FOLLOWING last week's General Election, The Renfrewshire Gazette spoke to the people of Paisley to hear their thoughts on the result, and their hopes for the new government.
It was all change in Paisley and Renfrewshire, with the region’s two constituencies both swinging from SNP to Labour.
Alison Taylor ousted Gavin Newlands in Paisley & Renfrewshire North, while Johanna Baxter comfortably beat Jacqueline Cameron in Paisley & Renfrewshire South, after previous incumbent Mhairi Black chose not to run.
Though most of the people we spoke to were glad to see the end of Conservative rule, few had much optimism for the incoming Labour government.
Stephanie Roy, 57, doesn’t think much will change, regardless of who’s in charge.
“I don’t think it really matters who got in,” she said. “They’re still going to be the same. They’ll not stick to their promises.
“SNP haven’t delivered what they said they would. But whoever’s in, they’re not going to change anything.
“In Paisley, I’d like to see less vape shops, less betting shops, and more trade in the town - make it more affordable for people to actually trade in the town.”
Derek, 68, believes Labour have shot themselves in the foot by ruling out tax raises.
“Keir Starmer said he won’t increase income tax, but he’s tied himself up by doing that,” said Derek. “He’ll be very short on tax revenue.
“Public debt is huge now and rising - he needs to put up tax rates, but he’s promised not to. He’s done the same stupid thing that Tony Blair did. And he didn’t need to do that, he still would have won anyway.
“They’re very short on money and they can’t do anything. They’re going to be forced into austerity cuts. They’ve got no money for anything. By making that commitment, he’s tied himself to Tory taxation - tied himself to Margaret Thatcher."
Shaun Lynch, 20, is uncertain about Labour - but glad that SNP has been voted out of Paisley.
“I wasn’t too bothered about the results,” he said, “as long as it wasn’t SNP. The way the SNP have run things, I just don’t believe in them anymore. They’ve lost all faith and trust from Scotland at this point.
"I’m hoping Labour can do well - hoping they can do a better job than the SNP anyway. But only time will tell.
"As a country, I think we need a bit more control, more autonomy. Let Scotland roam free, let us be our own country - even if we’re still part of the UK. We want to feel like we’re part of our own country, rather than being trapped. I think that’s what most Scots are hoping for just now.
"But only time will tell, and only Labour will know what they’re actually hoping to do."
Linda Young, 69, worries that the country is in too bad a state for Labour to mend.
“For Scotland, I think the result wasn’t great - even though I’m a Labour member,” said Linda. “It doesn’t feel like 1997. I think the whole UK is so broken and divided. I don’t know how Labour can fix it, and I think they’ll just get the blame.
“I would like to see Labour take us back into the EU. I’d like a ceasefire in Gaza straight away. I’d like levelling up to actually mean something north of Watford. I’d like investment and jobs. Education has to be looked at, and discipline in schools.
“In Paisley and Renfrewshire in particular, they need to address the poverty. I taught for 30 years, in some of the most deprived areas. There’s huge poverty in Paisley.”
Robert Taylor, 91, feels that the UK had just turned a corner under Rishi Sunak.
“Maybe it’s time for a change - but I’m not sure whether it’s for the best,” said Robert. “I think Sunak was doing a good job now, getting the country back into a better position, and I think it’s the wrong time to change.
“Everything was improving, little by little. And having to deal with Covid and all that - I don’t think the Labour party would have done any better.
“Keir Starmer says he’s going to stop the boats, but not with the Rwanda plan. He’s going to try something that’s been tried already - and already failed. I don’t think he’ll stop them that way.
“I would hope Labour can make some positive changes, but it’s going to be difficult for them to improve things around here. We’d like to see things getting a bit busier in the town, more businesses, but I don’t think the government has much control over that."
Jos Hurley, 21, is happy to see the Tories go, but preferred Labour under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
“I’m glad that we’re not going to have a Tory government anymore,” Jos said, “but I don’t think Labour is much better at the moment.
“As someone who is non-binary, I don’t agree with Keir Starmer’s transgender comments, and I don’t like the idea of having him in charge.
“The last 14 years under a Conservative government, everything has gone to s*** really. I just want Labour to try and fix what the Tories have done. But with the new Prime Minister, I doubt that’s going to happen.
“Hopefully there will be some positive change. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens, but I don’t have a lot of optimism. I used to, when Jeremy Corbyn was running Labour - I had hopes then. He’s still an MP, so hopefully he’ll be able to have some influence.”
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