Allan Campbell - 4.7.24

Tro na seachdainean gu ruige an latha an-diugh tha tagraichean air a bhith a’ gealltainn atharrachaidhean, leasachaidhean, agus adhartachadh. Saoilidh mi nach eil duine aca air breug innse, ach aig an aon àm tha casaidean air na prìomh phartaidhean gum bheil iad air a bhith cleith fiosrachadh a thaobh ghearraidhean a dh’fheumas tachairt gus an cuid gheallaidhean a choileanadh! Thathas a’ fàgail air cuid eile de phartaidhean gum bheil iad a’ dèanamh gheallaidhean nach gabhadh coileanadh air sgàth na chosgadh iad, aig àm far am bheil airgead poblach cho gann.

Tha leithid sin de “fhìrinn” a’ ciallachadh gum faodadh rudeigin a gheall tagraiche a bhith air a chall, agus an neach sin a’ fulang droch chliù air sgàth cho-dhùnaidhean air nach robh smachd sam bith aige. Leis an ìre de mhì-chinnt a th’ againn ann am modh-giùlain an t-saoghail, agus a’  bhuaidh a dh’fhaodadh sin a thoirt air riaghladh na dùthcha againn fhìn, dh’fhaodadh mòran co-dhùnadh gum bheil bhòt sam bith dìreach mar gheall a chuirte, agus gum bheil dòchas air buannachadh a cheart cho mì-choltach!

’S coma ciamar a thèid dhan taghadh gu nàiseanta tha fios is cinnt gum bheil bliadhnaichean dùbhlanach romhainn fhathast mus fàs eaconamaidh na dùthcha chun na h-ìre a leigeadh leis an Riaghaltas coinneachadh ris an seòrsa ìrean leasachadh buidseit a tha a dhìth air leithid Seirbheis na Slàinte. 

Ach chan eil gin de na dùbhlain sin nan adhbhair co-dhùnadh gun bhòtadh idir agus tha mi gar brosnachadh sin a dhèanamh, agus cò aige tha fios nach buannaich an t-each agaibh rèis neo dhà!   Mar a tha fìor a thaobh farpais sam bith, feumaidh tu pàirt a ghabhail gus cothrom a bhith agad buannachadh!

It’s General Election day, have you been to vote yet?  While casting your vote isn’t compulsory it is a valuable democratic right to nominate your choice of MP, and the party of government for the next five years.  Following today’s election many people will welcome a respite from political debate in the media and on the streets, and I suspect some candidates will also breathe a sigh of relief irrespective of their success or disappointment. 

Westminster is a challenging and demanding environment for MPs, and even when they “escape” to constituencies they must make time to meet and hear all constituents, not just supporters. Party and independent candidates will have made many promises as they campaigned, and most will have been honest in their aspirations. Meanwhile some of the main parties have been accused of failing to be totally transparent regarding the funding of their proposals, and the likelihood of service cuts or tax increases. Some party proposals are undeliverable at a time when public finance is under so much pressure. These realities could mean that successful MPs might find promises they gave will not be delivered, and their reputations damaged as a result of decisions beyond their control.

At a time of much uncertainty in world affairs and the potential impact on this country’s, some people might feel that casting a vote would be little different to placing a wager on a horse, with a similar chance of benefit!  Irrespective of the outcome of the General Election it seems likely this country will face many more challenging years before our economy recovers to a level which will enable serious new investment in such as our national health service!

However, none of these challenges justify a decision to not cast a vote, and I encourage you all to do so, and who knows your “horse” may storm home to win!  As is true in all competitions, you have to participate to have any chance of winning!