Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will argue that bureaucrats who block progress need to be put on notice.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Scots only need to look at the state of their town centres and public services to know change is needed.
High streets across the country are scarred by shuttered shops and a lack of activity. The NHS is at breaking point and the economy continues to be stuck in the slow lane.
Successive governments are largely to blame for this state of decay, but risk-averse public bodies also have a case to answer.
In a speech today, in Glasgow, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will put bureaucrats who block progress on notice.
He will cite council bosses and heath chiefs who do not have a “can-do” attitude as part of the problem, not the solution.
Sarwar is correct to point the finger at stuck-in-the-past public bodies.
Scotland has too many quangos and agencies for a country this size and the public sector needs to be streamlined.
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This process of centralisation started when Labour was last in power in Edinburgh and accelerated by the SNP.
But voters should also be wary of the snake-oil salesmen in Reform who claim the solutions to problems are simple.
Reform claims many of the issues facing our society will be ironed out if we simply have fewer immigrants.
This is a fallacy and Nigel Farage is exploiting fears for his own benefit.
Society needs to pull together and that means the public sector acting as an agent of change, not as a brake.
The best way to combat the rise of chancers like Farage is to make sure working people have their voices heard and their lives are improved by the actions of government.
Sarwar should be heeded in his call to make those running institutions more in tune with their needs.
Convoy heroes
THE plight of Ukraine since it was invaded by Russian warmonger Vladimir Putin has prompted a global outpouring of support.
Now one of the biggest ever aid efforts seen in Scotland is set to leave for the war-torn country this month.
Fifty-five jeeps carrying vital food and medical supplies will make the hazardous 2000-mile journey across Europe to Kolomyya and Lviv.
When they arrive the vehicles and their contents will be handed over to authorities. The jeeps will then be used to deliver the supplies, evacuate civilians in danger and retrieve wounded soldiers from the front line.
Scots businessman Stuart McKenzie is behind the convoy, organised by Edinburgh aid group Jeeps for Peace.
We wish Stuart and his colleagues well in their heroic efforts and hope Daily Record readers will do all they can to help.