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Glasgow East: 'What is the point in voting? Nothing will change' Glasgow East: 'What is the point in voting? Nothing will change'
(about 1 hour later)
On Sunday, Scott turned 16. For a teenager whose mother died when he was four years old, it’s a big day. But for his aunt Elizabeth, it’s a financial disaster. On Sunday, Scott turned 16. For Scott, whose mother died when he was four, it was a big day. But for his aunt Elizabeth, it was a financial disaster.
Scott’s mother died of unknown causes 11 years ago, aged 42. Now Elizabeth looks after him. But as of Sunday, he will no longer qualify for child benefit. And so the financial help Elizabeth gets to support her nephew each week will drop from £60 to £16. Scott’s mother died of unknown causes aged 42. Now Elizabeth looks after him. But as of Sunday, he no longer qualifies for child benefit. And so the financial help Elizabeth gets to support her nephew each week will drop from £60 to £16.
Elizabeth Steele and Scott live in a tenement block in Easterhouse, part of Glasgow East, one of the constituencies the Guardian has been tracking in the voices and votes series. Glasgow East is in Scottish National party hands, having been taken from Labour in the party’s 2015 election wipeout in Scotland, and previous conversations around the constituency have suggested people like the energy of the SNP. Elizabeth and Scott live in a tenement block in Easterhouse, part of Glasgow East, one of the constituencies the Guardian has been tracking in the voices and votes series. Glasgow East is in Scottish National party hands, having been taken from Labour in 2015, and previous conversations around the constituency have suggested people like the energy of the SNP.
They have also suggested that a lot of people in the area, whoever they support, are in the habit of voting. But in Easterhouse, that is not so clear. Sitting outside on a sunny day with her niece, Nicola, and her partner, John, Steele explained that she will not be voting next Thursday. In fact, none of them will. They have also suggested that a lot of people in the area, whoever they support, are in the habit of voting. But in Easterhouse, that is not so clear. Sitting outside on a sunny day last week with her niece, Nicola, and her partner, John, Elizabeth said she would not be voting on Thursday. In fact, none of them would.
Easterhouse is a name that comes with baggage. This is where, in 2002, the then Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith had his “epiphany”, deciding overnight to reform the party’s welfare strategy after witnessing the inequalities and poverty for himself. Such associations have been hard for the area to shake off, even if the picture is subtler than the association suggests. Easterhouse is a name that comes with baggage. This is where, in 2002, the then Conservative party leader, Iain Duncan Smith, had his “epiphany”, deciding overnight to change the party’s welfare strategy after witnessing the inequalities and poverty for himself. Such associations have been hard for the area to shake off, even if the picture is subtler than the association suggests.
Steele’s life in the area has never been easy. Aged 62, she is one of 12 children born and bred in east Glasgow. Six of her siblings are dead, five of them killed by drugs and alcohol. She looks after three children including Scott, belonging to two sisters, one dead and the other a drug addict whose 14-year-old son is “terrified” of her. Elizabeth’s life in the area has never been easy. Aged 62, she is one of 12 children born and bred in east Glasgow. Six of her siblings are dead, five of them killed by drugs and alcohol. She looks after three children, including Scott, belonging to two sisters, one dead and the other a drug addict whose 14-year-old son is “terrified” of her.
As children come and go through the garden into the house, Elizabeth explains that she took Scott and his adult sister Donna Marie in when their mother died and applied for family “kinship” payments, but was refused. Donna Marie has Williams syndrome, a mental disability that prevents her from working. When she explains the situation, her frustration is obvious. As children came and went through the garden into the house, Elizabeth explained that she had taken in Scott and his adult sister Donna Marie when their mother died, and had applied for family “kinship” payments but had been refused. Donna Marie has Williams syndrome, a mental disability that prevents her from working. When Elizabeth explained the situation, her frustration was obvious.
“The first time, I had got Scott and Donna Marie and they said ‘no’ - that I could not get a kinship money because their mother is deceased,” she said. “They said ‘you only get it if they are in care’. But I have them under a kinship order, so it doesn’t make sense. Then when I got my other’s sister’s son, I went back to them and they poked around for a few weeks and said, ‘you’ve been doing okay with the other two, you don’t need it’. They said I wasn’t entitled to it.” “The first time, I had got Scott and Donna Marie and they said no – that I could not get a kinship money because their mother is deceased,” she said. “They said you only get it if they are in care. But I have them under a kinship order, so it doesn’t make sense. Then when I got my other’s sister’s son, I went back to them and they poked around for a few weeks and said you’ve been doing OK with the other two, you don’t need it. They said I wasn’t entitled to it.”
This experience may help explain why she is not voting in the election on Thursday. “What’s the point?” she said. “Nothing will change.This experience may help explain why she is not voting in the election on Thursday. “What’s the point?” she said. “Nothing will change.
