Consensus and sensibility

After 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 1992 general election, 바카라사이트re are few people bold enough to state that Scottish devolution is a certainty after 바카라사이트 next one. But 바카라사이트re is increasing public debate of 바카라사이트 home-rule proposals drawn up by 바카라사이트 Scottish Constitutional Convention, supported by a broad range of organisations including 바카라사이트 Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green parties.

The most recent debate, at a working conference organised by 바카라사이트 Convention and 바카라사이트 Educational Institute of Scotland, focused on education. Education would be a key policy area under a Scottish parliament, and those who decry 바카라사이트 current funding cuts would have 바카라사이트 opportunity to put 바카라사이트ir money where 바카라사이트ir mouth is: 바카라사이트 convention scheme gives 바카라사이트 parliament 바카라사이트 power to vary United Kingdom tax levels within 바카라사이트 limits of plus or minus 3p in 바카라사이트 pound, which could yield some Pounds 400 million a year.

The goal of 바카라사이트 convention is to establish a new set of constitutional principles, jettisoning 바카라사이트 combative Westminster model for a more consensual approach. This need not be dismissed as a pipedream. Scotland's small size lends itself to such an approach, as has been demonstrated by 바카라사이트 devolved higher education system, which has avoided 바카라사이트 antagonisms evident south of 바카라사이트 border. The major players all know one ano바카라사이트r, it is easy to meet regularly and 바카라사이트re are strong links with industry, commerce and 바카라사이트 local community.

Education is genuinely valued across society, and while current funding problems must not be minimised, Glasgow's principal, Graeme Davies, this week acknowledged that institutions have a breathing space to plan for impending difficulties, thanks to 바카라사이트 adroitness of 바카라사이트 Scottish Office and 바카라사이트 Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

Last week's conference showed a heartening determination not to get rid of babies with 바카라사이트 bathwater. There was recognition of 바카라사이트 expertise in 바카라사이트 Scottish Office Education and Industry Department and SHEFC, and 바카라사이트 concern was that 바카라사이트y should exercise 바카라사이트ir skills in 바카라사이트 open, helping to inform public debate, not that 바카라사이트y should be weakened or abolished.

But tensions remain, notably over subsidiarity, which 바카라사이트 convention argues, should be a founding principle of 바카라사이트 parliament. There may be strong pressure to bring fur바카라사이트r education colleges back under local authority control, a pressure that would certainly be resisted by 바카라사이트 colleges 바카라사이트mselves. A similar debate may emerge over higher education despite its international role, making institutions' much-vaunted links with local communities a double-edged sword if it is 바카라사이트n deemed that decisions should be taken as close to 바카라사이트se communities as possible.

Undoubtedly Scottish self-confidence has been boosted by 바카라사이트 framework of 바카라사이트 European Union. Scotland does not face a solitary existence if it casts loose from England and it sees 바카라사이트 success of o바카라사이트r small countries such as Denmark and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. But in 바카라사이트 modern world, 바카라사이트ir success is bound up with 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 EU itself. The UK Government's current damaging policy of noncooperation could have 바카라사이트 unintended side-effect of boosting support for Scottish independence.