ANTICIPATION is mounting ahead of the SNP Scottish Government’s visit to Inverclyde this month.

The fact that Greenock Town Hall looks as if it will be crammed to the rafters for a public meeting with the Cabinet is another indication of the huge task facing Labour.

A few years ago, a visit by all of the Labour Scottish Government ministers would probably have attracted several dozen supporters and a few hecklers.

But times have changed dramatically with the SNP bandwagon that swept almost all before it at this year’s general election.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon got the film star treatment when she arrived in Greenock by helicopter during a campaign which put her on the national political map.

Inverclyde will no doubt go ‘selfie’ mad again when she returns with the Cabinet, but Labour’s Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil is justifiably raising issues which the Cabinet should take the opportunity to address head on.

He is worried about the future of Inverclyde Royal, as well as delays to building a new Greenock Health Centre and Ravenscraig Hospital elderly care unit.

And anyone who drives along Inverkip Road must be wondering what is to happen to the huge gap site left by the abrupt about-turn over the proposed new women’s prison.

Labour are under no illusions that the SNP are likely to take most of the first-past-the-post seats at May’s Holyrood elections, but the government must still be held to account.

A one-party state is in no one’s best interests.