“I’m not one to ask for help, I’ve been knocked back so often, there’s no point. I’ve had Scott since he was four, and politicians, not one of them have helped. The local Labour councillor lives around the corner, she didn’t help.“I’m not one to ask for help, I’ve been knocked back so often, there’s no point. I’ve had Scott since he was four, and politicians, not one of them have helped. The local Labour councillor lives around the corner, she didn’t help.
“The weekly shop alone is about £160. That money could have helped with clothes. It would cost the state £500-£600 if they were in care.”“The weekly shop alone is about £160. That money could have helped with clothes. It would cost the state £500-£600 if they were in care.”
Elizabeth said she is not the only one living hand to mouth in the area, or the sole person not voting because they do not see evidence of any political work from one day to the next. Elizabeth said she was not the only one living hand to mouth in the area, or the sole person not voting because they did not see evidence of any political work from one day to the next.
Glasgow East is one of the most deprived constituencies in the country, and Easterhouse, the sprawling suburb where Elizabeth lives, is among the poorest wards, scoring a rating of one on the Scottish index of multiple deprivation for 2016 for low income, unemployment, and poor education and health outcomes.Glasgow East is one of the most deprived constituencies in the country, and Easterhouse, the sprawling suburb where Elizabeth lives, is among the poorest wards, scoring a rating of one on the Scottish index of multiple deprivation for 2016 for low income, unemployment, and poor education and health outcomes.
But no one meeting Elizabeth and her family could think these are people sponging off the system, bleeding the country dry. But no one meeting Elizabeth and her family could think these are people sponging off the system, bleeding the country dry. John, her partner, is a chef at the McVitie’s factory a few miles away, while niece Nicola works as a customer services assistant earning the minimum wage for 30 hours a week. They rent privately, with nothing left at end of the month after their £550 bills are paid.
John is a chef at the McVitie’s factory a few miles away, while Nicola works as a customer services assistant earning the minimum wage for 30 hours a week. They rent privately, with nothing left at end of the month after their £550 bills are paid. Standing in their gnome-filled garden, John said Brexit would have a ruinous effect on McVitie’s: “There’s going to be a 25% tariff on sugar, then you’ve got your tariffs on grains and cereal – Brexit is going to cripple the country.”
Standing in their gnome-filled garden, he said Brexit will have a ruinous effect on McVitie’s: “There’s going to be a 25% tariff on sugar, then you’ve got your tariffs on grains and cereal – Brexit is going to cripple the country.” So, I asked, would he vote SNP, for the party promising a referendum that may ultimately see Scotland float away and return to the arms of the EU? He admitted he was “humming and hawing” on Nicola Sturgeon. But John and Elizabeth also have a 14-year-old boy, and he is not sure independence will secure the Scottish economy and future jobs for his son.
So, I ask, would he vote SNP, for the party promising a referendum that may ultimately see Scotland float away and return to the arms of the EU? He admitted he is “humming and hawing” on Nicola Sturgeon. But John and his partner have a 14-year-old boy, and he is not sure independence is going to secure the Scottish economy and future jobs for his son.
“There’s nothing for them around here,” he said, as Scott arrived back at the flat on his bike. The community centre around the corner is closed on weekends and school holidays, and teenage gangs “terrorise” some of the neighbourhood, Nicola said.“There’s nothing for them around here,” he said, as Scott arrived back at the flat on his bike. The community centre around the corner is closed on weekends and school holidays, and teenage gangs “terrorise” some of the neighbourhood, Nicola said.
Elizabeth, echoing a statement I have heard more than once across this suburb, said: “Easterhouse is a dump. There’s nothing for the wee ones here.”Elizabeth, echoing a statement I have heard more than once across this suburb, said: “Easterhouse is a dump. There’s nothing for the wee ones here.”
But a more common refrain is that Easterhouse has changed. While life is tough, this is a sink estate regenerated, and if only politicians would listen, it could quickly be on the up, people have said. But a more common refrain is that Easterhouse has changed. While life is tough, this is a sink estate regenerated – and if only politicians would listen, it could quickly be on the up, people have said.
Around the corner from Elizabeth’s, another group of neighbours are out enjoying the sunshine. Around the corner from Elizabeth’s, another group of neighbours were out enjoying the sunshine. “I feel like I won the lottery when I got this house,” said Linda Bowen, 58. But she was not voting either. “I don’t really know much about politics.”
“I feel like I won the lottery when I got this house,” said Linda Bowen, 58. But she is not voting either. “I don’t really know much about politics.” Turn the corner again and David and Margaret Sheiles were taking the opportunity to paint their garden railing. Life has also been exceptionally hard for the Sheiles, but somehow the system worked for them.
Turn the corner again and David and Margaret Sheiles are taking the opportunity to paint their garden railing. David has spinocerebellar ataxia, a rare, incurable condition that causes him to lose his balance and fall over, and can lead to a speech impairment. He was given help with a stairlift, and Margaret – who used to work in a pound shop, but had to stop because of her sciatica – receives a carer’s allowance for the help she gives David. Their daughter, Amy, has fibromyalgia.
