Labour’s 2024 manifesto did not include any specific commitments on council tax but two models are being floated
Keir Starmer resisting calls to stand down was “selfish and stubborn”, according to the current sole Scottish Labour leadership contender, Monica Lennon.
As the Press Association reports, the earliest high profile call for Starmer to quit came from former Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who broke cover in February. Sarwar is now leaving Holyrood having been given a seat in the Lords and a job as a business minister by Andy Burnham.
Clearly, the focus is the May election and what’s happened in Scotland.
The party has had its worst election result ever in the history of the Scottish parliament – in fact we’ve been losing seats and votes since 1999, so there’s a downward trend that cannot be ignored.
I think, on reflection, Keir Starmer should have read the room, I think he was selfish and stubborn and I think that’s been a big part of our problem.
That has contaminated people’s view of Scottish Labour.
Scottish Labour’s got some serious decisions to make, and it’s really important that our members have their say, that they’re heard.
I hope that other colleagues do come forward because I would welcome a debate, a discussion and a contest, because I think we really need to have that.
It is right to recognise that the NHS and social care are deeply interconnected but the case for fixing social care extends far beyond protecting the NHS. There is a moral imperative to ensure older and disabled people can live independently with dignity and a compelling economic case too.
Millions of people have unmet care needs, while unpaid carers and disabled adults are too often prevented from working, participating in their communities and planning for their futures because the support they need simply isn’t there.
Better social care would undoubtedly help some patients leave hospital more quickly but we should avoid suggesting that fixing social care alone will fix the NHS.
Debates about social care are too often haunted by ‘death tax’ rhetoric and the costs of improving the system rather than focussed on the tangible benefits reform could bring for people and families.
If the prime minister wants to succeed where previous governments have failed, he must make a positive case for reform and build a shared understanding of why change matters.
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