Falkirk Council’s Labour Group Leader, Councillor Anne Hannah, reflects on what lies ahead in the wake of Labour’s stunning election victory.
It was a long time coming, and Scotland suffered mightily during the wait.
The question now is, how do we build on the success of July 4th - to be henceforth known as Not Independence Day - and, by putting Labour in control, ensure all levels of government put people before party.
The elections of Euan Stainbank (Falkirk), Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth) and Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow - which takes in Bo’ness), involved hard work and great organisation.
With hindsight, we couldn’t afford to relax in the days before the vote, but the result was a certainty.
Given how those in charge during the Sturgeon, Yousaf and Swinney eras misled the independence movement, lost all common sense in government, promoted marginal issues as national priorities while the real priorities of the people such as education, housing, the NHS, roads and transport, were notable only for the staggering level of incompetence with which they were dealt. The result was inevitable.”
It’s true. While there was no room for complacency before the vote or now, it was clear on the doorstep that the tide had turned. While there were still a few invoking the FREEDOM mantra, there were many more vowing that although they had been voting SNP for years they wouldn’t be conned again.
The Saltires we saw were out for our football team – who made a valiant effort but sadly did not achieve. The SNP stickers on doors and windows had been scraped off, cards backing SNP candidates removed from windowsills.
So, what are the tasks ahead? Euan Stainbank, MP, has hit the ground running alongside his new Westminster colleagues. We will be supporting them in their endeavours to get a better deal for Falkirk, Grangemouth and Bo’ness. We will need to find a replacement on Falkirk Council for Mr Stainbank MP. We want to make sure it is a Labour councillor. Euan’s shoes will be hard to fill, but we have a lot of talent in the Labour Party, and I am confident we can get another great candidate. Turning Falkirk red at Scottish Parliament level is next in 2026, then at Council level in 2027.
The SNP in Holyrood and in Falkirk have been incompetent and were always more a political campaign than a political party – people are allowed to disagree in a political party. The only thing the SNP has been good at is being able to stir up support on one issue. The latest survey has shown that only 47% of people trust the Scottish Government to work in Scotland’s best interests.
Labour also has its one idea that unites us: the desire to give all people a better chance, a better standard of living, better public services and better lives. Let’s seize on that, bring more people into our movement and turn the UK into a united community that will work together for the common good.