Voter Guide for Glasgow Southside: your questions answered by candidates
In the run up to the Scottish Parliament Election, we asked residents in Glasgow Southside what issues are most important to them. We sent the most common responses as 11 questions to candidates. Read their responses to stay informed ahead of polling day on 7 May.
The seven candidates standing in Glasgow Southside for the Scottish Parliamentary Election
In the lead up to elections, news is often dominated by party lines and what issues are most important to candidates. At Greater Govanhill community magazine, we believe in doing things differently. So over the past couple of months we have been asking our readers to tell us what they want candidates to be speaking about as they compete for votes.
For more on the elections, read our article: Everything you need to know about voting in the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections
This is part of our Citizens Agenda project, in which we want to hold candidates accountable to the issues that are of most concern to our readers.
Based on the over 200 comments we received via online surveys, social media, public stalls and visits to community groups, we have now created the following list of 11 questions. These were issues that came up the most, or that had most resonance for the local area.
We have sent these to every one of the Glasgow Southside candidates and will be publishing all responses as we receive them.
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The questions:
In Govanhill, high rents and overcrowding are a major issue. What specific action would you take, using Holyrood’s powers, to increase affordable housing and make renting more secure?
Fly-tipping, overflowing bins and rubbish – especially in backcourts – are a major issue in Govanhill. This may be a council responsibility, but what would you do as an MSP to push for better standards, whether through increased funding, national policy or holding services to account?
The cost of transport in Glasgow is a major issue, and people want a more joined-up system, including publicly-owned buses and integrated ticketing. Do you support greater public control of buses and a single payment system, and what would you do to help make that happen?
Energy bills are a major issue, and many tenement homes need retrofitting. What would you support to improve energy efficiency in housing, and how would you make sure it actually brings down bills?
People can’t get GP appointments, many struggle with online booking, and some say they just go to hospital instead. What would you do to improve access to GP services and reduce waiting times?
Rising racism and anti-migrant rhetoric are a concern, and some people say they feel unsafe leaving their local area because of it. What would you do to tackle racism and discrimination in this area?
People raised concerns about rising hostility towards LGBTQ+ people, particularly the trans community. What will you do as an MSP to protect trans rights and ensure people feel safe?
Many residents feel ignored by politicians and report poor communication from elected representatives. How will you ensure you are accessible and accountable to people in Glasgow Southside?
People asked whether more funding should be raised to support local services. Do you think Scotland should use its tax powers differently, and if so, where should that money go?
Many in Govanhill are concerned about what’s happening to the people of Palestine. Last year the Scottish Parliament voted to impose a boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. How would you ensure any commitments such as divestment, use of Scottish airports – are actually implemented?
What are the top two changes you would deliver for this constituency within 12 months, and how should voters judge whether you have succeeded?
Who are the candidates in Glasgow Southside…
We asked the same set of questions to each of the following candidates. Click on their names to read their answers or scroll down for all the answers in full.
Kamran Butt – Scottish Common Party [no response received]
Ross Hutton – Conservative and Unionist Party [no response received]
Gordon Millar – Reform UK [no response received]
Their answers to your questions…
Arzoo Waqqar Abdullah – Independent
Arzoo Waqqar Abdullah
On housing
I will push for affordable housing initiatives, including working with local councils to ensure fair rent caps. I’ll advocate for government-backed incentives to lower mortgage rates on affordable housing developments, making ownership accessible and keeping rents stable. Ultimately, I want to ensure safe, affordable housing options for everyone.
On the local environment and cleansing
I’ll aim to foster community responsibility by setting up local hubs to educate and engage people on keeping our area clean. At the same time, a small fine could apply if persistent issues arise—this way neighbors also keep an eye out, and together we prevent repeat problems. It’s about working as a community first, with fairness in any enforcement.
On transport
I support free buses for working-class communities, easing financial pressure. To achieve this, I’d push for funding reallocations or pilot schemes, while working with local and national government to ensure sustainable transport funding. It’s ambitious, but I believe everyone deserves affordable mobility.
