END OF OUTSOURCING...

A very good SNP Conference in Perth, with a good fringe meeting for the Trade Union Group, and despite what I thought was a little nervousness at the start, I believe that all delegates left with a spring in their step as the FM delivered a speech which will resonate across Scotland. For my avid readers, they can see my speech to Conference on the Sunday morning at the BBC website.

Indeed if the opinion poll for Channel 4 news is a reflection then Gordon Brown is getting the blame for the present Credit Crunch.

The best news for me, was the announcement by Nicola Sturgeon to end the outsourcing of Cleaning and Catering contracts in the NHS. A similar move put in place by the Welsh Assembly has seen hospitals being viewed by the public as cleaner, and the reported number of secondary infections being slashed in number.

For me this backs up Jimmy Reid's view, sadly Jimmy was unable to attend Conference, that the SNP Government are adopting the values of the Labour Government of 1945/51. Arguably the greatest British Government ever, their legacy is still felt today as they ushered in the Welfare State and the NHS. Today's Labour Party are a very pale imitation.

The importance of Public Sector provision, is at the heart of SNP philosophy in dealing with Public Services. Universal Public Health Services provision is among them.

You only have to watch Michael Moore's excellent documentary film "Sicko", where an American man is viewed stitching up his own leg, as he cant afford the health insurance, to realise the importance of Universal Health Care.. Perhaps most disappointingly for Americans, only Obama was the top Democrat to not support implementing this in the Presidential Primaries.

Like the great post war Labour Government, the Scottish Government is values led, and even with limited powers is achieving a lasting legacy on health.

The NHS is safe in the hands of the SNP.