Unfinished Business: The Evolution of Devolution in Scotland

We want to move beyond politics in which each party seeks to outmanoeuvre others and score a decisive victory. This leads to political stalemate. We want to reflect on the successes and failures of devolution and offer a series of proposals for reform that could be embraced by a broad swathe of opinion. What were the hopes and aspirations of devolution? To what extent has devolution been successful? What are the challenges and opportunities ahead? How can we meet the challenges and best take advantage of opportunities? Where is Scotland heading on its unfinished journey? How will changes in the rest of the UK impact on this journey? In 1999, legislation was passed to create the Scottish Parliament and the Consultative Steering Group (CSG) issued its report on the Scottish Parliament's guiding principles. Four key principles were set out in the CSG report reflecting the hopes and aspirations of campaigners for a Scottish Parliament: sharing power between the people, legislators and government; greater accountability from government to Parliament to the people; facilitating accessibility, openness and responsiveness; and promoting equality. These principles remain as relevant today as they were at the Parliament's establishment though much has changed in the intervening quarter century. In this book, former First Minister Henry McLeish, Minister responsible for devolution and chair of the CSG, and Professor James Mitchell of Edinburgh University consider the journey Scotland has been on – the challenges, obstacles and opportunities in seeking to achieve these hopes and expectations.

© 2025 Luath Press (Ebook): 9781804252703

Release date

Ebook: 30 August 2025