EMMA RODDICK: 'At work, every positive decision is marred by the bigger picture'
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“Change” is a good slogan for any opposition party standing in an election during a difficult time for the public. Whether it’s the cost-of-living crisis or an NHS struggling with vacancies, often, repeating the word “change” on its own, without any policy backing it up, is enough to get someone to stick an X by your party logo.
It’s more difficult to position yourself as the party of change when you’ve been in government in Scotland for 16 years. But change is exactly what the SNP has to offer: it’s our fundamental purpose.
Looking at failure to act on energy, employment, and social security policies to the limits placed on devolved matters and budgets, I’m reminded dozens of times a day of the cost of being in the union. At work, every positive decision is marred by the bigger picture.
For example, we introduced the Scottish Child Payment, which many experts have credited as being “game-changing” and making a real difference for children growing up here and now across Scotland. It can be the difference between a single parent being able to buy shoes, a Christmas present, or a book for their child, or not.
But, at the same time we upped that payment to £20 a week per child (soon to be £26.70) the UK Government cut Universal Credit by £20. The same parents who were going to benefit from that little bit extra, instead saw their overall income simply decrease a bit less than it was going to.
We don’t want to only mitigate UK decisions: we want to make them for ourselves.
The Better Together campaign once assured Scottish households ‘the most powerful devolved parliament in the world’ could prevent welfare cuts, but it’s increasingly clear that only independence gives us that.
I want so much better for the Highlands – truly local decision-making and services. I want a Scottish Government, no matter who’s in it, that’s able to react to challenges across the country, with the power to empower and make change for people living in every community.
We’ve now published nine papers that lay out a vision of a Scotland with power over everything from pensions and the economy to a renewed democracy.
I listen to what other parties have to say; I’ve carefully read the leaflets that have come through my door from the UK parties and considered them. No matter how many times they use the word, I don’t see any offers of change.
From confirmation that a Labour government would not seek to undo the worst Tory decisions on welfare and austerity, to Lib Dems abandoning their policy of rejoining the EU as soon as possible – to the point that their Highland campaign is now being funded by Brexiteers – it looks like it will be more of the same, regardless of who is in power in London, until we become a normal, independent country.
That’s why it’s so important that those who want genuine, lasting, meaningful change return SNP MPs this year.
