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New Statesman
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
Dishonesty now rules Scottish politics
Photo by Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert / Alamy Stock Photo Hope is, famously, one of the most powerful words in politics. Every party lays claim to offering it. It helped get Barack Obama elected. It's rarely far from the lips of any politician with something to sell you. So it proved on Wednesday evening, when John Swinney and Anas Sarwar took part in a live event for the Holyrood Sources podcast. The First Minister said he would put independence at the heart of his devolved election campaign, as this was where 'hope' could be found for Scotland. The Labour leader talked of bringing 'hopefulness' back to the nation if he wins in May. A powerful word, but sadly not much more than a word these days. There's not much of it around on the international, national or devolved stages, is there? Voters see a deteriorating global scene, desolated public services and an economy that continues to fail them, and wonder where this hope that their leaders speak of is to be located. Like so many words that are common in political rhetoric, this one has been thoroughly devalued: we don't believe you. Swinney, who has suddenly begun talking about independence again after a refreshing period of silence on the matter, has clearly decided that the best – perhaps only – strategy available to him is to hold out some vague idea that a separate Scotland would be able to do all the nice things that he claims it can't as part of the UK. This is what we might call a bold approach, in that it's neither new nor convincing. It merely takes us back to 2014, when the Yes campaign argued that independence would deliver the best of all possible worlds, and then produced a large, hugely detailed document that managed to answer none of the hard questions about economics and borders. Enough of the population saw the gaps to ensure a win for No. Those pesky questions remain wholly unanswered today. So who is Swinney's message of hope aimed at? Support for independence sits somewhere just shy of 50 per cent, though support for the SNP is well below that now, at just over 30 per cent. There is a hardcore who will be delighted that the First Minister has started banging on about independence once more. There are a lot more whose reaction is likely to be along the lines of 'not now, John!' The fact that the SNP has been in power for two underwhelming decades also makes its claim to offer hope appear somewhat hollow. But even Sarwar, who promotes himself as the new broom that Scotland needs, will struggle to convince. The Scottish Labour leader is hamstrung, for now at least, by the difficulties facing Keir Starmer's government at Westminster. He is quizzed constantly about his views on benefit cuts, on the winter fuel payment, on the conflict in the Middle East. Does he agree with Starmer's position on these issues, or is he with the rebels? He can do nothing about any of it, but is forced to triangulate every time he opens his mouth. He can't afford to tie himself too closely to the Prime Minister's unpopular decisions, but doesn't want to appear disloyal. Hence, he says nothing, repeatedly, at great length. What neither leader seems to grasp is that hope, like happiness, is something that comes as a result of effort, of doing the hard stuff well, of creating the conditions that allow people to glimpse the prospect of a better future. But neither has so far shown themselves willing to have a frank conversation with the electorate about what must be done to build that future. For example, Scotland's failing schools system needs radical reform, in ways that would inevitably provoke fury among the teaching unions and the broader educational establishment. There really is no other way to fix it. But neither Swinney nor Sarwar seem to be up for that particular scrap. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe There is no money, which means the devolved state is in no position to continue to deliver the universal benefits so beloved by the dominant soft left. The state itself has grown like topsy and needs dramatically cut down in size. The population is aging at an alarming rate, and the workforce is predicted to shrink as a proportion over the coming decades. Things are going to get worse, not better; harder, not easier. The data is there, the experts are all saying the same thing, and yet the politicians give the impression they have their fingers firmly stuck in their ears. Jam today, tomorrow, and forever is their retail offer. It is a lie. The disconnect between the daily lived experience of Scots and the Scotland their leaders tell them they inhabit is growing ever wider. It all plays into the hands of Reform and other fringe movements. What's the point in supporting the moderate mainstream if that moderate mainstream repeatedly refuses to do what needs to be done? Where are Scotland's mainstream revolutionaries – its Thatchers, Blairs, Milburns, Goves, even Streetings? Where are the ministers who will seize their departments by the scruff of the neck and deliver a programme of change that at least stands a chance of making a measurable, visible difference? That, I believe, is what it will take to bring optimism back to the nation. People are willing to be led through harsh decisions if the values behind them are clear and the outcomes worth shooting for. Can Scotland's politicians change tack, and start telling the truth about what's required? I wish I could say I'm hopeful. [See also: Inside the SNP civil war] Related
