The folly is Scotland remaining in the UK prison
Today’s Scotsman editorial declares that universal benefits such as healthcare, dental care and education are folly and that the Scottish administration must “take bold, radical action - whatever the political cost.”
In other words, make more people pay for essential services, dividing the haves from the have-nots, stigmatising the poor even further, and creating a costly extra layer of bureaucracy.
That begs the question - what is government for if not to care for its people? I’m not talking about the Scottish ‘government’ because we all know it’s not a government but a devolved administration kept on a tight fiscal leash by its Westminster master. It can’t create money or make basic economic decisions.
So, my question is for Viceroy Murray and his English Labourites who now rule Scotland from Westminster. What are you going to do to ensure all Scots can access these vital public services?
We know the answer. Nothing, but they will criticise Holyrood for any deficiencies. After all, they owe their positions to corporate and special interest money.
They’ll deliver nothing for Scotland but will take more away, like the Labour Council’s £4m cut to the Edinburgh education budget that will axe one third of special education support staff.
They’re allowing the shuttering of Grangemouth which the Viceroy recently visited. The Unite representative gave his verdict: “We’ve had confirmed - this Labour Government will do nothing to protect jobs in Scotland.”
Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham blasted English Labour’s inaction: “Unite will not stand by and allow a jobless transition and the creation of yet another working class wasteland. Not to save Grangemouth is a dereliction of duty.”
But what can she realistically do other than complain loudly? Absolutely nothing.
As for Scotland’s supposed representatives in Westminster (really, what ARE they doing there???), I was sent a copy of a tweet by comfy slippers Peter Wishart, MP, moaning about Labour not reserving any places on Select Committees for smaller parties:
“We are effectively barred from cross party scrutiny”.
I can’t access the tweet directly because Wishart has blocked me, clearly not wanting to be held up to any scrutiny from the hoi polloi back home.
So, Scotland’s fate in this faux union is to accept routine beatings from and powerlessness in Westminster. Accept the plundering of our resources. Accept a quarter of our kids living in poverty. Accept the destruction of our public services.
The folly is Scotland remaining in this union prison. Where’s our outrage?
Once again Leah you hit the nail right on the head. Any attack on universal services is designed to divide people and reduce services to those who can't afford to pay high bills. This is usually "justified" by claims that many are getting these services who can easily afford to pay, so only the very poor should get them if we are to be "fair". This is utter nonsence. If we want to be fair and ensure that the wealthy pay their full share, then the answer is simple, tax the wealthy and make sure they pay it.
We don't need to stop a person from being taken immediately to hospital to check if he/she can afford the treatment, we treat all who need medical help straight away without delay rich or poor, equal care.
If that means that the rich are getting treatment free, that's fine. The rich can be obliged to pay higher taxes to help provide for the service, no problem.
Universal benefits are the best way to ensure efficient and effective provision of services and equality of provision. The 1945 Attlee Labour Government showed the way in the UK by developing such services. any so-called Labour Government who tries to undermine such services is not worthy of the Labour name.
Andy Anderson
My take on the independence movement if successful would slide the yoke of the European Union on like a new herringbone jacket.