STANDING UP TO RACISM

It has been a difficult and distressing period since the horrific events in Southport last Monday.

The killing of three young girls – Bebe, Elise and Alice – was senseless and heart-breaking.

As a country, the focus should have been on mourning their loss, but instead we have witnessed violence perpetrated by people who have taken advantage of a horrific situation.

The Prime Minister and government – and decent people across the country – have been clear in calling this violence out for what it is. This is not protest. It is far-right thuggery, crime and violent disorder.

It is racist and Islamophobic violence, designed to intimidate Muslim and minority ethnic members of our communities, to turn neighbour against neighbour, and to stoke hatred, fear and division.

And so I am heartened to hear the Prime Minister make absolutely clear that those responsible will face the full force of the law, and will come to deeply regret what they have done.

A message must be sent that this behaviour will never be tolerated in a civilised and law-abiding society.

That the tragedy in Southport has been exploited by the far-right in this way is sickening. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of those victims.

It is also right to stand with affected communities across our country, and in Inverclyde specifically, at this moment. Many are feeling fearful and vulnerable now.

I am proud to see many people in Inverclyde – who have written to me this week and who have spoken out – condemning this violence, making clear it has no place in our community and ensuring that the politics of hate and division will never win.

Inverclyde can be proud of being an open and welcoming community over many years.

In recent times we have welcomed people from many backgrounds who have settled happily and become valued members of our communities.

But we are not immune from those seeking to spread hatred, division and fear amongst us. I vividly remember in 2022 finding a far right recruiting poster plastered onto a bus shelter in Gourock. And just this week, racist graffiti was daubed in Port Glasgow.

We must therefore continue to underline that there is absolutely no place for Islamophobia or any form of racism in our community.

No one should face abuse or threats of violence because of their religion or the colour of their skin. We all have a responsibility to say clearly that racism in all its forms has no place in our society.

BUILDING BRIDGES WITH OUR TRADE UNIONS

I am delighted to be a member of a Labour government that this week has begun to roll back years of anti-worker legislation passed by the previous Tory government.

A case in point is the law passed last year on so-called ‘minimum service levels’ for striking workers. This pointless gimmick may have thrown some red meat to the Tory party faithful, but otherwise it has succeeded only in curtailing the rights of workers while poisoning industrial relations. It was both ineffective and inflammatory – and this week it was consigned to history.

The last government presided over the worst set of strikes in a generation, causing chaos and misery for the British public and wreaking havoc on the public finances.

The repeal of this toxic legislation – which, tellingly, was never even used – is an example of how this new government aims to reset industrial relations across this country to the benefit of both workers and the wider public.

This is a government not of dividing lines and cheap political point-scoring, but of practical action and public service.

INVERCLYDE WORDS FESTIVAL

The first Inverclyde Words Festival is today from 10.30am – 3pm in the walled garden at Gourock Park.

The new event plans to celebrate the power of words and will showcase work from the Inverclyde Shed and there will be Bookbug sessions throughout the day.