According to the Sunday Times Ecosse section of 21 October , I am “one of the main outsiders at the court of King Alex,” – one of a “coterie of advisors drawn from outwith politics,” to “help keep Alex Salmond on his Holyrood throne.”
The article asks why “civilians” like me are on such commissions – after all, what on earth do I know about prisons?
Well apologies to Richard Wilson who wrote the piece. He left a message I didn’t get because my mobile phone was winging its way from the Hebridean island of Islay where I left it in a hired car on the Book Tour -- part 23, ably organised by Stuart and Celia Todd. We stayed in Portnahaven, home to a noisy colony of harbour seals, and a thriving colony of chatty, colourful Ileachs.
Jackie at Ardbeg Distillery opened specially on Saturday night, and though I don’t drink, I could’ve “nosed” the drams all night. Is that sad? I could also have kissed Maureen from MacKenzie Car Hire who matter of factly parcelled the wee blighter and sent it guaranteed next day delivery without asking for anything other than the address. This is why people come back over and over to Islay.
Anyway, why do Scots go back over and over again to prison?
And how can I help find out why? My impression from the civil servants who asked me to join the Prisons Commission was that explanations and solutions favoured by experts are often not favoured by the public or by parts of the media who insist politicians and judges must be “tough on crime.” The government’s figured that the public’s apparent hostility to prison reform is part of the problem. And having taken the measure of Scottish public opinion for the last ten to fifteen years on radio shows nearly every day – they think I might have some expertise there.
I have served on a previous commission – a two year epic that asked why poor people don’t participate in public life. Properly known as the Commission on People, Power, and Participation we met every month and took evidence from visits all around the UK. It brought me a lifelong friend – Ann Soutar from Easterhouse – and some great contacts around the UK, including Jim Deery who runs the Star Neighbourhood Centre in Belfast and the then Bishop of London, now Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.
I’m also on the Board of Encounter, a group set up by the British and Irish governments in the 1980’s to keep civic dialogue going even when they weren’t officially speaking to one another. There are board members from all five jurisdictions (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England) and the meetings with top people in the relevant field are eye-opening and hugely entertaining.
So who knows what I can contribute to this Commission experience. It’s straining the language somewhat to describe Commission members as “advisors to Alex Salmond.” And flattering but wide of the mark to suggest “civilians” on commissions have the power to make or break a government.
But my mum liked the Ecosse picture – so that’s a start.
When I’ve attend the first Commission meeting on Wednesday I’ll find out how the public can register views on why we jail so many Scots. And you will be the first to know.