On energy and homes
Scotland is a leader in green energy production, yet our residents still face high costs. I’ll push for a fairer pricing structure, reflecting our role as a green energy provider. I’ll advocate for policies that reduce energy bills closer to the actual cost and ensure energy efficiency programs truly cut household expenses.
On healthcare access
I’ll focus on improving recruitment of healthcare professionals, ensuring we have more GPs available. By streamlining costs, particularly in areas like medications, we can reinvest in staffing. This will reduce the burden on existing GPs and improve appointment availability so people don’t have to turn to hospitals as a first option.
On racism and discrimination
I’ll establish community and creative hubs where people can connect, share experiences, and foster understanding. By encouraging interaction, education, and creativity, we break down barriers and build a safer, more inclusive community.
On LGBTQA+
I’m committed to ensuring everyone in our community feels protected and valued. My idea of establishing community and creative hubs is about fostering open dialogue and understanding. By connecting people, we can break down barriers and ensure that everyone’s rights and safety are upheld.
On accountability
I know people are frustrated when they feel unheard. That’s why, as an independent candidate, I’m not hiding behind a party line. I’ll be directly available to listen, act on local concerns, and make Southside a place where everyone feels proud, safe, and valued. I’ll keep communication open and make sure your voices shape what I do.
On Palestine
No response given
On funding local services
I’ll ensure that tax money is spent transparently on what matters most to people. I will prioritize funding education—building more classrooms and supporting teachers. I’ll also make sure that public spending, like on roadworks, is efficient and open. Additionally, I’ll support community and creative hubs so
On the difference you will make within 12 months
No response given
Holly Bruce – Scottish Greens
Holly Bruce (Scottish Greens)
On housing
To tackle high rents and overcrowding in areas like Govanhill, the Scottish Greens have proposed a permanent and robust system of rent controls. We want to expand current legislation to include student housing, mid-market rent, and Build-to-Rent developments. In Glasgow, Green councillors (including myself) have already ringfenced budget resources to deliver these controls as soon as possible.
We will build thousands of high-quality social homes to provide a genuine, affordable alternative to the private sector.
We will empower councils to force owners of derelict land and property to sell or rent them for housing.
We support a 200% surcharge on non-domestic rates for empty properties and second homes – a policy Glasgow Greens have already secured.
We will end needless profiteering by funding councils and social landlords to become preferred housing suppliers to end the routine use of hotels for people seeking asylum.
On the local environment and cleansing
I will fight for a fairer funding deal for Glasgow City Council to ensure our cleansing teams have the staff and equipment needed to manage backcourts and bin collections effectively.
Following the success in Pollokshields, I will advocate for rolling out more bin hubs to create a more efficient recycling system, with regular monitoring and enforcement.
We need to strengthen national fly-tipping legislation to make prosecution easier while providing more resources for community-led projects like the Govanhill Community Litter Pick.
I will continue to emphasise how important it is to have free and accessible public toilets within the Southside’s public realm and greenspace.
On transport
Building on free bus travel for under-22s, we want free bus travel for everyone and we will bring buses back into public ownership through franchising.
I will continue to champion for there to be more night buses to ensure our hospitality and shift workers can get home safely.
I will advocate to expand the capacity on the Cathcart Circle line and for it to be part of Glasgow Metro. I will continue to push for improvements to train station accessibility in order to help folks with disabilities and families with buggies.
The Scottish Greens will also propose Scotland’s first integrated ticketing system with zonal pricing and daily caps across all transport modes.
On energy and homes
Drilling for more oil and gas will not lower bills or keep our homes warm. We will lead a renewables revolution with a £600 million investment in wind, tidal, and solar power.
The Southside has a vast array of tenemental housing, we will review tenement housing laws to make it easier for residents in blocks to manage repairs and energy efficiency upgrades.
We will help homeowners cut their energy bills by making their properties the most energy efficient they can be, expanding current energy efficiency support schemes and rolling out bespoke support for those in older properties
The Southside has massive heat potential. I will make the case for plugging the Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre (GRREC) into a district heating network for Govanhill, Battlefield, and Mount Florida. Large heat sources such as supermarkets and storage like Govanhill Baths could contribute to the network.
