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Nigel Smith
was a
long-time
supporter and campaigner
for decentralisation
and devolution. He played
a central [and
largely unknown] role in the
1997
Referendum
campaign
for
a
Scottish Parliament. In
2017
he
submitted
his
views on
Holyrood's performance to date
to the Commission on
Parliamentary Reform
set
up by the Presiding Officer, Ken
Macintosh. Nigel was
eventually persuaded that
his views
deserved
a wider audience and
he began to re-draft
the document for
publication. Suddenly,
and
unexpectedly, he died in January
2020
before he
completed
the task.
Nigel loved
Scotland and actively
enjoyed sailing on the west
coast and
walking
in the hills
and countryside.
And he
cared about
the
country.
Nigel preferred to
work in
the background
and
did
so assiduously and effectively,
championing and lobbying
for
the
causes
he
cared about across
the political
spectrum.
He
was admired and
respected for taking
a stand, arguing
his
case and for
keeping
confidences.
All
who came in contact with
him knew and appreciated
that he
was a
man
of
integrity. Over the past two
years the Covid
pandemic has meant that it has
not been possible to
arrange an event to allow
those who
knew
and worked with
Nigel to
gather
to reminisce
and
mark his
significant contribution to
publicity in Scotland.
As two
of
his
friends who shared
his desire to
see
devolution
working
for the betterment
of our fellow citizens, we
felt that this
analysisis,
which
is both
systematic and
trenchant,
should
be in the public realm.
Nigel's
family
happily
agreed and
have made publication
possible,
a
fitting tribute.
Some
of the
specific
detail
is a
little
out of
date but that
cannot vu
be
said
of the
analysis.
That Nigel has left to us
about the health
service
than
about
the
economy and education
is regrettable but does not
detract from
the force of hi
comment
on governance, responsibility
and
reform.
As to our
editorial
practice in framing the document
for publication, we ought
only on occasion to
clarify meaning and,
where possible, to
provide references to
organisations and
documents mentioned in the text. The
argument and conclusions
are all Nigel. We are
only
sorry' e
have been denied the
chance
to penda
few happy hour talking
and arguing
with him
about
the thought he presents
here.
This is
an
important tud from
a
man he cared
about
Scotland. We hope it
will contribute
to the debate
about
how Holyrood
can
best serve
the interest of the
people of Scotland.
DAVlD
HUTCH!S0N
JOHN MCCORMICK
You can read
The
Scottish Parliament - Partial success: could do better?
here in pdf format
Read more about Nigel from an article from
Gerry Hassan
An architect of devolution on how highest hopes for Holyrood have been
foiled |
