SALMOND SAVAGES LAW CHIEF
What is becoming shockingly clear is the extent to which the lines between the SNP, government and justiciary have become blurred in Scotland and that should be a huge concern to everyone
Gordon Brown has claimed Scotland’s public services have been “brutally exposed” by Covid-19 and has demanded a post-pandemic overhaul.
The former prime minister issued the warning as he launched a campaign to devise radical new policies for the NHS, education, environment and jobs.
His ScotlandCan initiative will make the case that living standards can be improved without breaking away from the UK.
It comes in the face of mounting support for independence in the run-up to Holyrood elections in May.
Brown told the Sunday Mail: “The pandemic has brutally exposed many of the existing injustices and f laws in our society – from the scourge of widening inequality to the poor working conditions of our carers to the lack of cooperation between governments.
“Having had these fai lures exposed, we must now commit to tackling them.
“And as we begin our recovery from the pandemic, we all need to offer up positive solutions so that, out of this crisis, we can rebuild the fairer and more just Scotland we all want.”
The new campaign is being launched through Brown’s Our Scottish Future think-tank.
It will create a forum for experts, young people and f ront l ine workers to set out “fresh thinking and new ideas” on how to create a “fairer and stronger Scotland” under devolution.
Brown added: “Our Scottish Fut u re bel ieves g reater cooperation across the UK is the way to achieve this better society in Scotland.
“At the same time, we also want to see the powers of devolution used fully to help drive forward a more equal and fairer country.
“Whether it is sustaining our NHS for the long term, rebuilding a decent education system after lockdown or moving to a greener economy, Scotland can act to build back better.
“The pandemic has been a crisis but it is also an opportunity to create a better Scotland.
“Now is the moment for us to come together and offer up the kind of positive ideas that will help us get the change we need.”
Increased support for carers a long wi th post - l ockdown education, environment and social justice initiatives wi l l be the focus of initial sessions of the new campaign group. Our Scottish Future project manager Eddie Barnes said: “Leaders of the pro- independence movement have rightly argued that those of us who want to remain in the UK need to set out a positive argument.
“This new campaign is about showing what we can do, not focusing on what we can’t.
“It isn’t about saying ‘ No’, it is about mak ing the case for action now.
“We know that Yes and No voter s a re d iv ided on the constitution. But we also know they share many priorities for after the pandemic – building a stronger NHS, restoring our education system, creating a greener Scotland and providing dignity in work.
“We want to showcase some of the radical ideas that are possible on how we can do that, looking at where things have gone right over the last few years and starting a debate about how we can improve still further.
“The aim here is to provoke fresh thinking and to stimulate bigger and better ideas about how devolution can bring transformational change to Scotland.”
He added: “From the research we’ve done and the conversations we’ve held, it’s obvious Yes and No voters are very clearly divided on the constitution, with many Yes voters seeing independence as a priority.
“However, i t ’ s a l so clear that whi le Yes and No voters disagree on the constitution, they agree about the policy areas that need addressing.
“Ev e r y one a g r e e s that supporting our NHS is the top prior ity, and ever yone also believes we need to support the economy too.”
Now is the moment for us to come together