The Party Landscape: True Scottish Parties vs Branch Parties
To understand Holyrood from 1999 to today
To understand Holyrood from 1999 to today, you have to understand the legal status of the parties in it. The name on the ballot paper is not the same as the legal registration at the Electoral Commission. Two legal types of party in Scotland A) Scottish-Registered Parties
Registered in their own right under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA). Constitution, leader, treasurer, accounts - all lodged in Scotland.
• Scottish National Party (SNP) - HQ Edinburgh • Scottish Green Party - HQ Edinburgh. Fully independent of the Green Party of England and Wales. • Alba Party - HQ Edinburgh • etc.
These parties only exist in Scotland. If they win at Westminster, their MPs take a Scottish party whip.
Westminster-Registered Parties operating in Scotland
They are NOT registered as separate parties in Scotland. They are registered as an Accounting Unit or description of a UK party.
• Scottish Labour Party - Accounting Unit of The Labour Party • Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party - Accounting Unit of The Conservative and Unionist Party • Scottish Liberal Democrats - Description of the Liberal Democrats
Electoral Commission status for these is: they are not a separate registered party under PPERA in their own right - they are a regional part of the UK party. That's why their finances are filed in London.
Why it matters - Manifesto and Policy
Westminster Election (Reserved: economy, defence, foreign affairs, constitution)
• Branch parties fight on a manifesto written and signed off in London. The Scottish leader has input, but does not have final sign-off. • Scottish-registered parties write their own Westminster manifesto in Edinburgh.
Holyrood Election (Devolved: health, education, justice, housing)
• Branch parties write a Scottish manifesto in Edinburgh, but it must be compatible with the UK party constitution. • Scottish-registered parties write it entirely in Edinburgh. Leader in Scotland signs off.
This is why we get the Barnett trap we covered in 2.5. In 2003, Scottish Labour MPs voted for Foundation Hospitals in England. That raised English health spending, which via the Barnett Formula automatically raised Holyrood's budget. Same party, two parliaments, one whip - but two different health policies.
Why it matters - Money and Control
HOW THAT CHANGES FINANCIAL BACKING AND HOW THINGS ARE RUN
AREA: ACCOUNTS
True Scottish Party: Own accounts to Electoral Commission Scotland. Must stay solvent themselves.
Branch Party: Accounts filed as part of UK party in London. Bankrolled by UK party.
AREA: WHERE MONEY COMES FROM
True Scottish Party: Members subs in Scotland, Scottish donors, Short Money / allowances, fundraising.
Branch Party: UK HQ funding, UK donors, plus Scottish subs passed up then back down. Short Money goes to London first.
AREA: SPENDING LIMITS
True Scottish Party: Scottish treasurer controls limits for Holyrood and local.
Branch Party: UK treasurer controls overall limits. Scottish treasurer is a sub-treasurer to London.
AREA: STAFF
True Scottish Party: Employed by Scottish party. Contract is Edinburgh.
Branch Party: Employed by UK party. Contract is London, even if based in Edinburgh.
AREA: CAN BE WOUND UP?
True Scottish Party: Yes, by members in Scotland.
Branch Party: No. Only UK party can be wound up. The Scottish unit can't close itself.
IN PLAIN ENGLISH: A True Scottish Party lives or dies in Scotland. A Branch Party can't go bust in Scotland - because it's not a separate party.