On healthcare access
GPs deliver over 90% of patient contact but receive a fraction of the budget. We will shift NHS funding to community health to achieve a ratio of one GP per 1,000 patients, allowing for 15-minute appointments.
We will expand GP teams to include mental health practitioners and welfare rights officers.
We will introduce a single electronic patient record while guaranteeing phone and in-person access for those who struggle with technology.
On racism and discrimination
Having engaged directly with Muslim and Roma communities during this campaign, I am committed to empowering communities to apply for protest buffer zones around community centres and places of worship.
We will introduce Scotland-wide anti-racist education and public campaigns highlighting the vital contributions of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and people of colour.
The Scottish Greens will review the implementation of the Hate Crime (Scotland) Act to respond to the rise in racially aggravated and anti-Semitic crimes, and fully implement the Islamophobia in Scotland report recommendations.
We will also establish a Community Cohesion fund for local authorities to invest in grassroots engagement in communities hosting New Scots. I have worked with many organisations locally like Romano Lav, Milk Cafe and the South East Integration Network who do wonderful and vital work in this community.
On LGBTQA+ rights
As a member of the LGBTQA+ community, I want to increase our representation in Parliament and contribute my own lived experience as queer person living in the Southside.
While other parties treat trans rights as negotiable, we view them as fundamental. Trans rights are human rights and I will always fight for trans people to exist safely and authentically.
The Scottish Greens will introduce a comprehensive ban on conversion therapy covering all settings, such as religious, informal, community, family-based and therapeutic, with clear protections for affirming healthcare, and inclusive of trans, non-binary, and asexual identities.
We will publish a gender-affirming care action plan within 6 months, to turbo-charge efforts to bring down shocking waiting times. Existing legislation allowing GPs to provide primary care for trans people could be implemented with bridging policies and best practice guidance in each GP practice.
The Scottish Greens will also expand inclusive education and anti-bullying programmes in schools and youth programmes.
On funding local services
We want to tax wealth rather than work. Under devolution, we will scrap council tax and replace it with a fairer system based on a residential property tax.
The Scottish Greens will shift the tax burden onto the super-rich and multi-national companies like Amazon, private schools, out-of-town shopping centres and arms dealers through new non-domestic rate surcharges.
With the full powers of independence, we could introduce a Wealth Tax and effective Corporation Tax, and set Capital Gains tax equal to income tax to raise billions of pounds for public services.
On Palestine
The Scottish Greens were instrumental in ensuring Scotland was the first country in the world to pass a package of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against complicity in the occupation.
Previous Glasgow Green MSP Patrick Harvie has also been working hard to demand an end to the Israeli military’s commercial use of Prestwick Airport.
In Glasgow, our Green councillors secured a human rights due diligence process on procurement contracts.
And I am proud to stand with local groups like Mothers Against Genocide and Artworkers for Palestine. I’ve also stood in solidarity at marches led by the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC), No Pride in Genocide and Give Israel the Red Card campaign.
On accountability
The era of stale, performative politics is over. I want to be present, empathetic and action-orientated. I live in Southside and as a local councillor, I’ve already worked alongside you to secure lighting in Queen’s Park, fight for the retention of vital greenspace at Mount Florida Bowling Club and Cathkin Park, and helped to secure funding to reopen Langside Halls.
I don't just talk about grassroots politics; I practice it. I am committed to being accessible and would be delighted to provide regular local reports to the community through outlets like Greater Govanhill magazine.
On the difference you will make within 12 months
Advocate for an Immediate Rent Freeze: Implementing emergency measures to stop rent hikes in Govanhill while the Housing Bill progresses.
Franchise Glasgow’s Buses: Jumpstarting the legal process to bring our bus network back under public control immediately.
(A cheeky third is to work together with the Govanhill Baths Community Trust to see the Baths finally reopen over the course of this parliament!)
