By Councillor Simon Watson

Working people and their families are struggling. The cost-of-living crisis is biting deeply; decent, affordable housing is scarce and rents are high; schools are crumbling; hospital waiting lists are years-long and it’s hard to see a GP in person; and public transport is poor and expensive. In the North-East of Scotland Region, the promises of a Just Transition and a future for the energy workers sound hollow.

But significant power over these vital issues is devolved, and making a difference is down to the will of the Scottish Parliament. The money is there – in 2024 the Scottish Trades Union Congress found an extra £3.7 billion in taxes that the Scottish government could raise using its existing powers.

What is missing is the vision of a better Scotland, the drive to use the public sector as a driving force for change, and the courage to face down opposition from vested interests. I am committed to pressing for that change in the Labour Party.

We can deliver quality jobs for our children’s future.  But leaving this to the private sector has failed so far.  A clear publicly-led strategy is essential, backed up by industrial planning and public ownership and investment.

But talk is cheap and many people are deeply cynical of politicians.  We need to change so that communities can see our elected representatives standing side by side with them. MSPs have a technical job to do in Holyrood, but also a wider public political job as tribunes for the causes that communities fight for.

As a councillor, I have worked side-by-side with the Torry community which was ripped apart by the RAAC housing crisis.  I moved motions in council to support and defend them and get justice.  But I was also with them in their meetings and demonstrations, and took forward demands that we developed together.

Likewise, I have stood side by side with community campaigners opposing the concreting over of the beautiful St Fitticks Park.  I leafleted houses in Ferryhill alongside campaigners to defend our local library against closure, and worked with Living Rent activists to get the council to tackle unfair rents.  As a trade unionist, I was an organiser of the “Aberdeen is Jist Scunnered” anti-poverty campaign group.

As a trade union organiser in my day job, I have led winning campaigns for workers to keep parking rights at the local hospital, and for school staff to get better pay.

The threat of Reform is now real, and those who use racist scapegoating as an alternative to actual change are stalking our streets. There can and must be an alternative for Labour, and I will help bring that about.

Simon Watson is a Labour Aberdeen City Councillor. Labour members in North East Scotland have the chance to back a principled socialist by putting Simon Watson as their first preference.