A horrifying, depressing and infuriating day in the life of modern Scotland
The May 7 Scottish Parliament election is a chance to vote in MSPs prepared to work together in the national interest on this country’s many pressing problems
A day in the life of modern Scotland under the SNP: heart-breaking testimony from parents of children who found themselves being treated at scandal-hit Queen Elizabeth University Hospital; a warning from the Royal College of Physicians that the NHS is “unlikely to survive in its current form” without action; looming above-inflation council tax rises; and Edinburgh University staff being balloted on industrial action over “the biggest cuts ever seen in Scottish higher education”.
But, just remember, it’s important to stay “wheesht for indy” – to quote the nationalists’ decidedly unofficial slogan – and never to rock the boat by talking about actual problems. Instead, we're asked to believe we are living the best lives we possibly can be, any problems are Westminster’s fault and the only remedy is the panacea of independence.
In the meantime, Scotland’s steady decline continues apace as the lack of attention to what’s going wrong, the fear of tough-but-necessary solutions, and an undue focus on the constitutional question paralyse our government.
SNP versus Reform UK?
Yet, as infuriating, depressing and horrifying as it is for some, for just enough people it is a track record that warrants re-election, with the SNP even set to win a majority of seats according to some polls. If that happens, expect to spend the next five years hearing about as much about independence as we heard about Brexit in the long years after the 2016 referendum.
And if Reform UK end up becoming the official opposition, ‘bread and butter’ issues like health and education will barely get a look in amid wall-to-wall ‘culture war’ politics.
However, it does not have to be like this. The SNP once demonstrated reasonably competent government. The Scottish Parliament once lived up to its founding ideals of parties working together.
With many new MSPs expected to be elected on May 7, there is a chance for a fresh start and for the nationalists to realise their best hope of convincing the public to support independence is by governing well.
More than anything, Scotland needs MSPs prepared to admit and confront its problems, work night-and-day on the solutions, and put their country above their party.
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