‘Alternative facts’ is a dangerous phrase
IN my last column I wrote about the recent political phenomenon of “alternative facts”. The suggestion that some politicians are selective with the truth is nothing new, of course. President Trump’s shameless disregard for established reality, however, is a brazen development even by his standards.
It is not limited to the US. Theresa May attempted to wriggle off the hook at a recent Prime Minister’s Questions, by accusing her opposite number of using “alternative facts.”
However utilised, “alternative facts” is a dangerous development and a threat to basic democratic accountability.
Sadly, it appears that the Scottish Government is partial to this tactic, too. In Edinburgh, Nicola Sturgeon’s government has come under fire for watering down a report which criticises the SNP’s record of tackling poverty.
The report rightly raised concerns over the SNP’s year on year cuts to local government. These comments were cut from the final version after the intervention of the SNP government’s inner sanctum.
Had the document been released as initially intended, it would have made for uncomfortable reading right before last year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
Protecting your party’s record is one thing. Interfering in independent reports, however, is another thing altogether, which seems to be the hallmark now of the SNP in office.
I have been clear and consistent in criticising the SNP’s cuts to local government.
In Glasgow, we have suffered a reduced share of the local government budget in every year that the SNP has been in power.
Cuts to council budgets impact most on the poorest communities. This is an unavoidable truth.
It is plainly wrong to gloss over this, just because it threatens the carefully constructed veneer of social justice that Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP hides behind.
In Glasgow, despite the reductions in our budget coming from Edinburgh, your Labour Council is doing all that it can to protect frontline services.
So while Nicola Sturgeon continues to obsess over independence at the expense of the day job, Labour will always put Glasgow first
ONE of the favourite aspects of my job is visiting the facilities that make a real difference to communities. As Leader of the city, I have done this with a number of fantastic new schools, delivered by your Labour Council’s £250m investment in Glasgow’s primaries.
The opposition said it could not be done, but we have built or improved them brick by brick.
And I look forward to doing it again when I visit Glasgow’s new £4.3million Dalmarnock nursery.
This state of the art facility will be the third nursery that Glasgow has opened in a year.
I have always believed that providing children with the best start in life is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.
I understand that the First Minister will be visiting the nursery later this week.
I have no doubt that she will be impressed by what we are delivering – first class facilities and a first rate education.being delivered by excellent staff. If we receive a fair grant from government we can deliver a fair deal for our children. It’s only fair, First Minister, isn’t it?
It is abundantly clear that, despite the cuts to our budget, Glasgow remains committed to investing in the future of our city’s children.
Our priority will always be what is best for Glasgow. And what’s good for our young people is good for our city as a whole.
FROM today, councils across the Glasgow city region will work together with a shared action plan to boost skills, jobs and growth.
It is a tremendous example of councils working together to transform our communities.
Between now and 2035, we are targeting 100,000 extra jobs, 6,500 new businesses, and big improvements in qualifications, training and skills.
We also have a plan to bring thousands of hectares of vacant and derelict land into use and support the building of 110,000 new homes across the region.
I’m excited that we’re able to collaborate like this in local government – and everyone involved wants the Scottish and UK Governments, the business community and our colleges and universities to be part of that strong, open team.
Only by working together will we build a more resilient and dynamic city region that delivers homes and jobs for all its people.
In these uncertain times it is a plan that can make a difference.
Let’s make it happen.