Even independence-supporting voters may well be tempted to give somebody else a chance in the Holyrood hotseat after 17 years of SNP rule, says Record View.
First Minister John Swinney(Image: Getty Images)
It is understandable that John Swinney wants to talk about independence in the build-up to next year’s Holyrood election.
Scotland becoming an independent country is the whole purpose of the First Minister’s party and career. After the Hamilton by-election, many in his party have been putting him under pressure to focus more on Scotland’s constitutional future.
And independence remains popular, with support for it riding high in the polls. By focusing on this issue, the First Minister will hope to consolidate support for the SNP in next year’s Scottish elections.
But it would be a mistake to think that will be the only issue on people’s minds as they cast their vote. This also needs to be an election on the dire state of Scotland’s public services.
Our health service is on its knees. One in six Scots is on a waiting list and our hospitals are crumbling. The attainment gap between rich and poor in our schools is far too wide and there is a youth violence epidemic in our streets.
The roads are in a terrible state and our councils are struggling for cash. Voters will want to consider these issues when they choose who governs Scotland. Next year’s election has to be about delivering the best public services for Scotland.
It must be about improving people’s lives in both the short and long term. If Swinney only talks about independence and does not say how he will improve our public services, that could backfire.
Even independence-supporting voters may well be tempted to give somebody else a chance in the Holyrood hotseat after 17 years of SNP rule.
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That’s the spirit
In the current tense political climate, it is easy for politicians of all parties to paint immigrants and asylum seekers as “strangers”.
But that is not the true picture in towns and cities across Scotland. One example is Hasab Mohammed, who fled the civil war in Sudan 20 years ago to try to make a better life for him and his family here in Scotland.
After years of hard graft, he scraped together enough savings to open a small cafe in Kilmarnock town centre. It thrived and has become a popular part of the community.
Hasab tells in today’s Daily Record how a fire that ripped through buildings in the town this week has left his dream in tatters. But he has been humbled by the response of the local community, who have rallied round to try to help Hasab get his business back up and running.
Hasab and his friends in Kilmarnock represent the true spirit of Scotland.