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Senior member of Anas Sarwar's shadow cabinet 'opposed' to Labour welfare cuts bill
EXCLUSIVE: A senior party figure said Duncan-Glancy is angry about the cuts being proposed. A member of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar 's shadow cabinet is opposed to Keir Starmer's welfare cuts for disabled people. A senior party figure said Pam Duncan-Glancy is against a Labour Government bill campaigners warn will cost the vulnerable hundreds of pounds a year. The insider said the education spokeswoman, a permanent wheelchair user, is angry about the plans. They said: 'Pam has brought her lived experience to bear in leading the internal campaign against disability cuts. She has consistently made the strongest case against the cuts and has the ear of senior government figures.' The Prime Ministe r is under mounting pressure over a welfare bill that would cut around £5bn from disability and sickness benefits. A number of the benefit changes are UK-wide and the cuts are forecast to plunge 50,0000 children into poverty. But the bill could be dumped after over 100 Labour MPs, twelve from Scotland, backed an amendment that would torpedo the whole package. A party insider said Duncan-Glancy's opposition showed the Labour shadow cabinet at Holyrood is split over the plans. When approached, Scottish Labour released a statement in Duncan-Glancy's name. She said: 'Everybody agrees reform is needed to address the structural challenges in the system, but those reforms need to be fair. 'Labour's plans include positives, for example increasing the Universal Credit standard allowance, scrapping the Work Capability Assessment, introducing a 'right to try', and investing £1 billion in employability support.'Disabled people are raising their concerns and it's right that people work to ensure these reforms deliver on Labour's ambitions to fix a broken system and support disabled people.' Sarwar has so far walked a careful line between backing the principles of welfare reform while encouraging Starmer to listen to concerns. In a Holyrood Sources podcast, Sarwar said of the bill: 'I support the principle of reform.' 'We do have to look at the structural challenges that exist in our welfare system.' He also said there are ' many positives ' in the bill, such as £1bn for back to work schemes. Asked if he agreed with the rebels, Sarwar said: 'Conversations are ongoing, as you would expect. People are legitimately raising their concerns, having those conversations.' He added: 'We have to support the principle of reform. What those reforms look like have to be balanced and have to be fair.' His comments are milder than the criticisms of mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham. Meanwhile, Starmer is in talks with Labour rebels over concessions to save the welfare reform package. Sir Keir told MPs there was 'consensus" across the House on the "urgent need for reform' of the 'broken' welfare system. 'I know colleagues across the House are eager to start fixing that, and so am I, and that all colleagues want to get this right, and so do I,' he said. 'We want to see reform implemented with Labour values of fairness. That conversation will continue in the coming days, so we can begin making change together on Tuesday.' SNP MSP George Adam said: "The UK Labour government is slashing vital support for disabled people and under Anas Sarwar's leadership, Scottish Labour is rowing in behind them. "So far, Anas Sarwar has faithfully backed his Westminster bosses - but a growing number of his own colleagues have finally seen the irreparable damage these cuts will do. "While Scottish Labour won't stand up for Scotland, the SNP has called for the cuts to be scrapped. "The people of Scotland deserve far better than continued Westminster austerity. Only with the full powers of independence can Scotland escape Westminster's austerity obsession." A key element of the welfare package is freezing the rate of the health element of Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance payments until 2030. In a briefing to parliamentarians, the Trussell charity estimated that there are nearly 300,000 people receiving these payments in Scotland: "All would stand to be affected by the freeze which by 2029/30 amounts to [a] real terms cut of £500 per year.' The Scottish Labour MP sceptics are Richard Baker, Scott Arthur, Euan Stainbank, Brian Leishman, Lilian Jones, Tracy Gilbert and Elaine Stewart. Kirsteen Sullivan, Patricia Ferguson, Martin Rhodes, Maureen Burke and Irene Campbell are also opposed.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
John Swinney rips into Anas Sarwar on support for benefit cuts
Despite how 12 Scottish Labour MPs joined with others to sign an amendment against welfare cut plans, party leader Sarwar has continued to support Keir Starmer, telling the Holyrood Sources podcast on Wednesday "I support the principle of reform". At First Minister's Questions, Swinney told the chamber Sarwar falling into line behind the Prime Minister was a sign he "would not be standing up for Scotland anytime soon". In response to a question on inflation from SNP MSP Marie McNair, Swinney said: "The Scottish Government has taken a number of measures to address the cost of living challenges the public face – whether that's investment in early learning and childcare, or the Scottish Child Payment which boosts household incomes for those in poverty, or the steps that we are taking to lift the two-child limit that should have been lifted as one of the first acts of the UK Labour Government." He went on: "We face a new threat which is the benefit cuts agenda of the UK Labour Government. "At a time when many, many Labour MPs are now saying these cuts are unacceptable, isn't it just telling that Anas Sarwar is supporting the Prime Minister in implementing the benefit cuts. "It demonstrates that Anas Sarwar won't be standing up for Scotland any time soon." More to follow.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Anas Sarwar refuses to back Labour welfare rebels as he offers support to Keir Starmer
