Tag: manifesto

Fixing the Foundations

Chancellor unveils a new era for economic growth

  • Chancellor pledges she will take action to fix the foundations of the economy to make everyone, not just a few, better off.
  • Government to get Britain building by taking immediate action on planning reform and unblocking stalled sites to unlock thousands of homes.
  • Immediate removal of the de facto ban on onshore wind in England as government starts delivering on clean energy mission to cut bills for families and boost energy independence. 

The Chancellor yesterday (8 July) promised to take immediate action to fix the foundations of the economy, rebuild Britain and make every part of the country​ better off.

In her first speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves pledged to leaders of some of the UK’s pioneering industries to build growth on strong and secure foundations built on stability, investment and reform, and forged through a new partnership with the private sector.

Addressing the difficult economic inheritance this government faces, she committed to taking immediate action to drive sustained economic growth, the only route to improving the prosperity of our country and the living standards of working people.

Setting out her first steps to deliver on the government’s commitments in its manifesto that every action it takes will be based on sound money and economy stability, the Chancellor promised a new economic model that will grow the economy and keep taxes, inflation and mortgages as low as possible.

The Chancellor said had the UK economy grown at the average rate of OECD economies over the fourteen years from 2010, it would be £143.3 billion larger – worth £5,053 for every household in the country. This could have brought in an additional £58 billion in tax revenues in the last year alone to sustain our public services.

Taking decisive action, the government is today announcing a series of measures to lay the foundations for a dynamic, modern and growing economy, including taking urgent steps to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years and the immediate removal of the de facto ban on onshore wind in England, as part of its clean energy mission.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “Today I am taking immediate action to fix Britain’s economic foundations.

“By growing our economy we can rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off.”

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: ““Our country is under new management and a new era for economic growth will be built on secure foundations.

“The Chancellor and I will work in lockstep to kickstart the economy, unleashing housebuilding and powering local growth.

“Change starts now. We will unblock the bottlenecks and drive forward a transformational package to build the homes people need.”

Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Every family has paid the price of the ban on onshore wind farms in higher energy bills.  This ban has undermined our energy security, put costs on people’s bills – especially those on lower incomes – and held us back in our fight against climate change.

“This Government is wasting no time in delivering the bold plan we need to take back control of our energy; boosting our energy independence and cutting bills for families as we tackle the climate crisis.

“Getting rid of this ban and giving priority for planning permission for much needed infrastructure sends an immediate signal to investors here and around the world that the UK is back in business, an immediate step in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.”

The UK government is taking swift action on its central growth mission by announcing the following:

Planning

The government is taking swift action to identify and unblock key ‘stalled sites’ to get large housing schemes moving forward, starting with four sites across England to unlock over 14,000 homes: Liverpool Central Docks, Northstowe, Worcester Parkway and Langley Sutton Coldfield.

The Chancellor has also welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister’s commitment to make the economic benefit of development a central consideration when intervening in the planning system. This starts today by recovering two appealed planning applications for data centres in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

To facilitate this new approach, the Deputy Prime Minister will also write to local mayors and the Office for Investment to ensure that any investment opportunity with important planning considerations that comes across their desks is brought to her attention and to the Chancellor’s.

This will help to ensure the planning system can unlock major schemes from clean energy projects and transport infrastructure to film studios and art-entertainment venues.

The Chancellor has also confirmed that the government will support local authorities with 300 additional planning officers across the country. 

Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks to accelerate the development of housing and infrastructure, including launching a landmark consultation on an updated, growth-focused National Planning Policy Framework to include mandatory housing targets and a requirement to review greenbelt boundaries where necessary to meet them.

These will prioritise Brownfield and “grey belt” land for development to meet housing targets where needed, partnered with new ‘golden rules’ that will make sure the development this frees up will also deliver thousands of affordable homes, including more for social rent.

Critical major infrastructure

The current planning regime acts as a major brake on economic growth which is why the government will make the changes the country needs to forge ahead with new roads, railways, reservoirs, and other nationally significant infrastructure.

The government will set out new policy intentions for critical infrastructure in the coming months, ahead of updating relevant National Policy Statements within the next 12 months to provide certainty to industry. We will legislate to ensure they are updated at least every 5 years.

The government will also build on the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan which is being developed by the National Energy System Operator to speed up the roll out of clean power, and will seek to expand the use of spatial planning to other infrastructure sectors.

The Chancellor has asked the Secretaries of State for Transport and Energy Security and Net Zero to prioritise taking decisions on critical infrastructure projects which are with them now.

To go further, to help speed up delivery on infrastructure such as transport and energy, the government will review how it can unlock critical infrastructure, without weakening environment protections.

Alongside this, the government will make sure energy projects are prioritised in the planning system and consult on including onshore wind power developments in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) planning regime.

Further details on ending the de facto ban on onshore wind will be set out later by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities.

Martha Lane Fox, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Fixing the foundations of the economy can provide businesses with the stability and certainty they need to unleash a wave of investment to create growth and new jobs.

“Labour’s pledges to create an industrial strategy, improve trade relations with the EU, and boost skills training all have capacity to make a huge difference. 

“Today’s commitment to deliver large scale infrastructure at greater pace, especially green energy projects and more housing where people want to live, is very welcome.

“But policy must be backed up with better skilled and resourced planning departments to deliver this step change. That’s why the pledge to fund an extra 300 planning officers is so important.

“It’s also why the BCC’s Planning Skills Fund has been set up in partnership with Government. It will develop an additional pipeline of new and upskilled planning talent to boost growth in our local economies.”

David Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Barratt Developments’ said: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to reform of the planning system and their drive for growth.

“Building more new homes will bring huge economic and social benefits to the UK, and it is vital that local and central government are united with industry to plan positively to deliver high quality new homes and developments across the country.”

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Power said: “I welcome the clear sense of urgency and direction set out by the Chancellor today.

“Prioritising clean energy infrastructure and building at speed and at scale will unleash strong economic growth across the country.

“If the UK can halve the time it takes to get renewables, electricity grid and storage projects through the planning system, we’ll look to double our investment over the coming years.”

Henrik L. Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer, Associated British Ports said: “Associated British Ports has an ambitious project pipeline of major investments in port infrastructure including supporting the development of floating offshore wind in Wales as well as green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage in the Humber.

“The right enabling measures from Government will unlock these developments at pace. In this regard the Chancellor’s speech is very welcome and encouraging.”

Mark Reynolds, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Mace Grop, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council said: “Today’s announcements show a welcome proactive approach to tackling the delays to the planning system that are costing the UK up to £11bn a year in growth and hampering the delivery of the homes and infrastructure we sorely need.

“The focus on cutting the red tape to progress nationally important projects, such as data centres, combined with increased resourcing of the planning departments, will bring a renewed energy and focus to the construction sector.

“It’s particularly welcome to see the Chancellor has put this at the top of her agenda – we stand fully behind the delivery of the Government’s ambitions.”

Kate Kenny, Senior Vice President, Jacobs said: ““We greatly welcome the changes outlined by the Chancellor today to simplify the planning regime and unlock greater investment in critical national infrastructure projects.

“The updating of National Policy Statements will also play a major role in providing clarity and certainty of pipeline for industry and its supply chains to invest in the long-term skills required to deliver the clean energy, transport, water and other significant infrastructure projects that the UK requires for a prosperous future.”

Tom Glover, UK Country Chair, RWE said: “We fully support the new government’s focus on unblocking the planning system, and welcome commitments to prioritise taking decisions on critical national infrastructure projects as soon as possible.

“Ensuring that local authorities are properly resourced to deliver a real acceleration in planning approvals is also crucial – we therefore welcome the announcement to fund an additional 300 planning officers. 

“As a leading renewables developer we are also pleased that the government are moving swiftly to end the ban of onshore wind, in the long-term this means committing to bring projects over 50MW back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) regime. We look forward to further information on this in due course”.

Andrea Rossi, Chief Executive Officer, M&G said: “As a major investor in the real economy we welcome efforts to provide long-term policy certainty and the ambition to get Britain building. Speed and ambition are crucial.

“By providing clarity on infrastructure priorities, combined with a swifter planning system, we can deliver investment, kick-start the economy and secure good returns for UK pension policy holders.”   

Chris Cummings, Chief Executive Officer, The Investment Association said: “The Investment Management industry strongly supports the Chancellor’s ambition to drive economic growth. There is more our industry can do to support the UK economy and its people, and we are ready to work with the new government to achieve this.  

“Investment is the engine of economic growth, and our industry supports the government in finding innovative ways for more capital to be channelled into thriving British businesses and infrastructure projects. Removing blockers in the planning system will be key to this.

“It is vital we open straightforward ways for pension funds to invest in the housing, transport and energy projects we all rely on by removing regulatory obstacles and overturning the culture of “safetyism” that has curtailed economic growth.” 

Rob Perrins, Chief Executive Officer, Berkeley Group said:  “We’re hugely encouraged to see the clear priority and focus on housing delivery as part of the Government’s mission for growth.

“Today’s announcements are a very positive start and we will continue to work closely with Government to help unlock the potential of brownfield regeneration sites to deliver good green homes, both affordable and private. Reviving urban land has a vital role to play in driving the sustainable growth and productivity our country needs.”

Nick Jansa, Executive Managing Director EMEA, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan said: “We welcome the government’s announcement today on improvements to the planning system and removing barriers to investment in growing the UK’s critical infrastructure.”

Count Binface: Bindependence Day!

National Tour from 12th September

The universe’s favourite novelty politician, Count Binface, is back on our planet, and just in the nick of time as he’s set to embark on a national tour this autumn to save us all from imminent disaster with his MEGA plans. (Make Earth Great Again!) 

2024 is the biggest year ever for democracy, with elections all over the globe, and Binface has more than played his part. He recently ran in the London Mayoral Election and took on (former) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the General Election. 

Hot off the back of the UK’s General Election, Binface will be invading a theatre near you with his brand new live comedy show, featuring his unique take on Britain, his special brand of sci-fi satire, and of course his unbeatable manifesto.

Cheaper croissants? Check. The nationalisation of Adele? Check. The return of Ceefax? Check. Water bosses to take a dip in UK rivers to see how they like it? CHECK! 

Count Binface is the intergalactic space warrior and novelty politician who has delighted millions with his unlikely tilts at power in the United Kingdom.

First, he took on Theresa May in the 2017 General Election, cunningly disguised as ‘Lord Buckethead’, and went viral around the world (in a non-Covid way), appearing on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and at The Glastonbury Festival.

Then he challenged Boris Johnson in 2019, when he scored 69 votes (he’d love to say he’s the first life form to experience a surprising 69 with the Prime Minister in a sports hall during the small hours, but with Boris you just never know).

In 2021 he first ran to be Mayor of London in a bid to gain control of the Earth Capital itself. He received a glorious 92,896 votes from the great British public that sent him soaring into ninth place.

This year he won 24,260 votes and he got endorsed by a national newspaper and beat the fascists of Britain First.

Tour Listings:

for tickets and more information visit https://www.countbinface.com/tour

12 Sept             Cardiff              Glee Club          

13 Sept             Bath                 Komedia           

17 Sept             Hull                  Social   

18 Sept             Leeds               Wardrobe         

19 Sept             Glasgow           Òran Mór         

24 Sept             Sheffield           Leadmill           

26 Sept             Liverpool          Hot Water Comedy Club

29 Sept             Manchester      Cultplex            

2 Oct                Birmingham      Glee Club

3 Oct                Leicester           Y Theatre 

6 Oct                Cambridge        Junction           

9 Oct                Edinburgh         Monkey Barrel

11 Oct              London             Pleasance         

16 Oct              Brighton           Komedia           

19 Oct              Croydon           Fairfield Halls

27 Oct              Bristol              Wardrobe Theatre

Children’s coalition warns new councils of a ‘lost generation’

An alliance of leading children’s service providers has warned that Scotland faces a potential “lost generation” of children and young people with additional support needs (ASN), heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis.

In its Manifesto for the council elections, the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), which campaigns to improve services for vulnerable children and young people, has called on incoming town hall administrations to put their needs at the very heart of future policy commitments.

Proposals include a plea for the increased funding of services for children and young people with ASN and care experience, better training of those working in this field, substantially increased investment in mental health services, for an elected councillor to be appointed as ‘mental health champion’ and for greater investment in programmes that support those with ASN and care experience into training and employment.

ASN provision in Scotland is under severe pressure due to increasing demand, against a backdrop of staff shortages and inadequate services. These have been exacerbated by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw many of those with ASN miss out on the care and support they needed, as well as increasing mental health problems and the ‘cost of living crisis’.

The SCSC has called on incoming council administrations to renew their focus on services for children and young people with ASN, such as those with dyslexia, autism, mental health problems and are care experienced, and work with the Scottish Government to increase resourcing of these.

It notes that 232,753 children and young people in Scotland’s publicly funded primary, secondary and special schools are classed as having ASN, amounting to just under a third (33.0 per cent) of pupils. This represents an almost doubling (97.2 per cent) increase in the number of those identified with ASN since 2012.[1]

However, the provision of services has not kept pace with this demand. Since 2012, for example, the number of specialist ASN teachers in council primary, secondary and special schools has fallen by 503, from 3,389 to 2,886 (full-time equivalents), equating to a cut of 14.8%. [2]

The SCSC has called for increased resourcing and staffing to deliver a greater provision of those such ASN teachers and pupil support assistants, as well as educational psychologists, mental health professionals and other support services, supporting the closure of the educational attainment gap.

Key recommendations include:

  • Increased resourcing and staffing: There must be greatly increased resourced and staffing to support those with ASN and care experience. Councils must work with the Scottish Government to ensure the delivery of these.
  • Better training: There must be better training of teachers, social workers, health professionals and other practitioners, including continuing professional development, so that they can adequately identify and support children and young people with ASN.

·         Supporting mental health and wellbeing: Services must have the resources to identify children and young people with mental health problems, helping them get early support. There must be substantially increased investment in community level support, ensuring waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are drastically reduced.

·         School-based counsellors: All schools must also have access to a qualified and appropriately experienced counsellor, providing support to troubled and/or distressed children and young people, including those with mental health difficulties.

·         Introducing a local health champion: Councils should elect one member as champion for mental health. Once a councillor becomes a champion, their role will then include raising awareness of mental health problems in the development of council policies and strategies and in public forums, leading discussions on mental health with NHS organisations in their local area, and speaking with schools, businesses and community groups about mental health.

  • Right to independent advocacy: Care experienced children and young people must have access to independent professional advocacy, ensuring that they make informed decisions on matters which affect their lives, and this must be made statutory.

·         Implement The Promise: Ensure that councils work the Scottish Government to deliver on The Promise, which came out of Care Review, ensuring that children and young people who are or become care experienced are loved and supported to fulfil their potential.

·         Training and employment opportunities: there must be greater investment in training and employment programmes by councils to benefit those with ASN and care experience.

  • Increased specialist provision for children and young people: The educational needs of some children and young people with complex or specific needs, are often better met in specialist settings. The number of special school/unit places available, on a wider geographic basis, and these places may be provided by the local authority or independent sector.
  • Greater partnership working: There must be greater partnership working and integration between the public sector and private and third sector service providers, so that the needs of the child or young person can be properly supported in the most appropriate setting.

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic and ‘cost of living crisis’ are having a devastating impact on the lives of many of our children and young people, exacerbating already existing staff shortages and inadequate services.

“That is why it is essential that incoming council administrations put services that benefit the lives of our children and young people at the very heart of policy commitments.

“We are conscious that councils are facing an incredibly challenging financial environment, but they play a critical role in supporting those children and young people with ASN, or we are in danger of facing a ‘lost generation’ of vulnerable children and young people.

“If Scotland is to be one of the best places in the world for vulnerable children and young people to grow up in, we would urge our councils to work with closely the Scottish Government and other agencies, across the public, private and third sectors, to ensure that we can turn this vision into a reality.”

EIS Manifesto Calls for Education Investment

Union demands Fair Deal for Teachers

The EIS will launch its Education Manifesto ahead of May’s Scottish local authority elections at today’s meeting of the national EIS Council.

EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The EIS Manifesto calls for increased investment and enhanced support for schools, teachers and students to support the vital process of education recovery following the Covid pandemic.

“The EIS is challenging all political parties and all election candidates to make clear commitments to providing improved support for Scottish education.”

“The Manifesto also calls for increased investment in the teacher workforce, including the recruitment of additional teachers, to support education recovery.

Mr Flanagan said, “There is a very clear and urgent need to address shortages within the teacher workforce to support education recovery. This must include the employment of additional teachers, on permanent and secure contracts.

“Currently, around 10% of Scotland’s teachers are employed on short-term and temporary contracts – this is a scandal that local authorities must commit to tackling as a matter of urgency. Early delivery of existing commitments to reduce teachers’ class contact time must also be a priority, and steps to reduce class sizes to support education recovery must be taken by councils.

“We are also calling for urgent improvements in support for teacher wellbeing, including mental health, in the wake of the Covid pandemic which has heaped huge additional pressures on staff.”

A commitment to fair pay for Scotland’s teachers is also central to the EIS Manifesto, following long delays in pay negotiations in recent years. Scotland’s teachers are still awaiting a pay settlement for 2021, as a result of prolonged procrastination and delay by the council body COSLA.

EIS Council will decide today whether to ballot members over the latest revised pay offer. The EIS is calling on all parties to re-commit to the principles of collective bargaining via the agreed forum, the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).

Other priorities in the Manifesto include: enhancing support for schools; a commitment to high-quality pre-5 education led by teachers; proper resourcing to support young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN); funding to support initiatives aimed at tackling the equality impact of poverty on young people’s education.

EIS-ManifestoDownload

Scottish election candidates told to step up for pedestrians

Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking is urging candidates in the upcoming elections this May to make walking and wheeling safer and easier, to help enable more people to choose cleaner and healthier ways to travel.  

In ‘A Manifesto for Walking’, Living Streets calls on candidates to pledge to:  

  • End pedestrian deaths and injuries on roads; 
  • Tackle air pollution; 
  • Make school streets safe; 
  • Cut the clutter and make walking easier for everyone.  

A Manifesto for Walking sets out key asks of candidates, including a default 20mph limit in built-up areas, more car-free areas, and clutter-free pavements.  

Latest figures show that pedestrians in Scotland accounted for 37 per cent of fatalities and 34 per cent of serious injuries on built-up roads. Whilst particulate air pollution alone causes almost 2,100 early deaths in Scotland every year.

Roberta Fusco, Interim Director of Policy and Communications, Living Streets said: “People walking and wheeling cause the least amount of road danger or pollution but are often left paying the price on our streets in terms of deaths on our roads and exposure to toxic air. It doesn’t have to be this way. 

“By standing up for pedestrians, candidates can tackle road danger, air pollution and health problems, creating places where people can move and breathe easily.”  

Living Streets is urging voters to call on their local candidates to improve streets for walking.

A Manifesto for Walking 2022 can be downloaded from livingstreets.org.uk/elections 

Rural Youth Project Manifesto launched

The Rural Youth Project Manifesto, which highlights the issues facing young people and how they can be better supported, has been presented to Rural Affairs and Islands Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon.

The Manifesto focuses on nine key areas: enterprise, connectivity, housing, transport, rural learning, employment, community and society, representation, and mental health.

The overarching aim of the asks within the Manifesto is to raise awareness of what young people need, and, above all, it aims to inspire and encourage decision-makers at all levels to meaningfully engage with young people. 

Mairi Gougeon said: “We want young people to feel confident and capable to influence and lead change in their communities. They have a crucial role to play in ensuring that rural and island communities thrive in the future – and we want their voice to be heard and their ideas to be taken forward.

“But we also know that many young people are struggling to recover from the impact of the pandemic – like everyone else, they are experiencing economic and social challenges. And Brexit threatens their long-term wellbeing, particularly to stay and make their lives in rural areas. 

“The Rural Youth Project is a valued member of the Rural Youth Stakeholder Group recently established by Scottish Government. It is our hope that over time the group will become increasingly led by young people themselves and will help provide a direct link between their peers and those who make decisions that impact on their lives. 

“They are key to helping us shape a better future for everyone in our rural and island communities.”

Rural Youth Project founders and directors, Jane Craigie and Rebecca Dawes, said: “Since 2018, we’ve been seeking out, and listening to, young people from across Scotland and abroad. 

“What we’ve found is that young people want to live in rural areas – but the challenges they continue to face are fueling de-population. The manifesto is a call to action to keep the needs of rural young people in the mind of leaders at all levels when decisions are being made.

“The Rural Youth Project’s growing community of young people is keen to work with policy-makers, local authorities and community decision makers to have their say and help to make changes a living reality”.

The Manifesto draws on four years’ worth of qualitative and quantitative learnings collected by the Rural Youth Project. Key recommendations include:

  • Creating mobile mental health support services that can travel to more rural and remote communities.
  • Establishing a Rural Youth Task Force and give a ministerial responsibility for Rural Youth.
  • To introduce a specific rural housing grant for young first-time homeowners looking to build, buy or renovate in a rural area, similar to the Croft House Grant Scheme. 

To download the manifesto, click here. 

Food delivery firms must address rider safety concerns, says Workers’ Observatory

Food delivery companies such as Deliveroo should be forced to investigate accidents and address risks facing their Scottish couriers, say campaigners.

The call comes as the Workers’ Observatory – an Edinburgh project supporting fast food couriers – prepares to launch a manifesto in response to rider safety concerns such as traffic hazards.

Developed with the support of the STUC and Edinburgh University, the manifesto calls for riders to have better protections at work, and asks councils to step into gaps left by legislation by monitoring riders’ road accidents.

Riders – who are still considered by many companies to be self-employed despite a ruling by the UK Supreme Court that Uber drivers should be classified as workers – fall outside of UK health and safety laws.

The Workers’ Observatory collective, working with Edinburgh University sociologist Karen Gregory, claims that company policy of pay-per-delivery “incentivises risk taking”.

The group has gathered examples of traffic accidents and “near misses” experienced by Edinburgh food delivery couriers. Riders have told researchers they feel “pressurised” to take jobs in areas that feel unsafe because they worry refusing an order will affect the allocation of jobs.

Karen Gregory, who published a study on related safety issues last December, said: “The structure of paying riders “per drop” incentivises workers to deliver quickly, so that they are ready for the next delivery assignment.

“This can mean pushing it on city streets or racing through the city on a bicycle or scooter to minimise your delivery time.”

Cailean Gallagher, coordinator of the Workers’ Observatory, said: “Just like in other workplaces, when gig workers have accidents or injuries at work, these should be reported and monitored.

“Councils should be able to receive accident reports and then share the information with riders so that they can monitor the risks and hazards of their work and develop appropriate demands.”

Dentists ready to work with next Scottish Government to rebuild services

The British Dental Association has indicated it is ready to work with a future SNP government on wide-ranging pledges made in the party’s manifesto, which could fundamentally change the way dentistry is delivered in Scotland.  
 
The party has pledged to abolish patient charges over the course of the next parliament, and to work with the BDA to “shape a reformed funding arrangement for NHS dentists so that they are supported for the future”.

Approximately 20% of the NHS dental budget – some £74 million in 2018/19 – is drawn from charges. The BDA believes charges represent a tangible barrier to care for those on modest incomes but will be seeking assurances that any move will not lead to a reduction in overall funding for the service. 
 
The Scottish Budget 2021- 22 provided £431 million for general dental services, a rise of just 0.6% from the year before which represents a real-terms cut at a time the service faces an unprecedented backlog. The dental budget in Scotland has been cut in real terms in three out of the last four years. 
 
The dentist’s union has warned of widening inequality following the COVID pandemic, with high street services operating at a fraction of their former capacity, with an estimated 2,500 children now facing up to year-long waits for dental extractions in hospitals.  

