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IT’S the beginning of term again in the Scottish Parliament this week. I am excited about what the next few months will bring.

Things will kick off with the Programme for Government tomorrow. The SNP Government will present their priorities for the coming session. It’s a chance for a bold and ambitious programme of radical reform.

I hope Nicola Sturgeon makes the most of the opportunity.

She is the most powerful female politician in Britain at the moment. She has the power to make our schools and hospitals better and our country a fairer place to live. What’s the point of power if not to use it to make things better for the people who live here?

For eight years the SNP have squandered the opportunity to really shake up our country. Think what they could do if they had the will to use the major powers they have?

(Image: PA)

We could live in a country where a young person’s ability to get

on in life is determined by their potential, work rate and ambition, not by how much money their parents earn.

People could get an appointment with their GP when they need one, without having to wait weeks.

Communities could have confidence that the police will be there when they are needed and will be held accountable when they don’t meet the standards we expect of them. And the workers in the North Sea oil industry, who have given so much to this country, could be supported.

Labour’s approach to the Programme for Government will be constructive. If we agree with something, we will say so. If we don’t then we will also say so.

It’s a fresh start for my party and for the country. There are billions of pounds of major new tax and social security powers coming. It means there will be no ducking the tough decisions.

(Image: Lisa Ferguson/The Scotsman/PA)

Everybody in Scottish politics needs to step up and say what we would do with the powers we have, not complain about what we can’t do. One thing Nicola Sturgeon could do tomorrow is announce that she will spend some of the money allocated to improve our schools to incentivise the best teachers to work in the most challenging schools.

The only way to close the gap between kids from the richest backgrounds and everybody else is if we invest more money.

Come on Nicola, do the right thing. You’d have my support.

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