Austerity continues under Labour. By George BY PAISLEY MSP GEORGE ADAM.

Byline: GEORGE ADAM

As the dust settles on the events of last week and the buzz of election week wears off, I'm sure many people across the country are taking stock of the situation and their new representation.

After over 14 years of crippling Tory austerity, back-breaking cuts and soaring public service costs, I think it's safe to say we all were hoping for positive change and a break from the often subjective and cruel government we've been living under - and largely against our will up here in Scotland.

Years of mismanagement and a disastrous Brexit have left millions of families worse off than ever before but I fear the newly-elected Labour government, under the leadership of our new Prime Minister, will not bring the change or turning tide we all so desperately want to see.

Despite my obvious bias and desire to see our nation one day make decisions for herself and break away from the outdated union that has neglected us and never prioritised our interests, I want everyone living and working here in our town to have the best representation and options possible until that day comes to pass.

But, for me, that will not happen while we are subjected to more of the same - only this time under a banner of red instead of blue.

Keir Starmer and his party have an appalling track record so far of not standing up against the policies that have crippled our communities and in the course of the election process only confirmed their commitment to upholding some of the most abhorrent.

For example, the 1.6 million children and their families affected by the two-child cap had their hopes of change dashed again last week as the new government confirmed they will do nothing to change this blatant unfairness.

This is despite the IFS estimating it would cost PS3.4 billion, which may seem like a lot of money to the everyday man but is truly a drop in the ocean for a Westminster government.

But Sir Keir has doubled down once again on his vow to keep it, along with the rape clause, bedroom tax and a whole host of other negative Tory policies which have only made this country worse off.

Equally, despite trying to convince us all they are a party for the people, Labour have routinely spoken about the possibility of privatising the NHS while Scottish Labour representatives won't even confirm their support for continuing to keep further education tuition free in Scotland. Frankly, this is at best concerning and at worst extremely damaging for our communities and all the young people living here in Paisley who can only consider further education due to game changing free tuition.

These issues are only the tip of the iceberg of what we can expect from our new government and while I desperately hope for better, so everyone who calls our town home doesn't further suffer under a UK Government that has no regard for our town or its people, I can't help but feel we're set to face another five years of disappointment.

I hope more than ever we have the chance to choose something different for our country and say goodbye to the shambles of Westminster once and for all before things only get worse.

CAPTION(S):

No change Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing criticism over his failure to commit to reversing the two-child benefit cap