Central Scotland

[Sir Dylan Macmillan]

For events pertaining to Central Scotland

[Ashton Edwards]

CENTRAL SCOTLAND - Lilian Macer (NPC)
Speech

Lilian Macer, candidate for Scottish Labour in Coatbridge Chryston was in Central Scotland to speak about Scottish Labour’s plan for social care delivery, building on Scotland’s success in providing free personal care- a Labour promise delivered in 2002- by expanding access to social care for all those that need it in the country. She was there with other Scottish Labour candidates, spending time meeting voters to talk about the programme in more detail.

“In 2002, Scotland took leadership in providing social care by making personal care free for elderly adults. It was a revolution in how we look out and provide for some of our most vulnerable. And then, progress stalled. Part of this was waiting to see what sort of funding we could get from Westminster to act further, another part was a reluctance to see this programme through to the point that we could provide free social care for everyone in need. And while we have an amazing NHS, there are so many in Scotland who deserve care, who need assistance, to have the same quality of life as the rest of us.

“But now that England is looking at having free social care for all, it’s time for us in Scotland to yet again show them how it’s done. We’ve been able to help cover the costs of needed personal services from dressing to cleaning and cooking both at home and in care homes, for those who need it. It’s time for us to look forward, bringing about the same quality of care for working-age adults with mental disabilities, the same quality of care for those who choose or who need to be in a care home, and all for the same price that those over the age of 65 pay now for personal care: nothing.

“We absolutely can have an effective Scottish National Care Service. The building blocks are there at the local level through Health and Social Care Partnerships, bringing NHS expertise with local authority service delivery. The care is there through private providers, through professional and through unpaid carers. Scottish Labour will be the ones to bring these blocks together into a comprehensive National Care Service that is free at the point of use- AND that will serve as an example for England, Wales, and the world over on how you can effectively provide for those in need.

“We have sat too long while we’ve let opportunity to provide real reform on social care pass us by; we’ve waited for action while instead we’re treated with intrigue or graft or scandals coming out of Holyrood. Scottish Labour is ready to lead again on social care- like we did in 2002. We’re ready to bring a National Care Service that will serve all of Scotland and that all of Scotland can be proud of.

“With your support we’ll be able to bring this program to fruition. We’ll strengthen Health and Social Care Partnerships at the local level to be sure that they can provide services to all those that need it in their communities, and we’ll provide the funding needed to make sure that no one is turned away based on inability to pay. We’ll work to make sure there are clear standards that apply to care throughout Scotland, but give the local authorities the power and resources to make sure those standards are met. And we’ll provide for pay for everyone involved in care- whether it’s professionals or those who have given up everything to care for their loved ones. They’re all heros, and Scottish Labour will make sure they’re compensated as heroes should be.

"There are plenty of reasons that we're given for why we can't have a programme like this now- even though we've seen for years the benefit of making care available for people right in their homes. Those reasons are used to cover up a lack of bold action. I can tell you though that a Scottish majority in Holyrood will finally take the bold action that we've all been promised and all been denied.

“And the ones that will benefit are the ones that need it most: those that have retired after long, productive careers. Adults with disabilities that make work difficult or impossible. Those who have long waited for assistance… and with Labour in Holyrood, they’ll finally be able to get it.”

[Dr. James Webster]

Central Scotland - Catherine Stihler (NPC)
Canvass

Cathern Stihler regional MSP for Central Scotland and constituency candidate for Uddingston and Bellshill, will make sure to ask the local Scottish Labour candidates to go out through the region and canvass, speaking about plans for how to improve Education under a Labour majority in Holyrood. He’ll have a leaflet prepared to hand out with the points of the day.


Better Education for our pupils: Improving our children’s and grandchildren's education is the most important thing we can do to improve the lives of our children and grandchildren. The SNP are happy to cut per pupil spending down by 8.1%, while school populations are increasing. The SNP have forced our schools to do more with less. We say no more. Scottish Labour will make sure that every community has the funding it needs to provide our kids with the best education possible. We will create a fair start fund that will help provide extra funding to communities that are in the most need. We will lower class sizes to under 20 students in a class so that all students' needs can be met, and so every student can receive the help they need in order to succeed in life. The Scottish Labour party is the right answer for Scottish pupils.

Improving University Education: The SNP have made a shameful series of cuts to the University system in Scotland. Their cuts have resulted in the lowering enrollment in our Universities. In 2007 the number of University Students in Scotland was 379,233. Today there are just under 300,000. We need a Government ready to invest in higher education. The Labour party will increase spending on universities in real terms and will bring enrollment back to 2007 numbers. Our first step is keeping tuition rates at zero and providing extra funds to the busars of smaller schools so that they can help students afford housing on campus. While also encouraging the improvement of quality at all Scottish universities. It should be far more likely for a Scottish student to go to university than to go to prison and only the Labour Party is ready to make that a reality.

Providing Early Learning and childcare: Providing high quality affordable early learning and childcare is crucial for all children. We support a flexible all-age, all-year affordable early years service centered on the needs of the child. Every year of a five year Scottish Labour Government would see an increase in the hours available until we can provide an ambitious 50 hour a week for every child. The SNP failed to deliver their promised Childcare expansion. While the SNP does not take it’s pledges about Childcare and early education seriously, the Scottish Labour Party is ready to provide real improvements to our childcare system. The SNP has provided few specialists for early childcare education. A Scottish Labour Government will provide our children with the specialists they need. We can improve opportunities in Scotland and that starts by making sure all parts of our education system are working for our children.


The following leaflet is handed out, focused on the themes of the day. There is a picture (and captions identifying names) for Scottish Labour candidates in the area and outlines of various local landmarks.

Better Education for our pupils:
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will increase per pupil spending, ending years of cuts from the SNP.
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will reduce class sizes to under 20 students, so that all students can receive the help they need to succeed, and provide the best environment for learning.
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will create a fair start fund focused at making sure that all schools receive the funding they need to provide the best education for our students.

Improving University Education:
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will reverse the SNP’s cuts to higher education.
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will make it more likely a student goes to college than to prison.
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will return enrollment numbers back to their 2007 level.


Providing Early Learning and childcare:
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will work to the ambitious goal of 50 hours of childcare a week for all children.
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will high the necessary number of experts and professionals our children need.
Only SCOTTISH LABOUR will provide a yearly increase in the number of hours of childcare.