IN our earlier articles we have argued that everyone should engage with drafting a national constitution, whatever their political background.
Kyle Thornton, who was chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament in 2014, said: “If Scotland were to become independent, I would argue strongly that we need a process which is inclusive of the whole population, especially our young people. The guiding document of a new nation cannot be one which is government-led.
“It must be from the people, for the people and approved by the people as a whole. It is an opportunity to set out our values and enshrine safeguards for our democracy and society and so we must take the time to debate and discuss what our constitution should say and crucially, that those left to draft a new constitution must be empowered to have a national conversation about what it is that a newly independent nation would want to see in its founding document.”
So that’s what this consultation provided by Constitution for Scotland sets out to do. A consultation that can answer many of the doorstep questions – “How would we ... ?”, “Fit wid a new Scotland be like?” etc. Let’s hear from our young people.
READ MORE: Why even an ancient and obsolete constitution is better than none at all
While the topic of a constitution isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, encouraging folks to talk about the sort of country we are striving to create and then providing the means to define it is how this interactive consultative constitution project is assisting the Yes movement.
The Model Constitution being used here is NOT prescriptive – merely a prompt for debate via comments, hopefully leading to proposed amendments upon which the voting and ranking protocol can assess popularity.
Opening up www.constitutionforscotland.scot allows you to enter the interactive consultation platform – where you can share and debate your opinions after you register and sign in. There is a “quick vote” button for those folks who support the constitution in principle. This is your opportunity to participate in shaping a more equal future for your children. Article 3 sets out the duties of the head of state. The decision as to who should occupy this function is one that should be made by the Scottish people following considered debate and probably a referendum.
While appreciating there is a growing feeling that the current feudal system is outdated, there is acknowledgement of the merits and demerits for both cases regarding Scotland being either a monarchy or a republic. Register and join in the debate.
Article 4 outlines the nature and organisation of the unicameral Parliament; the number of members and constituencies; the electoral system of proportional representation; the Council of Ministers and administration of government within the terms of the constitution; eligibility, training and qualifications, life experience and restrictions to be an MP, remuneration and expenses; the election and duties of the Presiding Officer’s team; and the appointment of bodies to manage the fabric and effective administration of parliament. Why not register and have your say?
A current hot topic surrounds the fact that every job requires skills and experience, and it is generally necessary to provide proof of competency when applying for a position.
Elected representatives provide our laws, take decisions and manage situations that can impact on all of us, yet their competency is not subject to any benchmark.
READ MORE: A Scottish constitution is a matter for all of us, here's how to have your say
If we want competent government, should we not require politicians to possess a measurable level of proven skills, life experience and management ability? The work ethics that apply to us should also apply to them.
In the next instalment in the series, we will look at the law-making process and transparency, the procedure used to recall an MP and how to initiate a public petition. We will also look at the organisation of the government, citizens’ assemblies and long-term planning.
There is a need for people to realise that if they have not agreed a constitution, ready for implementation when we achieve independence, then politicians will likely provide one that protects their party interests rather than yours.
Let us keep in mind that undefined power corrupts the wielders, as we have recently experienced.
To interested groups the Constitution for Scotland team offers a “guest speaker” introduction, demonstration of the interactive website and Q&A session within your own Zoom meeting. Please contact info@constitutionforscotland.scot to arrange.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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