End violence for next generation as justice secretary pledges £6m at summit
In these straitened times, additional public investment in our communities is to be welcomed.
Angela Constance, the Justice Secretary, yesterday announced £6million more will be spent directly funding youth-related activities across the country.
As the SNP minister admitted, such work goes a long way to help young Scots keep on the right side of the law.
The Record has repeatedly called for facilities like community centres and after-school clubs to be spared the devastating cuts we've seen to public services these last 15 years.
The decline in places for youngsters to socialise in a safe environment, off the streets, has been witnessed across the country. But we should not pretend £6million is a significant sum in the context of government spending.
It's not going to magically fix the years of decline in community services.
But it does represent a recognition that young people have been forgotten and marginalised too often by decision-makers at both local and national levels. The political debate in Scotland and across the UK often centres on how we can support older people.
The Record has tirelessly warned that a rise in violence in our schools is partly caused by the desperate situation many younger people find themselves in.
While violent behaviour cannot be condoned, we must accept that making life more difficult for younger people helps no one.
We must offer the next generation hope, not empty streets.
No SNP rammies
Some in the SNP are still trying to come to terms with their shock defeat at the Hamilton by-election last week.
Most pundits and pollsters didn't see the result coming.
But Labour stuck with its candidate, a well-known figure in the local community, and ran a highly effective campaign which ensured its supporters turned out on the day.
All parties in government suffer setbacks in by-elections, especially those who have been in power as long as the SNP. A couple of party veterans, who have stepped back from frontline
politics, have claimed it's time for John Swinney to go.
A few unnamed activists have said the same. But let's remember, he's only been in the job a little over a year.
Swinney and his ministers need to get on with running the country, not contesting another leadership battle.
Scotland can't be put on hold while SNP members have a rammy among themselves.
Let the people decide at next year's Holyrood elections who they want to run the country.
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