Life has also been exceptionally hard for the Sheiles, but somehow the system worked for them. “We’ve always voted SNP,” said David, and they intended to so again. Strikingly, they took that view even though they did not want another independence referendum for now. “They should leave that for five or 10 years,” David said.
David has spinocerebellar ataxia, a rare, incurable condition that causes him to lose his balance and fall over, and can lead to a speech impairment. He was given help with a stairlift and Margaret, who used to work in a pound shop, but had to stop because of her sciatica, receives a carer’s allowance for the help she gives David. Their daughter, Amy, has fibromyalgia. Unlike Elizabeth, they felt connected with politics. The Sheiles had a personal visit from the local SNP candidate, David Linden, who is standing for the first time in the seat, seeking to replace the former SNP MP Natalie McGarry, who resigned the whip over fraud allegations and was not reselected as the candidate this time around.
“We’ve always voted SNP,” said David, and they intend to so again. Strikingly, they take that view even though they do not want another independence referendum for now. “They should leave that for five or 10 years,” David said. They had already had a handwritten letter from Linden, promising to look into David continuing to be tested for disability allowances even though his condition is incurable. “One button pressed and they stop his money,” said Margaret. “They did that in 2013 because he was so bad he couldn’t make the appointment. So they told us to go to jobseeker’s. Sometimes he can’t get out of bed; you phone them up and they say he can’t make the appointment, they press a button and that’s it.”
Unlike Elizabeth, they feel connected with politics. The Sheiles had a personal visit from the local SNP candidate, David Linden, who is standing for the first time in the seat, seeking to replace the former SNP MP Natalie McGarry, who resigned the whip over fraud allegations and was not reselected as the candidate this time around.
They have already had a handwritten letter from Linden, promising to look into David continuing to be tested for disability allowances even though his condition is incurable. “One button pressed and they stop his money,” said Margaret. “They did that in 2013 because he was so bad he couldn’t make the appointment. So they told us to go to jobseeker’s. Sometimes he can’t get out of bed, you phone them up and they say he can’t make the appointment, they press a button and that’s it.”
For people like David, Margaret, Elizabeth, Nicola and John, this election is not going to change much. Easterhouse is Easterhouse. And yet, this is a place that has been transformed over the years.For people like David, Margaret, Elizabeth, Nicola and John, this election is not going to change much. Easterhouse is Easterhouse. And yet, this is a place that has been transformed over the years.
It started life as a sprawling housing scheme for 50,000 people, built in the 1950s as part of a utopian vision of a better life for poor people in Glasgow.It started life as a sprawling housing scheme for 50,000 people, built in the 1950s as part of a utopian vision of a better life for poor people in Glasgow.
With few facilities for young people, Easterhouse quickly descended into a no-go area, with several high-profile interventions, including one from the singer Frankie Vaughan in 1968 to get gangs to give up knives.With few facilities for young people, Easterhouse quickly descended into a no-go area, with several high-profile interventions, including one from the singer Frankie Vaughan in 1968 to get gangs to give up knives.
The suburb has been transformed in the past 25 years. Tenements have been demolished and replaced by new-builds, some of which, with their cedar cladding, would not be out of place in more upmarket areas. The suburb has been transformed in the past 25 years. Tenements have been demolished and replaced with new-builds, some of which, with their cedar cladding, would not be out of place in more upmarket areas.
Harry Kane, 65, a retired teacher and community organiser at the local St John Bosco Catholic church, has lived in the area since 1975. “I think most people who came to Easterhouse are expecting slums and they are pleasantly surprised,” he said. The demographics have changed and the population has plummeted, from an estimated peak of about 50,000 to 8,000. On some estates, such as the one next to Easterhouse station, the houses are virtually all privately owned, with BMWs and Jaguars in the driveways.Harry Kane, 65, a retired teacher and community organiser at the local St John Bosco Catholic church, has lived in the area since 1975. “I think most people who came to Easterhouse are expecting slums and they are pleasantly surprised,” he said. The demographics have changed and the population has plummeted, from an estimated peak of about 50,000 to 8,000. On some estates, such as the one next to Easterhouse station, the houses are virtually all privately owned, with BMWs and Jaguars in the driveways.
But for Elizabeth and her family, those changes ring hollow against their experiences. John, confirming he will not be voting either, said: “The election is a load of shite. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, they fuck the country up anyway.” But for Elizabeth and her family, those changes ring hollow against their experiences. John, confirming he would not be voting either, said: “The election is a load of shite. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, they fuck the country up anyway.”
Do you live in Glasgow East? Help shape this reporting by letting us know which issues are important this electionDo you live in Glasgow East? Help shape this reporting by letting us know which issues are important this election