The next Scottish Parliament elections are scheduled to take place on 6 May 2021.
The Scottish Parliament passes laws on devolved matters in Scotland. Almost all decisions relating to healthcare are devolved so the election is extremely important for people with bleeding disorders. Haemophilia Scotland frequently raise issues with MSPs and the Scottish Government on behalf of the bleeding disorders community and these elections decide who we are talking to and, therefore, how much they engage with us.
Rare conditions, such as bleeding disorders, are often not well understood by politicians. Elections are a great opportunity to increase their awareness of the conditions and the issues which are important to our community. Because of the COVID-19 situation, you will not get so many people knocking on your door as in a normal election, or so many leaflets delivered by volunteers. However, you should still be receiving election communications from your local candidates with their contact details on and are more likely than normal to get a phone call. Please use any opportunities you get to make sure that your voice is heard and that bleeding disorders issues are raised. We have contacted 22 political parties who are standing candidates. However, nothing has more influence than people with day to day experience of bleeding disorders contacting candidates directly.
The three main questions we are asking the political parties are listed below. It would be very helpful for you to ask your local candidates the same questions and to let us know what responses you get. You can email any replies to hello@haemophilia.scot.
Haemophilia Scotland Asks
- Genetic therapies for haemophilia are currently being trialled in patients. Will you commit to developing and properly resourcing a model for the funding of gene therapies within the first year of the parliament so that patients who give want it, and give informed consent to receive it, have access to these treatments as soon as they have been licenced?
- The Infected Blood Inquiry is a UK-wide statutory Public Inquiry into contaminated blood and blood products. Will the work of the Inquiry have your full support and will you commit to working with those infected and affected in Scotland to make sure the lessons it reveals are implemented and the community is properly compensated and supported?
- Over the course of the last Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government cut its funding for Haemophilia Scotland by three quarters. Will you commit to reversing those cuts to allow the charity to fully support the Scottish bleeding disorders community?
Some charities and groups produce their own manifestos to try and influence the thinking of the political parties during the election. These often contain useful idea about how to address some of the challenges faced by people with bleeding disorders. We will share some of the more relevant charity manifestos below so you can raise any ideas you support with your local candidates.
Responses from the Parties
These are the parties we have contacted. You can follow the links to read any replied we have received.
Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party – No reply |
Alba Party – No reply |
All for Unity – No reply |
Animal Welfare Party – No reply |
Communist Party of Britain – No reply |
Freedom Alliance – No reply |
Independent Green Voice – Email bounced |
Reform UK Scotland – No reply |
Scotia Future – No reply |
Scottish Conservatives – No reply |
Scottish Family Party – No reply |
Scottish Green Party – Acknowledged, response expected |
Scottish Labour – No reply |
Scottish Liberal Democrats – Acknowledged, response expected |
Scottish Libertarian Party – Click here to read the reply |
Scottish National Party – No reply |
Scottish Renew – No reply |
Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – No reply |
Scottish Women’s Equality Party – No reply |
Social Democratic Party – No reply |
The Reclaim Party – No reply |
UKIP – No reply |
Charity Manifestos
- Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland. Equally Valued: A manifesto for forward-thinking, far-reaching action in health and social care.
- Inclusion Scotland. Rights and Renewal: Inclusion Scotland’s Manifesto for the 2021-2026 Scottish Parliament.
Hustings and Meetings
8 April – 17:00 – SCVO Husting – Register online
29 April – 14:00 – Social Care Hustings – ALLIANCE and CCPS – Register online
Register to Vote
If you aren’t already registered to vote then you can register to vote online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.