Rashid Hussain (Scottish Labour Party)
Rashid Hussain – Scottish Labour Party
On housing
Scottish Labour plans to deliver 125,000 new homes, including at least 52,300 affordable homes, and to tackle the shortage that drives high rents and overcrowding in areas like Govanhill. That means backing more council and social housing, stronger powers to deal with empty and second homes, and a £1 homes scheme to bring derelict properties back into use. I also support moves to help renters save for a deposit, including more mid‑market‑rent homes for working people, and reforms to make factoring and tenement maintenance fairer and more responsive. It’s also crucial that the Council makes better use of existing stock, so that more people in the Southside can access safe, warm, affordable housing instead of being trapped in overcrowded or poor‑quality accommodation
On the local environment and cleansing
I’ve seen far too many streets left to decline, and I’ve said it clearly: this is not what Glasgow residents deserve. I will back Scottish Labour’s focus on cleaning up our streets and tackling litter and fly‑tipping, and will push Glasgow City Council to enforce these standards in the Southside. That means routine, not just one‑off, cleaning, so that when litter is removed, it does not simply return. As part of my own plan, I would bring forward a “Dumb Dumpers Bill” to tighten penalties, close loopholes around fly‑tipping and make it easier to trace offenders, so that residents see real consequences for those who blight our neighbourhoods.
On transport
I know that in communities like Govanhill, the way people get around shapes whether they can work, study, see friends or access healthcare — and too often it feels like the system is not built for local journeys. I support greater public control of buses and a single, integrated payment system, and I will back the fast‑tracking of bus franchising so services are planned around people, not profit. If elected, I will push for more affordable fares, better connections and simpler ticketing across buses, trains and active travel, so that people in the Southside are not priced out of getting around. I also support Labour’s plan to build a proper rail link to Glasgow Airport, and I will use that commitment to argue for investment in the kinds of joined-up, reliable journeys that Southsiders need everyday.
On energy and homes
Residents in Glasgow Southside deserve safer, warmer and cheaper to heat, and this starts with older and vulnerable households who are most squeezed by the cost of living. To address this, I back the stronger rollout of energy‑efficiency support, so grants reach people who need them instead of getting stuck in bureaucracy. Landlords also need to be held to account on damp, mould and cladding so that social‑rented homes meet the standards people are now legally entitled to under Awaab’s Law. I want every home in Govanhill to be treated as a place where someone’s health and dignity come first, not just a line in a council report.
On healthcare access
I will treat better GP access as a basic right, not a luxury, and I will push for the changes needed so people in Southside can actually get seen when they need to be seen. Scottish Labour will prioritise ending the 8am rush for appointments and the introduction of online booking. This will be achieved through a new GP contract, which I want to see negotiated in the first 100 days of a Scottish Labour government. I also want Health Boards and the Scottish Government to put more staff, clinics and resources into local practices so demand is met close to home, and so people are not forced into A&E because they could not get through to a GP. For me, success means shorter waits, simpler booking and a service that works better for patients in everyday life.
On racism and discrimination
Tackling racism and far-right extremism is really important to me. These are serious threats that must be met with clear action, not statements. As a councillor, I introduced a motion reaffirming Glasgow’s proud history as a city of diversity, solidarity and anti‑racism and condemning the rise of far‑right ideology and online hate, including the spread of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny. It stressed the need to work with community groups, equalities organisations and education providers to raise awareness, and support stronger regulation of online platforms. As your MSP, I will keep that stance, backing Scottish Labour’s commitment to challenge racial and religious prejudice through education and campaigns against disinformation and hate online.
On LGBTQA+ rights
I will stand up for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and ensure they are treated with dignity in services, schools and public life. I firmly support Labour’s commitment to deliver a ban on conversion practices that protects LGBTQ+ people from harmful efforts to change or suppress who they are. I also back clear implementation of the Equality Act so that LGBTQ+ people, including trans people, can access services and sport without discrimination, while recognising that some single‑sex spaces are necessary to protect the safety and dignity of women and other vulnerable groups, and that these should be properly defined and safeguarded in exceptional, clearly justified cases. Protecting single‑sex spaces should never come at the cost of erasing or endangering trans people’s rights.
