The Smith Commission, top-down politics and local government

The devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament does not seem to be accompanied by further decentralisation to the local councils. Local government remains but a footnote in the Scottish constitutional debate, and the inclusion of local government policy in the contributions to the Smith Commission made by Scotland’s political parties seem to be an afterthought. It remains to be seen, in a time of constitutional flux, where Scotland’s local communities will fit in.