The Citizens' Assembly has reported - did anyone notice?

16 January 2021

Scottish Citizens Assembly unveils vision for the future

BBC Scotland news   13 January

Scotland's first Citizen's Assembly has published 60 recommendations aimed at improving how the country is run.

The assembly was made up of 100 members of the public who broadly represent Scotland's demographics, geography and political views.  Their non-binding proposals include making all employers pay the living wage and the devolution of further powers over tax and immigration.  The Scottish government will produce an action plan in response to the report.

The assembly was announced by Nicola Sturgeon at the SNP conference in 2019 and was tasked with answering three questions:

• What kind of country are we seeking to build?
• How can we best overcome the challenges we face, including those arising from Brexit?
• What further work should be carried out to give people the detail they need to make informed choices about the future of the country?

The assembly was initially dismissed by the Scottish Conservatives and Liberal Democrats as a "talking shop for independence".  But its final report does not express any views on whether or not independence would be good for the country.

Find more information and links to the Assembly's report and recommendations at  Groups / Citizens' Assembly of Scotland.