This 2009 publication was the first book about the new Scottish Parliament. It brought together a distinguished group of parliamentarians, commentators and academics to review the achievements, limits and challenges of the new Scottish Parliament after its first ten years.

The Scottish Parliament 1999-2009: The First Decade is a collection of essays by leading figures edited by Professors Charlie Jeffery and James Mitchell. In reviewing the first 10 years of the new Parliament’s existence, across a wide range of topics, the book tackled key questions including:

  • To what extent have the founding principles for the Scottish Parliament set out by the Consultative Steering Group been delivered - access and participation, equal opportunities, accountability and power-sharing?
  • Has the Parliament changed how politics is done in Scotland?
  • Has the Parliament matured into an effective legislative body?
  • Have relationships between government, the Parliament and outside stakeholders in local government, interest groups and quangos been improved?
  • What’s the view from Westminster?
  • How does the Scottish Parliament fit into the UK’s changing constitutional architecture?

Table of contents

  • Foreword Alex Fergusson MSP, Presiding Officer, Scottish Parliament
    • Chapter 1 Introduction: The First Decade in Perspective Emma Megaughin and Charlie Jeffery
  • The Parliament in Practice
    • Chapter 2 A Dozen Differences of Devolution Lord Steel of Aikwood
    • Chapter 3 Committees in the Scottish Parliament Chris Carman and Mark Shephard
    • Chapter 4 The Legislative Process: The Parliament in Practice James Johnston
    • Chapter 5 The New Scottish Statute Book: The Scottish Parliament’s Legislative Record since 1999 Michael Keating and Paul Cairney
  • The Founding Principles
    • Chapter 6 Access and Participation: Aiming High Bill Thomson
    • Chapter 7 Travelling the Distance? Equal Opportunities and the Scottish Parliament Fiona Mackay
    • Chapter 8 Parliamentary Accountability: Aspiration or Reality? Chris Himsworth
    • Chapter 9 The Principle of Power-Sharing, 10 Years On Joyce McMillan
  • Representative Process
    • Chapter 10 The Scottish Parliament Electoral System: Can Credibility be Restored? Nicola McEwen
    • Chapter 11 New Parliament, New Elections James Mitchell and Robert Johns
    • Chapter 12 Do Devolved Elections Work? John Curtice
    • Chapter 13 Conundrums and Contradictions: What Scotland Wants David McCrone
  • Stakeholders
    • Chapter 14 New Scottish Parliament, Same Old Interest Group Politics? Paul Cairney, Darren Halpin and Grant Jordan
    • Chapter 15 Civil Society and the Parliament Lindsay Paterson
    • Chapter 16 The Media and Parliament Brian McNair
    • Chapter 17 Centre and Locality in Scottish Politics: From Bi- to Tri-partite Relations Neil McGarvey
    • Chapter 18 Quangos, Agencies and the Scottish Parliament Richard Parry
  • The View from Elsewhere
    • Chapter 19 The Scottish Parliament as seen from London Peter Riddell
    • Chapter 20 Opening Doors: Devolution in Wales and the Scottish Parliament, 1999-2009 Alan Trench
  • Futures
    • Chapter 21 The Scottish Parliament, Constitutional Change and the UK’s Haphazard Union Charlie Jeffery

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