Carmichael highlights problems of centralisation in Scottish Affairs Committee session

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today highlighted concerns about the impact of increasing centralisation in Scotland during evidence given to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee in Parliament. Mr Carmichael also spoke on the ability of communities to play on the “creative tension” between the UK and Scottish governments, citing recent funding for SaxaVord Space Centre in Shetland and past negotiations to secure housing debt relief funds from Holyrood. 

Responding to questions on good governance in Scotland, Mr Carmichael said:

“We now have a system of government in Scotland that is more centralised than it ever was in Whitehall. That process of centralisation has galloped on a pace and I think it produces much worse outcomes. The Scotland that had seven police forces perhaps did not need seven, but we are not well served by having just one.

“If you look at service outcomes for different parts of Scotland, the truth is that the further you get from Edinburgh or Glasgow, the worse the service becomes. I look at the absolute shambles that is CalMac at the moment and the fear for me is that the Northern Isles may just be ten years behind unless we learn from what has happened on the west coast. You only learn from those mistakes if you engage with the community and you have a government that listens to what the community says they need, rather than what the government thinks they need.”

Responding to a question on spending by the UK and Scottish governments in Scotland, Mr Carmichael said:

“The creation of a spaceport at SaxaVord is strategically important initiative for the whole United Kingdom, so of course it should be given funding from the UK government – and if there is any funding coming from Edinburgh we’ll take it very cheerfully from them too. 

“A canny community can play on the creative tension between the Scottish government and the UK government. We had the situation where Shetland had a historic housing debt, which was crippling our ability to provide the housing that the community needed. It was a £40m debt, we were able to get £10m from Treasury, and because of the time in which it came, having had a “no” for years, I think it took about 48 hours to get £10m out of Holyrood. If you can get money for your community then you should. It is part of what we are elected here to do.”