MacAskill Warns Parliament Against “Resting on it's Laurels While Scotland is in Industrial and Social Crisis”

“The Parliament should remember the words of Eddie Morgan about a “nest of fearties” and a “phalanx of forelock tuggers”

Former Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, has cautioned the Scottish Parliament against “resting on past glories while modern Scotland is in industrial and social crisis”

The Deputy Leader of the ALBA Party who was an MSP for the first 16 years of the Parliament said:

“It is perfectly fine to celebrate this silver anniversary but current MSPs should get real about what is happening in the Scotland of today.

The advance publicity for this Royal occasion from the Scottish Government focussed on past progress of the Parliament - free education, the Queensferry crossing, equal marriage - virtually all of which were the achievements of Alex Salmond’s administration from 2007-2014.

It is true that in these days there was a sense of real progress and the people were proud of their Parliament as it ran the country effectively and pushed towards independence.

However, right now Grangemouth, the largest industrial complex in Scotland is threatened with imminent closure while Scottish pensioners are facing a freezing winter in this land of energy plenty.

In response to these great issues of today the activism and optimism which once prevailed in our Parliament has been replaced by immobilisation and pessimism as MSPs seem to stand by helplessly while Scotland is in industrial and social crisis.

They should remember the words of the Scots Maker Eddie Morgan on the opening of the new Parliament building. He said that the Scottish people do not want a “nest of fearties” or a “phalanx of forelock-tuggers”

Any Parliament must constantly earn its spurs and this one must beware resting on its laurels while Scotland faces industrial and social crisis”