A new MSP

Marlyn Glen

It is very strange as an older Labour Party hack to write about the newness of being an MSP. After the election in May 2003 I did not just get a new job, I feel that I adopted a whole new life-style - whether it is a better one or not I am still unsure but it is certainly different.

Constituency work turns out to be a odd hybrid for a List MSP. While I am firmly based in Dundee I cover a much wider area across the North East and people get in touch from very far afield - creating a different relationship from the usual. The Labour Party, generally, is yet to come to terms with this arrangement despite being instrumental in its setting up, but it is very rewarding to be able to work in areas which have lacked Labour representation at any level. This is an opportunity that Labour needs to build on.

I used to think that I was busy as a teacher but at least post-McCrone my recommended hours were clearly laid down and I was totally used to, and comfortable with, bells ringing to direct me from one task to the next. A concern for me now is the lack of structure to the working day - morning meetings running into lunch-time and meetings regularly already scheduled for lunch-times.

The rhythm of an MSP's day in Edinburgh is very similar to that of a conference delegate. There are formal debates, Q & A sessions, party meetings; and you can also slot in Cross Party Group (CPG) meetings before, after and in between these. Just like Fringe Meetings at conference these CPGs are extremely varied and informative and the difficulty is choosing which to attend. I already convene the CND Group and the group on Waste Management and attempt to attend as many others as I can but recently the bulk of my time has been taken up with Committee work. I am the Labour substitute for the Audit Committee and a member of both the Equal Opportunities and Justice I committees. Committee work is one of the less obvious parts of the job but perhaps feels the most worthwhile.

Maybe it is still too early for me to make a seasoned judgement but I am involved in politics to make a difference and it seems like the work in committees does, indeed, make a difference. The Equal Opportunities Committee has been taking evidence on the Civil Partnership Registration Bill and the Justice I Committee is examining High Court reform. Both of these proposed changes to legislation will make substantial differences to people's lives.

There is some question over whether there is a radical programme for Scotland. As we are all aware, Labour Policy for the Scottish Parliament now goes through the new process of Policy Forums and discussion with the Labour Scottish Executive into a manifesto and then subsequently by discussion with the Liberal Democrats into a Partnership Agreement. This is our route via proportional Representation and Coalition, and I am well aware of the cry of anguish which goes up whenever these two are mentioned. However this is the system that we have and it is time we come to terms with it, learned to work within it and to make it work for us.