections and Electoral Behaviour; 11. The Media in Scotland; 12. Beyond the Mound: Local Government and Scottish Politics; Bibilography.