By Bill Heaney
There was no room at the Inn for Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Christ the Saviour was born in a stable and laid in a manger.
The Holy Family were so poor that they had to travel many miles on a donkey from their home in Nazareth to register for the Census in Bethlehem.
Every child in Scotland who has taken part in the school Nativity play this Christmas and in Christmasses past knows that story.
How sad must they feel then to learn that today, 2000 years later, poor families still do not have a home of their own to go to.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for West Scotland Pam Gosal, pictured right, says the SNP are presiding over “disgraceful” waits in relation to temporary accommodation in West Dunbartonshire.
Responses to a series of Freedom of Information requests by the Scottish Conservatives have revealed the waits being faced by children and adults with Pam Gosal saying they should be a “source of shame” for SNP ministers.
In West Dunbartonshire a child spent an “appalling” 993 days in temporary accommodation, while an adult also endured a 2,699 day stay without a permanent home.
Pam Gosal says that inaction from SNP ministers has led to a housing emergency in West Dunbartonshire and they are detached from the reality facing many families and individuals in West Dunbartonshire.
Pam Gosal added that the SNP need to change their current housing approach and ensure that nobody is left “languishing” in temporary accommodation.
Pam Gosal said: “These waits are absolutely disgraceful and should be a source of shame for SNP ministers.
“Far too many children and families in West Dunbartonshire are spending a shocking amount of time in temporary accommodation, which is often wholly unsuitable to be living in.
“The buck stops with the SNP. Their inaction on tackling housing shortages across Scotland has led to this emergency situation, yet they are still detached from the reality facing people in West Dunbartonshire.
“It is time for them to accept their current approach isn’t working and outline new plans that will stop people in West Dunbartonshire languishing in temporary accommodation.”
Oh dear you have to laugh the laugh of the deranged demented.
A, Tory whose party who has done more to cause child poverty by removing child benefits cat calling the SNP.
Better still what about Sir Keir Starmer and his Assisted Dying Bill.
With these prolonged sub zero temperatures the removal of pensioners heating allowances will certainly assist in the deaths of many of our older folks as they struggle to heat their homes.
At least it will save old age pensions that Starmer is desperate to cut.But yes Assisted Dying is here.