Swinney must be laser-focused on delivery, nothing else will do - leader comment

(Pic: Steve Welsh/PA)

John Swinney’s Programme for Government tomorrow will be a big indication of how the next five years will go. Are we set for a parliament of inertia or will the SNP leader use the huge opportunity of a hopelessly fragmented opposition to drive real change. 

The challenge could not be more stark, and the normal service of blame Westminster and agitate will not do as we approach 20 years of an SNP government. 

The First Minister says today he will bring about “radical change” and has pledged “significant” reform of public services.

Now, we are well used to grand SNP promises, followed by an abject failure to do anything. This time round, there must be a laser-focus on delivery.

Says Mr Swinney: “I think this represents a moment in which we have to embrace very actively public service reform and that will be at the heart of the programme.”

As the Auditor General for Scotland Stephen Boyle recently warned, the “devil will be in the detail”. “Setting out that goals will be achieved by the end of this parliament will not be enough

“Without clear priorities, robustly costed and adequately resourced policies, agreed delivery timelines, and well understood measures of success, meaningful reform will be difficult to deliver.”

Scotland faces a projected near £5 billion black hole in the budget by the end of the decade, and something has to change. 

Reform of Scotland’s bloated public sector may be painful, but it is absolutely essential. That, hand in hand with a clear focus on growing economy and removing the barriers to investment which still exist must be pursued relentlessly.

At the start of a new parliament, Mr Swinney has an opportunity and a choice. Sit back and enjoy the underwhelming mandate given by a fed-up electorate, or grab hold of the agenda, put identity politics to one side, and make the changes which will genuinely improve lives for every Scot. 

We very much hope he will choose the latter.  

The boy has done well

Well done to Jacob McDonald who is walking round every professional football ground in Scotland in memory of his late mother. 

The 10-year-old is ticking off the 42 pitches to raise money for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust in honour of his mother, Vivienne, who died of the condition when Jacob was just 18 months old.

And it is an added challenge because he has sensory issues, finding bright light and noise difficult to be around.

His dad Kenny says today: “He’s an incredible boy – a real inspiration. He really wanted to do this challenge for his mum, and we’re both so determined to complete all 42.”

Delightfully he adds the football cliche that Jacob is taking it one game at a time. 

To that, we would add, the boy has done well, and he’s certainly given 110 per cent. 

All the best to him for the rest of the season, and we are sure the fundraising total will continue to shoot up as he completes his mammoth task.