ACROSS the country Labour Party activists are dusting off their wellies, winter coats and scarves in preparation for a December 12 election.

While the prospect of dark nights, nippy frosts and snow may not set the hearts a flutter, the prospect of a bright red, Corbyn-led government casting a warm glow across Downing Street will.

Let’s make no mistake about it: for socialists this is the big one. This is the chance to elect a government that will transform our society by investing in our people, our industries and our communities.

While Brexit has tied up the political class in endless debates and parliamentary manoeuvring, back in the real world ordinary people have been left to face the consequences of cuts, austerity and public-sector decline.

In Scotland, we see our NHS under pressure like never before — over £200 million in deficit, waiting times growing, staff shortages and a mental health crisis.

We have the greatest number of drugs deaths in Europe and an HIV outbreak affecting homeless drug users in Glasgow.

In housing hundreds of thousands of Scots sit on council waiting lists, bed and breakfast accommodation with no cooking facilities is increasingly used to house homeless families and private rents are soaring to levels previously unimaginable.

More of our working citizens have been forced into poverty as the shambles of universal credit hits home. The “rape clause” remains in place and disabled people have lost their independence as mobility cars have been taken from them.

Our public transport system is a sad joke, with Abellio’s management of the railways an unmitigated disaster, causing more delays, cancellations and fare increases. Bus services have been cut, leaving communities, and older people in particular, isolated.

Over the last few years, we have witnessed the worst excesses of corporate greed, with companies like Asda, McDonald’s, Sports Direct and many others exposed for the way they exploit workers and drive down pay.

Jobs have been lost at BiFab, the Caledonian rail works, Kaiam and numerous other small and medium-sized companies.

But it doesn’t have to be like this. We could have a government that offers a new direction. A government that offers hope and optimism. A government with fairness, justice and equality at the heart of everything it does.

That invests an additional £70 billion over 10 years in Scotland.

That offers a “green new deal” to address climate change.

That collects the taxes from the big businesses that rip off the taxpayer.

That provides the finance to build homes for our people and prevent exploitation in the private sector.

That ensures we have enough money to recruit staff and buy resources to our NHS, bringing down waiting times and investing in our social care system.

That introduces a living wage for all workers.

That starts a revolution in employment rights and gives workers a stake in the business they work in.

That takes our railway back into public ownership and expands council-run bus services. That scraps universal credit once and for all.

A government that puts peace and co-operation with our friends and neighbours across the world at the heart of an ethical foreign policy.

Change is within our grasp. It is now the duty of every socialist to campaign for that programme over the next six weeks. You can help make that change — campaign with Labour, join the party and help us deliver a Labour government.

Neil Findlay is Labour MSP for Lothian.