Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 January 2012
19 Jan 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Local Government Elections 2012
If Mr Robertson does not mind, I would like to make some progress.
As for helping to increase participation and turnout, according to the same Electoral Commission consultation, evidence suggests that lowering the voting age would decrease the overall percentage turnout in the short term because of the additional number of eligible but disengaged voters. Longer term effects are also disputed. The Electoral Commission has a vital role to play in ensuring fair, open, and transparent elections. For that reason, the Conservatives will support Sarah Boyack’s amendment.
The Conservative amendment notes that
“responsibility for the general administration and conduct of elections to local government is already devolved”
and supports that being extended to elections to the Scottish Parliament. The important point is that that would safeguard the consideration of UK constitutional issues on a consistent UK basis.
The mistakes made previously have been reviewed and it is to be hoped that the glitches have been resolved. It is crucial, however, for voters to have an understanding of the electoral system that is in operation, and of the powers and service provision for which local government is responsible and which affect the daily lives of people all over Scotland. Politicians and candidates must bear some responsibility for educating people and promoting policies that resonate with the electorate, thus motivating them to participate and turn out to vote.
Opposing school closures is a case in point. For example, the proposed closure of Earnock high school in Hamilton a number of years ago saw a vastly increased turnout at the polling stations with people queueing to vote. It resulted in the defeat of sitting local members who had voted for the proposition. That is an example of local democracy in action. The decisions that local authorities take about spending and cuts will also encourage those who are rightly opposed to, for example, the proposed closure of refuges for victims of domestic abuse in North Lanarkshire, or the same council’s decision to cut funding to the Bellshill citizens advice bureau for debt advice, to exercise their democratic right to register their protest at the ballot box.
There will be no shortage of live and contentious issues for local government candidates and other politicians to put to the electorate in an effort to gain votes and increase turnout. In those circumstances, with all the funding decisions that are affecting the provision of services to the public, allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote is not a priority.
I move amendment S4M-01741.1, to leave out from “supports” to end and insert
“notes that responsibility for the general administration and conduct of elections to local government is already devolved and that these powers are being further devolved for elections to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Bill while ensuring that issues of UK constitutional importance continue to be dealt with at UK level.”
As for helping to increase participation and turnout, according to the same Electoral Commission consultation, evidence suggests that lowering the voting age would decrease the overall percentage turnout in the short term because of the additional number of eligible but disengaged voters. Longer term effects are also disputed. The Electoral Commission has a vital role to play in ensuring fair, open, and transparent elections. For that reason, the Conservatives will support Sarah Boyack’s amendment.
The Conservative amendment notes that
“responsibility for the general administration and conduct of elections to local government is already devolved”
and supports that being extended to elections to the Scottish Parliament. The important point is that that would safeguard the consideration of UK constitutional issues on a consistent UK basis.
The mistakes made previously have been reviewed and it is to be hoped that the glitches have been resolved. It is crucial, however, for voters to have an understanding of the electoral system that is in operation, and of the powers and service provision for which local government is responsible and which affect the daily lives of people all over Scotland. Politicians and candidates must bear some responsibility for educating people and promoting policies that resonate with the electorate, thus motivating them to participate and turn out to vote.
Opposing school closures is a case in point. For example, the proposed closure of Earnock high school in Hamilton a number of years ago saw a vastly increased turnout at the polling stations with people queueing to vote. It resulted in the defeat of sitting local members who had voted for the proposition. That is an example of local democracy in action. The decisions that local authorities take about spending and cuts will also encourage those who are rightly opposed to, for example, the proposed closure of refuges for victims of domestic abuse in North Lanarkshire, or the same council’s decision to cut funding to the Bellshill citizens advice bureau for debt advice, to exercise their democratic right to register their protest at the ballot box.
There will be no shortage of live and contentious issues for local government candidates and other politicians to put to the electorate in an effort to gain votes and increase turnout. In those circumstances, with all the funding decisions that are affecting the provision of services to the public, allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote is not a priority.
I move amendment S4M-01741.1, to leave out from “supports” to end and insert
“notes that responsibility for the general administration and conduct of elections to local government is already devolved and that these powers are being further devolved for elections to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Bill while ensuring that issues of UK constitutional importance continue to be dealt with at UK level.”
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01741, in the name of Derek Mackay, on the local government elections in 2012. I indicate ...
The Minister for Local Government and Planning (Derek Mackay)
SNP
It is a privilege to lead my first debate as Minister for Local Government and Planning on the subject of local government elections. This is my first opport...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
The minister acknowledged earlier that awareness of the single transferable vote system is low and said that the electoral management board would work with r...
Derek Mackay
SNP
I will expand on the awareness campaign later in my speech, but it will be broken down into phases and will involve a partnership between the Electoral Commi...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Is the minister as surprised as I was that, when the Secretary of State for Scotland spoke just a couple of weeks ago in the House of Commons, he seemed to b...
Derek Mackay
SNP
I was as surprised as Patrick Harvie was that the secretary of state did not know the legal competence that he has in that regard, which the Scottish Parliam...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Sarah Boyack to speak to and move amendment S4M-01741.2. She has a generous 10 minutes.09:31
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I have prepared to speak for eight minutes, but my speech will take 10 minutes easily.I thank the minister for his warm welcome. I was absolutely delighted w...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I agree with Sarah Boyack that registration is a problem. Having been a member of Glasgow City Council, I must give the council its due as it has done a lot ...
Sarah Boyack
Lab
Yes—part of the issue is that we must go round and talk to people rather than just waiting until the elections. The way that it is done at present is that a ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome the motion’s emphasis on local democracy in general and on this year’s local government elections in particular. There is no doubt that local democ...
John Mason
SNP
Will the member give way on that point?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Mr Mason, if you are going to make an intervention, will you stand up before you do it?
John Mason
SNP
My apologies—I learned bad lessons in another place.Does Margaret Mitchell accept that the lack of understanding of STV has been overstated? There were fewer...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
That certainly is not my experience. From talking to the electorate, I find that there is still huge confusion about the STV system and multimember wards.Alt...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Ms Boyack said that we should do everything possible to get folk out to vote. Over the years, I have found that many young people in fifth and sixth year at ...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I am coming to my main point, which is that while some people would feel competent to vote and would be interested enough to take that option, many others wo...
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
Margaret Mitchell
Con
If Mr Robertson does not mind, I would like to make some progress.As for helping to increase participation and turnout, according to the same Electoral Commi...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I now call George Adam to be followed by Mark Griffin. You have a generous seven minutes, Mr Adam, if you take interventions.09:53
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. As the room is full of standing councillors from Scottish local government, you might regret giving them the freedom to discuss...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Does George Adam agree that having “Alex Salmond for First Minister” on the ballot paper was designed to cause the electorate confusion?
George Adam
SNP
The confusion was not helped by the fact that there were so many different ballot papers, the arrangements were rushed through and there was very little publ...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
Does George Adam accept that there is a certain hypocrisy and inconsistency in suggesting that 16 and 17-year-olds are responsible enough to vote but that pe...
George Adam
SNP
There has always been a level of hypocrisy in 16 and 17-year-olds being able to join the Army and fight for their country but not being able to vote on the G...
James Kelly
Lab
The budget that the Parliament will consider next week will contain £700 million of cuts to local government over the next three years. Does George Adam cons...
George Adam
SNP
James Kelly is aware that circumstances have changed and that we live in extremely difficult times. We have a recession, which was created by Labour and has ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
You must close, please.
George Adam
SNP
I have taken three interventions, Presiding Officer. I was told that I had some latitude.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You have 20 seconds.