FM must ensure we don’t endure another summer of pointless knife-related deaths

Record View says the new cohort of MSPs entering Holyrood must take concerns over teen violence seriously.

Kory McCrimmon was just 16 when he was stabbed to death in a dispute over £50 by a younger teenager in Glasgow’s east end.

The tragedy was followed by a series of horrific knife incidents involving young men in Scotland over the following year.

Two teenagers, 15-year-old Amen Teklay and 16-year-old Kayden Moy, died in street stabbings that shocked the country.

Now Kory’s best friend has spoken out in the Daily Record in the hope that no more lives will be lost.

He has singled out our political leaders, claiming young people of his generation have been “failed and forgotten”.

That should be a wake-up call to the new cohort of MSPs entering Holyrood after yesterday’s election.

To give credit where it is due, First Minister John Swinney has taken concerns over teen violence seriously.

He called an anti-violence summit after the Daily Record’s Our Kids… Our Future campaign highlighted growing concerns over knife crime and bullying –much of it filmed for online “likes”.

Swinney also met with bereaved parents of knife crime victims to hear first hand the devastating effects ofScotland’s blade culture. Whether he returns as FM is up to the voters.

But whoever has the keys to Bute House once the votes are counted today needs to make sure we don’t endure another summer of pointless knife-related deaths.

That means investment in community facilities to give young people ­alternatives to hanging about the streets.

But politicians can only do so much. Every parent can do their bit to tackle teen violence by getting involved in their community to help our young people.

Whether it’s supporting the local youth football team, helping out at local clubs or even just watching out for your kids and their pals, we can all do our bit.

If Scotland’s kids feel they are “failed and forgotten” let’s show them they are loved and respected instead.

Fantasy footie job

They say God loves a trier. So 10 out of 10 to John Walker for his bold attempt to land the best job in world.

The Tartan Army stalwart from Airdrie has applied for the role of Fifa’s World Cup Watcher. The tough gig involves sitting watching every single minute of the summer ­football festival in New York’s Times Square.

Best of luck to John – and we hope he lands the job of his dreams.

As for the rest of us, we may not become professional World Cup Watchers.

But we will be more than happy to do it for free.

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