In an interview with The Herald last week, Labour MP Brian Leishman said it may be time for the party in Scotland to move away from the London operation. Our columnist Kevin McKenna agrees

In my interviews this month with Monica Lennon and Brian Leishman I was reminded what the Labour Party once stood for.

Ms Lennon, the MSP for Central Scotland is currently trying to guide her "ecocide" bill through Holyrood before Parliament breaks for the Scottish elections. It would criminalise large corporations for poisoning and disfiguring those working-class communities targeted by big business for illegal waste disposal.

Unsurprisingly, it’s faced opposition from an unlovely coalition of high Tories and some individual SNP politicians in a manner which makes one wonder where some of them intend to make their money beyond front-line politics.

Ms Lennon’s intervention comes six years after her Period Products Bill made Scotland the first country in the world ever to introduce universal free access to period products for anyone who needs them. Two years later, the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act became law.

The Bellshill-born MSP has lived and worked her entire life in North Lanarkshire and is one of a tiny few politicians identifying as left-wing who puts basic Socialism into practice by championing issues directly affecting the everyday lives of working class people. Both of these causes are in stark contrast to the dilettante, luxury beliefs espoused by the SNP and the Scottish Greens.

Read more by Kevin McKenna

Scottish Labour must consider breaking from London party, says MP

Scottish Labour is letting down its voters, says MP Brian Leishman

Monica Lennon and the fight to make polluters pay

Monica........

© Herald Scotland