Honestly, this George Sq riot shit demonstrates perfectly why I was such a strident Yes. Scotland (Well, Glasgow and surrounding suburbs especially) has serious, serious social issues and unique challenges requiring a different approach. While many of the tools we need to address the resurgence of serious sectarianism, particularly in deprived areas are devolved, we still lack some crucial clout, namely, welfare policy. We need to be able to raise our own money and set our own welfare policy. Obviously throwing money at a problem wont make it go away, theres additional work to be done, and obviously this is a very arms-length middle class opinion to hold, but when theres such a strong correlation between poverty and violence you really have to examine how you can address both. I was hoping control over welfare would be included in the nebulous cloud of new powers, but it doesnt look like thats happening at all, and theres growing clamour to scrap the Barnett formula and cut Scottish funding, directly and indirectly. So I mean... Fingers crossed, still, but Im not so optimistic.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:45:51 +0000
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