Are the Scottish people any more inherently socialist than their neighbours in England?

Probably not. Is then the political culture in Scotland more to the left than that in England?

Well, the evidence of the party allegiances of the elected representatives in the Scottish Parliament, council groups and to Westminster and the EU would say yes to that.

So how does this reflect back in terms of societal gains for those who entrust their vote to politicians who promise a change in the established order, whether economic, social or cultural?

And is it reasonable within Britain to expect national or regional benefits to accrue as a result of a variation in voting patterns from the British "norm"?

If you're a unionist on the left then you have a right to believe that, as a matter of course, the banding together of working-class and enlightened elements in the largest numbers possible will see the emergence into the glorious light of a society where equality will hold centre-stage and all will benefit.

No-one will argue with that aim, but maybe there will be a doubt or two about whether the vehicles proposed to carry the people to that promised land are fit for purpose.

The Britain which still sees an average male life-expectancy in Glasgow's Calton of 54 years is one where the British Labour Party has been in charge of the city council for 70 years, standing on a platform of being the only party which is on the side of the working class, the poor and the vulnerable. It's a poor return for the party loyalty shown by the people over many years.

It may reasonably be asked whether a different approach might not be a worthwhile and indeed even a responsible course of action. It's also worth asking whether those on the left may feel somewhat frustrated and let down by a party which has been led by Tony Blair into the pockets of big business and into giving support to the US right-wing's illegal wars, and then by Gordon Brown, who wrote Jimmy Maxton's biography and then, as chancellor, promised the City of London not only light-touch regulation but a limited touch.

At least Labour is consistently committed to keeping Trident on the Clyde.

Which brings us to democracy. What is it and who's is it to exercise?

Well, it's the voice of the people, isn't it? Aye, but what people and how do they make it count?

With an electoral system specifically designed to stop the Scottish National Party from ever achieving a majority government at Holyrood, the Scottish Parliament was established to, as Blair put it, have no more power than a parish council.

Well, that didn't work out.

So if the Scottish people can radically exercise their democratic voice under devolution why shouldn't they have the prospect of making that voice heard in terms of a plebiscite on national self-determination?

Left-wing politics shouldn't just be the other side of the same coin as Establishment conservative politics, unless of course it's just to be used as a career option.

There's no need to follow the British Establishment line and the growing disenchantment of the Scottish people with that route points to a future of democracy and independence.

Bill Kidd is Scottish National Party MSP for Glasgow Anniesland