By Anas Sarwar

Copyright dailyrecord

For years Labour conferences were spent in opposition condemning the Tories as they caused chaos in our economy and misery in our communities. At conference this year I have been reminded that – no matter what challenges come with Government – it is always better to be changing lives for the better than carping from the sidelines. Since getting rid of the Tories last summer, Labour has been working to build a better future for our country. We have ended austerity once and for all, delivering a record budget settlement for Scotland. We delivered a pay rise for the lowest paid workers and introduced the greatest boost to workers rights in a generation. We restored economic stability and as a result cut mortgages by an average of £1500 a year. We stuck trade deals with India the US and the EU that will boost Scottish exports and cut the cost of the weekly shop. We secured the future of Scottish shipbuilding by investing in defence and put Britain firmly back on the world stage leading the way in efforts to secure global peace and security. We invested hundreds of millions of pounds directly into communities to kickstart redevelopment and growth. I’m in not denial about the fact that there is still more to do – but the work this Labour government has already done means that a working couple with a mortgage can be £5000 better off. Elsewhere in the UK people are also benefiting from falling NHS waiting lists, investment in education, action on crime and an ambitious house building programme – but here in Scotland we are still being held back by the failures of this SNP government. Labour’s budget means the Scottish Government has more money than ever before for our public services – an extraordinary £5.2 billion extra. But where has that money gone? We can’t see the benefit in our NHS, where waiting lists are at a record high and patients face dangerously long waits in A&E every single week. We can’t see it in our schools, where violence is rising and the education gap is stubbornly wide. We can’t see it in our justice system, where police officer numbers are falling and the prison population is surging. We can’t see it in our housing system, where rough sleeping and reliance on temporary accommodation are at a record high. The truth is, the SNP is responsible for almost everything that is broken in Scotland. John Swinney and the rest of his knackered government have had nearly 20 years to fix these problems and they have failed. A third decade isn’t going to change anything. But I didn’t get into politics to complain about the mistakes other parties are making – I got into politics to deliver a better future for the country I love. At the next election we can build that better future together by calling time on SNP decline and voting for a new direction with Scottish Labour. Scotland’s defence industry plays a key role in both our national security and our economy, but for too long the SNP has been ambivalent towards this crucial industry and the many high-skilled jobs it supports. The clearest example of this was the recent decision to gamble with quality jobs in Glasgow by blocking investment in the establishment of a specialist welding skills centre. It was a typical SNP tale involving irrational ideological rules, contradictions, u-turns and a total indifference to Scottish jobs. To call it a student politics style debate would be an insult to student politics. But while the SNP is tying itself in knots, Labour has been investing in Scotland’s defence industry and strengthening our national security. Now Labour is stepping up once again by pledging £2.5 million to secure the future of the very welding centre the SNP snubbed. This £11 million project will create good jobs and develop a future skills pipeline that will make sure Glasgow remains a hub of expertise for years to come. This is the difference it makes to have a government on the side of Scottish workers and Scottish industry. I firmly believe that a better world is possible and Scotland has a key role to play in making this a reality – but no one country has all the answers. In order to build a better world for everyone, progressives from across the globe need to work together. Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.