 | 'The members are getting to see the candidates close up, every vote will count in a redistributive ballot and the result of shared tickets for leader and depute are not guaranteed. Hats off to the SNP for showing how it should be done.' Sunday Herald Editorial, 15 th August 2004. |  |
Whatever your thoughts on the outcome of the Scottish National Party leadership contest you have to agree that the staging of the election is a model of participative democracy.
None of the three Labour First Ministers of Scotland was elected by anything less than mangled electoral colleges of the party. Donald Dewar, as Scottish Secretary, became de facto First Minister via the beatific affirmation of his party. The contest between Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell was meant to go to full votes but never did. These North Korean tendencies were reinforced later when Jack McConnell was elected with 99.4 % of the vote in the representative college. That vote, with we think two abstentions by people who had a personal hatred of the only candidate, was the lowest majority any of Labour's three leaders has had. (Anyone who wants that absolutely verified should don an anorak and go consult their psephologist after class is over.)
Compare that with the SNP. With the ballot papers winging their way to the membership, the leadership candidates have been involved in no fewer than 32 hustings across the country. True, only four have been open to the public, but then this is a ballot of members and the wider public will have little effect on its outcome.
It's old-style participation politics where the candidate comes to the electorate - albeit one limited to a constituency of 9000 and rising (may have rejoined) registered members - in a drafty hall rather than via the cathode ray tube in the corner.
The members are getting to see the candidates close up, every vote will count in a redistributive ballot and the result of shared tickets for leader and depute are not guaranteed. Hats off to the SNP for showing how it should be done. Last week's husting at the Scottish Book Trust, held in association with the Sunday Herald and Demos Scotland, is a case in point. It was a high-quality event, the candidates performed well, the audience participated with well argued points.
The Sunday Herald has not and will not align itself to any one political party, but a revitalised and effective SNP are vital to the democratic health of the nation. They are the main opposition party; they should not just hold the government to account they should be brimming with ideas to replace it.
This is particularly true at a time when Scottish Labour are hollowing out, losing members and losing votes. The New Labour shooting star that streaked across the southern skies in 1997 is on the way to crashing and burning out. The Scottish Labour Party, a party that have never experienced losing in their own patch, had 29 % in last year's election and are creaking at the seams.
Those who opposed the ill-judged war in Iraq want to punish Labour, but without an effective and credible opposition they will find it hard to do so.
The SNP have made a disproportionate contribution to Scottish politics in establishing a parliament, now they have to contribute to post-devolutionary Scotland. If this leadership election allows them to do so they will see benefits which extend far beyond the rather too narrow confines of the party.
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