Summit attendees must be ready for ‘hard conversations’, says union leader

Attendees at a summit held by the First Minister to counter the far right must “be ready to have hard conversations about how we got here”, the leader of the STUC has said.

John Swinney called the meeting earlier this year as he sought to “lock out” Reform UK from Holyrood.

In a statement before the summit on Wednesday, STUC general secretary Roz Foyer stressed the event – which will bring together political and faith leaders and trade unions – cannot be a “talking shop”.

But Reform UK held the “political class” responsible for the surge it has seen in support in the past year, with repeated polls suggesting the Nigel Farage-led party are on course to return MSPs at Holyrood.

All of us, trade unions included, need to be ready to have hard conversations about how we got here and be ready to work on solutions that builds unity

“This summit must deliver and it’s entirely right that the First Minister has shown leadership and brought together figures from political and civic Scotland,” Ms Foyer said.

“But we cannot be complacent. This summit must not just be a business-as-usual gathering of groups who, no doubt, mean well but aren’t prepared to roll their sleeves up and tackle head-on the threat we are facing.

“All of us, trade unions included, need to be ready to have hard conversations about how we got here and be ready to work on solutions that build unity.”

Agreeing with Reform on the cause of the surge of support for the party, Ms Foyer added: “The far right are feeding like vultures off the alienation and desperation many feel within our communities.

“Legitimate fears and concerns on the economic precarity and insecurity many working-class people feel are being twisted into false and hateful narratives that must be countered.

“We know that centrist policies that prioritise the economic status quo has played a critical role in the rise of the far right.

“The lack of optimism for the future, with unaffordable energy bills, skyrocketing food prices and housing costs still stupidly expensive means workers are searching for hope where none yet exists within mainstream politicians.

“They must wake up and realise the lack of vision and hope coming from mainstream parties has pushed working people – out of frustration and desperation – to the political fringes.”

The union leader said: “This summit, therefore, from the First Minister cannot be a talking shop. We trust it won’t be.

“The time for talk is over. This is about action and tomorrow is just the start.”

A statement released by Reform UK ahead of the meeting welcomed “any serious attempt to reflect on the state of our national discourse”.

“But such a conversation must begin with a frank admission: the divisions we see today did not appear overnight,” the statement said.

“They are the natural consequence of years — even decades — of public policy failure, democratic distance and political evasion.

“This is not a problem caused by the public. It is a problem caused by those who have held office but not held themselves to account.

“Scotland’s public services are in disrepair. Trust in our institutions has weakened.

Communities across the country feel unseen, unheard, and unserved

“Communities across the country feel unseen, unheard and unserved. The working man, the struggling family, the pensioner who paid in their whole life – they look at the political class and ask: who is speaking for us?

“Too often, the answer has been: no-one.

“That is not division. That is disenchantment. It is not anger for anger’s sake — it is the quiet despair of a people who have been let down.”

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton accused Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay – who refused to attend the summit – of deciding to “skulk at home”.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “At this summit, I will make clear to the First Minister that the best way to win back many of those who feel disaffected is to deliver on the things that matter, like access to local healthcare, education and the cost of living.

“People have been let down by a slew of SNP failures in government, from ferries to drug deaths to long waits for treatment.

“You persuade no-one by labelling them or diminishing how they feel; you need to listen to them and govern well. That’s why in every corner of the country Liberal Democrats are working hard to get things done and make people’s lives better.”

Mr Swinney said: “As First Minister, I want Scotland to have strong and supportive communities, where people live in peace, and everyone has the opportunity to flourish.

“Today’s civic gathering aims to unite political and civic leaders, presenting a vital opportunity to agree a common approach to asserting the values of who we are as Scots, in order to bring people together and create a cohesive society where everyone feels safe and at home.”

Mr Findlay dismissed the summit as an “SNP, taxpayer-funded talking shop” and said it “gives John Swinney an opportunity to grandstand”.

He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “I would rather be focusing on the issues that matter to people – the NHS, schools, roads, keeping our streets safe.”

He added: “Would politicians’ time not be better spent trying to deal with these immediate and real-world issues?”