Why Labour's devolution dream has gone sour

Article Abstract:

The election to the Scottish parliament in May 1999 could become a bitter conflict, both for Scotland itself and for the future of Scotland's links with the rest of the UK. It seems likely that the Scottish National Party will gain more seats in the new parliament than the Labour party. If this does happen, then a referendum will be held on Scottish independence. Polls indicate that there would be majority support for Scottish independence. Scots believe that the Labour party is not sufficiently sensitive to Scotland's needs, and they also doubt that the party is committed to using the new parliament's powers.

United Kingdom, Scotland, Decentralization in government, Government decentralization

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A swing to more complex elections

Article Abstract:

Lord Jenkins' recommendation of the use of the alternative vote combined with a form of the Additional Member System as used in Germany will result in the UK having a voting system that has not been tried anywhere else in the world. Both supporters and opponents of electoral reform will have to carefully consider how Jenkins' system can be interpreted in light of proportional representation. If the system had been previously adopted in the UK, former Prime Minister John Major may have lost the 1992 election, but Margaret Thatcher would still have won three consecutive elections.

Reports, Voting, Jenkins, Lord

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Whoever leads the Tories will find the next election hard to win

Article Abstract:

Members of the UK Conservative party appear to prefer Iain Duncan Smith to Kenneth Clarke as the next party leader, in conflict with the views of the general public as a whole. Against this background, electing Duncan Smith would be risky.

Officials and employees, Conservative Party (United Kingdom), Public opinion, Duncan Smith, Iain, Clarke, Kenneth

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