MARY Let’s get back to the real issues
BY WEST SCOTLAND MSP MARY FEE
At the time of writing this column it is not known how MPs voted on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
I am fundamentally against any form of Brexit, as I believe it is a step backwards for the United Kingdom.
What has happened over the last three and a half years is nothing less than chaotic.
My time as a Member of the Scottish Parliament has been mired in constitutional chaos - both that of Brexit and Scottish independence - and issues that urgently need addressed, like poverty and climate change, are not getting the full attention they desire.
Nationalist politics thrives on constitutional chaos. That is plainly obvious after watching the First Minister’s speech to the SNP conference last week.
Despite the same tired and worn attack lines, the First Minister offered nothing new to delegates or to the country.
It was more of the same threatening independence referendum after independence referendum, until Nicola Sturgeon gets the result she wants.
Since devolution in 1999, the SNP has not been on a winning side of a referendum.
I hope that can change in a second referendum on Brexit if MPs voted for one at the weekend, but not for independence.
Leaving the EU and leaving the UK is the wrong direction for Scotland.
We thrive as a member of both economically and socially. Trade between Scotland and the rest of the UK is more significant than trade between Scotland and the
EU. It would be absurd to place any barriers to trade that would affect jobs and people’s livelihoods.
Scotland and the UK needs to get back to tackling domestic policy issues, like poverty, social injustice, health and education.
Politicians of all colours have wasted three years on a policy that is bad for our country. It’s overdue that the people are given a second vote on Brexit - a choice between remaining in the EU or a Boris Brexit. Once that is settled, let’s get back to working on the real issues that affect people’s daily lives.
Campaign for housing rights
I was delighted to meet Shelter Scotland in parliament recently to back their new campaign for housing rights.
Despite having some of the most progressive housing laws in the world, introduced by Labour and SNP in Government, there is a gap in people’s knowledge of their housing rights.
Shelter is campaigning for a Scotland where everyone knows and can defend their housing rights and for rights to be upheld and laws not broken, as has been happening by councils denying 3,000 people their right to temporary accommodation.
To sign up to the campaign and get more information, please visit www. shelterscotland.org/areyouwithus