Everybody cares about local matters. Yet if previous local elections are anything to go by, fewer than half of us will bother turning out to vote for local politicians on May 5th. If only to restore interest in local democracy, Scotland would benefit from a renewed debate about where power lies and how services are best delivered.

Local government across the UK faces some of its biggest economic, political, and social challenges since the immediate post-war era. The Covid-19 pandemic amplified such inequalities, putting increasing demands on already stretched local authorities. Recent global events have also accelerated a growing cost of living crisis playing out in local communities.

A recent poll from Our Scottish Future found that 47% of respondents agreed with the statement that ‘a serious plan to change Britain could be more attractive than independence’. This raises the million dollar question  – what would a serious  plan to change Britain have to look like in order to convince ‘middle Scotland’ voters to remain part of the UK?

Despite 15 years of manifesto promises to replace it with a more progressive alternative, council tax will not be reformed this Parliament. Yet Council Tax is widely agreed to be a regressive tax and there is already cross-party support for its replacement. As even SNP council leaders accuse Holyrood of a power grab, perhaps it’s time for a fresh start in local government.

Waiting for publication of the list of election candidates reminded me of my sister’s reaction when I constantly check football scores during some family event. “Why are you checking it every 2mins! You won’t make anything happen by checking!” She is unlikely to read this so I can safely say, she’s probably right!