As we start 2023, now's a time for trying forward and setting new targets, making ready for contemporary challenges and going through the longer term with optimism and hope.
All of us begin each new 12 months with the hope that it will likely be higher than the final one, and I might be working to make that a actuality.
As a result of as we replicate on the final 12 months, there isn't a denying that this 12 months has been one other troublesome one for a lot too many individuals.
All over the world, together with in Ukraine, folks nonetheless stay with battle, persecution and oppression, and we stand in solidarity with all of them.
Right here in Scotland folks have been battling rising payments, elevated mortgage charges and an NHS in disaster.
However regardless of the challenges this 12 months has introduced, our communities – as all the time – have come collectively and finished their greatest to sort out these them head-on.
Whereas these hardships have revealed the weaknesses of our two governments, they've reminded us of the power of our communities.
There are the hardworking NHS employees going the additional mile for his or her sufferers.
There are the volunteers serving to our communities via the price of dwelling disaster.
There are the individuals who have opened their houses to Ukrainian refugees, providing these fleeing battle and oppression a life right here in Scotland.
All over the place you look Scotland is filled with compassion, expertise, and potential.
I'm fortunate sufficient to see this primary hand as I meet folks and communities throughout Scotland.
I travelled proper around the nation over the course of 2022, speaking to folks, households, charities and companies. Time and time once more I heard the identical overriding message: we're determined for change.
That’s true for communities throughout the UK.
From Glasgow to Gloucester, Liverpool to Loanhead, and Manchester to Musselburgh folks have had sufficient of the established order.
As a result of this isn’t nearly as good because it will get. We are able to have a contemporary begin. We are able to select to reject the politics of grievance and division.
Change is feasible, and our nation’s greatest days undoubtedly lie forward.
In order we enter 2023, let’s resolve to advocate for the change that this nation wants.
Let’s work collectively and battle for unity moderately than division.
We are able to come collectively to construct a brighter future for everybody.
I'm decided that subsequent 12 months generally is a higher one for all of these struggling – a 12 months stuffed with empathy, unity and hope.
Let’s ship the change that all of us wish to see.
So from our household to yours, I hope the New 12 months brings you peace, love, well being, happiness and success.
This 12 months, let’s not simply want for a greater future, let’s work collectively to construct one.
Glad New 12 months.
SNP should do higher on NHS
The disaster in our NHS has hung over the vacations.
The SNP have presided over years of decline in our NHS, however that is on a special scale altogether. The very survival of our NHS is now underneath menace.
That’s not simply my opinion – final week the chair of the BMA warned that "there isn't a manner that the NHS in Scotland can survive" in its present type.
We noticed A&E efficiency sink to its lowest level on document as soon as once more, leaving nearly 2,000 Scots in a single week languishing in ready rooms for greater than 12 hours.
We discovered QEUH administration ignored employees’s calls to declare a serious incident amid "grave issues" over affected person security.
Unimaginable NHS employees are the one factor standing in the best way of whole chaos. They're exhausted from continuously being pressured to go above and past to maintain sufferers secure – however in return they're being handled with whole contempt by the SNP.
Employees elevating the alarm in regards to the state of providers are ignored, whereas nurses’ are being pushed to strike because the SNP impose a pay deal on them as an alternative of negotiating honest pay and circumstances.
Our NHS deserves higher than this.
Skating expertise
Received to place my (non existent) ice skating expertise to the check this winter! Adventures with the youngsters are all the time the most effective a part of the vacations. I hope your Christmas and New 12 months have been stuffed with as many video games nights, motion pictures and chocolate as mine – however not with as many falls on the ice!
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