The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Consider which parties are acting in the interests of Scots before you vote
Sir, – Who do we Scots vote for on July 4? I am the first to admit that all parties have some very competent politicians, along with some chancers – Boris springs to mind.
The Tories, in their two lengthy tenures, caused significant damage to Scotland and we culled Labour MPs last time around as they were perceived as ignoring our interests, leading to a rise in SNP MPs.
The Scottish Parliament was restored by the hard work of the late Donald Dewar and heavily supported by the Scots electorate. His party perceived it as being a vehicle to constrain the SNP.
That didn’t work. Of course, the Tories vehemently opposed its formation.
For more than two generations, Scotland was a Labour fiefdom but what did they actually do to improve our lot? They left our local authorities with massive, long-term debts with their PFI programmes. Those could have been built at a fraction of the cost by simply borrowing.
They left Glasgow’s local authority housing in chaos and failed to tackle the equal pay for women issue.
Both issues were tackled, and improvements made, in times of austerity by the SNP. However many radical Tory policies could have been reversed – the numerous privatisations for example. It didn’t happen.
Much is said of the Ferguson’s shipyard ferry issue. We choose to forget the 10-fold increase in building costs of the Holyrood Parliament building, along with the massive overspend on the Edinburgh trams fiasco. Every party makes mistakes, some just do it on a more magnificent scale.
In times of austerity, the SNP government has granted us many benefits not available in the rest of the UK.
Free tuition in higher education for our young, free personal care for our elderly in their dotage, free prescriptions (nearly £10 per item southward), free bus travel for the over-60s and those under 22, lower council tax than elsewhere in the UK, to name but a few. Of course, none of these are “free” but funded by taxation.
The modest increases in taxation, as compared with England, are well spent in my view and benefit the vast majority of Scots residents. Why did Labour, in times of plenty during their Holyrood tenures, not do those things I wonder?
Labour and the Conservatives, along with the Lib Dems, are Londonbased parties. Scotland is not their primary concern.
Only the SNP and the new Alba Party are based here and have our best interests as their primary focus. It may well be in our best interests to see that they form a large part of the Scottish MP contingent.
We then come to EU membership, which is heavily supported by Scots voters. None of the Londonbased parties are overly keen on rejoining or, if they are, they have kept it a secret in case they incur the wrath of Brexiteers.
Immigration, badly needed in Scotland, is, in effect, being blocked by Westminster policies. Our social care, NHS, fishing, farming and hospitality sectors are badly affected.
Will any of the London parties change things on that score? Doubtful.
The UK is in chaos because of decisions made in Westminster.
It will take a generation, or more, to resolve the various issues. Despite the country being heavily in debt (major borrowing is not an option) both major parties have ruled out increased taxation, the only alternative being cuts to already struggling services. When will they enlighten us where these will fall?
In sincerity, I say to you all, think carefully before you place your X on the ballot paper.
Our future depends on your choice.
A strong, Scottish, voice is essential for major improvements to dig us out of the mire we are now in which is not one of our own making.
Ron Campbell, Aberdeen.