As we hurtle towards the crescendo of Rutherglen and Hamilton West, in what does seem a torturously drawn-out process, both parties are launching the proverbial kitchen sink to gather what votes they can.

For one side, victory represents a potential fresh start and a pathway to Downing Street. For the other, victory helps reinforce their near-10-yearn grip on Scottish electoral politics.

Somewhere in the middle though are workers at risk of being used as a political football. We need only look to the members' business debate this past week in the Scottish Parliament for an example of peak politicking at its inglorious finest. The debate, presented by Keith Brown MSP on the Devolution of Employment Law laid bare not only the very welcome strength of feeling within the Scottish Parliament for further employment devolution but the brinkmanship both Labour and SNP members will go to in gaining whatever advantage they can ahead of polling day.

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Setting aside the politicisation of a members’ business debate - a time of parliamentary business usually reserved for more congenial, collegiate matters - we absolutely welcome Mr Brown putting this on the agenda alongside his colleagues and those across the chamber supporting the call. Protecting workers against low pay and zero-hours contracts whilst supporting their democratic right to strike and to negotiate wages collectively should be a priority at all levels of government.

Across the benches, we did find common ground. There is clearly, both in rhetoric and manifesto commitments, a desire to devolve. There’s just unnecessary quibbling on the shape and timeline of it all.

The roots of this latest Parliamentary stooshie can be charted back to earlier this month to a conference taking place in Liverpool, of all places.

At the Trades Union Congress’ annual congress, for the first time in their history, the TUC backed a motion from Unite the Union calling for the devolution of employment law.

Whilst the STUC is independent of the TUC - we’re an autonomous body for Scotland’s workers with no affiliation to any political party - we clearly have a strong, shared mission to deliver for working people. Whether they’re from Paisley or Penzance, workers throughout the entirety of the UK can lean upon the trade union movement in their hour of need. We share the desire to kick the Tories out of government and bring in a new era of representation that values and appreciates our workers.

Whilst, rightly and understandably, the TUC was keen to ensure that such a move would enhance, not erode, workers’ rights between nations, the STUC welcomes the now-shared policy between our bodies on devolving employment law.

The Scottish Parliament exercises a whole range of powers such as business investment, renewable energy, taxation and of course the delivery of public services, which means that the environment for workers and businesses in Scotland differs from the rUK. Further powers, that the STUC supports, such as the partial devolution of migration, would empower the parliament to address specific economic and social challenges we face. Devolved employment law very naturally sits alongside this suite of powers.

Under a Tory-governed Westminster, devolved employment law can act as a last line of defence for Scottish workers. Our Scottish Parliament can seek to build a better future for Scotland’s workers and, in so far as possible, never have our rights undermined by successive Tory Westminster government ever again.

Equally, however, there is a scenario whereby our two parliaments can and should work together. This is clearly more likely under a Labour government taking power in Westminster. It’s for this reason that Labour’s New Deal for Working People can, to put it simply, work.

A minimum floor of working rights across the UK and banning fire and re-hire; scrapping all Tory anti-trade union law and strengthening working rights from day one of employment; raising workers’ wages and tackling workplace harassment; banning zero hours contracts and establishing Fair Pay agreements across our economy. These are, unquestionably, transformative moves that help working people across the country and are to be welcomed; how on earth could it not?

Good employment protections should be as universal as possible.

Within that though there is a warning. Promising and delivering are two different things. Political opponents of the SNP are sceptical that it would deliver should it actually gain new powers. Political opponents of Labour point to the failure of the successive New Labour governments to deliver for workers. But for our part, there can be no double standards or easing off the throttle; what our movement demands from the Scottish Government in terms of fair pay, collective bargaining and a commitment to fair work, we absolutely demand from an incoming UK Labour Government.

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For prospective Labour MPs, it's simply not good enough to just wish themselves into government. The electorate needs a bold vision to believe in; one that will take those disenfranchised and maligned by successive Tory governments back to the voting booths to decide on a better future.

Within the first 100 days of office, Labour’s New Deal for Working People is set to be implemented. But Liz Truss aside, governments usually last longer than 100 days. Our focus is wider and more long-term. We welcome a new deal for workers in its totality but that doesn’t come at the expense of devolving further employment powers to the Scottish Parliament. Rather, it works hand in hand. If the party of devolution is to stick true to its name - to its core beliefs - then the devolution of employment law must be a central component.

100 days is an arbitrary figure that has gained traction within our political discourse. If a new UK Labour Government seeks to implement its deal within that timeframe, then brilliant. We warmly welcome it. But it’s time to act like a government in waiting, not a political party on electioneering manoeuvres. We’re focusing on the next 100 days and time thereafter. We’re happy to support the New Deal for Working People as a good starting point of what we expect from a government built and named after our movement but it absolutely does not stop there. The STUC, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Greens and now the TUC all support the call for devolving employment law. We look forward to any incoming UK Labour government doing likewise.

Roz Foyer is General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress