Elected officials are the best people to represent their communities

Political Blogger

Thursday 8 March 2012

Can you imagine the outcry if Westminster decided to reserve, or return to the Commons, one of Holyrood’s largest expenditure powers?

Such a reversal would generate plenty of coverage in the press, and a great deal of public debate, especially if it was implemented without any justification or explanation and largely due to the fact that MPs didn’t really think MSPs were up to the job?

here No matter the skills or expertise of centrally appointed quango members, they do not, and cannot, represent the views of the public better than elected individuals. Experts can always give advice and support, but directly elected individuals ensure that there is accountability back to us, the taxpayers. One of my fellow panellists also highlighted that the different needs and priorities of different communities mean they often require different styles of policing. This need for flexibility and diversity requires councils to have a direct input into policing, not to the operational issues which are rightly a matter only for the police, but as to the priorities and problems of their area. Equally, particularly at the moment when budgets are tight, some councils may feel that they would rather spend less on the police and more on linked crime prevention issues, such as social work or housing, and they need the ability to do so. Of course, some may argue that policing should be centralised and be a Holyrood, rather than council, responsibility. Whilst I would disagree, at least there is then an open and honest debate about the role local authorities play in policing, rather than taking powers from local government by stealth. Political parties should start being honest and tell us if they want to remove further functions from local authorities and have an honest, open debate about what we want our councils to do.

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Elected officials are the best people to represent their communities

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED