The eyes of the world will be on the UK today with the Coronation of King Charles III. It will be a historic event and for many Scots it will be a hugely emotional day.
The monarchy retains majority support largely because of the way the late Queen Elizabeth conducted herself throughout her reign. She was hugely popular across the social classes and a role model for women across the world.
While many Scots will be excited by the big day, others will be looking on with a sense of detached bemusement. A hereditary monarch jars with modern values and many young people struggle to connect with the institution.
Just as his mother did, the King must use his time to modernise the monarchy and bring it into the 21st century. This means pushing ahead with plans for a slimmed down version. If this means handing over palaces and properties for the public good, so be it.
If it means greater transparency on how public funds are spent, even better. A modern monarchy must also represent the reality of life in modern Britain – and the nations and regions that make up the United Kingdom.
Society is unrecognisable from the 50s when Queen Elizabeth was crowned. Scotland and Britain are now far more diverse in terms of background, religion and social mobility.
Deference is seen as a thing of the past, with equality of opportunity now more important. The King must champion this diversity and use his high profile to make a difference.
He is in a privileged position and he should use that to speak out on areas where he has knowledge and ideas – such as climate change. We wish the King a long and happy reign and we’re sure those Scots celebrating up and down the country today will have a day to remember.
Turning drugs tide
As Scotland’s drug death crisis deepens, another minister has been brought in to try to turn the tide. Elena Whitham enters the stage with the energy and optimism shown by predecessors like Joe FitzPatrick and Angela Constance.
Neither was able to make a dent on horror statistics that show Scotland to be the drugs death capital of Europe. Whitham is aware the Scottish Government is failing to get the most vulnerable people into treatment.
And in today’s Daily Record she pledges to do her utmost to speed up that process. Whitham also tells of addiction in her family and details years of contact as a care worker with young people in addiction – including many who died.
It is refreshing to have someone in this position with lived experience of the devastating impact of drugs. We sincerely hope she can turn Scotland’s drug death crisis around.
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