On accountability
Through my work as a councillor, I understand the need to be accessible and accountable to constituents. I would carry that same approach into my work as an MSP, offering regular surgeries, clear routes for people to raise concerns and prompt responses to casework, and focusing much of my work in the community rather than only in Holyrood. I also understand that local change is built through relationships — with tenants’ associations, schools, charities and local businesses — and I would work to strengthen those links so that people can raise concerns early, know who to turn to, and see that their voices shape decisions both in the Parliament and on the ground in the Southside.
On funding local services
People across Scotland are being asked to pay more when they are already stretched, and the SNP have left over a million Scots paying higher income tax than elsewhere in the UK, yet everyday services still feel under pressure. I support Scottish Labour’s commitment to not raise income tax in the next parliament, with the ambition to cut it over time if growth and discipline allow, and to use Scotland’s tax powers more fairly so that more money goes directly to local services — stronger funding for councils, schools, social care and the third‑sector organisations that support our communities. I also believe council tax needs progressive, fair reform, carefully designed and agreed across parties, so it better reflects people’s ability to pay and the money stays where it does most good for local areas like Southside.
On Palestine
As a councillor, I have stood on the side of Gaza, and the Glasgow City Council has taken a firm position in support of Gaza and the principles of international law and humanitarian law, including backing the principles behind BDS and using public platforms and votes to underline that commitment. I intend to carry that same principled approach forward as an MSP, reinforcing my belief — shaped by meeting Ambassador Husam Zomlot and raising significant funds through my charity work for Palestine — that standing with Palestinians, upholding international law and speaking out against injustice is a core responsibility. If elected, I will continue to take a principled stance on Palestine and support Scottish Labour’s commitment to robust human rights due diligence on business support and defence funding, to ensure public money is not connected to products used in human rights abuses around the world.
On the difference you will make within 12 months
If elected, I would work to tackle flytipping through a Members’ Bill, making enforcement tougher and more visible in the Southside. I also want to address the unfair impact of private parking‑control charges: I would press the Council to cancel the proposals, which are deeply damaging for residents and businesses. But I won’t stop there. I need to explore other issues that residents raise on the door and at community events, such as tougher regulation of property factors, who too often act with impunity, or improving local public‑transport services that affect people’s daily lives. Above all, all of my work will be fully informed by the experience and needs of Southsiders. If people raise concerns with me, they can be confident I will fight hard to turn those into tangible improvements in their quality of life.
Rachel Mary Byrne Park (Liberal Democrats)
Rachel Mary Byrne Park – Liberal Democrats
On housing
Govanhill is a beautiful place and anyone who wants to live in the area should be able to. In Glasgow Southside, as well as across the country, there is a dire lack of housing of all kinds, including affordable and mid-market housing. A lack of housing drives up rent, and thereby disproportionately hurts those who rent, such as young professionals and recent immigrants.The only solution is to build more houses.
High density housing is good for the environment, reducing individual energy consumption, and allowing many people to live close to the services they use every day. Planning reform is needed to make housebuilding in urban areas easier and more attractive to developers. The Scottish Parliament has the power to substantially reform planning law and the National
Planning Framework. I believe planning reform to tackle the housing crisis should be an urgent priority in the next parliament.
On the local environment and cleansing
Glasgow City Council is overstretched and underfunded. Only eight officers are in charge of monitoring fly-tipping across the entire city - it’s hardly surprising that so many complaints are made, and yet so few penalties are issued.
We have the right laws to tackle fly-tipping and ensure residential bins are collected and emptied regularly. The problem is enforcement, and that is an issue of Glasgow City Council not having the resources they need. The Scottish Liberal Democrats will give local authorities fair funding and more powers, so Glasgow City Council can actually work for residents.
On transport
I absolutely back bus franchising, which would give communities better control over where their buses go, leading to service improvements and reduced costs.
