Councillors have their say over future

Sturgeon’s plans are not enough

Councillors in South Lanarkshire have reacted to Nicola Sturgeon’s programme for government, saying it doesn’t “do nearly enough”.

On Tuesday, September 1, the First Minister outlined the Scottish Government’s plans for the year ahead.

Ms Sturgeon had said they would prioritise work to suppress the virus as well as announcing plans to publish draft legislation for a second independence referendum and funding to secure a just transition to a net zero economy.

A number of councillors in South Lanarkshire have called on Ms Sturgeon to go further while encouraging her to park independence during a public health emergency.

Leader of the Labour group, Councillor Joe Fagan (East Kilbride Central North), said: “The full focus of the Scottish Government right now must be tackling both the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis in the few short months left until the Scottish Parliament’s next election.

“Nicola Sturgeon cannot have it both ways. Either that is her priority or it is not.

“Publishing a draft independence bill at the expense of progressive new legislation on tenants’ rights or social protection at this critical moment is not just a bad move, it is a waste of Parliamentary time when her priorities are supposed to be elsewhere.

“There’s some good stuff in this programme. Labour’s calls for a Jobs Guarantee Scheme to prevent mass unemployment and moves towards a National Care Service have been included to different degrees.

“However, the SNP still have a long way to go to ensure that councils have the spending power they need to lift our communities out of this crisis and to help build back the economy.”

Conservative councillor Jared Wark (Rutherglen Central and North) added: “As we continue to navigate through a global pandemic, Scotland faces the real possibility of a second wave of coronavirus.

“There are many industries which continue to struggle and huge uncertainties surrounding people’s jobs.

“Instead of working to save and create jobs, improving the NHS and education or tackling crime Sturgeon, is yet again calling for Indyref2.

“Scotland faces an economic crisis but instead the SNP government have decided to create more uncertainty and division.

“The SNP have never been able to put forward a credible economic case for independence and latest gers figures show that separation would only come at a massive cost to our economy and public services. This is the last thing we need during these unprecedented times.

“Scotland needs to move on from the divisions of the past and build a strong economy for the future.”

Hamilton West and Earnock councillor Mark Mcgeever, the deputy leader of the Lib Dem group, was most concerned with the affects of the pandemic on families and young people.

He said: “The government’s plans don’t do nearly enough to help children, young people and families.

“Waiting times for crucial mental health services were dire even before Covid, but despite the terrible impact of isolation, disruption and anxiety caused by the pandemic, there’s no new plan to ensure young people can get help and treatment.

“Families have been further let down by ministers’ decision to delay the introduction of guaranteed childcare hours, leaving many parents simply unable to afford to go to work.

“The SNP government’s ongoing failure to deliver the childcare and mental health services families need has devastating effects on lives and livelihoods.

“It will also hurt any chance of an economic recovery.

“Parents unable to work means fewer customers at a time when local businesses are desperate for every one they can get.”

SNP councillor leader John Ross (Hamilton South) welcomed Ms Sturgeon’s announcement and said: “The economic circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic make this year’s programme for government more challenging than usual.

“However, as well as facing those challenges, we have a unique opportunity not to go back to how things were before lockdown.

“Creating new, green jobs, promoting health and wellbeing - including taking vital steps towards a National Care Service - and making Scotland the best place to grow up are central to this legislative programme.

“We must use this moment to make significant advances to deliver the fairer, greener, more prosperous country we all want to see.

“The Scottish Government’s legislative agenda is an important step towards meeting those aspirations”