The Holyrood election result has been described as a disaster for Scottish Labour, with Anas Sarwar's party suffering its worst-ever performance. The party slumped to 16 per cent on the regional lists and recorded its fifth consecutive defeat at a Holyrood poll. Since 1999, Labour has lost support at every Scottish Parliament election.
What is particularly alarming, according to observers, is the silence that has followed the defeat. Losing an election should prompt a thorough post-mortem to identify what went wrong and how to fix it. However, senior Scottish Labour figures have remained quiet, appearing to pretend that nothing bad happened on May 7.
Candidate Jack McConnel has launched a campaign for an independent Scottish Labour party, a move that is seen as timely. The key factor behind the defeat, he argues, was the poor performance of Keir Starmer's UK Government and the mistakes it has made. The election was practically unwinnable for Labour because it was judged in relation to the UK party.
The idea of breaking away to form a new, fresh centre-left party that supports the UK is gaining traction. Supporters believe Scottish Labour should be judged on its own merits, rather than being used as mid-term whipping boys for the UK Government. If the party continues as before, it could record an even poorer result in 2031.
McConnel has come forward with a bold plan, and his colleagues should debate it in good faith. The status quo is not an option, and Scottish Labour needs a radical rethink to regain voter trust.
Blight of Blades
Knife violence is out of control, and the SNP urgently needs to get a grip. The past week has seen two appalling stabbing cases come before the courts. Two teenagers were found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy on a beach in North Ayrshire in 2025. Another teenager who murdered a man with a hunting knife was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years.
Knife crime is a complex issue requiring a range of policies, from tougher punishments to better youth services. New Justice Secretary Neil Gray's assertion that he will consider knife amnesties is a welcome move. While the sale of knives is already illegal, too many young people persist in carrying blades. Handing over blades without fear of punishment would take more knives off the street and should happen as soon as possible.
Teenagers and their parents are scared of the blight of knife crime, and nothing should be ruled out to combat this scourge.
