Public services play a crucial role in our society, building community cohesion and collective responsibility’. The British people have spent billions in bailing out banks and businesses. Now business and their political friends want us to cut our way out of the recession they created. Like most other countries we must accept short-term increases in public sector debt to build our way out of recession and provide people with the support they need. A positive agenda to revitalise Scotland’s public services will be based on the principles of democracy, fairness, partnership, investment and excellence. It can only be achieved with well resourced, motivated, trained and rewarded staff. There is much to be gained from continuing partnership with the voluntary sector, there is nothing to be gained from privatisation.