The Scottish Parliament has fallen short and will do so again |
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 carried away.
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Missed targets on green jobs, lack of progress on Fair Work, the continued cowardice to reform local government taxation and the ransacking of our national infrastructure by the hands of the profiteers – Grangemouth being the prime example – still casts a shadow over this session of parliament.
We pay tribute to the MSPs who have supported Scotland’s workers and wish those non-returning members all the very best for the future.
But this Parliament, like those before it, is still falling short of delivering the change that Scotland’s communities are desperately seeking. Despite showing good intent, with regard to nationalising and supporting key sectors of industry in Scotland, the current Scottish Government’s piecemeal approach must be accelerated should they return to power after the election. That’s because, for too many workers, power remains concentrated in the upper echelons of society, with wealth and resources in the hands of the few.
STUC analysis highlights the extreme end of wealth inequality after official data showed the wealthiest 2% of Scottish households have more wealth than the poorest 50% combined. Incredibly, the five richest families in Scotland are estimated to have more wealth (£19.3bn) than the Scottish Government collected in Income Tax (£19bn) last year. This status quo can neither be ignored nor maintained. Our communities want politicians who are prepared to stand up to the bosses and the billionaires. Research from the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland and the Diffley Partnership asked the following:
“What do you really think about wealth inequality and wealth taxation.”
The findings were compelling
83% thought the gap between the richest and the poorest is too wide. 90% believed that current levels of wealth inequality were harmful to Society. 85% supported increasing taxes on the wealthy and 66% said they preferred increasing taxes to invest in public services over the idea of reducing taxes and accepting cuts.
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This research cannot be ignored, least of all by Scotland’s political class. People are demanding change and if politicians fail to deliver then bad faith actors and those who sow disunity, disruption and disharmony are ready to strike. And as we’ve seen, from Erskine to Elgin, from Falkirk to Dumfries, disruptors in the far-right have already mobilised. They’re using the ruinous state of our public services as a pretext for anti-migrant bile. The cuts that we’re seeing in our public services are often dished out by councils so cash-strapped for resources they’re left with little choice. That’s not an excuse – it’s the reality facing councillors and local government staff across our country. I truly believe no one, least of all councillors on fairly meagre wages for elected officials, go into public service with the express intent to make life worse for people. From potholes to public libraries, roads to revenue raising, our local authorities are responsible for a substantial amount of our national infrastructure. Cutting resource to them, with the Scottish Fiscal Commission dismantling the Scottish Government’s claim that local government will see a real terms increase to their funding, when, in fact, spending is set to fall by £472,000,000 by 2028-29, is a funny way of showing support for communities. And it’s simply not good enough for Government to cut with one hand then implore councils to use an outdated and illogical council tax system to try and plug the gaps. But this brings me back to my central point – the Scottish Government has shown signs of the rejuvenation our nation needs to grow the economy in favour of working people.
But that simply cannot be done if you continue to cut, to the bone, the staff and resources of local government who are responsible for a large proportion of our public services. Good practice exists out there. Look at the outstanding success of Lothian buses, owned by City of Edinburgh Council. Look at the vast windfarm profits being generated for Orkney council, that are being reinvested back into the community, not lining private pockets. The next session of Parliament, with both new and returning MSPs, must show the leadership required to realise the full potential of our nation.
That, first and foremost, includes valuing and properly funding local authorities to uphold our standards in social care, schools, transport and more. Scotland’s trade unions will play our part and continue to be constructive allies for progress - but only if politicians do the same and step up to the plate.