MG ALBA Press Release - Anniversary of Scottish Devolution

EÒRPA SPECIAL TO MARK 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOTTISH DEVOLUTION
Wednesday 1 July, at 9pm on BBC ALBA

Ten years after the Scottish Parliament was opened, Eòrpa Reporter Ruaraidh Munro explores what impact devolution has had on people in Scotland, which Scottish policies led the rest of the UK whether positively or negatively, and whether the devolution process is now complete.

The programme, to be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Wednesday 1 July, is based around case studies emphasising the direct experience people around Scotland have had of political change.

Eòrpa revisits contributors in Barra who were interviewed 10 years ago ahead of the first elections to the Scottish Parliament. At the time they had hoped that a parliament in Edinburgh would improve the lives of people living in the more remote areas of Scotland and throughout the programme we will find out if their hopes have been borne out.

The programme will feature contributions from current First Minister Alex Salmond, former first Minister Jack McConnell, Lord Wallace of Tankerness (Jim Wallace), David McLetchie MSP and former MSP Dennis Canavan.

Alex Salmond First Minister, commenting on ‘Devolution Max’ said: “It sounds like a soft drink or something doesn’t it….it won’t satisfy the demand for independence because there is no substitute for independence. If we continue with our soft drink analogy independence is ‘the real thing’.”

David McLetchie MSP comments: “I wouldn’t say that one system is more democratic than the other and I don’t see any virtue in a consensus of mediocrity, so I am not in favour of consensus per se. In fact if you take it to its logical conclusion, consensus politics means no politics because if there is no difference between the parties why should you vote for one vis a vis another.”

This special edition of Eòrpa examines how Scottish Government changed lives in Scotland in some direct ways during the last 10 years, implementing some policies differently or before the rest of the UK.

Some examples of the policies have included the smoking ban in public places, free personal care for the elderly, laws surrounding gay rights, student fees, Gàidhlig, land reform, and the Scottish Government’s recent calls to introduce minimum charges for alcohol.

The documentary measures the impact of the Parliament in these areas through the personal experiences of those directly affected.

Eòrpa Devolution will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Wednesday 1 July at 21.00 and is available on Sky channel 168 & Freesat channel 110.