Maree Todd: Even the Scottish Tories are thinking about breaking free!
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Holyrood Notebook by Maree Todd
Since this is my first column of 2022 I want to wish you all a Happy New Year – here's hoping for a brighter year ahead and one that is much less dominated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Given the level of concern caused before Christmas by the highly infectious new Omicron variant, it's great that some of the worst-case scenarios have not come to pass.
In fact, there are grounds for cautious optimism now. It looks like the combination of the protective measures, responsible action on the part of the general public, and the rapid delivery of booster vaccines has had the positive impact we hoped for.
Despite a bumpy start in the NHS Highland area, they absolutely knocked it out of the park with the booster programme, and had managed to ensure that 81 per cent of eligible adults got their third dose before Christmas. That number is still growing – as well as first and second doses – proving it's never too late to get vaccinated.
Given the level of evidence we have now that the booster gives protection against severe illness with Omicron, it's a massive relief to know our community is well protected – huge thanks to all involved in delivering it, as well as each and every one of you who got your jags.
In Caithness, Sutherland and Ross we are well aware of the injustice around the unfair energy pricing scheme in the UK. We are net exporters of green energy but are penalised by a charging regime which leaves many households fuel poor in this area.
Since energy pricing is reserved to the UK, the Scottish Government is limited in what it can do to tackle fuel poverty. I'm pleased therefore to welcome a new home heating support fund which will help Scots struggling with their energy bills amid a growing cost-of-living crisis.
The £3 million Scottish Government scheme, which is administered by national advice service Advice Direct Scotland, is designed to prevent households falling into fuel poverty and help those 'rationing' their energy use.
Individuals can't apply directly, but they should contact Advice Direct Scotland for free on 0808 800 9060 or visit www.advice.scot, and trained advisers can assess their eligibility and refer them if appropriate.
Even if you aren't eligible, Advice Direct Scotland can offer free advice on energy and debt issues.
Finally, it may be a new year but the allegations of sleaze and corruption in Westminster keep coming. In my last column of 2021, I wrote about my outrage on learning about the blatant rule-breaking in Downing Street last Christmas. Since then, the PM has admitted to going to a 'BYOB' garden party at No.10 during the first lockdown – and apologised, despite trying to claim it was a work event.
As I write, we learn of more boozy parties at No.10, including the night before the Queen had to face Prince Philip's funeral alone – a situation so many people faced, and the reason why folk are so angry now.
The Scottish Tory MSPs have called for Boris Johnsons to resign and are getting a taste of the utter contempt from their Westminster colleagues the rest of us have felt for some time. With no sense of irony, their thoughts have turned to breaking away from the UK party. The allure of independence knows no bounds.
Stay strong folks!
- Maree Todd is the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
