The tale of two governments

by Olaf Stando
Posted on
4 months ago
5 min read

This is a tale of two governments – the SNP Scottish Government that’s delivering progress to every household in Scotland, and the UK Tory government imposing damaging policies against our will.

While Boris Johnson’s priorities lie around Trident nuclear weapons, welfare cuts and a power grab on Scotland, the SNP Government is choosing a different path.

Fairer, more compassionate social security system

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 We’ve built a new social security system, which now delivers 11 benefits. 7 of them are new and unique within the UK, such as the Scottish Child Payment, labelled by charities as a “game-changer” in our fight against poverty.

From April 2022, we are doubling it to £20 per week – a move that has been welcomed by charities, campaigners and experts right across the UK.

🇬🇧 After 11 years of Tory austerity which was condemned by the UN, the UK government has now imposed a cruel cut to Universal Credit – slashing incomes by £1,040 and pushing 60,000 people in Scotland into poverty.

Rewarding our NHS workers

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland’s NHS staff received at least a 4% pay increase, giving the lowest paid workers a minimum £1,000 increase and an average £1,200 rise for frontline NHS nurses. That’s on top of our £500 thank-you Covid payment.

🇬🇧 NHS staff have only been initially offered a 1% pay rise – branded by health staff and unions as “pitiful” and an “insult”. Eventually, the UK government was forced into a U-turn, giving a 3% pay rise.

Bairns, not bombs

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 We’ve introduced the Scottish Child Payment, we’re rolling out universal free school meals in primary schools and free bus travel for all under-22s. That’s on top of our Baby Box, Best Start Grant, and expansion of free childcare to 1,140 hours.

🇬🇧 The Tories are spending billions more, on top of a £205 billion Trident renewal bill, to increase the number of nuclear weapons on the Clyde – fully supported by Keir Starmer’s Labour.

Tackling child poverty, strengthening children’s rights

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The SNP Scottish Government is taking ambitious steps to tackle child poverty and passed the UNCRC Bill to deliver the strongest protection for children’s rights anywhere in the UK.

🇬🇧 The UK Tory government took the Scottish Government to court for passing the UNCRC Bill to strengthen children’s rights, as the Westminster power grab is clear to see.

Delivering over 100,000 affordable homes

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The SNP has already delivered over 100,000 affordable homes in every part of Scotland, 70% of which are for social rent. And we’re already getting on with the job of delivering 110,000 more affordable homes, tackling homelessness, and strengthening tenants’ rights.

🇬🇧 Boris Johnson spent £2.6 million of taxpayers’ money on a Downing Street TV briefing room, an expensive “Brexit plane” and more Union flags.

Standing up for Scotland’s place in Europe

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 We have consistently stood against the damaging Tory Brexit, which Scotland overwhelmingly rejected – and in this Parliament, we will offer the people of Scotland the opportunity to choose a better future as an independent, European country.

🇬🇧 The UK Tory government has dragged Scotland out of the EU against our will – damaging our economy, robbing young people of opportunities, and selling out Scotland’s fishing communities, while causing food shortages, fuel shortages and rising energy bills.

All this, and more, is under threat as Westminster grabs Scotland’s powers

The SNP Scottish Government has put Scotland on the map, delivering many bold, progressive and world-leading policies. Here are just a few:

  • Free tuition
  • Free prescriptions
  • Free personal care
  • Free sanitary products
  • World-leading climate targets
  • Energy Transition Fund to drive green recovery
  • Free bus travel for under-19s – now expanding to under-22s
  • 1,140 hours of free high-quality childcare
  • Free dental care for under-26s – and for all by the end of this Parliament

You can read more about our record here.

The ongoing Westminster power grab puts it all at risk, as UK ministers gain new powers to overrule decisions by the democratically elected Scottish Parliament.

Let’s put Scotland’s recovery in Scotland’s hands – not Boris Johnson’s

The best way to protect our Scottish Parliament from the Tory power grab, and protect Scotland from more damaging Westminster policies, is by becoming an independent country in Europe.

As we build back from the pandemic, our recovery must be decided here in Scotland, not by Tory governments we don’t vote for.

Scotland will have that choice in a referendum for recovery.