Voices that matter are drowned out
EWAN GURR
Scotland Network Manager for The Trussell Trust THE BBC Scottish Leaders Debate televised on Sunday night highlighted both the best and worst aspects of political discourse in Scotland.
At its best, Spectator editor Fraser Nelson commended the standard of the dialogue which, in my opinion, was strong, sturdy and occasionally stormy but ultimately underpinned by people interested in the political trajectory of their nation.
At its weakest, the debate became less substance and more soundbite as the expected efforts to score political points and discredit one another became apparent.
However, it was after the cameras were turned off that the real storm was unleashed.
Within moments, social media became enmeshed in an effort to scapegoat the genuine concern of a lady employed by the NHS, who revealed that she had used a food bank having seen no increase in her salary for nine years.
The comments were visibly jarring for Nicola Sturgeon and she struggled to ease the concerns of the lady in question – who was well aware that healthcare is a devolved matter for the First Minister’s party.
Like many, I was deeply moved by the woman’s account as it is a story I have heard many times in foodbanks – that of a hard worker struggling to keep their head above water.
Despite the smears, it has emerged she is indeed a nurse, who earns £22,345 per year and is a single lady living in Edinburgh.
The cost of living in our nation’s capital is exceptionally high, comparable to London, and food and fuel costs have escalated by over 30 and 40 per cent in the same nine years in which she has seen no increase in her salary.
I believe public perception around people experiencing poverty is changing and, I would argue, for the better.
Low income has become the single biggest driver behind people coming to food banks.
If ever there was a time when we need our political discourse to amplify the voices of people experiencing poverty rather than obscure them, it is in the run up to a general election.