Solidarity with Richard Leonard by Lorna Roberston, SEC member

For all those in Scottish Labour and trade unions who supported and campaigned for a Scottish National Care Service for our members, care workers, family and friends who have needed care, yesterday afternoon was a time to celebrate, at least a little. The Programme for Government announcement that the SNP had taken the “1st step” towards what we will only accept as a fully publicly run national care service, was what it was described, only a first step. So many questions and fights still to have, who will be involved in the review, timescale, processes.... all questions Richard asked and also his demand for an immediate uplift in T&Cs for care workers was ignored. An ongoing fight to take to the SNP.

As the affiliate SL SEC representative from the Women’s Committee, and a Unite NHS committee member who moved a motion at our own SEC for a Scottish National Care Service, the announcement yesterday has been a lot of work for a lot of people, including Scottish Labour members and Richard Leonard. To see it absolutely shot to bits later that same evening (11 pm to be exact) by MSPs, who instead of celebrating along with their members, have finally revealed themselves as those that have been undermining Scottish Labour and leaking to the press for months if not years. This is absolutely appalling behaviour, all about self preservation, their own positions as MSPs and not about the members or those that would benefit from Scottish Labour policies. It is all about what will benefit them.
This ended up being a sad day and why I am showing my solidarity for Richard Leonard, and encourage him to fight this coup, no matter how difficult, because yesterday was a win for us who fight for a better future for others and members will remember those involved in this treachery against the members’ elected leader. Lorna Robertson Scottish Labour SEC member.
Lorna Robertson, Scottish Labour SEC member