Kavanagh et al: British Politics 5e 
Political commentary
Essay questionsKavanagh et al: British Politics 5e
A Turning Point in British Politics?
Elections and the departures of Prime Ministers have historically been seen as key turning points in British politics. May 2007 was a month which saw both. On May 3rd, Scottish and Welsh voters went to the polls to elect a new Parliament and Assembly respectively. A week later, on May 10th, Tony Blair visited his Sedgefield constituency to declare his intention to step down as Labour Party leader and resign as Prime Minister on 27th June 2007.
While in Wales Labour managed to preserve its status as the largest party in the Assembly despite losing three seats, the party suffered a profound defeat in Scotland. There the SNP eclipsed Labour in terms of both share of the vote and seats, becoming the largest party in the Parliament by virtue of one seat. With the support of the Green Party, the SNP were then able to form a minority administration headed by Alex Salmond as its First Minister.
In contrast, the battle within the Labour Party to succeed Tony Blair proved rather less hotly contested. After a succession of purported alternative candidates including Charles Clarke, John Reid and latterly David Miliband who declined to stand, Gordon Brown faced a challenge only from two left-wingers, Michael Meacher and John McDonnell. In the event, John McDonnell, as the agreed candidate of the Left, fell 16 nominations short of the 45 needed to trigger a contest and Brown will formally be declared the Labour Party's new leader in late June.
The victories of Brown and Salmond will carry in their wake inevitable change. However, will they be retrospectively viewed as representing a key juncture in British politics?
The character of Gordon Brown's premiership has yet to be discovered. Further constitutional reform has been indicated with the aim of restoring public trust in politicians and restoring power to Parliament. Some Royal Prerogative powers may be transferred to Parliament and some have suggested that a codified constitution will be on the agenda. Elsewhere, however there are few clear policy commitments as yet beyond proposals for 5 new 'eco-towns'.
If Gordon Brown's intentions for the moment appear opaque, in contrast, the agenda for the new SNP administration in Scotland is clear. The SNP entered office with a commitment to open negotiations with the UK government with the aim of holding a referendum on Scottish independence sometime in 2010. However, governing as a minority administration, it is expected that the SNP administration will have to broker deals on an issue-by-issue basis from the outset. In such a context will the SNP be able to deliver on its key policy and trigger the break up of Britain?
Critical Thinking Questions
1) Assess whether the Labour government led by Gordon Brown will consolidate, extend or repudiate the policies of 'New Labour'.
2) In what ways, if any, do you expect the style and character of government in Westminster and Whitehall to change under a Brown premiership?
3) Assess the prospects for the major political parties in Scotland following the May 2007 Scottish Parliament election.
4) With the SNP's electoral victory one precondition for Scottish independence appears to have been realised. What other preconditions will need to be fulfilled for the Act of Union of 1707 to be repealed and Scotland to become an independent nation-state? Assess the prospects of these preconditions being realised during the current term of the Scottish Parliament.
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