Simple plea to Scotland’s politicians – be better, do better

Disagreeing respectfully, and setting out arguments on the basis of evidence rather than soundbites may seem like a forlorn hope, but we desperately need serious politics to return to Scotland.

We want to see big ideas from each party on how they will tackle the major issues facing Scotland today. And we need a pledge to work across party lines, building consensus to make good law which will improve the lives of all Scots.

As former first minister Jack McConnell writes in The Scotsman today, it can be done.

Twenty years ago, the Scottish Parliament introduced the ban on smoking in public places. A landmark piece of legislation which remains an example of what can be done when the political will is there.

As Lord McConnell says today, it took just just seven years, from Ash Scotland’s policy paper in March 1999 that called for the incoming Scottish Parliament to restrict smoking in public places to the law coming into effect.

It showed that the Holyrood parliament is capable of transforming big ideas into bold laws. But all too often in recent years we have instead been stuck in polarised debates, toxic political rows and a policy stalemate.

At the same time we have witnessed the NHS lurch from one crisis to another, public services in decline, and deepening concerns over the slump in educational standards.

Whoever is elected to become the next Scottish Government will also face a huge financial blackhole, and a pressing need to get the economy growing.

Put simply, we need politicians to be honest about the challenges and committed to work outside of their own narrow political interests to find the solutions Scotland needs.

Will that happen? We will find out on after May 7. For now our plea to all politicians is simple – be better, do better.

World Cup bank holiday tempts fate

We remain unconvinced by the need for a Bank Holiday to celebrate Scotland’s return to the World Cup. Indeed, it seems very much tempting fate, coming as it does a day after the opener against Haiti.

But a holiday has been decreed nonetheless, and yesterday we learned NHS staff in Scotland will be among those taking the Monday off work.

Said John Swinney: “The bank holiday on June 15 is a chance to get together with family and friends, and make the most of the men’s national football team competing in the first World Cup finals for 28 years.”

Now, no one deserves an extra holiday more than our extraordinary NHS staff, and we trust there will be no operational implications from the move.

If Scotland begin their campaign with a 10-0 demolition of the team ranked 45 places below, it may yet be a masterstroke to have a national day off. If not, and the result goes against us, it could be a decidedly blue Monday.