Sunday 23 September 2007

The "new" politics?


So, "PARTY bosses have done a deal to ensure Holyrood's tight arithmetic does not prevent MSPs going on foreign trips. Business managers in all four main parties have agreed on special "pairing" arrangements to make sure the delicate political balance in the Scottish Parliament is not upset when one MSP or more is out of the country."

Is this really the new politics that Scotland was promised on 3rd May 2007, with Members of the Scottish Parliament opting for the "pairing" system which has been operating in the House of Commons for as long as anyone can remember?

How about we forget about "pairing" and let the parties decide if having one of the MSP unable to vote because they are on a junket, leaves them in danger of losing a crucial vote that they might otherwise win? If nothing else it would be a darn sight more interesting ... and be more honest. Then again, it might not go down well with some of the MSPs who wouldn't then be able to go on ... any junkets.

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