How John Swinney's Captain Mainwaring act is breaking trust in Scottish politics – Jackie Baillie
John Swinney’s secretive nature is becoming a real problem
I am sure Scotsman readers will all have seen the footage of Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, actively plotting with someone pretending to be a legitimate donor to flood Reform coffers with dodgy foreign money. I am as appalled as everyone else, even if I am not shocked to see Mr Farage’s nature so brutally exposed.
But the fact is that trust in our politics is being damaged by many other people too. Mr Farage is probably the worst example of it and may remind some readers of the rogue spiv Private Walker from Dad’s Army. But here in Scotland, it is our very own Captain Mainwaring, John Swinney, who’s breaking trust in politics.
Now, Mr Swinney is by no means as avaricious as Mr Farage. I don’t think the First Minister is the type to court dodgy donations over long lunches. But he too is more than happy to mislead and avoid telling the truth if it is in his interest.
And we all know that he is happy to shut down scrutiny of his own party’s dodgy finances to spare other people’s blushes. Trust in politics must be protected but Mr Swinney’s secretive nature is damaging it every day.
Swinney refusing to talk
Just last week, he outlined his Programme for Government – an agenda that will lead to the loss of thousands and thousands of public sector jobs. From the NHS to local councils, unions have been clear that the SNP’s plans mean job losses.
For workers the length and breadth of Scotland, the cause of their anxiety is clear. Will they have a job this time next year? How will they pay the bills and how will they pay the mortgage?
READ MORE: John Swinney urged to give full details on public sector reforms after 'masterclass in evasion'
But appearing on the BBC at the weekend, honest John couldn’t bring himself to even discuss the risk to jobs. Asked repeatedly, Mr Swinney simply refused to discuss the situation.
Staff are worried about their livelihoods, people are anxious about their services – but all Mr Swinney can do is keep them in the dark for as long as it is politically convenient to do so. This is shocking. No wonder so many Scots feel totally disconnected and let down by politics.
Put country before party
Hardworking Scots deserve better than crooked Reform politicians or SNP leaders who hide the truth from the people. From fibbing about a new Monklands Hospital to covering up the financial irregularities at the heart of the party, it’s clear that, for the SNP, it’s not the people who come first – it is their own self-interest.
Political power is lent by the people to their representatives on the understanding that they will work tirelessly for them – not for themselves. Every Scot worrying about the bills and their job security deserves a First Minister who is focused on securing jobs for working people, not on safeguarding their job.
It’s high time that honest John started being straight with Scots and put their interests before those of his party.
Jackie Baillie is MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader and her party’s spokesperson for health
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