MARKING ten years since the formation of the first SNP Government, Cowdenbeath councillor Alistair Bain this week has been reflecting on what has developed in that time and its impact on the local area.

He said: "Despite many challenges I believe the last 10 years of Government has seen real progress for people across the Cowdenbeath Area, Fife and Scotland.

"Households have benefitted from such things as our record high spending on the NHS, free prescriptions and free personal care for the elderly and free higher education.

"Spending on schools has risen by £220m since 2006-7 and our protection of free university education means students and families in Cowdenbeath save up to £27,000 compared with the cost of studying in England.

"I am delighted that this means more young people from the most deprived backgrounds are getting to university.

"We're fighting for fairer pay and Scotland has the highest proportion of living wage employees in the UK paid at least the Living Wage."

He added: "Looking back over the past few years I am proud of what the SNP has achieved in sometimes very challenging circumstances.

"I can also acknowledge that not everything has gone smoothly, and there is a lot more to do.

"I am delighted that improving education, and addressing some of the challenges our schools face, is the SNP's top priority at every level of Government.

"I get that people might be a bit sick of elections right now but the vote on June 8 is a hugely important one.

"Given how divided Labour are, no one is really in any doubt that the Tories are going to win the election across the UK.

"So the need to stand up for Scotland at Westminster has never been greater. We need strong voices to fight immoral policies such as the Bedroom Tax and the disgraceful Rape Clause. We need strong voices to campaign relentlessly against against Tory policies that have seen a shameful increase in food bank usage."

Concluded the councillor has served on Cowdenbeath Area Committee for a decade: "As long as key decisions such as these are taken in the House of Commons, it is vital that we have strong voices standing up for Scotland at Westminster.

"That is why I am asking people to vote for Roger Mullin in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and Douglas Chapman in Dunfermline and West Fife, giving us a strong SNP voice for both constituencies and Scotland.

"I am proud of the SNP's record in Government over the past decade, I believe we have achieved a great deal for Scotland, but we will continue working hard to make Scotland the best country it can be."