By Bill Butler 
Councillor for Garscadden/Scotstounhill

With each passing day, I hear more and more individual stories of the impact that doubling childcare fees will have.

In February this year, the SNP in Glasgow took to a decision to balance the books on the back of working families. A decision that was taken without consultation, and without consideration for the impact it will have on so many families and children. Some families are being asked to stump up £220 more a month to meet the cost.

Others, like one particular case passed to me by a constituent, will see well-paid professionals leave their jobs to look after their children. A year on from the SNP taking power in Glasgow, this is what they have to show for it.

Parents are being forced to choose between working and caring for their children.

But when challenged on this, the SNP point to two things: the delivery of more free hours for those earning under £30,000 a year and that council-run services were already heavily subsidised.

My problem with that response is that it is indifferent to the stark realities being faced by parents. Of course, council services were heavily subsidised – because it is not just or fair that some parents and carers will end up paying almost a third of their income on childcare.

Labour’s choice was that we should continue to invest in the best possible start in life for our children, and that we should do everything in our power to alleviate the cost of living crisis inflicted by Tory austerity.

The SNP’s choice is to ignore that, without even asking parents. 5,000 families in Glasgow are going to lose out because of this decision.

A year ago, the SNP came to power in Glasgow. They spent the election campaign arguing that they, and they alone, understood the needs of Glaswegians and the importance of supporting families. But this proves that they don’t – and they never did.

This is why it matters who is in power. Because politics is about making choices.

And the SNP has made the wrong choice.