Poverty cannot be denied
The comment by Tory list MSP Maurice Golden accusing Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur of ‘making political points’ about the massive increase in the use of foodbanks just highlights how out of touch Mr Golden is.
Not only has there been a huge increase in the use of foodbanks but recently UN expert Philip Aston said that UK ministers are living in a state of denial over the extreme poverty in the country.
Mr Aston drafted a report for the United Nations on extreme poverty and human rights in the UK.
He also stated that it would take very little money for the worst aspects of Tory austerity policies to be changed overnight.
Mr Golden is not only living in denial, he doesn’t want anyone to highlight the obscene cruelty of the Tory welfare policies that have left many individuals and families suffering in Renfrewshire.
As Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Mhairi Black stated, the use of foodbanks is a sign that the welfare state is failing.
Scotland is a rich country – only recently more oil was discovered, yet we’re tied to a UK that not only turns a blind eye to those in need but actually implements policies that hurt them.
If anyone would think things would be different under Labour, let’s remember that they supported the vast majority of the Tory austerity cuts.
Their current leader in Scotland, Richard Leonard, only this week refused to campaign to devolve Universal Credit to the Scottish Parliament, where we could have transformed it into a policy that actually supports rather than punish those in need. Paisley Northwest Councillor Kenny MacLaren Paisley
Aquestionoftrust
Is it any wonder people don’t have any trust in politicians when they can’t be honest with the public?
This week we had Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson extolling the virtues of the new Renfrew/ Yoker bridge, yet it was only in February he went to the Glasgow City Deal Committee to argue against this very same bridge.
You won’t have to look far to find councillors in both Renfrewshire and Clydebank who have serious concerns that this new bridge will be a white elephant and will cause major traffic jams on both sides of the river.
Why can’t Councillor Nicolson be honest with the public?
He was against this bridge and got overruled by both Glasgow City Council – who run the City Deal – and the SNP Scottish Government.
If Mr Nicolson can’t stand up for Renfrewshire then what is the point of him? Bernadette Kelly Seedhill Road Paisley
We’re tied to a UK that turns a blind eye to those in need and implements policies that hurt them