Truth and transparency

Yesterday I made a speech at the SCVO annual summit in Glasgow criticising the Labour party for having caused the context for the SNP to have made so much of the Council Tax freeze. You can read the whole speech here and see the coverage here

I said that the biggest drivers for change in politics are values like fairness and justice. Everyone knew that the Council tax was seen as unfair. We even said so in the Edinburgh Labour manifesto. The Labour Party had no clear alternative that was seen as fairer so the SNP were given free rein to waltz in with its Council tax freeze, despite the fact their own advisor Professor David Bell now tells us that it will mean that rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer, see here

All of this however, and most other political stories have been lost in the headlines over the debacle facing the Labour party over more and more allegations over the legality of donations the Party has received. Trust is built on honesty, openness and our actions reflecting than our words. We need to voluntarily expose all donations to public scrutiny quickly and completely. These recent times have destroyed the good work of the last 6 months rebuilding after the election. Only quick, decisive actions with real integrity will draw the line we so desperately need under this sorry tale.