Public Health Scotland data has shown a dramatic reduction in NHS dentistry due to COVID, which is hitting those in most deprived communities the hardest. Between April and November 2020, the number of courses of treatment delivered was 83% lower than during the same period in 2019. Practices are operating at significantly reduced capacity to meet infection control protocols, and the BDA is seeking capital investment in areas such as ventilation that can help restore patient volumes.

David McColl, chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said: “Dentistry in Scotland risks becoming a casualty of this pandemic. We have called for wholesale change to the way care is delivered, and we will work with the next Scottish Government to achieve that.  
 
“These are big plans to bring down barriers to care and improve access, but they must go hand in hand with needed investment if services millions depend on are going to remain sustainable.

“Practices are now operating at a fraction of their former capacity. Dentists will need real and ongoing support if we’re ever going to meet historic levels of demand.”

Pro-EU organisation calls for EU freedom of movement for those living in Scotland

The UK Government should amend its immigration policy to reflect Scotland’s demographic deficit and restore freedom of movement to Scottish residents, according to Scotland’s leading pro-European body.  

It is also pressing the UK Government to rejoin the Erasmus+ youth exchange programme – or enable Scotland and Wales to take part on their own.

These are among 15 key policies the European Movement in Scotland (EMIS) is urging political parties and candidates to adopt as policy in the #Holyrood2021 campaign

EMIS objective is for Scotland to become part of the European Union as once again, whether as an independent state or as part of the UK, but it also believes that it is important that Scotland should have the closest possible links with the EU meantime.

Among other policy issues highlighted by EMiS are better access to EU markets for Scotland’s food and fish, more direct links between Scotland and mainland Europe, a full say in managing the UK Prosperity Fund and close alignment with the EU on environmental standards, emission targets, human rights law and data privacy.

EMiS chair,  Mark Lazarowicz, said: “The UK has left the EU, but our relationship with Europe clearly matters greatly to the voters of Scotland. This relationship will have longstanding impacts on the country’s economy and culture.

“We urge prospective members of the Scottish Parliament and their political parties to work to reinforce Scotland’s European interests and prioritise the issues we identify as important for the future prosperity and wellbeing of Scotland and its people.”

A Scotland for All of Us

Poverty Alliance launch Holyrood Election manifesto

Stemming the rising tide of poverty across Scotland must be the defining issue of the Holyrood election, the Poverty Alliance have said, with calls for all political parties to commit to a range of ambitious and bold action to boost incomes and reduce costs.

The calls were made as the Poverty Alliance launched A Scotland for All of Us, a package of measures that all of Scotland’s political parties are being urged to back in order to loosen the grip of poverty on the lives of people across Scotland. The measures include:

  • Committing to a Minimum Income Guarantee, which would ensure that nobody in Scotland had an income below an agreed minimum level;
  • At least doubling the new Scottish Child Payment, and increasing financial support for unpaid carers and disabled people;
  • Extending free bus travel to more young people and to people on low incomes;
  • Ending digital exclusion, by providing low cost or free broadband to low income households;
  • Attaching conditions to all public sector grants, funding and contracts that require payment of the real Living Wage and Fair Work;
  • Adjusting our income tax levels and thresholds to fund greater investment in tackling poverty and exploring the use of wealth taxes;
  • Giving communities a greater say over how money is spent in their local area.

The manifesto is launched at a time of growing hardship across Scotland. Even before the pandemic, over one million people – including almost one in four children – were living in poverty in Scotland.

Now with many more people being swept into poverty, Scotland’s child poverty reduction targets remain unlikely to be met without more urgent action in the coming years.

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “In Scotland we believe in protecting one another from harm, and in the principle that every child should have every chance. Yet Scotland is also a country with unacceptably high levels of poverty and inequality.

“Addressing the rising tide of poverty that is affecting so many communities should be at the heart of every party manifesto, and with the pandemic still having an impact this is not a time for timidity. 

“All parties must pledge to take the bold and ambitious action to boost incomes and reduce costs that we have set out, including committing to a Minimum Income Guarantee and to taking action to create a more just economy and labour market.

“The next Scottish Parliament must be remembered as one that reshaped Scotland for the better, that prioritised the needs of those facing poverty and inequality, and that built a Scotland not just for some of us, but for all of us.”

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