Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 January 2012
19 Jan 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Local Government Elections 2012
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 public education about STV. That was the problem.
The comment is funny coming from the Labour Party, which calls itself the Scottish Labour Party, although we all know that there is no such thing.
The idea of having a stand-alone election is good for local democracy, because it is important that people in areas such as mine have the chance to discuss the local issues that affect them and their areas. It is important that we have the time for that debate, that it is not lost in the national picture and that people have a chance to discuss the issues in full.
Although, as the minister says, we do not have the South African ideal of people queueing up at 10 o’clock to try to cast their votes, I welcome the fact that people coming in at night due to shift patterns, work and family commitments will be able to vote, and that it will make a difference.
It is important that we inspire people to vote. Let us not say that local council election turnouts have always been low and will continue to be low. We must go out, stand on our records and inspire people to vote.
I find some things a wee bit strange, such as electronic voting. Party animals, as Sarah Boyack called them—that is a new one; I was going to say “more experienced members of political parties”—found it strange watching the computer screens for the electronic voting. We were used to the old analogue way of doing things. One of the independent candidates in Renfrewshire said that waiting for the results to come in and watching the graph go further was like sitting in a bookmaker’s. That was difficult, but things change and we have to move on—as long as the process is open and transparent. That is extremely important.
We must ensure that 16 and 17-year-olds get involved in and enthused by local and national Government. As my colleague Kevin Stewart mentioned in his intervention on Margaret Mitchell, we must ensure that we get young people at that early stage and keep them involved from that time.
When Ms Mitchell mentions not allowing people to buy alcohol until they are 21, she mixes two entirely different ideas. People constantly turn up at the surgeries that I hold as a sitting councillor with complaints about the problems that their communities are having with individuals and alcohol in particular.
The comment is funny coming from the Labour Party, which calls itself the Scottish Labour Party, although we all know that there is no such thing.
The idea of having a stand-alone election is good for local democracy, because it is important that people in areas such as mine have the chance to discuss the local issues that affect them and their areas. It is important that we have the time for that debate, that it is not lost in the national picture and that people have a chance to discuss the issues in full.
Although, as the minister says, we do not have the South African ideal of people queueing up at 10 o’clock to try to cast their votes, I welcome the fact that people coming in at night due to shift patterns, work and family commitments will be able to vote, and that it will make a difference.
It is important that we inspire people to vote. Let us not say that local council election turnouts have always been low and will continue to be low. We must go out, stand on our records and inspire people to vote.
I find some things a wee bit strange, such as electronic voting. Party animals, as Sarah Boyack called them—that is a new one; I was going to say “more experienced members of political parties”—found it strange watching the computer screens for the electronic voting. We were used to the old analogue way of doing things. One of the independent candidates in Renfrewshire said that waiting for the results to come in and watching the graph go further was like sitting in a bookmaker’s. That was difficult, but things change and we have to move on—as long as the process is open and transparent. That is extremely important.
We must ensure that 16 and 17-year-olds get involved in and enthused by local and national Government. As my colleague Kevin Stewart mentioned in his intervention on Margaret Mitchell, we must ensure that we get young people at that early stage and keep them involved from that time.
When Ms Mitchell mentions not allowing people to buy alcohol until they are 21, she mixes two entirely different ideas. People constantly turn up at the surgeries that I hold as a sitting councillor with complaints about the problems that their communities are having with individuals and alcohol in particular.
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.