The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport needs to be empowered on the Transport for London model, thereby having unified control over public transport in the region. This would pave the way for a proper integrated ticketing system, across buses, trains, the subway, and indeed even ferries. I would support legislation to implement such a model, and would put pressure on the Scottish Government to implement such policies.
On energy and homes
Both for people’s bills and for the climate, home energy efficiency is one of the most urgent issues facing Scotland today. Yet the pace of delivery from the Scottish Government has been painfully slow.
I was shocked to find when we were replacing our boiler a few years ago how practically impossible it is for many people in tenements, especially those in conservation areas, to implement energy efficient and eco-friendly options for home heating.
Rapid action is essential in the face of huge international disruption driving up people’s bills to eye-watering levels. The Lib Dems would implement an emergency programme of insulation across the country, focussing especially on ‘catch-up zones’ where progress has been slowest.
On healthcare access
Ensuring people can actually see their GP is at the heart of the Scottish Lib Dems’ plan for the NHS. Not only is it frustrating and scary for people to not be able to see their local doctor, but early diagnosis is vital: too many people who can’t see their GP end up in hospital instead.
Our concrete plan involves embedding 900 new multidisciplinary patient-facing staff in GP practices and neighbourhood health teams. This will be the equivalent of giving every GP practice an additional member of clinical staff, including nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dieticians, phlebotomists, mental health professionals and counsellors. This will effectively manage patient need, reduce waits, reduce GP workloads and avoid costly hospital admissions.
We also have plans to grow the GP workforce and increase the share of the NHS budget spent on local surgeries.
On racism and discrimination
It makes me sad to see rising racism impacting the community I live in. I am proud to live in such an ethnically and culturally diverse area, and I want my neighbours to feel safe where they live. Politicians should protect those they represent, and accordingly I would never compromise with those whose politics are built on attacking migrants, especially the most vulnerable: asylum seekers and refugees fleeing persecution.
The radical right seeks to repeal human rights laws across the UK which give vital protections to vulnerable people in our communities. I would be steadfast in championing human rights and would do everything in my power to resist attempts to weaken them in Scotland.
On LGBTQA+ rights
I was not the only person who was devastated by the Supreme Court’s ruling in the For Women Scotland case, which I believe was wrongly decided, and which has already hugely undermined the rights and safety of trans people. I will never exclude trans and non-binary people from my feminism and my liberalism. I am proud of the Lib Dems’ track record on trans rights. Especially now, it is vital that we do all that is possible to protect trans people. I absolutely support the ban on conversion therapy, and I want to see LGBT+ inclusive education in all of Scotland’s schools. Recent actions from the Supreme Court and the UK Government have massively limited Holyrood’s powers to protect trans rights, which makes it all the more important for MSPs to work together with politicians across the UK to restore rights that have been taken away, as well as to reform a gender recognition process which currently breaches European human rights standards
On accountability
In a place like Govanhill, one of the major barriers to accessing your elected representatives is language. MSPs are offered resources to use interpreters for communicating with constituents, but too many don’t avail of this. I would work to represent and communicate with all of my constituents, including those who are most comfortable in a language other than English, by making full use of this provision, and encouraging its use by my colleagues in the next parliament.
On Palestine
In my personal life, I follow the BDS movement’s recommendations and boycott companies which prop up Israel’s violations of international law. However, I don't believe that local- or Scottish-level boycotts will have a significant impact. The change that will matter the most to the people who are suffering in Palestine must come at a national and international level, in terms of the UK Government’s relationship with Israel.
I am extremely proud of the work that Lib Dem representatives in Westminster - led by Layla Moran, the UK’s only MP of Palestinian heritage - have done to keep pressure on the UK Government to recognise the State of Palestine and isolate Israel.
