MSPs are poised to push Frank’s Law through Holyrood if the SNP drags its heels on a fairer care system.
With the Nationalists in minority government, and every opposition party supporting Amanda Kopel’s campaign, there is now a majority in the Scottish Parliament backing under-65s getting vital support without having to pay for it.
To mark the second anniversary of The Courier’s support for Frank’s Law, the leader of each political party was invited to wear a t-shirt in their party’s colours.
Ruth Davidson of the Conservatives, Labour’s Kezia Dugdale, Patrick Harvie of the Greens, and the Liberal Democrats’ Willie Rennie turned out to support Kirriemuir woman Mrs Kopel, whose husband, Dundee United legend Frank, suffered from dementia for six years before his death.
Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister and leader of the SNP, was “unable to attend due to other diary commitments”.
Following last May’s election, however, the political arithmetic has changed in Scottish politics.
With the SNP having 63 MSPs, they can be outvoted if all their opponents agree on an issue, as they do with Frank’s Law.
Miles Briggs, the Tory mental health spokesman, has now pledged to bring forward a private member’s bill in support of the campaign if the Scottish Government continues to drag its heels.
He said: “Hopefully the Scottish Government will see sense and put this in place without having to go through this parliamentary process but if they are not going to do it I would bring forward a bill.
“For all their talk of holding the UK Government’s ‘feet to the fire’ it is about time they were held to account.
“When you talk to Amanda and other campaigners you find out there are a lot of people who need this. The money announced here and there so far has been trivial.”
Ministers have ordered a feasibility study into expanding free personal and nursing care to people with dementia who are under 65, with completion expected this summer.
Amanda said: “Out of evil comes good. Dementia was an evil thing for us but hopefully something good will come of it.
“I remember Frankie in one of his lucid moments grabbing my hand and saying: ‘It’s too late for me, Amanda, but it (Frank’s Law) can still help others.’
“I’m delighted Miles is going to be doing this. Rome wasn’t built in a day, I quite understand that, but people under the age of 65 are having their hopes dashed every day.
“Let the people of Scotland see who is for Frank’s Law and who is not.”
Ms Davidson said: “This is a vital campaign which, if successful, would be life-changing for those struck down with cruel illnesses so young.
“It’s regrettable that there was an empty yellow jersey at the event, but it perhaps shows the SNP simply isn’t serious about Frank’s Law.”
Ms Dugdale added: “It’s impossible not to be moved by Frank Kopel’s story or to be inspired by Amanda’s determination to help others in Frank’s memory. Scottish Labour backs this campaign, but we want to see the SNP government go further and work towards removing charges for everyone under 65, not just for prescribed conditions.”
Mr Rennie said: “No disability or disease discriminates on age and therefore neither should the support be for those that need it.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: “We’ll do everything we can at Holyrood to convince the Scottish Government of why there must be free health care for all, at the point of need.”
