Tag Archives: Political

News

The cost-of-living crisis is causing a record need of food banks, as more parcels were handed out than ever in the last six months.

By Julie Dvorakova

The cost-of-living crisis is causing a record need for food banks, as more parcels were handed out than ever in the last six months.

The Trussell Trust, a nationwide network of food banks providing support to those in poverty, revealed new statistics that show record-breaking levels of need across the UK.

Revealed figures prove that from April to September, more emergency food parcels were given out than ever before in this period.

Emma Reive, the chief executive at the Trussell Trust, said: “These new statistics show that, even in summer months, people are struggling to afford the essentials and we are expecting that this winter will be the hardest yet for food banks and the people they support. This is not right.”

In Scotland, food banks in the Trussell Trust network distributed over 116,000 emergency food parcels between 1 April to 30 September 2022, including 40,000 parcels distributed to children.

This represents an increase (34%) compared to the same period last year and an alarming rise (65%) since the same period five years ago – a period not affected by the pandemic or cost of living crisis.

 

As Scotland faces the crisis while still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity says the Scottish, local and UK governments need to do more.

“Over the last few years, the government has acted to protect people who are struggling, and this action made a difference”, said Reive, adding that they must now act again to help people through the winter.

In July 2022, households received the first Cost of Living payment from the UK government. Scottish foodbanks distributed 15,098 parcels in July, which is significantly less than any other month this year.

Despite this, data show that this payment was spent quickly, and record levels of emergency food parcels were then distributed in the following months.

The crisis is forcing more people to use food banks, as they, mostly for the first time, don’t have enough money to afford the essentials. Food banks across the UK are changing opening hours to be available to those working.

Josie Barlow, manager at Bradford Foodbank said: “Someone who came to the food bank recently told me that buying milk is a luxury now. So many people are struggling with bills and food prices.”

The escalating need for emergency food parcels together with rising costs is likely to lead to the most challenging winter yet for Trussell Trust and other networks in the UK.

“We are fortunate to be able to help people and we work hard to support them in both the short and long term, but we are also facing challenges”, says Barlow.

 

The charity says food banks are now at ‘breaking point’, as more and more people seek help due to the crisis.

Compared to England, the number of parcels distributed in Scotland has either been lower or not risen in line with the UK average.

This is because alternative food aid is becoming more available in recent years in Scotland.

In January this year, the Scottish government promised to develop a national plan to end the need for food banks as a primary response to food insecurity.

The Government recently responded to the crisis as The Scottish Child payment was increased from £10 a week to £25, with the extension to parents of children aged under 16.

Opinion

Can Scotland mimic Portugal’s approach to the drug crisis?

By Gregor Boyd

For many years now. Scotland’s drug crisis has been widely reported on. According to the National  Record of Statistics in Scotland. The number of deaths has continued to rise. 2021 saw a slight decrease in the number of drugs with 9 less than the year before.

Dundee has been dubbed the drug capital of Europe. With drugs being readily available and even purchasable online. It’s never been easier to find a supply. Despite attempts by police to clamp down on it. The people of Scotland continue to suffer and the impact this causes on local health services that are already struggling. Attempts by campaigners to change the laws surrounding drugs have been met with resistance.

Treating it as a health problem and not a criminal issue is seen by many as the way forward, emulating the approach taken by Portugal. This revolutionary method was adopted as a policy in 2001.  The policy decriminalised all personal possession, consumption and acquisition of drugs. 

This approach removed the criminal nature associated with being caught using drugs. This health-based policy saw benefits with decreases in drug use, drug death and more people seeking treatment, leading to other countries wanting to adopt similar methods due to the popularity of the policy.

Scotland’s attempts to mitigate this crisis have seen campaigns supporting the idea of injecting clinics where users can safely dispose of needles. People in shops are also being trained on reversing opiate overdose with Naloxone kits. Despite the steps put forward by the Scottish govt on proposed Injecting clinics, this has been knocked back by the UK government. A working solution in countries such as Denmark and Canada is to keep needles off of streets, prevent unnecessary drug deaths and mitigate some of the dangers users may face when trying to inject.

The problems facing Scotland’s drug population were also exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic as places took steps to mitigate the spread of the virus. The isolation people had to undertake made things harder for many addicts who might have depended on social interactions or in-person meetings.

The Minister for Drug Policy Angela Constance has been in touch with the newly appointed Conservative MP Jeremy Quin, Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire in an attempt to collectively work to address and tackle drug use across the United Kingdom.  The UK government’s hardline approach to the drug policy published earlier this year appears to be a 3 tier structure starting with Fixed Penalty notices moving upwards in severity to mandatory drug testing and awareness courses and finally, formal court proceedings resulting in potential confiscation of Passport/Driving Licence.

News

Independence rallies held in Scottish cities after supreme court ruling.

By Gregor Boyd

After the report from the supreme court ruled that Scotland cannot hold a referendum without Westminster’s approval. Several rallies were held throughout various parts of Scotland including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Stirling.

The Stirling demo was small and didn’t have any official speakers from party affiliations despite purportedly being contacted. The demo’s low turnout was put down to the short notice of it.

One speaker gave a small speech before proceeding to pull out a guitar and play notable Scottish songs to get a singsong going. After offering up the platform for individuals to voice their consensus, one woman came up to speak, some technical difficulties arose which prevented a PA from being used so the women chose to speak without and encouraged unity.

The main theme of the demo was about uniting under a banner of independence from all party lines. The non-affiliated speaker took several potshots at SNP leadership which received some backlash from people within the crowd and the event fizzled out shortly after.

The demonstration went on with no major issues save for a couple of drive-by verbal heckles of God save the King.

Shortly after the ruling was returned, Nicola Sturgeon posted two tweets in response to the ruling stating that the UK supreme court doesn’t make law but only interprets it. As well as pointing out that a law that doesn’t allow Scotland to choose their own future without Westminster’s consent exposes as myth any notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership and makes the case for Independence.

She also noted that Scottish democracy will not be denied.

The event in Edinburgh was livestreamed online and featured several different speakers featuring Colin Fox of the SSP.

Large numbers turned out in Glasgow with various speakers and singers addressing a sea of saltire flags.

Over in Edinburgh, Nicola Sturgeon addressed a crowd of supporters outside of Holyrood and stated that “The UK is not a voluntary partnership of nations”.

It has been 8 years since Scotland voted to remain in the United Kingdom with a 55% vote returning No to the question of Scotland becoming independent.