Unlocking the Entrepreneurial Spirit and Innovation of Scotland’s Women

Last week in Parliament (Tuesday 2^nd June) I was pleased to be able to speak in a debate in my role as Scottish Labour’s Shadow Minister for Youth and Women’s Employment on the “Scotland CAN DO Action Framework” which was published by the Scottish Government last year.

It sets out how the Government aims to make Scotland a leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation.

I believe that as a society, we should be grateful for the contribution of our entrepreneurs and I admire the spirit that they have shown to get where they are.

However, we must also recognise that nobody, no matter how successful they are, got there alone.

This was of course highlighted by President Obama on his campaign tour of the United States in 2012, in his so called “You didn’t build that” speech. The president was chastised by the rival Republican campaign as playing down entrepreneurs and their contribution to American society.

In fact, the point he was making was a sensible one that we would do well to remember.

Those who have achieved success should be congratulated for it but it should never be forgotten that our public services built the schools that taught them, the hospitals that cared for them and all of the other services that they have relied upon. By all means, recognise the efforts and drive of the “go-getters”, but the contributions of the public and private sector workers who helped them to get where they are today are just as worthy of our adulation.

The aspiration to maximise the potential of entrepreneurs for the betterment of our entire society is undoubtedly shared by all political parties and across Scotland.

I have said it before and I really mean it: our Parliament works best when we come together across party lines and work towards improving the lot of our constituents.

However as the Opposition, it is the Scottish Labour Party’s obligation to hold the Government to account because at the moment, the enterprise and growth that we so badly need is not serving everyone in our communities. In particular, women still face massive challenges.

• As of 2013, only 7.8% of women were self-employed, compared with a figure of 15% for men.
• Statistics from the close the gap partnership project indicate that only one third of chief executive officers in Scotland are women.
• If rates of women-led businesses equalled those of men, the contribution to Scotland’s gross value added would increase by £7.6 billion to nearly £13 billion. This equates to a 5.3% growth in the size of the Scottish economy.

It is also important to note that in the fast-growing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector, the scale of occupational segregation is truly astonishing.

• Last year, only 68 out of 24,000 engineering apprentices were female.
• 85% of those doing IT courses at school are male.
• The Government’s 2015 “Maximising Economic Opportunities for Women in Scotland” report demonstrated that 73% of female STEM graduates do not work in the field after graduation.

It used to be that advances in science and technology liberated women, but now they have the potential to hold them back.

All the signs suggest that the jobs of the future will come from the industries that women are less likely to work in. If we are not careful, we will lock women out of those career paths and trap them in traditional roles, which are all too often low paid and low skilled. Even the Government’s flagship modern apprenticeship programme seems to have only reinforced gender segregation; in 2012-13 98% of construction apprentices were male and 97% of children’s care apprentices were female.

We must also recognise the damaging impact that the cuts to college places have had on women’s prospects of studying STEM subjects: since 2007-08, there has been a drop of 41% in the number of women at college.

With damaging cuts like that, how can we expect women to fulfil their promise?

On average, women working full time in Scotland earn £95.60 a week less than their male counterparts and it is still common for women to take a cut in their pay grade and job status in order to find suitable flexible work. Until we right those wrongs, we will never unlock the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of 50% of our population.

Scotland can do, but must do more.

 

You can read my speech in full here. 

 

 

 

 

Backing the ‘Make Renting Right’ Campaign

I was pleased to back Shelter Scotland’s new national campaign, Make Renting Right, which aims to make Scotland’s growing private rented sector fit for families and fairer for all.

The Make Renting Right campaign, launched outside the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 28^th October, aims to raise awareness of and build public support for reforming the outdated private tenancy regime which sees too many households forced from pillar to post on short term rental agreements.

A chronic shortage of affordable social housing has driven more and more people into Scotland’s private rented sector, which is now home to 312,000 families and individuals, with more than 80,000 private lets now housing families with children. However, the sector’s outdated tenancy regime is not suited to providing a safe and secure environment for people to put down stable foundations in their communities.

It was disappointing that the SNP voted against Scottish Labour’s amendments to the recent Housing Bill which would have improved the position of tenants in the private rented sector. I sincerely hope that they seriously consider the aims of this campaign and take the action sooner rather than later.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, says:

“We want to see a private rented sector that is fit for families and protects all tenants – a sector that provides long-term homes, not short-term housing.

“Short-term tenancy agreements do not provide the stability and security individuals and, in particular, the more than 80,000 families with children need in order to live a settled life.

“Too often we hear of people being moved on, evicted or rents increased unreasonably, forcing people into the disruptive cycle of having to move house – every six months in some cases – preventing them from ever being able to put down strong roots and being part of a community.”

“In the 21^st century, we need a private rented sector that is modern, stable, flexible, predictable and fair for those individuals and families that call it home.

“The benefits of reform would not just be felt by tenants, however. Landlords too would see a more constant and predictable income with less downtime between rents and happier more stable relationships with their tenants.

“That’s why we are asking for people to support our campaign to positively reform the private rented sector and turn it into a place where the increasing numbers of people who rely on it can make a house a home and live with increased security and dignity.”

The Make Renting Right campaign from Shelter Scotland coincides with the Scottish Government’s consultation on proposals to reform tenancies in the private rented sector and builds on the charity’s previous campaigns in the sector.

Shelter Scotland’s key asks for reforming the sector include:

• A modern tenancy agreement that gives both tenants and landlords security
• More stability for people wanting to make rented housing their home
• Flexibility for those who want to stay in rented home to do so for as long as they want
• A better system for sorting out renting problems
• A structure for more predictable rent rises should they be required

 

Council results show real progress…but we must continue to listen and learn

The recent local council results made for good reading for Labour politicians, supporters and activists.

