Change has come to Glasgow with Labour

With Keir Starmer as our new Prime Minister and Anas Sarwar leading Scottish Labour, there is also an emerging plan and a vision for potential change at a Scottish Government level.  

The greatest possible change lies at the heart of our communities. Glasgow is a cosmopolitan city with a wealth of cultural heritage – diverse communities have shaped its rich tapestry into the modern, progressive city it is today.  

Many residents in communities speak of the bygone era of overcrowded and substandard living conditions like the Gorbals which have now become historical memories at family dinner tables.  

Many families now experience the struggles of affording rent and paying bills. With no clear way forward – a huge cut to the housing budget by the Scottish Government – has resulted in an increasing lack of social housing despite the declaration of a housing emergency.  

The daily headlines highlight the alarming rates of homelessness among children and families in Glasgow. Research has shown the detrimental impact homelessness can have on children’s development and wellbeing. This is an unacceptable scandal. If the Scottish Government genuinely views this as the emergency it is, it must build more affordable homes urgently.

We know that education is the route out of poverty. Sadly, education opportunities are fading because of a decade of cuts to further education, unfair pay for staff, and a growing gap between the richest and poorest students. It feels like we are in spiralling decline.

As deputy leader of Glasgow Labour, I’m proud to have taken forward ideas to tackle the housing crisis. This includes reclaiming empty homes and turning them into productive use, urging the city council to declare a housing emergency and requesting an action plan for alternative temporary housing for the homeless. I have also been campaigning for powers for Compulsory Sales Orders. Though progress from the SNP/Green administration is woefully slow.

As an educator having taught in our city colleges, I have seen the importance of protecting the future of our young people and the staff supporting them. I have stood with Labour colleagues on the picket lines demanding a fair pay deal for staff, campaigned for the city council to reverse cuts to programs supporting vulnerable students, argued against cuts to teacher numbers and advocated for fairer and more equal opportunities for diverse communities.

But here’s the concern: as much as change is sweeping Downing Street, some things are unlikely to change in the City Chambers. It is predictable that as the housing crisis worsens, and young people worry about their futures, the voices in the Chambers will be more concerned with keeping power than addressing these pressing issues. Soundbite politics does not improve lives.

I am the daughter of a Pakistani migrant family who came to Scotland in the 70s. I grew up in a tenement in Anderston. Education was key to our social mobility. I was the first person in my family to go to university, earning my doctorate and embarking on a career in teaching.

I do wonder if my story will be replicated today. Putting aside the toxic narrative around immigration, we need to ensure every child has a good home and an education to lift them out of poverty and improve their life chances in an ever-competitive world.