On funding local services
Despite higher income tax than in England, Scotland’s public services are in crisis. The Scottish Lib Dems do not believe that we can cut taxes without hurting frontline services, but neither do we think people - especially the most vulnerable - are able to pay more income tax during the cost-of-living crisis. We will focus on relentlessly improving the quality of frontline public services, and would only consider tax cuts in the event that it would be fiscally responsible - and even then, only for the lowest earners, taking people who earn relatively little out of paying income tax altogether, rather than helping the richest. Many local services are provided by local authorities, who have been starved of funds for years. Reforming council tax so that people pay their fair share would help councils deliver the services local people actually need
On the difference you will make within 12 months
Many of the concerns people in Govanhill have - GP access, energy bills, housing supply, etc. - are shared with people across Scotland’s cities, and strong national policy on these issues will benefit the constituency as it benefits the entire country. I would work alongside Lib Dem colleagues in the next parliament to realise as much as possible our manifesto plan to embed 900 new multidisciplinary patient-facing staff in GP practices and neighbourhood health teams across the country, including in this constituency. I would also make planning reform a high priority in the next parliament, with tangible success being any amendments, legislative scrutiny, or negotiation with the Scottish Government that. result in more houses being built.
Kaukab Stewart (Scottish National Party)
Kaukab Stewart - SNP
On housing
We’re investing £4.9 billion in affordable house building over the next four years to deliver 110,000 affordable homes, 70% of which will be for social rent. We will invest in social housing by unlocking the estimated £20 billion of investible pension fund assets (including local authority pension schemes) to support a large-scale programme of high-quality, affordable social housing. Housing also needs to meet the needs of everyone, which is why we will also update design guidance for accessible homes in building standards regulations. Govanhill is also one of the most tenemental parts of the country, which creates challenges around repairs, maintenance, and improvements. That’s why we will reform the 2004 Tenements Act and the 2011 Property Factors Act to enable repairs, maintenance and improvements, and improve service delivery by factors who manage properties.On the environment and cleansing
On the local environment and cleansing
I have a strong track record of working with council colleagues to help councils tackle issues like this, and was delighted to see an additional £700,000 investment in new neighbourhood clean teams in this year’s Glasgow City Council budget. Over the last year those teams have already started to make a real difference across the city. With more funding, councils will be able to go further, and so we’re committed to introducing mansion taxes from 2028 onwards on homes worth over £1 million , creating more revenue for local government.
On transport
I absolutely support public control of buses and know that Council colleagues have been working hard towards a franchising model since the SNP passed the Transport Act 2019. The SNP Scottish Government has been providing funding to local authorities, including Glasgow City Council, to help with that . Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is doing a power of work right now on making the case for the huge public investment franchising will need, and as one of Glasgow’s representatives I will always argue for investment in the City. I also support SPT’s plans for integrated ticketing across the region, linking Subway, buses, trains and more. In the meantime, the SNP has already abolished peak rail fares, frozen ticket prices for another year, and made bus travel free for over 2 million people. If re-elected, we will cap bus ticket prices in Glasgow at £2 within our first 100 days in office.
On energy and homes
Tenements with multiple owners make improving properties challenging. We will reform the law to make it fit for the future, making it easier for repairs and improvements to happen.
Last year, we published our Improving Home Energy Efficiency report on developing the workforce and skills needed to carry out the mass retrofit Scotland needs, and ensuring retrofit policies are flexible so projects can be undertaken from all possible entry routes and for many reasons. I will work with Glasgow City Council to implement its Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy, including the development of heat networks. These actions together will make homes easier and cheaper to heat, while reducing bills and helping us achieve net zero.
In a country like Scotland, it is scandalous that so many households struggle with their bills. Independence will allow us to use Scotland’s energy wealth to lower bills and benefit communities.
On healthcare access
Though waiting times are coming down across the country in lots of ways, we know people still struggle with accessing GP services. We started rolling out walk-in GP clinics earlier this year, and I am delighted that the next wave will include a clinic in the Southside, something I campaigned for. This will make it much easier to see a GP both without having to navigate online booking systems, and for many people, without having to take time off work to do so, as the clinic will be open til 8pm. We’ll also be investing in high-street heart and lung health check centres – think of it like an MOT for your heart and lungs! This will be especially beneficial for the Southside, as we’re such a diverse constituency: Black people is at a higher risk of high blood pressure than the general population, while South Asians are almost twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease, so heart health checks are especially important for these communities.
