It’s a New Year, let’s hope it’s a good one

A s t h e s o n g s ays “a n o t h e r year over and a new one just begun”.

It’s been quite a year for Scotland, 2014, with the success of major events like the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup increasing our longer-term tourism potential and enhancing our economy.

That ’s grand, i f we can use s uch benefits t o create a f airer Scotland, but this has also been a year which has seen ‘austerity measures’ imposed by a Westminster Coalition Government which Scotland didn’t vote for.

This has resulted in real hardship for many families and single-people; working or unemployed. Studies have shown that the welfare reforms have been particularly hard on those who are disabled, and I believe that to be a great shame on our society.

It’s shameful, too, that food banks are becoming a normal part of day-to-day life for many, rather than a safety net for a few.

Lots of us believe that, if Scotland was able to make its own choices, then we would better use our prosperity and, of course, the independence referendum was the major event for Scotland in 2014. For many of us the democratic ‘no’ vote was a huge disappointment, but the level of political engagement then and since is something to be celebrated.

E a s t Ki l b r i d e S NP h a s s e e n a n unprecedented rise in membership with local people wishing to be actively involved in challenging the Westminster status quo and holding the UK political parties to account.

Af t e r a l l , i n t he days be f o re our referendum specific promises were made by Conservatives, LibDems and Labour about further powers coming to Scotland.

The terms “extensive powers’’, “home rule,” “near federalism”, etc were freely used by David Cameron, Gordon Brown et al. The onus is on these prominent polit i ci ans and t heir supporters t o deliver the famous ‘ Vow’ regardless of who wins the UK General Election in May 2015.

I w a s a me mb e r o f t h e S m i t h Commission, a cross-party negotiation pro c e s s whi c h ha s r e c o mmended unanimously agreed proposals which have been passed to Westminster to implement. We’ll see what comes out of that following the UK election and discussion in the House of Commons and, of course, the unelected House of Lords. Already Scotland’s case is being weakened by insistence on looking at devolution for the rest of the UK, and arguing about ‘English votes for English laws’ etc.

I f a l l o f t h e S mi t h Co mmiss i o n proposals were implemented it would still mean that we only had powers over about 30 per cent of the tax we raise and 15 per cent of the welfare budget.

No ability then to truly shape our own fairer systems and halt some of the worst practices of a UK Government which does not allow meaningful autonomy and is intent on imposing unwanted policies upon us.

That’s not just my view, but that of respected academics who recently gave evidence at Holyrood, and experienced pro f e s s i onal s who a re ur g i ng t hat Westminster act quickly and move further to allow real change.

So, whether people voted ‘ yes’ or ‘no’ i n 2014’s referendum t here i s a recognition that much more has to be done and that in 2015 those who we send to represent us in Westminster must work to fulfil promises made.

Another eventful year ahead, as the song says “Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear”.