Scotland elects SNP. No to austerity, Yes to independence?

[suffragette]

Separatists win in Scotland, Lib Dems sink in UK

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014977001_apeubritainelections.html


The Scottish National Party won a majority of seats in Scotland's parliament and promised Friday to hold a vote on independence, while the Liberal Democrats suffered an enormous defeat in Britain, losing more than 600 local seats.

Voters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland elected national legislatures Thursday. Across Britain, voters also chose hundreds of local council seats and overwhelmingly rejected a plan to change the parliamentary election system in another blow to the Liberal Democrats.

The Scottish National Party became the first party since Scotland's regional government was formed in 1999 to win a majority of the Scottish Parliament's 129 seats. Final results showed it had won 69 seats, while Labour had 37, the Conservatives 15 and other parties eight.

Voters apparently approved of how the SNP has led a coalition government for the past four years and also backed programs to preserve free university tuition and to give the elderly free personal care.




That last part caught my attention. I have not been following this, so I searched a bit for more info. Turns out this was unprecedented.





http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/election/triumphant-salmond-s-vow-an-eye-to-the-future-but-a-heart-to-forgive-1.1100150

Triumphant Salmond’s vow: an eye to the future but a heart to forgive

BRIAN CURRIE POLITICAL EDITOR

7 May 2011
Alex Salmond has pledged to make Scotland proud, governing “fairly and wisely” after his stunning victory in the Scottish Parliament election.

After a presidential-style arrival by helicopter in the grounds of a luxury Edinburgh hotel, Mr Salmond said he believed the SNP had won because “Scotland wants to travel in hope and to aim high...

"Scotland has chosen to believe in itself, in a shared capacity to build a fair society. The nation can be better, it wants to be better. I’ll do all I can as First Minister to make it better.”

The scale of the SNP’s victory was unprecedented, as it became the first party to win an outright majority since devolution. The SNP have 69 seats, Labour 37, Conservatives 15, LibDems five, Greens two and there is one Independent, Margo MacDonald. Before all the results were in, but as the final outcome became obvious, Iain Gray announced that he would quit as Labour leader in the autumn and that there would be a “root and branch” review of his party’s performance.




And apparently, a part of this is the SNP rejecting the austerity cuts to and privatization of social programs such as health and education.





Which country is best for your health?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/05/countries-health-policy

For patients, and those in favour of healthcare broadly similar to that instituted under the post-1945 settlement, Scotland presents a more favourable climate than England.

There is less inclination to promote spurious notions of 'choice' and there is a broader and deeper commitment to a publicly-funded service than south of the border. It is certainly the case that the relatively consensual nature of Scottish politics and society has led, on occasions, to complacency, and Scottish health services have not been exempt from this. Nonetheless, the general commitment to public service and equality of access works in broad terms in the patient's favour.

~~~

Political differences between Scotland and England emerged first when the SNP formed a minority administration in 2007 and then, much more seriously, when the Conservatives won the UK election of 2010. Given that both the SNP and Scottish Labour brand themselves as left of centre parties, the present proposals for reform in England are viewed with hostility by the two main parties.
So, for instance, the present SNP manifesto commits to 'Rejecting the Tory and Lib Dem privatisation agenda down south – we'll maintain equal access for all'. Scottish Labour, meanwhile, argues that 'The NHS is the embodiment of Scottish Labour's values of fairness. We are committed to a patient-centred NHS, where the weakest and most vulnerable people can find care and compassion and where treatment is provided on the basis of need, not the ability to pay'.


Very interesting development.


edited to clarify