Picture of our country that makes me see red
the most deprived areas than they are in the least. In 1997, they were three times higher.
Not everyone survived 10 years-plus of Tory austerity. Slashed council budgets meant the scrapping of invaluable health services, education, environment and caring. Some literally paid the ultimate price.
In Inverclyde, government funding has fallen by £104 per person.
It is shameful. It could make you weep. And it’s not the Scotland we want.
Let’s not allow the Scottish Government off the hook. Priorities are terribly skewed if they’ve lost focus on nurturing communities. When you fail to invest there, you fail to invest in people.
And as the Scottish Government is always telling us, we are a small country with an ageing population which needs productive people if we’re to prosper. That’s why they want a separate Scottish visa system which would allow migrants to come here even after Brexit. Good idea.
Here’s another one: How about positive investment in the people who are here already but who are just not getting the chance to break through the poverty wall?
And so, against this backdrop, it’s not surprising that Sturgeon’s decided to ca’ canny on IndyRef2, even though the Scottish Parliament has backed another vote.
She chose Brexit day to call for “patience” on a second referendum because it is Brexit which has forced us into a corner.
But it won’t be Brexit that delivers the result she craves. It will be the people of places such as Greenock and Ferguslie Park, in fact, individuals who live under any colour on that SIMD map, being convinced their lives will change for the better under independence. Why else would it be worth the hassle?
Which version of Scotland will we get – more of the same or the one we hope for?
Over to you now, First Minister.
Convince us.