Politics of Scotland facts for kids
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom (UK). The UK is a single country, but Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own governments. This system is called devolution. It means they have some power to make their own laws.
Scotland joined England in a political union in 1707. Since then, Scottish representatives have gone to the UK Parliament in Westminster, London. Today, 59 Members of Parliament (MPs) from Scotland work there. They help decide big issues for the whole UK. These include things like the country's rules, foreign affairs, and defence.
In 1999, the Scottish Parliament was created in Edinburgh. It has the power to make laws for Scotland. However, some big topics, called reserved matters, are still decided by the UK Parliament. The Secretary of State for Scotland represents Scotland in the UK government. The Scottish Government is led by the First Minister of Scotland. This person is usually the leader of the party with the most support in the Scottish Parliament. Currently, that is Nicola Sturgeon. The head of state in Scotland is the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Scotland has many different political parties. In the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish National Party (SNP) leads the government. They want Scotland to be an independent country. Other parties include the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish Green Party. Elections for the Scottish Parliament happen every five years.
The idea of Scotland becoming an independent country is still a big topic. In 2014, people in Scotland voted in a referendum. They decided to stay part of the United Kingdom.
Contents
How Does the Scottish Parliament Work?
The Scottish Parliament was created after people in Scotland voted for it in 1997. About 74% of voters wanted a Scottish Parliament. About 63% also agreed it should have some power over taxes.
The UK Parliament passed a law called the Scotland Act 1998 to create it. This law lists the topics that are still handled by the UK Parliament. These are called reserved matters. They include things like defence, foreign relations, and big economic decisions.
Everything not on that list is handled by the Scottish Parliament. This includes important areas like health, education, and Scots law. This means Scotland can make its own rules in these areas.
The Scottish Parliament has 129 members, called MSPs. They are elected every four years. The election system mixes two ways of voting. Some MSPs are elected directly for local areas. Others are chosen to make sure all parties get a fair number of seats. This system helps smaller parties get a voice in Parliament.
The Scottish Government works with the Scottish Parliament. It was first called the Scottish Executive. The First Minister of Scotland leads this government. The current First Minister is Nicola Sturgeon.
Who are the First Ministers?
- Donald Dewar (1999–2000)
- Henry McLeish (2000–2001)
- Jack McConnell (2001–2007)
- Alex Salmond (2007–2014)
- Nicola Sturgeon (2014–present)
Who are the Presiding Officers?
The Presiding Officer is like the speaker of the Parliament. They make sure debates run smoothly.
- David Steel (1999–2003)
- George Reid (2003–2007)
- Alex Fergusson (2007–2011)
- Tricia Marwick (2011–2016)
- Ken Macintosh (2016-present)
Scotland's Role in the UK Parliament
Scotland sends 59 MPs to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London. Before 2005, Scotland had more MPs compared to its population. This was to make sure Scotland had a strong voice. But after the Scottish Parliament was created, the number of MPs was reduced to be fairer.
Scottish MPs are elected at the same time as MPs in the rest of the UK.
The Secretary of State for Scotland is a special role in the UK government. This person works to connect the UK government with Scotland. The Scotland Office is the department that helps with this. The current Secretary of State for Scotland is David Mundell.
Here's how Scottish MPs are currently split by party:
- Scottish National Party: 54 MPs
- Independent: 2 MPs
- Labour Party: 1 MP
- Conservative and Unionist Party: 1 MP
- Liberal Democrats: 1 MP
What are the Main Political Parties in Scotland?
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is currently the biggest party in the Scottish Parliament. They won 63 out of 129 seats in the 2016 election. The SNP was formed in 1934. Their main goal is to make Scotland an independent country. They are generally a centre-left party. They have led the Scottish Government since 2007.
The Labour Party used to be the main political force in Scotland. They worked with the Liberal Democrats to form the Scottish Government from 1999 to 2007. However, their support has gone down recently. In the 2015 UK election, they won only one seat in Scotland.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats were partners in the Scottish Government from 1999 to 2007. Their support has also decreased since 2010. In the 2015 UK election, they went from 12 seats to just one.
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party is a centre-right party. They had a tough time in Scotland for many years. In the 1997 UK election, they didn't win any seats in Scotland. But they have gained more support recently. In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, they became the second-largest party. They won 31 seats.
The Scottish Green Party has also won seats in the Scottish Parliament. They support Scottish independence. They focus on environmental issues. They won six seats in the 2016 election.
The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) was formed in 1998. They are a left-wing party. They had some success in early Scottish Parliament elections. They also support Scottish independence.
The Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP) was formed to help older people in Scotland. They had one MSP elected in 2003, but lost their seat in 2007.
Images for kids
-
Headquarters of the Scotland Office in Edinburgh's New Town
-
Scotland Office, Dover House, Whitehall 01.jpg
The front of Dover House in Whitehall, London. This is another office for the Scotland Office.
-
A rally in Scotland where people supported independence in 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Política de Escocia para niños
