John Swinney's youth violence summit must deliver real change not just talk
John Swinney deserves credit when it comes to engaging with the public on the big issues facing the country.
Not every minister in his government is so willing when it comes to listening to voices who may not necessarily agree with their party line.
The SNP leader will host a summit on reducing youth violence across Scotland in a bid to prevent knife crime.
But mum Vicky Donald surely speaks for many when she voiced fears that nothing will be done. She has demanded urgent action and 'real change'.
The message is clear – John Swinney's latest summit can't be just another talking shop.
The Scottish Government has also pledged that funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will rise by seven per cent, after fears it faced a budget cut.
It comes in the wake of the tragic deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay, 15, and Kayden Moy, 16, who both died this year after being stabbed.
Another youth was also seriously injured but survived following an altercation in Edinburgh.
The Record has repeatedly reported that violence is a real problem in some secondary schools, with teachers seemingly powerless to punish the worst perpetrators.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Real action has to be taken so our youngsters can feel safe, whether they are in the classroom or out socialising.
The vast majority of young Scots are well-mannered and a credit to their families.
But a violent minority cannot be left to cause havoc and risk more lives being lost.
Be a donor hero
Giving blood is one of the easiest ways you can save someone else's life. It's a quick and painless process that the vast majority of adults could easily undertake a few times a year.
Appointments can now be made online, making donating even easier. There are many Scots who give blood regularly but the service can't rely on a few people doing all the work.
At least 10,000 new volunteers are needed to step up and help keep bloodstocks at their required levels.
More than half of regular donors are now aged 45 and over. Put simply, younger Scots need to be encouraged to step up and help save lives.
You never know when you or a loved one could require a blood transfusion. It's never too late to become a blood donor for the first time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
CalMac ferry Glen Rosa flooded in new Ferguson Marine setback
The latter did enter service between Troon and Arran in January this year, with Glen Rosa due to be delivered "no earlier" than April 2026. The ship was launched last year but The Times reports it has suffered a new setback. Read More: According to the newspaper, Glen Rosa's funnels were fitted purely for aesthetic purposes for the launch and the vents later had to be removed to fit components including engine parts. The gap was not sealed after the removal of the funnel and the ship was flooded by heavy rain on the Clyde two weeks ago. The total cost of the two ferries is now around £400million, well in excess of the £97m specified in the contract. Claire Baker, the Scottish Labour transport spokeswoman, told The Times: 'This is yet another embarrassing mishap in the SNP's seemingly endless ferry fiasco. The workers at this yard have been let down time and time again by the chaos created by those at the top, including the SNP government.' Sue Webber, the Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for transport, said: 'There seems to be no end to the mishaps afflicting the Glen Rosa. This latest fiasco with its funnels should have been easily avoided.'
