Blame for a 'summer of discontent' lies with the SNP/Green Government

The blame for the looming summer of discontent over a 2% pay offer for council staff does not lie with town halls.

Finger pointing should not be directed at trade union chiefs who justifiably want a decent rise for their members

The real culprit for a summer of strikes is the SNP/Green Government and their mismanagement of local authorities.

SNP Ministers have for over a decade starved councils of resources through a series of awful funding settlements.

And they have effectively blackmailed councils into pushing through a council tax freeze that limits their ability to raise funds.

The legacy of this approach is slashed services, jobs axed and lifeline services on the brink.

A 2% pay offer, even 3%, is an insult, but also reflective of how skint councils are these days.

Scottish Ministers are always quick to accuse the UK Government of disrespect whenever they can smell a snub.

The Scottish Government is often right to criticise Whitehall, but their treatment of councils is worse.

The mood music from Humza Yousaf is he is keen on a “reset” with the UK Government if Labour wins the election.

But the same is also true of the toxic relationship between Yousaf’s administration and councils.

Local authorities are discouraged from from raising tax and are restricted by ring-fenced funding which closes down flexibility.

Councils are seen as a lesser priority than the NHS, despite their role in preventing poverty and ill-health.

The fact that a 2pc offer will be tabled shows councils have little money and are having to make unpalatable decisions.

Strikes are coming and the parents and children who will be affected should direct their frustration towards Edinburgh.

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