If I hear the phrase “the settled will of the Scottish people” one more time I think I’ll probably rip my ears from the side of my head, set them on fire and throw the ashes in the Tay.
Perhaps that’s a bit too dramatic but the phrase has mutated into a meaningless catch-all for devolution. It’s been whipped out time and again in the wake of September’s No vote, sometimes understandably to point out that, well, there was a No vote despite the cries of some sore losers.
Yet the new devolution settlement is still being worked on, so it’s as clear as mud what exactly the new “settled will” is. Essentially, John Smith’s famous phrase initially used to describe the establishment of a Scottish Parliament has been somewhat tainted by the referendum.
This is where the Campaign for Scottish Home Rule is trying to step in. They want a clear set of principles set out to ensure Holyrood both is and, crucially, is seen to be, a powerhouse parliament.
It’s cross-party, so should command respect from all sides, and if the Smith Commission can satisfy the criteria laid out here, there’s a good chance the people of Scotland will settle for what’s on offer.
