Labor in Front as Scots, Welsh Go to the Polls

In a historic ballot that will reshape British politics for years to come, Scotland and Wales elected local governments Thursday that will take over control of their domestic affairs from London.

The election of the first Scottish parliament in nearly 300 years and of the Welsh National Assembly, which will have more limited powers, is part of British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s policy to decentralize control and stave off moves for independence that could break up the United Kingdom.

Across Britain, voters also cast ballots for members of 362 local councils on “Super Thursday,” in what is being seen as a referendum on the Labor Party government’s performance during its first two years in office. According to early returns, the opposition Conservative Party staged a modest recovery by recapturing scores of seats.

Labor was on track to beat nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales and to win the largest bloc of seats in their new bodies. But in Scotland, the governing party apparently will not have a majority in the 129-seat parliament, which it would need to govern alone.

In initial returns, Scots gave the lion’s share of votes to the Labor Party but not enough for outright control. Labor took 42% of the vote as the first nine parliament seats were decided, well ahead of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, or SNP, with 30%.

A BBC exit poll indicated that Labor will win 55 to 61 seats--at least four short of a majority. In that case, Labor will either form a coalition or a minority government.

Scottish Labor leader Donald Dewar, headed to become first minister of Scotland, is certain to face a powerful opposition bloc in the SNP, which will use the new legislature to pursue its goal of independence from Britain. The BBC poll said the SNP will win at least 41 seats.

“It’s a huge day, it’s our first parliament for 300 years,” SNP leader Alex Salmond said as he voted at a rural village hall in northeastern Scotland. “I think the first thing we should do is run the parliament for Scotland, not have its strings pulled from London.”

Throughout the campaign, nationalists charged that the Labor Party in Scotland was run from London and that a Labor victory meant more government from afar. Labor countered that an SNP victory would mean an “expensive divorce.” Dewar argued that England and Scotland both benefit from their union, and separation “does not make sense.”

The Scottish parliament will have the power to raise or lower national income taxes by three pence on the pound and to make laws governing local issues such as health, education, housing, tourism, transportation and law and order.

But foreign, defense and economic policy, as well as any further constitutional changes, still will be made in the British Parliament.

The 60-member Welsh Assembly will not have the power to levy taxes.

The Welsh Labor Party was expected to win out over the nationalist Plaid Cymru party, and Welsh leader Alun Michael hoped to become first secretary. But a complicated voting system meant that he could lose out even if his party wins the most seats.

In both Scotland and Wales, the elections were partly by a system of proportional representation that has been used elsewhere in Europe but which is new to Britain. Voters cast a first ballot for their preferred candidate and a second ballot for a candidate on a party list, meaning that they could split their votes. Michael is a candidate on the second list.

Given the complicated balloting, full tallies were not expected until later today. But one result is clear--power is beginning to shift away from the British government.

London is going to elect its own mayor next year, and some people have even talked of forming a local parliament in England.