Greens on verge of pulling support for National Care Service

Green health spokesperson Gillian Mackay says she cannot support the bill in its current form

The Scottish government's plans for a National Care Service are on the verge of collapse as the Greens debate whether to withdraw support for the flagship scheme.

The service, which would transfer social care responsibility from councils to a new national body, has already been delayed for three years due to cost saving measures.

An emergency motion backed by Green frontbencher Gillian Mackay, to be debated at the party's conference on Saturday, says the bill in its current form is "contrary to Green values".

First Minister John Swinney has repeatedly reiterated his commitment to delivering the service.

His minority administration is relying on the support of their former government partners to pass the proposed legislation, which is opposed by Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs.

Councils and trade unions have already withdrawn support for the proposals, while health boards and care organisations have also expressed concerns.

Unveiled by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021 as the most ambitious reform of the devolution era, the National Care Service has been repeatedly postponed and scaled back.

It is currently at the stage two of its passage through the parliament, where MSPs can propose amendments. Ministers have proposed significant changes due to delays and scaled down plans.

'Not fit for purpose'

The Green motion, first reported by the Herald, has been tabled by councillor Anthony Carroll and seconded by health and social care spokesperson Mackay.

Carroll described the bill as "not fit for purpose".

"There is real concern from councillors across the country that the National Care Service as proposed will take away local accountability of social care and leave that in the hands of Scottish ministers,” he said.

He added: "We must gut out the power grab on local authorities and focus solely on enhancing rights and support for those providing care in this bill, or see it fall."

Mackay said while the Greens still supported a national care service in principle, the government’s plans had lost “local accountability”.

“I think it's very clear that an awful lot of organisations have lost faith in the actual process, let alone the content of the bill itself,” she told BBC Scotland News.

The Green frontbencher said the proposed reforms lacked detail and could do more harm than good. However, she said some aspects should be retained in a "radically reduced" bill.

Mackay cited Anne’s Law, giving people in care homes the right to see and spend time with loved ones, as well as greater support for carers to take respite breaks, and better access to advocacy and information.

She added: “I don't think everything should be lost, and I hope that people can still come around the table and talk about the vision, the positive vision, for a future national care service, even though this bill has probably now come to an end.”

Social Care Minister Maree Todd says the government is open to discussion about changes to the bill

It was revealed earlier this month that almost £30m has been spent on work relating to the National Care Service.

Sandesh Gulhane, Scottish Conservative health and social care spokesman, said plans for a National Care Service were "dead in the water".

"SNP ministers who have already wasted tens of millions on these plans must show some common sense and recognise that they got these plans wrong from the start and ditch them," he said.

"It is time for every penny earmarked for it to be diverted now towards local care services, which have been repeatedly neglected on the SNP’s watch."

Social Care Minister Maree Todd said she would be “disappointed” if the Greens withdrew support, but that people were being “let down” by the social care system and the status quo was not acceptable.

She told BBC Scotland News: “It's very clear that there's a great deal that we agree on.

"There's a parliamentary process ongoing which enables us to discuss and amend the bill in as necessary to try to improve it.”

Todd added that ministers were “very open” to talks with all parties.

The Scottish government said that the cost of delivering the National Care Service would be less than 1% of the amount spent annually on social care between 2022 and 2032.

This feels a lot like it will be the final nail in the coffin of the plans for a National Care Service.

The feeling in the Scottish Greens seems to be that this emergency motion will pass at their conference this weekend.

And that shouldn’t really come as a surprise when we consider who else has removed their support for the idea - such as the trade unions.

For some time it’s felt like this legislation - once labelled by Nicola Sturgeon as the most ambitious reform of the devolution era - was on a shoogly peg.

And now the only party that could realistically provide the minority SNP government with the votes for it is set to pull its backing.

This goes wider than the National Care Service. It’s a reminder that minority government is hard. And no matter how grand your plans may be, if you don’t win over another party they won’t become a reality.