DEAL It’s time to use powers wisely
BY WEST SCOTLAND MSP NEIL BIBBY
The Scottish Parliament returns from the summer recess this week.
After an eventful summer, which has seen the transfer of power to a new Prime Minister and continued chaos and confusion over the Brexit process, MSPs return to Holyrood with plenty to debate.
But there is more to discuss than the issue of Europe.
Much more.
That is not to downplay the importance of ending the Brexit crisis, but to highlight the need for scrutiny and accountability on all those issues that seem to have been neglected while the Brexit debate rages on.
Higher exam pass rates are falling, the Scottish Government’s flagship NHS waiting time law has been broken more than 100,000 times since the current Health Secretary was put in place and official government figures have revealed that there is, yet again, a huge financial black hole in the SNP’s case for independence.
It’s not just the dysfunctional Tory government that should be held to account, it’s the Scottish Government too.
For me, the end of the recess marks an opportunity to scrutinise the Scottish Government not just on what they have done, but on what they haven’t.
Not just on their priorities, but on the issues of importance to our community they do not prioritise.
No action on mounting M8 congestion between Paisley and Glasgow.
No U-turn on scrapping the Glasgow Airport Rail Link for a second time. No progress on a credible alternative.
No reversing the council cuts that are stripping resources away from vital local services.
No action to prevent the loss of jobs and the loss of services in local government.
No brake on centralisation of NHS services out of Paisley.
No acknowledgement that the centralisation of local health services is even a problem.
I have always said there is a big difference between what Paisley needs and what Paisley gets.
What Paisley needs is all its politicians fighting for a fair deal for the town.
What Paisley gets is silence from government MSPs on the big issues that matter to the local community.
The Scottish Parliament is the most powerful devolved legislature of its kind.
Today’s Scottish Government has much more power than the government led by Donald Dewar 20 years ago when the Parliament was still a new voice in the land.
More power over taxation, public spending and welfare.
More power to intervene to protect public services or to make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives.
It’s time for the Scottish Government to use the powers of our Parliament to address the real concerns of the people of Paisley and communities like ours across the country.
To stop the council cuts and invest properly in local services.
To keep health services local, as they promised they would.
To address the need for investment in our area’s infrastructure.
Bluntly, it’s time to get on with the day job.
No more distractions.
No more excuses.
The Scottish Government has the power to change people’s lives for the better.
The task for the Parliament in the term ahead in the years to follow is to make sure that they do.