The McIntosh Commission

Introduction

In January 1998 the Secretary of State for Scotland appointed the McIntosh Commission to examine the implications that the Scottish Parliament would have for Scottish local government. As well as considering how councils could best make themselves more responsive and democratically accountable to the communities they serve the Commission, chaired by Neil McIntosh, considered the implications of the use of a proportional system (AMS) to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).

The Commission reported to the Scottish Executive in June 1999 and confirmed that there was an agenda for change and modernisation in local government and set a challenge for local government to be more open, efficient and accountable.

It also recommended that:

"Proportional representation (PR) should be introduced for local government elections. A review should be set up immediately, to identify the most appropriate voting system for Scottish local government."

They recommended 5 criteria for determining the system of PR to be adopted:

• proportionality,
• the councillor-ward link,
• fair provision for independents,
• allowance for geographical diversity, and
• a close fit between council wards and natural communities.

They recommended that three systems of PR should be given particular consideration: Additional Member System, Single Transferable Vote and Alternative Vote Plus.

The Commission also recommended urgent study of the issues so that the necessary legislation could be introduced in time for the elections in 2002.

The McIntosh proposals

The Commission recommended that proportional representation (PR) should be introduced for local government elections because "as far as is practicable, every vote should count, and that councils, in their composition, should reflect the range and balance of views within the communities they serve" (Report par. 76).

In Consultation Paper 2, the Commission had reported "substantial and widespread support for the view that a move to some form of proportional representation (PR) would be beneficial for local government. It was seen as especially desirable where one party has an overwhelming dominance which does not in fact reflect the proportion of the total vote given to it" (Report par. 75).

In their report, the Commission stated that the response to that Consultation Paper had reinforced their view that a form of PR should be introduced for local government elections, and added: "it appears to command very wide support" (Report par. 76).