The first is a series of essays. These essays, penned by various individuals, speak of the; past, present and future of the Parliament. They discuss issues, such as; how the Scottish Parliament differs from its London counterpart, It’s relationship with the UK Parliament, its attempts to increase local participation, its relationship with local councils, the inclusion/exclusion of marginalized groups, the way that the Parliament is funded, and the way that the institution utilizes its budget. This book gives an accessible exploration of Scottish politics today

4 stars

*I was sent an earc of this book via netgalley however this in no way influenced my opinion*

This is a book by various authors that discuss the various problems Scottish Parliament has faced in its first 20 years and what the future holds for the Parliament.

This was very informative and educational. Lots of interesting points and issues where raised about the future of parliament which was great. I loved the letters at the end of the chapters from young people across Scotland who expressed what their hopes are for Parliament in the next 20 years. This was great as I think encouraging more young people to be politically engaged is really important.

I would say that you need a bit of political knowledge to understand parts of the book as the authors just expect you to know what they are talking about.

Overall I definitely recommend especially if you are studying politics or are just interested in the subject. If you get a chance you should visit the Parliament, I visited last year and had a great time.

Marking its second decade, The Scottish Parliament At Twenty, features a number of contributors marking its beginnings, successes, and failures. While very interesting to read, I definitely felt for a couple of sections, particularly those involving taxation legislation, a basic working political knowledge was needed. They did make for a rather dry, although informative read.

The inclusion of letters from teenagers with their hopes for the parliament over the next few decades was genuinely lovely touch, although at the time of writing, given the current political climate, I couldn't help be left with a bittersweet feeling.

Overall, this is a rather comprehensive look at the parliament. It does have a refreshingly neutral voice, any criticisms are constructive and any successes of the institution since 1999 are quieted stated.

Definitely worth a look.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.