LIKE most readers of The National, I had hoped that we’d be reacting this week to a Queen’s Speech which contained legislation giving effect to a Yes vote and setting Scotland on a path to independence within a year.

The rest of the legislation it contained would have affected Scotland only for that final short period before the transfer of power to a newly- elected Scottish Parliament in May 2016.

What we see instead is a UK government programme which will be imposed on Scotland for the full five-year term, though we do at least have some ability to defend against some of the worst aspects.

There is much in the Cameron government’s plans which won’t apply to Scotland at all, covering issues which are devolved already. Childcare, education, policing, charity law and bus services are just a few of the issues which won’t directly apply here, but for which our dependence on a block grant subject to ongoing cuts will continue to bind Holyrood’s hands to some extent.

Local government too is devolved, though this is an area where for several sessions in a row the Scottish Parliament has been deadlocked, unable to renew local democracy or even agree a replacement for the outdated and unfair council tax system. I hope all political parties will be able to bring forward proposals on this next year, so that whatever the election result we can begin working toward the powerful and accountable local government which Scotland has been without for so long.

Then there are items on the UK Government’s agenda which will apply directly to Scotland and there’s very little on this list to welcome.

Further attacks on the equality and dignity of immigrants will mean evictions, exploitation and even the seizure of people’s wages – you can bet this won’t be the approach taken to the super-rich immigrants partying in London. No, this brutal approach will of course be reserved for those with least power and least wealth.

An Extremism Bill is also planned, and is expected to blur the lines between what is criminal and what isn’t. David Cameron’s recent speech on this issue gives real cause for concern about our civil liberties: “For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens: as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone.” So much for the libertarian wing of the Tories.

They also seem set on reintroducing the Investigatory Powers Bill, dubbed by its critics the “snooper’s charter”. That title may be simplistic, but it’s intended to raise awareness of a fundamental threat to what’s left of our privacy.

At least the wretched proposal to scrap the Human Rights Act has been kicked into somewhat longer grass. This may have been intended as a pre-planned concession in coalition talks, but we mustn’t be complacent and think that it will sink without trace. Scotland does have a chance to block this measure if it resurfaces, and we must remain determined to do so.

Workplace rights on the other hand are under direct assault from the Trade Unions Bill. We can all see the hypocrisy of a government which has the support of just 37 per cent of people who voted but wants to pass a law to invalidate a strike vote by union members unless 40 per cent is reached.

Allowing the use of agency staff to break strikes will further undermine a meaningful right of people to withdraw their labour.During the election, both Labour and the Tories went to great lengths to persuade people that their promises were sincere. Labour opted for that ill-fated ‘Ed stone’ with pledges carved on it. The Tories offered to pass a law to force their own chancellor to stick to their policy pledge not to increase income tax. It’s an absurd policy, to decide what level taxes should be set at for a full five year term. But even if you like the policy, the legislative lock is just another signal of how mistrusted UK politicians know they are.There is one area where Scotland can hope to have some level of protection. There is still a great deal wrong with the devolution proposals on offer, and there should be no rest in trying to get a more credible settlement. But there will at least be some degree of power for Holyrood to set more progressive tax rates and to step in with additional welfare policies to offset the worst of the cuts.

It’s a dismal thought that this is still where we are – offsetting the harm a UK government is imposing, instead of setting our own economic, social and environmental policy here in Scotland. But we’ll have a duty to do whatever’s possible to protect Scotland, and it will take creativity and courage to bring forward the policies to do so.