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
SNP calls on Labour to match Scottish Government action on poverty
Almost two million families would be lifted out of poverty if Labour matched Scottish Government action on the issue, the SNP has claimed. Ahead of the UK spending review, the SNP asked the House of Commons Library to produce an independent analysis on the number of British children in poverty and the impact that replicating Scottish Government policies across the UK would have. The research showed 1.83 million families would be lifted out of poverty if policies were matched, including abolishing the two-child benefit cap, scrapping the bedroom tax and raising the child element of Universal Credit to match the Scottish child payment, according to the SNP. Statistics showed a third of British children were anticipated to be living in poverty by 2029-30 unless action was taken. Sir Keir Starmer was urged to act on the figures ahead of the UK spending review on Wednesday amid warnings the number of British children living in poverty is expected to rise to a record 4.6 million by 2029-30. Over the past decade, the number of children living in poverty has risen from 3.7 million (27%) in 2013/14 to 4.5 million (31%) in 2023/24, the SNP said. The SNP said Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is falling, due to 'bold' policies such as the Scottish child payment of £27.15 per child, per week, paid in addition to other benefits. Replicating it UK-wide, by raising the child element of Universal Credit by the same amount, would lift 732,000 families out of poverty, including a further 38,000 families in Scotland, analysis showed. The SNP said it has also mitigated the bedroom tax and is in the process of ending the two-child benefit cap in Scotland. It said replicating the policies would lift a further 609,000 British families out of poverty, with the combined impact of introducing all three policies lifting 1.83 million families out of poverty, including a further 75,000 in Scotland. The UK Government delayed its child poverty taskforce review to the autumn and last year Labour MPs voted against abolishing the two-child benefit cap, in a motion tabled by the SNP. The Chancellor has previously rejected proposals to abolish the bedroom tax. The SNP said the UK Government's own impact analysis showed planned cuts to disability benefits will push 250,000 more people into poverty, including 50,000 children, with families losing out on £4,500 a year on average as a result of the cuts, branding it 'shameful'. SNP work and pensions spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman MP said: 'The evidence shows Keir Starmer's Labour Government is keeping almost two million families in poverty by failing to match SNP action across the UK. 'It's shameful that UK child poverty is rising to record levels under the Labour Government, which has pushed thousands more children into deprivation by imposing punitive welfare cuts. 'It's vital that the Prime Minister finally listens to families struggling with the soaring cost of living – and takes the long-overdue action needed to end child poverty at the UK spending review this week. 'That means abandoning the devastating austerity cuts to disabled families, matching the Scottish child payment UK-wide, abolishing the bedroom tax and scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap. 'With 4.5 million children living in poverty in the UK, only bold and immediate action will do. 'The two-child benefit cap and bedroom tax must be abolished immediately, but that alone isn't enough to end child poverty. It's vital the Labour Government matches the Scottish child payment by raising the child element of Universal Credit across the UK. 'Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is falling – and families receive the best cost-of-living help of anywhere in the UK. 'Westminster must match this action – or it will leave millions more children languishing in poverty.' A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We are determined to bring down child poverty and we have already expanded free breakfast clubs, increased the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes, uprated benefits in April and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions. 'We will also publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year to ensure we deliver fully funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Teen boy 'ran to house for help after being stabbed in street' before he died
A murder probe has been launched. A teenager who was stabbed to death in the street at the weekend ran to a nearby house for health before he passed away, it has been claimed. A murder probe has been launched by police after the youngster - who is thought to have been just 13 - was killed following an incident yesterday evening. And witnesses have said the youngster tried to get locals to help him after he was left seriously injured following an altercation in the Manchester suburb of New Moston. The Mirror reports police and paramedics were called to the area's Nevin Road at around 5pm yesterday, Sunday, June 8, 2025, and cordoned off the residential street. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. A cordon was also put in place yards away around a pub. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have now launched a murder investigation. Three people have been arrested in connection with the probe. A resident of Nevin Road told the Manchester Evening News about the shocking moment the injured boy ran into the doorway of his home apparently fleeing his attackers and said repeatedly "I don't want to die". "He just came through the door and said 'I've been stabbed '. We sat him down on a chair and phoned an ambulance. He just kept saying 'I don't want to die,'" he said. The resident said onlookers performed CPR on the boy until police arrived at the scene and sealed off the area. The victim's family is currently being supported by specialist officers. Forensics in white suits also arrived at the scene, with CSI vans parked up on Nevin Road and outside the pub. An air ambulance was scrambled following the incident, and landed on nearby Nuthurst Park. A major murder probe has now been launched, with detectives urging witnesses in the area at around 5pm to come forward as they piece together what happened. Superintendent Marcus Noden said "This is a distressing and heartbreaking incident where a boy has lost his life. We are still trying to establish the circumstances around the incident and have a number of scenes in place. " Officers are looking for information or eye witness accounts from anyone who was in the Nevin Road area of New Moston at around 5pm today quoting log 2250 of 8/6/25. "Information can be reported by calling 101 or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You can also use the reporting tools on our website – always call 999 in an emergency."
