As thousands of Scots returned to work last Monday, I set out my vision for the future of Scotland in a speech at Glasgow University.
Because as a new year dawns, the question facing Scots is this – do you feel like things have got better under the SNP or worse?
The reality for millions of Scots is that while their taxes have soared under the SNP, public services have declined and the most vulnerable in our society have been failed.
Right now we have soaring levels of children living in temporary accommodation, an NHS that has been plunged into crisis, and falling standards across Scotland’s schools.
But while working people are forced to deal with unsafe communities and collapsing services, the SNP government is spending £6.6bn of public money every year to prop up hundreds of government quangos.
Why? To avoid taking responsibility for their actions and to hide government failure behind a smokescreen.
When Scots face declining services the SNP always have another person to blame, another report that can be drawn up or another working group that can be launched.
And all the time, things get worse for the people of our country. Let me give you an example of this. Robert is a retired police officer from Cleland. For years he worked tirelessly to keep the people of Scotland safe and well.
But when Robert found himself in excruciating abdominal pain over Christmas he found himself let down by the SNP’s disgraceful failure to support our NHS.
When Robert arrived at Wishaw A&E there were no beds or trollies available. Robert had to lie on the floor of the clinic for five and a half hours before being seen and receiving morphine for his pain.
A Scot who has worked all his life, who has dedicated his career to public service, but who has been failed by an SNP government that is totally out of touch and out of ideas.
When I raised Robert’s case at First Minister’s Questions, John Swinney rightly apologised. But Scots like Robert don’t need apologies – they need a change of direction for our country.
That’s why I am clear – If elected First Minister in May 2026, then the buck would stop with me and my ministers.
We would end the culture of hiding behind officials and government bodies, and we would be directly responsible to our bosses – the people of Scotland.
This is what we can offer. A new direction for our country where the needs of the people of Scotland come before the needs of those in power. Where public services are once more fit to serve the public and where Scots do not have to pay more and more and get less and less.
A Government focused on building a fairer, more prosperous and more healthy Scotland – not a government focused on creating jobs for the boys.
A government in the service of the people and that puts the needs of the people of Scotland before the needs of a political party.
A new direction for our country – new hope, new thinking and new ideas.
That’s what we need. That’s what Scottish Labour will deliver.
Labour is delivering for workers
“The most transformative change to workers’ rights in a generation.”
That’s how the Trade Union Congress described Labour’s plans to make work pay.
And that is what the Labour government is getting to work to deliver now.
This week I joined the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner – who has led our campaign to make work pay – in Glasgow to visit the University of Strathclyde.
The University of Strathclyde has pioneered the fair work principles that underline Labour’s plans, leading to better business outcomes and being awarded top employer of the year.
Under the Tories and the SNP, Scotland was the zero-hours capital of the UK.
With Labour this is finally coming to an end.
This government is delivering a pay rise for the lowest paid Scots.
Ending the scandal of fire and rehire.
And standing up for the terms and conditions of workers.
A transformation in the lives of thousands of workers that will make work pay, protect jobs, and improve conditions.
Not only that, our pro-worker and pro-business approach will help businesses hire new talent, retain experienced staff, and encourage innovation and growth across our economy.
Stronger for workers. Standing up for businesses. Delivering for our country. This is what this Labour government is achieving.
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