Swinney should start new parliamentary term by junking care service takeover

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today urged the First Minister to turn over a new leaf and abandon plans for a ministerial takeover of social care services across the country, warning that an "SNP ministers know best" attitude has harmed the management of public services.

The Scottish Government's bill to reduce local control and accountability over care services has been repeatedly delayed over concerns about the scope, impact and cost of the legislation.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

"As a new parliamentary term starts, the First Minister needs to turn over a new leaf and abandon his plans for a a ministerial takeover of social care services.

"For too long an attitude of "SNP ministers know best" has blighted the management of public services.

"The lengthy, drawn out and delayed parliamentary process of this bill has exposed that it is completely unfit for purpose. It would do nothing to tackle core problems and ease pressures. Instead it would wrench away control of services from communities.

“Care organisations, unions and local authorities have all united to condemn the bill. The financial memorandum is in disarray, with SNP Finance Committee members even having suggested that the sums don’t add up.

"People want local control and influence over the social care services they rely on. They don't want decisions about care in the highlands and islands, taken by a distant minister in Edinburgh.

"After seeing so many of his MP colleagues dethroned by Scottish Liberal Democrat and Labour candidates who were focused on local services, John Swinney should learn his lesson and ditch these plans."

"Instead the money earmarked for this ministerial takeover should be invested in improving conditions for staff and enhancing services instead."