Unless we start treating and funding local government with the respect it deserves, the outputs of the Scottish Parliament will still fall woefully short of the change Scotland’s communities are desperately seeking argues STUC General Secretary and Herald Columnist Roz Foyer.

The sun has set on the sixth.

Scotland’s national parliament, reconvened in 1999, has just finished its sixth session.

Legislation wise, it can point to some successes if ultimately limited in scope. Notably, from this point of view, legislation to pardon striking miners who were brutally assaulted during Thatcher’s ideological war on our class.

This legislation was an important correction of injustice. Our movement had long supported achieving justice for all those wrongfully convicted by politicised agents of the state and Tory Government back in the 80s. It’s correct that this was rectified. We further endorsed and supported the implementation of safe access zones that now ensure that certain activities are prevented outside healthcare facilities that provide abortion.

Green MSP Gillian Mackay deserves credit for steering the Act through Parliament and seeking buy in from Scotland’s trade union movement, ensuring the correct checks and balances for both those wishing to access healthcare and those exercising free speech. If we look wider, changes and adaptations to government policy over free school meals, breakfast clubs, cheaper public transport costs, free bus passes for young people, nationalising Ardrossan Harbour and the direct award of contracts to Ferguson Marine all, on the face of it, are a tip if the hat to the need for cost of living support and the need for a proper industrial strategy. But we’re not getting too........

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