So Alex Salmond has become Scotland’s first minister, with no majority. If he can’t legislate, his administration may be the best Holyrood has had yet. Its hard to think of one Scottish Parliament bill which has been any use since 1999. And easy to think of appalling misgovernment. Jack McConnell’s old slogan was ‘do less better’. He ended up doing nothing, appallingly. Yet always with a flurry of junk legislation in the background. Scotland needs competent government more than new laws. If Salmond provides that, he’ll be doing well.

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