On racism and discrimination
I am a woman of colour and an immigrant, so know only too well how your readers expressing these concerns feel. I’ve faced the same thing my whole life, too. As Minister for Equalities, I worked tirelessly every day to tackle these attitudes, finding extra funding last year for third sector organisations working to strengthen communities, supporting anti-racism work, interfaith dialogue, hate crime prevention, and refugee integration projects. Community cohesion starts in the community, after all, and community organisations play a vital role in supporting integration. As a local member I will do everything in my power to support these organisations.
I also led on the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, a world-leading acclaimed partnership praised by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The SNP will also increase funding for Refuweegee’s Bridges Programme, supporting asylum seekers and refugees to integrate in their new home. I and the SNP will always stand with those seeking sanctuary in Scotland and do all in our power to protect them from the harmful rhetoric on the rise in the UK, including - shamefully - from the UK Government.
On LGBTQA+ rights
I firmly believe that everyone should be able to live their life openly and authentically, freely, and support banning conversion practices. While such a ban may be better enforced UK-wide, the UK Government continue to drag their heels, and so we have legislation ready to go in Year 1 of a re-elected SNP government. Crucially, this also covers conversion practices intended on suppressing someone’s gender identity. We will also implement new measures to support victims and survivors of conversion practices. I voted in favour of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill before it was blocked by the UK Government and remain committed to trans rights. The SNP will do everything it can within the powers of devolution to protect trans people’s rights and recognise and respect their identities. This includes our commitment to LGBTQI+ inclusive education.
On accountability
I will hold regular constituency surgeries where constituents can come and speak to me about their issues, and I or my staff will be regular attendees at local community councils, just as I did as MSP for Kelvin. Where my office cannot help with whatever issue you raise, we will always try to put you in touch with someone else who may be able to. I commit to engaging regularly with community groups across the constituency, listening to their needs and supporting where I can. I live locally and at community events people often come over to say hello, or wish me luck in the campaign, and I will still be out and about in the constituency as much as I can when I’m not in parliament.
On funding local services
Scotland has shown the rest of the UK that there is a fairer way to tax, with 55% of income tax payers in Scotland already paying less than they would in the rest of theUK and higher earners paying more. That’s part of the social contract in Scotland and something I’m very proud of. Better funded local services are where people will feel the biggest difference in their everyday lives. From 2028, Scotland will also have a mansion tax in the form of two new council tax bands for homes worth over £1 million (at today’s value). This will go straight to local government for the provision of local services, supporting everything from schools to social care, parks to potholes.
Thanks to the SNP, local authorities can now also implement a visitor levy, or ‘tourist tax’, like many other countries in Europe. Glasgow will introduce its levy in January. Again, this will be money going straight to supporting local, frontline services – the ones we all rely on.
On Palestine
The genocide in Palestine is an atrocity and I voted in favour of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions motion last September. I continue to support these measures and will call for their implementation in Parliament if re-elected. The SNP will also, if re-elected, establish a Gaza Student Scholarship for postgraduate students, supporting existing Universities of Sanctuary; we will establish a Palestine Arts and Creatives Support Fund, to support creatives from Palestine to come to Scotland; and will continue our specific international development funding for Gaza, in recognition of the devastation caused by the actions of the Israeli government.
On the difference you will make within 12 months
If the SNP is re-elected to government, we will implement a £2 bus fare cap in Glasgow. This will immediately and dramatically bring down the cost of travel, a further step to help with the cost of living in the Southside where so many people rely on the bus.
I’ll also be a visible, accessible and accountable MSP. I live in this constituency; I shop and socialise locally. I’ll be approachable and present and want to hear directly from constituents about what they’re struggling with, what they want to see improved or what they think is going well. Constituents will be able to judge me on that when they see me out and about or come to me for help and support
We have not yet received responses from Kamran Butt (Scottish Common Party), Ross Hutton (Conservative and Unionist Party) and Gordon Millar (Reform UK). If we do receive them, we will publish and update this article.