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* Europe The British establishment hopes that Scotland's new parliament will modernise and stabilise the United Kingdom. Scottish nationalists and the anti-capitalist left have other plans. Gordon Morgan On 11th September, 74% of Scottish voters in a referendum proposing a Scottish Parliament. Elections will be held in 1999, and the Parliament will begin its work during the year 2000. The new Parliament will technically be a "devolved Assembly," subordinate to the British Parliament. But it will be a separate legislative body with subwith those of Catalonia in Spain and German Länder like Bavaria.
Blair's modernisation project also includes ending the influence of the Trade Unions and the anti-capitalist left in the Labour Party, and replacing Britain's confrontational two-party system with an alliance between Labour and the smaller bourgeois Liberal Democratic Party
In the medium term, Blair wants Britain to join the European Union's single currency zone, so that he can better argue for British financial and business interests in Europe. To free his hands, he wants to retain corporate control of the United Kingdom state. while leaving local issues to the Scots.
Scottish History Scotland 'gave up' her Parliament in 1707 to "merge' with the English Parliament. However, many of the institutions of the Scottish state remain. There is a separate Legal System based more on Roman Law than the English System. Separate laws are passed at Westminster for Scotland. There is a distinct Scottish Educational system and even separate Scottish National Football and Rugby teams in international competitions.
In fact, Scotland already has separate Government. The Scottish Office presides over the administration of the Scottish State, and enormous discretionary power resides in the hands of Britain's Secretary of State for Scotland. But uniquely in the EU, (excluding the EU Commission) no directly elected body scrutinises the Scottish administration.
Opposition to the Union (of Scotland and England) has been continuous since 1707. And the demand for Home Rule has always been part of the Scottish Labour Movement.