Parliament, IndyRef and Tax...with Meghan Gallacher

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The Scottish Parliament, despite being intended to be more family-friendly than Westminster, currently lags behind in terms of childcare support for its members. This was highlighted in a conversation between two MSPs, one of whom is a parent and finds the balance between her home life and parliamentary duties challenging. The creche facility in the Scottish Parliament, which is meant to help, only allows for 4 hours of use per day, making it an inadequate solution for many MSPs' needs. The MSPs are advocating for improvements, comparing the situation to Westminster, where childcare policies are considered more effective. The surprise and disappointment expressed by the MSPs illustrate the need for the Scottish Parliament to reconsider and enhance its childcare support to better accommodate its members and their families.

There are concerns about the lack of support and consideration for MSPs with young families in Scottish politics, and the atmosphere in the parliament is described as difficult and tribal. MSP Megan Marshall from the Scottish Conservatives shared her experience of having a sensible amendment on childcare issues being voted down simply because it was proposed by a Scottish Conservative MSP. The parliament seems to be dominated by the SNP and Greens, who don't need to rely on other political parties to make policies happen. This issue has been ongoing since the parliament's inception, with the Tory party often facing resistance from other parties. However, the debate on Scottish independence is seen as the major game changer in this context. The parliamentary authorities need to prioritize finding solutions to support MSPs with young families and create a more collegial and productive atmosphere in the parliament.

During Scotland's parliament from 2007 to 2011, when the SNP had less than a majority of seats, they were able to form alliances and work with other parties due to the low expectation of independence becoming a tangible threat. However, with the current SNP's majority and the Greens in government, Douglas Ross of the Scottish Conservatives suggested it would be impossible for such an arrangement to occur now. Ross also criticized the Greens for hindering progress on essential projects and causing economic issues. Despite Ross's call for the SNP to ditch the Greens, it seems unlikely as both the Conservatives and Labour stand to benefit politically from the current situation. To dispel the narrative of the SNP relying solely on the Greens, it would be wise for the SNP to seek cross-party agreements on certain legislative issues.

The SNP's unwillingness to work collaboratively with other parties on important issues, despite some good ideas being presented, is hindering progress in addressing significant problems, such as the cost of living crisis. This reluctance stems from political differences and the SNP's focus on their independence narrative. A potential solution could be setting aside political differences to tackle pressing issues, but the SNP's commitment to their independence agenda remains a significant barrier. This dynamic has been seen in the past, with the 2007-2011 period being a notable example, but the current context presents an opportunity to prioritize addressing pressing issues over political differences. However, asking the SNP to abandon their independence stance entirely is unrealistic. Instead, they should consider focusing less on independence as a central campaign issue and more on addressing the country's major challenges.

While the debate over Scottish independence continues to dominate the political landscape in Holyrood, there is a need for pragmatism and a focus on policy-making in the interim. The SNP, which strongly advocates for independence, recognizes the current unfeasibility of achieving it and is instead working on collaborative policies with other parties. The toxicity surrounding the independence referendum is expected to persist until a clear path to independence emerges. In the meantime, the SNP's leader, Humza Yousaf, is advised to focus on constructive policies in areas like immigration, green industrialization, and grid connections to improve Scotland's economy and establish himself as a capable leader, with a commitment to put independence to a referendum in 2026. Ultimately, the priority should be on making Scotland a better place to live, work, visit, and invest, building a strong record for the SNP in the process.

Political compromise and grown-up common sense are necessary for reducing toxicity and improving politics. However, despite the need for cooperation, the upcoming general election is expected to be highly contentious, with parties focusing on their priorities rather than finding common ground. The Scottish Conservatives, for instance, will continue to put forward their candidates, even in areas where they may not have a strong chance of winning. The speaker expressed hope for a more collaborative political environment but acknowledged the challenges ahead.

By-elections may generate heated debates and headlines, but their impact on the outcome of the general election is minimal. Instead, it's crucial for political parties to focus on significant issues that can positively impact Scotland's economy and society. The discussion highlighted the potential of immigration and devolving corporation tax as areas of agreement among parties. The test for political maturity lies in their ability to collaborate on these issues and move towards a more grown-up approach to politics. The upcoming by-election in Scotland is an opportunity to observe the political landscape leading up to the general election next year. However, the real challenge is for parties to put aside their differences and work together on issues that can bring about meaningful change for Scotland.

The current political climate is making it difficult for politicians to come together and have productive discussions on controversial policies due to polarization and party lines. This was highlighted in the recent by-election, where the outcome could significantly impact the Scottish National Party's approach leading up to the next general election in 2024. While some argue that the relationship between Holyrood and Westminster has historically been a weakness for certain parties, others believe that holding on to current seats is an opportunity to regain strength in future elections. Ultimately, the political landscape is complex, and the outcome of the upcoming general election remains uncertain.

The Scottish Conservatives are approaching the upcoming 2024 election with optimism, despite the challenges they faced in the previous elections. They believe they can capitalize on the SNP's perceived policy failures and are confident about holding their 6 seats and potentially gaining a few more. However, they acknowledge that their vote percentage may decrease since many voters in Scotland had previously supported them due to their perceived strength in preventing Scottish independence and their presence in Downing Street. Douglas Ross's economic plan, "Grasping the Thistle," aims to keep taxes in Scotland competitive with the rest of the country and even lower them when financially feasible to attract individuals and businesses. The Scottish Conservatives are focusing on a positive message and looking forward to the election, although they are aware of the challenges they face in retaining their seats in the long term.

The Scottish Conservatives are proposing a new approach to taxation with the goal of making Scotland an attractive place to live, invest, and visit. They believe the SNP's tax policies are hurting the middle class and could push more people into poverty. The Conservatives have released a document outlining their plans and have received positive feedback from critics. Scotland is facing a decline in working age population, and the Conservatives are open to discussions about attracting immigrants and improving infrastructure in rural areas to keep talent there. They recognize the need for more comprehensive discussions on these topics.

Scotland's economic growth is a significant challenge, and to address it, the Tory party needs to deliver for rural communities, attract and retain talent, and undercut England's taxes to attract businesses. Megan, a Scottish Tory MSP, agrees that the party needs to offer an alternative vision and believes the recent document was a good start to the discussion. However, she is not yet fully convinced about devolving all fiscal levers from Westminster to Scotland. The debate on fiscal autonomy versus independence is expected to continue, with potential clear differences between the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Tories on taxation.

Megan Gallagher, the deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives and MSP for the central region, was a guest on the Hollywood Sources podcast. The discussion focused on Hamza Yousuf's plans for the Scottish government as he outlined them in his program for government. The podcast will analyze these plans in detail and welcome listeners' reactions and questions. The podcast can be subscribed to for ad-free listening on Apple or Cast. Additionally, the sponsors for the episode were UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans and 1-800-Flowers.com. The former offers flexible and budget-friendly health insurance, while the latter is a one-stop-shop for celebrating all special occasions with flowers, treats, food, and gifts. For Mother's Day, 1-800-Flowers.com is offering up to 40% off on select Mother's Day items.