Arrogant Boris should quit now
Yesterday I returned to London and to the UK Parliament.
To say that the Supreme Court’s judgement earlier this week shocked the political establishment would be the understatement of the year.
The fact that their verdict was a unanimous 11 to 0 speaks volumes for the clarity of their findings – that the Prime Minister broke the law, and his attempts to suspend Parliament were illegal, unconstitutional, and without precedent.
The judgement is devastating for Boris Johnson.
He should resign now – but given the arrogance bred on the playing fields of Eton, he will likely have to be dragged kicking and screaming from Downing Street.
This was not a case about Brexit. This was about the law of the land, the fact that the UK Parliament cannot be suspended simply because the Government don’t like what they’re being told, or about to be told.
Of course, the real agenda behind the UK Government’s actions was to stop MPs asking questions and holding them to account on Brexit, and especially the kamikaze nodeal Brexit the Government seems happy to put us through, and which Parliament voted to block.
The whole affair has highlighted how decrepit and backward the UK constitution is. Reading the judgement shows how laws passed in the 17th century are still being used to govern our day-to-day lives.
It beggars belief that in the 21st century this is what the fundamental rule of law and democracy is based on.
It’s time Scotland left behind the days of parchment and quills – and moved on to a written, modern constitution that wasn’t drafted when America was still a colony.
Challenge funding is boosting our schools
I heard about the Supreme Court decision while I was visiting Renfrew High School along with my council colleague, Councillor Jim Paterson.
The suspension of Parliament had the upside of giving me more time to spend in the constituency, and getting along and speaking to students and staff at the school and at St Catherine’s Primary was a joy.
I dropped in specifically because these two schools have benefited from the Scottish Government’s Attainment Challenge.
Together they’ve received over £150,000 from the Pupil Equity Fund this year, with Renfrewshire overall getting £4.3 million, to add to the
£10 million that’s come Renfrewshire’s way since 2016.
There’s always much more to do in closing the attainment gap and supporting students, but the extra help and funding delivered through the Attainment Challenge is having a real impact on schools across Renfrewshire – and Scotland – and it was great to see that impact in person.
A warm welcome to finding your feet
I also managed to get along to the opening of Finding Your Feet’s new office in the centre of Paisley.
Founded by Lochwinnoch’s inspirational Corinne Hutton, the organisation supports amputees and helps tackle the social isolation that so many have to deal with.
The work they and countless other local organisations do in supporting our communities is priceless, and in particular it was a pleasure to meet Corinne again – someone who has impacted on countless lives here in Renfrewshire and beyond.