It was great to see so much hard work rewarded, and I am pleased that Labour has decisively maintained control in battleground seats such as Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, and retained a substantial controlling presence in South Lanarkshire and Falkirk. And it would be remiss to omit the power sharing arrangement between Labour and the SNP in Edinburgh; a good example of politicians putting rivalries aside and the people first.

Whatever the SNP now claim, they will undoubtedly be disappointed with how things went. That they believed they could take Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, and a host of other councils was an open secret; but, in the event, Labour’s simple message of more jobs and better local services resounded with the electorate.

The week before the election I observed that the SNP was becoming complacent, a view perhaps shared by some voters. It is essential that, having made good progress, Labour does not fall into the same trap.

We must deliver on our election promises, and continue to listen to, and learn from, the electorate.

Cut to bus grant could harm local services

Over the past few weeks, I have been struck by the number of constituents, in Central Scotland and elsewhere, who have expressed real concern about the provision of bus services within local communities.

Studies have shown that bus journey’s account for approximately 85% of all public transport journeys taken in Scotland, and that access to local bus services is especially crucial for the elderly and those on low incomes.

I recently visited a group of constituents in Airdrie whose travel opportunities are limited by irregular service along daytime routes, and scant provision of evening bus servies. They also expressed concern about recent price rises along certain routes.

That is why the decision by the SNP Government to cut the Bus Services Operators’ Grant by 20%, and to change the way in which it is calculated, is so misguided. Formerly, the grant was calculated accorded to fuel expenditure; now, following the recent rise in fuel duty and prices (average diseal prices increased by 14.7% last year), the grant will be calculated according to mileage.

In addition to this, the Scottish Government’s decision to impose a cap on the National Concessionary Travel Scheme will place further pressure on bus operators, especially given that current projections suggest that this year’s scheme will exceed the £180 million budget by around £6 million.

I and my Labour colleagues believe that the Scottish Government should be investing in the public transport infrastructure. Instead, it has chosen to reduce a grant that helps to maintain local services and prevents fares from escalating.

Sadly, it is likely to be passengers that bear the brunt of the SNP’s folly, and that is why Scottish Labour is backing the numerous campaigns that have sprung up throughout Scotland to support local bus services and condemn SNP cuts.

Sectarianism Bill should have been kicked out of play

Members of the Supporters Group wearing the t-shirts that led to them being banned from the chamber

I am extremely disappointed that, despite my pleas to SNP Members to vote with their consciences, and in the face of widespread political and public opposition, they voted on masse to pass the Scottish Government’s deeply flawed Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications Bill.

As I pointed out in my speech during the Stage 3 Debate, the Bill fails to offer any definition of what constitutes sectarian or offensive behaviour. It is far too narrow, and does not advance any strategy for dealing with sectarianism in a broader societal context.

One requires only the most cursory knowledge of Scottish football to appreciate that whilst some songs, chants and slogans are brazenly aggressive and discriminatory, others are not. The police already have powers to arrest people for offensive acts at football games; powers which they repeatedly fail to exercise.

Whatever new powers we grant them, the police will never eradicate sectarianism in football grounds, as they are dealing with symptoms, not causes. Until we recognise that sectarianism is a societal problem that requires a sophisticated response, we will never overcome it.

In stark contrast to this Bill, Scottish Labour’s 11 point Action Plan features a raft of innovative proposals, including a comprehensive review of how educators can promote religious and cultural tolerance.

Perhaps we could start by not denying football supporters their democratic right to sit in the public gallery of the Scottish Parliament Chamber for the innocuous offence of wearing t-shirts bearing the collective slogan “Fans not Criminals”. I do not know who was responsible for this outragous decision – although I have my suspicions – and I will be very interested to see what the Presiding Officers have to say for themselves.

The only way that we will rid ourselves of sectarianism is to broadcast the message, loud and clear: in 21^st Century Scotland, sectarianism, like racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia, is utterly unacceptable.

The debate can be viewed in full here.

Why I’m supporting Johann Lamont for Labour leader

Siobhan with Jiohann Lamont MSP

On Monday I attended the official launch of Johann Lamont MSP’s campaign to be elected as the next leader of Labour in Scotland.

I am delighted to say that the launch, held at Stirling University, was a great success: Johann spoke with passion and eloquence, and her speech was well received by the many MSPs, MPs, Union officials and party members who turned out to support her.

During her speech and the question and answer session that followed, Johann outlined her vision for Labour over the next few years and, whilst she did not shirk the many challenges that face us, both as a party and as a country, her message was one of hope; hope of what we can achieve if we unite in our commitment to make Scotland a fairer and more equal society:

“I believe we must change as a party if we are to once more earn the right to serve Scotland.

We must listen and learn, show humility and seek again to talk for and to people’s ambitions and concerns.

We must rediscover our story of a party created out of a vision for a fair society, sustained by our aspiration to serve all of Scotland.

In that way, in embracing change, we seek the opportunity to represent the people of Scotland, refreshed and renewed and ready to serve.”

Having known Johann for several years, I can testify to her passion for politics and her commitment to social justice. Since becoming an MSP she has worked tirelessly in service of the causes she believes in, and she has the knowledge, the strength and the talent to achieve her aims.

Johann spent many more years as a teacher than she has as an MSP, and this experiennce has and will continue to serve her well. She is well known as a champion of single parents and carers, and is a natural communicator with a gift for empathy and understanding.

I can honestly say that I believe she is, without doubt, the right candidate for the job. If, like me, you want to see a strong and united Labour party in a strong and equal Scotland, than I urge you to join me, and support Johann Lamont MSP for Labour leader in Scotland.