His comments are in contrast to the criticisms of London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham Anas Sarwar has refused to back the twelve Scottish Labour MPs who are opposed to the UK Government's welfare cuts. The Scottish Labour leader said 'conversations' are ongoing but insisted the 'principle' of social security reform had to be supported. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure over a welfare bill that would cut around £5bn from disability and sickness benefits. But the bill could be killed after over 100 Labour MPs, including twelve from Scotland, backed an amendment that would torpedo the whole package. Central to the plan is tightening the eligibility for Personal Independence Payment, which is devolved to Holyrood. But other benefit cuts are UK-wide and the changes are predicted to plunge 50,0000 children into poverty. In a Holyrood Sources podcast, Sarwar said of the bill: 'I support the principle of reform.' 'We do have to look at the structural challenges that exist in our welfare system.' He also said there are 'many positives' in the bill, such as £1bn for back to work scheme. Asked if he agreed with the rebels, he said: 'Conversations are ongoing, as you would expect. People are legitimately raising their concerns, having those conversations.' He added: 'We have to support the principle of reform. What those reforms look like have to be balanced and have to be fair.' His comments are in contrast to London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who have criticised the bill. The Scottish Labour MP sceptics are Richard Baker, Scott Arthur, Euan Stainbank, Brian Leishman, Lilian Jones, Tracy Gilbert and Elaine Stewart. Kirsteen Sullivan, Patricia Ferguson, Martin Rhodes, Maureen Burke and Irene Campbell are also opposed. A key element of the package is freezing the rate of the health element of Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance payments until 2030. In a briefing to parliamentarians, Trussell estimated that there are nearly 300,000 people receiving these payments in Scotland: "All would stand to be affected by the freeze which by 2029/30 amounts to [a] real terms cut of £500 per year.'
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
John Swinney rules out SNP coalition with Reform UK
Appearing at a live recording of the Holyrood Sources podcast in Edinburgh on Wednesday, the First Minister did not appear to outright reject working with Scottish Labour, while he was much more unequivocal about Nigel Farage's party. When asked by a member of the audience if he would consider joining forces with Scottish Labour after the next election to get his party over the line, Swinney initially said discussions around a potential pact were based on 'scenarios thrown up after the election'. 'I want to do spectacularly well in 2026, that's what my sights are on," he said. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar backs UK disability benefit cuts amid Scottish Labour revolt 'Whatever else the election throws up, then we'll deal with that.' But on Reform UK, he said: 'I'm not going to engage roundabout Farage and Reform, I won't engage with them." When pressed further on potentially working with Anas Sarwar's party, Swinney pointed to the SNP's minority government, which was in office between 2007 and 2011, a period where he was finance secretary and had 'all sorts of folk voting for my lovely budgets'. Recent polling ahead of the election in May still has the SNP as the largest party after a reversal in Labour's fortunes, but the surge of Reform UK has seen them jump into second place in terms of support in some surveys. Swinney admitted the polls were not where he would like them to be. 'I'm not sitting here saying to you where we are in the polls now is just fine for me – it's not,' he said. 'It's not acceptable for me, I need to get us into a stronger position.' READ MORE: Pro-independence Holyrood majority 'matters for future of politics' – John Curtice Pointing to the recent Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election – which the SNP lost to Labour – the First Minister said the party was not planning for it to be sparked, which came after the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, but he would be ready for next year. Later in the same podcast, the possibility of a coalition was put to Mr Sarwar, who said he believed the situation simply wouldn't arise for such a move – describing it as 'mad' – and reiterating his stance that Labour would seek to lead a minority administration if it could. The next parliament, he said, would be a 'parliament of minorities'. 'Of course, with any minority government, you will have to find areas of consensus to make improvements in Scotland,' he said. 'But I genuinely believe, if we get a change of government next year and we are in a parliament of minorities … depending on leaderships and how people choose to act after there's been a change of government in Scotland, I genuinely believe that there will be a scope and an appetite to get things done in our country.'
