One of the things that’s happened as a consequence of devolution is that sometimes Westminster finds itself following Holyrood. It’s almost as if the latter has actually become a mini-laboratory of democracy. That’s as it should be. Alas, the reality is that it’s more of a laboratory for managerialism. Perhaps, one bright day, this will produce some good ideas that Westminster will feel like copying. At the moment? Not so much.
So it’s no surprise that David Cameron seems to be moving towards copying some of the SNP’s ideas on “combatting” the problem of cheap booze and hooliganism. Minimum prices for alcohol would seem to be one idea Cameron is happy to pinch from the SNP. The merits of the idea are neither here nor there, what’s interesting is what it says about Cameron’s vision for and of government.
Because where’s the bleedin’ post-bureacratic age in any of this? Nowhere to be seen.
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