Holyrood wrapped up on Wednesday after a dismal five-year session which saw two first ministers resign and little in the way of substantial legislation passed.
The Scottish Parliament election campaign kicks-off today with party leaders setting out their opening pitches to voters left feeling disillusioned with politics.
Holyrood wrapped up on Wednesday after a dismal five-year session which saw two first ministers resign and little in the way of substantial legislation passed.
MSPs were frequently left scrambling to react to major events like the end of a covid pandemic which hammered businesses, while rampant inflation and soaring fuel prices triggered by the war in Ukraine caused misery for households across the country.
The NHS has continued to struggle since the pandemic and serious questions have been raised about the safety of the £1bn Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Roz Foyer, STUC general secretary, said: “This past session of the Scottish Parliament can point to some successes, most notably legislation to pardon striking miners, implement safe access buffer zones and the aim to develop community wealth building across Scotland.
“But this Parliament, like those before it, is still falling short of delivering the change that Scotland’s communities are desperately seeking.
“For too many workers, power remains concentrated in the upper echelons of society, with wealth and resources in the hands of the few.
“As parties formally launch their campaigns, candidates should be cognisant of the demands of Scotland’s workers.
“There is a clear and viable call from our movement to the political class for far greater action on redistributing wealth, delivering a credible industrial strategy for our national infrastructure, and standing with those in Scotland targeted and persecuted by divisive forces in our communities.”
A change of government at Westminster in 2024 has done little to help Scottish Labour which has not won a Holyrood election since 2003.
And despite multiple resignations of senior figures since the last time Scots went to the polls in 2021, it’s the SNP who remain clear out in front in all recent opinion polls – with John Swinney on course to lead the Nationalists into a third decade in power.
The First Minister will make a speech in Glasgow at 10am to officially launch the SNP’s campaign, where he is expected to insist his party offers a “fresh choice” – despite having been in office since 2007.
Anas Sarwar will also make a speech in Scotland’s largest city this morning with Labour left trailing in the polls.
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Speaking ahead of his speech in Glasgow, Sarwar said: “After 20 years of SNP government, Scotland needs change, and this is the only party that can deliver it.
“This is the first opportunity in a generation to change the Government in Scotland and it is not one we can afford to miss.
“People are fed up of the old politics of division. They want a more positive and hopeful government and a more positive and hopeful future for Scotland.
“Scotland’s choice is a simple one: a third decade of SNP Government with John Swinney as First Minister, or a Scottish Labour Government with me as First Minister.
“If you agree that Scotland needs change, and that it needs a new government that will fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future, then on May 7 – cast both your votes for Scottish Labour.”
Russell Findlay, the Scottish Conservatives leader, is also facing a gruelling campaign with his party facing the prospect of losing half of its MSPs, according to recent polls.
He said: “John Swinney has made it clear that he will use an SNP majority on May 7 to push for another independence referendum.
“Recent polling suggests that he is on the brink of achieving that nightmare prospect. He is already boasting about winning a majority.
“But over the next six weeks, if Scots get behind the Scottish Conservatives, we can stop Swinney and his push to break up the United Kingdom.
“That is his lifelong ambition. He says he will use a majority to deploy his ‘secret plan’ to deliver independence.”
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