...Meanwhile, a tale of two cities, as Nicola’s in pristine Copenhagen to open her new ‘embassy’
NICOLA Sturgeon was urged to focus on her ‘day job’ after she opened an office in Denmark, as strikes led to schools closing and mountains of rubbish at home.
The First Minister spoke at the official opening of the new Scottish Government office in Copenhagen on the second day of a three-day visit.
But there was still no sign of a deal to end the growing summer of discontent in Scotland.
The impact on public services continued to grow as another council, East Renfrewshire, joined Glasgow in announcing mass school closures for three days next month.
Rubbish also continued to pile up on streets, including in Edinburgh, where strikes today enter their tenth day.
However, pictures taken in the Danish capital yesterday showed residents strolling through pristine streets.
Sharon Dowey, culture spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon needs to decide whether her priorities are overseas jaunts or fixing the havoc that has developed on her watch.
‘Edinburgh has rats and rubbish taking over the streets, there’s a global cost-of-living emergency and school closures are being announced. Scots deserve a First Minister focused on the day job, working to tackle these problems.’
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘If the SNP really want to boost Scotland’s reputation abroad then they could start by resolving the rubbish crisis that is giving visitors from Denmark and the rest of the world a terrible first impression.
‘If Nicola Sturgeon would rather be elsewhere she should hand over the reins to someone who is prepared to get their hands dirty and strike a deal to get our bins collected.’
In a speech at a reception formally opening the new Copenhagen office, which is within the British Embassy, Miss Sturgeon said she wanted to ‘build ties and connections which benefit us all’.
She also held a round-table discussion with Danish business and energy leaders, met UNICEF director Etleva Kadilli and hosted a dinner with some of Denmark’s advocates for gender equality.
The Scottish Government said costs and a full list of engagements will be published following the trip.
Meanwhile, however, trade union leaders were critical of the Scottish Government for failing to secure a deal to bring the council dispute to an end.
Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB Union, said on BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live programme: ‘We have been talking for six months while the cost-of-living crisis has developed, inflation going through the roof... we know what is happening with energy bills today.
‘It is outrageous Cosla and the Scottish Government have used our members as a political football and not sorted out people’s pay.’
He said that Scottish council workers have received the poorest pay deal in the UK. He added: ‘It is outrageous that it took the Scottish Government and Cosla to be embarrassed by the scenes in Edinburgh during the Festival... it took that embarrassment to force them to get to the table.’
GMB Scotland members in 16 council areas are taking four days of action from yesterday until Monday, coinciding with existing action in Edinburgh, which began on August 18.
Unison members in waste and recycling also walked out in eight council areas for four days from yesterday.
Unite members working in waste services at 13 councils walked out on Wednesday.
Unions have already rejected a 5 per cent pay rise – funded in part with £140 million of Scottish Government cash – claiming it is insufficient in the face of inflation and soaring bills.
Unite members in schools and early-years services across seven councils – Angus, Dundee, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire – are scheduled to take strike action from September 6 to 9.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney yesterday held talks with Cosla and unions. He said: ‘I want to ensure an early resolution and that will only come if there’s intense dialogue.’
‘Terrible first impression’
‘Hand over the reins’
DOES Nicola Sturgeon still want to be First Minister? Jetting off to another country in the middle of a crippling strike certainly raises questions.
For while Sturgeon has been rubbing shoulders with the elite of mid-ranking diplomats in Copenhagen, the people of Edinburgh have been plunged into a waste crisis by industrial action.
The First Minister may be in Denmark but Scotland is the state in which there’s something’s rotten.
Refuse mounting in Edinburgh’s streets. Filthy, overflowing bins on every corner – and industrial action is spreading.
The First Minister should be at work, behind her desk, twisting arms to get unions and council bosses to agree a compromise. Even if the strike were to end tomorrow, the clean-up operation would take more than a week.
This ought to be the First Minister’s priority – it is her job, after all.