The past year has been an extremely long one for the Scottish people.
From September last year, until today, there have been many factors which have contributed to the shifting opinions and interests of those who live within our borders.
Since choosing to decline the offer of independence in September 2014, it is clear that the opinions of many Scots has changed as a result of trust being lost and promises being broken by politicians and public figures alike.
Devolution Max, protection of the NHS and “faster, safer and better change” were all promised just two days before the Independence Referendum. One year on, the Scottish Parliament is still waiting for powers, or the very few that have been agreed, to be transferred; the NHS has been threatened by the process of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); and poverty continues to be a prominent issue in communities up and down Scotland.
It is no wonder that at the next given opportunity, Scotland did all it could to get back at ‘Westmonster’ as many have rebranded it. In May of this year, the fight was on to show the UK that we are not here to be laughed at. We mean business, and we couldn’t be any more serious about it.
With a total of 56 out of 59 constituencies in Scotland returning a majority of votes for the SNP, it is clear that Scotland wants what is best for us – and we are clear on who we trust to deliver.
Since they started, the Scottish National Party have always been a minority party – one which was there, but was never highly voted for by the public. It wasn’t until the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999 that they were voted in as the largest opposition against Labour on devolved issues in Scotland.
2007 saw the first SNP Scottish Government but only, again, as a minority as no other party were willing to join forces with them to form a coalition. Over their first term, with Alex Salmond as First Minister, support rocketed for the party and by the following election, in 2011, the SNP managed to secure enough votes to become an overall majority government in a voting system which was designed to prevent just that.
Under Salmond’s leadership the SNP have delivered on many of their promises to the Scottish people: free education; no prescription charges; free school meals for young primary children; subsidised costs to save thousands from the bedroom tax – the list goes on.
The SNP delivered one of the most democratic, and engaging political campaigns ever seen, and excited an entire generation by involving them in making decisions about their future.
Since last year’s referendum, possibly the biggest success of the party, is the delivery of votes for sixteen-year olds in all future Scottish elections. An impressive referendum campaign proved that young people are passionate about politics and they recognised that this must continue. Thanks to the Scottish National Party, Scotland is now one of the most democratic countries in the world.
Whether you are a supporter of the SNP or not, it does not matter. Whether you engage yourself in politics or not, it does. We have the opportunity to shape our own future as well as the future for our children, so get involved, see what’s going on, and always use your vote.
Featured photo by Ivaylo Andreev.
