MAREE TODD: SNP must earn trust of Scottish people after election blows
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Holyrood Notebook by Maree Todd
With disappointing results for the SNP in both the local council by-election for Tain & Easter Ross and the Westminster seat of Rutherglen and Hamilton West, I’ve been reflecting on the SNP’s journey, our pursuit of independence, and the efforts required to regain and strengthen trust.
Prior to entering politics, I spent two decades working as a mental health pharmacist within NHS Highland. It was here that I saw first-hand the devastating consequences of the Tory-Lib Dem austerity years.
Poverty is a catalyst for poor mental health and this period not only exacerbated the experiences of already vulnerable folk, but it also subjected many to poverty for the first time. Witnessing the struggles of my patients and the Westminster government's failure to support them inspired me to get involved in politics and campaign for change.
For me, that change is independence.
Now in my role as a Highland MSP, I am reminded daily of the different ways the union is failing us. Our region is energy rich, but we face some of the highest fuel poverty rates in the country.
Brexit continues to pose a serious threat to our industries, with 45 per cent of tourism businesses in the Highlands and Islands facing staff shortages due to the loss of freedom of movement.
To compound our challenges, we continue to contend with a Tory-made cost-of-living crisis which is having a disproportionate impact on Highland households.
The cost of the union to the Highlands – and Scotland – is eye-watering.
I see the difference the SNP has made in government, from creating a compassionate social security system, abolishing tuition fees and prescription charges to rolling out free bus travel to under 22s. With the full powers of an independent country, we can deliver more.
The limits of devolution don’t hold us back either. As the Scottish Government minister leading on plans for a National Care Service, I am struck by how much our policy aims resonate with people.
The goal of supporting folk to live independently in their own community for as long as possible is something we all have a vested interest in. It’s a reality that, at some point, many of us will come to depend on social care in one way or another.
A National Care Service will ensure that when we need it, we can all access consistent, fair and high-quality community health, social work and care support.
Creating a wellbeing economy is also a defining mission for the Scottish Government. This is a different way of looking at prosperity and what it means to be a successful economy, society, and country.
By putting wellbeing at the heart of our approach, we can focus on economic wealth alongside a wider seat of measures which reflect on things like the health and happiness of citizens and our planet. With independence, we could achieve this aim more fully.
Despite bruising election results, a recent poll conducted by the Tony Blair Institute showed support for independence in the lead by four points (45 per cent to 41). Although encouraging, it serves as a reminder that we must focus on convincing those who remain unconvinced about the advantages of independence.
As a party, we have faced a challenging few months. We will never take our support for granted, so we must now reflect on our recent election results and listen and engage to ensure we earn and re-earn trust.
- Maree Todd is the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
