Looking after the most vulnerable in our society is one of the key responsibilities of any decent government.
For too long, Tory austerity caused savage cuts across the UK to services for children, OAPs and other groups that need a helping hand.
The SNP at Holyrood have tried to turn back the tide of austerity by putting extra resources into areas such as health and social care.
But as the Daily Record reveals today, in Scotland’s biggest city cuts are being considered that would plunge these services into chaos.
Social care for the elderly, according to our leaked document, would be savaged in Glasgow.
At a time when bed blocking is causing carnage in the NHS, it seems crazy that such cuts are even being considered – with care packages for the elderly a key part of freeing up hospital beds.
Other proposed cuts come despite promises from government to protect services.
Our Kids: Our Future is a campaign by the Record to tackle youth violence – with better facilities for young people at the heart of our message.
Yet the cuts proposed by Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership would see services slashed for the most vulnerable kids – those living in households with addiction problems.
Yet more cuts are proposed in the drug rehab budget – which officials admit is in direct contradiction to Scottish Government promises to tackle Scotland’s drug death crisis,
Nicola Sturgeon was forced to admit during the 2021 Holyrood election campaign that her government “took our eye off the ball” as Scotland racked up the worst drugs death rate in Europe.
Over time, attitudes have slowly been changed and the Government committed more funding for rehab facilities.
The First Minister has insisted that tackling this shameful record would become a priority for her government.
But has it been all for nothing?
Now we find out that a lack of funds is forcing local health chiefs to actually consider cuts to rehab services.
This at a time when Glasgow has the highest number of drug deaths in the country – more than 300 in 2021.
It’s no secret that every part of the public sector faces spending cut backs.
But the Scottish Government now faces a stark choice.
Does it stand back and allow vital services for the most vulnerable in Scotland’s largest city to close?
Or will it find a way of ensuring that vital funding is found and soon?
In Scotland, we are paying higher taxes than the rest of the UK – so it’s only right that our government provides public services that are considerably better than other parts of the UK.
On the evidence of this shocking cuts proposal, things are getting worse – not better.
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