THE GREAT MYTH

“I have since wondered whether those thirty-four Labour members would have voted as they did if they had been able to foresee that their vote on that evening would precipitate a General Election, at the least favourable time for the government “and I’m quoting the words of Jim Callaghan himself in his auto biography “Time and Chance”, and look who he’s pointing the finger at, Labour members in 1977 not the SNP in 1979.

Who better to analyse the circumstances of the Labour government’s demise?  He was referring to the infamous Cunningham amendment which set the 40 % Yes threshold for devolution, a democratic travesty dreamt up by the arch unionists of the day. In Callaghan’s analysis of the events of 1979 “it was the adverse result of the two Devolution referenda in Scotland and Wales that finally ended the Government’s life “. What is remarkable is his non partisan analysis of the devolution vote, and he even goes so far as to state “the merits of the case had become entangled with a vote on the Government’s popularity, which was not high even in Scotland, because of the recent industrial disputes”.

So it would appear that Labour MP’s who were anti-devolution and profoundly hostile to Scotland having additional powers scuppered the Callaghan government and ushered in Thatcher’s Tories – according to the Labour leader of the day.

There’s also a great big elephant in the room when it comes to analysing the Tory victory in 1979 – the entire foundations of New Labour are built on the premise that Old Labour was fundamentally unattractive to the voters (in the oft repeated clichés of Winter of Discontent, too much power in the hands of the trade unions etc) and therefore they must believe that a Tory victory in 1979 was inevitable…no matter when the election was held or under what circumstances the government fell?

In the minds of the shiny suits clutching filofaxes in the 80’s and fixing red roses in the buttonholes then singing along to “Things can only get better”, in 1997 that they believe Thatcher, and the superiority of private sector delivery and market values was a historical inevitability,  in other words......

..Vote New Labour, get Tory!

As true today as it was then…………….

VALUES

Yes another comeback for the blog, a bit like Frank Sinatra some might say, and I've decided to spruce this up a bit with a new look for this esteemed organ! Its been quite a summer, having got married to the Good Lady, been involved in lengthy negotiations with the employer over changes to working practices, and of course campaigning, where we have reduced a 44% deficit four years ago to 3% in the European Elections.  Now to kick on and overtake.

Despite all the negative attacks placed on the SNP by our opponents recently, we seem to still be ahead in recent polling which spells trouble for our friends in the British Labour Party (Scotland Region).

The Summer has also been dominated by New Labour double speak no more so than with the release of Al Megrahi.  In football parlance its been a dreadful pre-season for them, and one can only wonder if they can up their game in time for the Westminster election.  Can this authors prediction that they could suffer the same fate as Lloyd George's Liberals really come true?

The first double speak was over comments from some Tories over privatising parts of the NHS, whist at the same time consider papers designed to do exactly that in Engand and Wales, hence the aforementioned suspension of funding from UNISON.  Of course they still campaign in Scotland for outsourcing and more PFI, when the rest of us look on in utter bewiderment.

They continue to shout about cuts, when at the same time prepare for shaving £1 billion from the Scottish Budget.

Equally they scream about SNP councils and terms and conditions, whilst for the last 10 years Gasgow City Council have issued redundancy notices to change terms and conditions in an effective sign or be sacked policy as a matter of course.

Today was the ultimate.  To send a signal that they are at the very least comfortable at Westminster with the compassionate release of Al Megrahi, we have their Scottish Branch saying something entirely different.  They must think the electorate are fools.  To suggest that an organsation which cannot sneeze with out their Bosses in London telling them what to do, can now have separate opinions is risible.

Today we can only assume they have no values.  Values will decide the winner of the Westminster elections in Scotland.  That is the lesson from the American Presidential elections.  New Labour can only do negative because they have no values to share.

On the otherhand the people have a choice.  They can choose world class public services and the principles of social justice, peace and yes compassion.  They can choose to rebuild an economy where massive job losses are not seen as a price worth paying. 

The people of Scotland are not leaving New Labour.  New Labour have already left the Scottish people.

Voters who wish the choice of values can only now turn to the SNP.

FEEDING THE HAND THAT BITES

I am down for the UNISON Conference in Brighton, for what is a unified conference so far, after General Secretary, Dave Prentis delivered a devastating attack on New Labour, and received a standing ovation midway through his speech when he announced that he was requesting that the Labour Link section suspend funding Labour Party Constituency Development plans.

There is little doubt that this move is symbolic, and underlines the frustration of workers in the Public Sector. In a poll commissioned by UNISON 70% of Public Sector workers will not vote for Labour. Correctly the move to suspend funding is due to New Labour's attitude to public services, and for the way New Labour MP's have conducted themselves with their expenses.

How will Labour respond? If the last few weeks are anything to go by, they will have learned nothing. At a time when the PFI scam has been revealed, where more goes to private companies than is actually invested in public services, we see New Labour in Westminster and Holyrood argue that PFI is the way forward!

As Dave Prentis said "We must demand a manifesto that puts limits on privatisation. …. a manifesto that rebuilds public provision. We cannot tell our members to campaign and vote for a party whose manifesto promises more competition and more privatisation of our public services.” That why UNISON are sick of feeding the hand that bites.

Trade Union members and the public at large support Public Services being delivered by the Public Sector. They believe that privatisation only benefits the private investor.

I am glad I am a member of a political party that supports the Public Sector principle too.

PERCEPTIONS

Three months since my last blog, as I have been very busy dealing with an employer that appears to have taken complete leave of its senses, pre-occupied with Thistle's ultimately unsuccessful promotion push, Campaigning across the whole of South West, and of course helping with preparations with my forthcoming wedding.

I have been meaning to post for a few weeks now, however, my opponent for Glasgow South West has given me the ultimate inspiration. I am not going to attack Ian Davidson for his individual expenses claims which have featured in the media, as that is a matter for him. However, he has got it completely wrong with his comments in the Scotsman regarding the new Interim Expenses arrangements. To suggest that "He wishes he had a larger mortgage so he could claim more in allowances" sends the wrong signal in the current expenses crisis.

Politics is often about perception, and at this moment many members of the public think that Westminster politicians are on the take. Suggesting you wish you had a larger mortgage only re-enforces that view. In all the telegraph coverage on expenses the real scandal is the property "flipping" i.e. pocketing the profits of a sold house which the public paid the interest for, and then buying another property.

What has to come from this morass, is more accountability. In that spirit, I have decided that if I am given the honour of being elected, I will rent a property, and publish my expense claims so voters can judge for themselves if they are getting value for money.

There must be a general election soon, so that people can express their verdict on the Westminster system, and to restore confidence.

SCOTTISH READERS FOR QUALITY NEWS

Just my suggestion for a campaign which I feel is needed to rescue Scotland's beleaguered media, and particularly the ongoing shenanigans deployed by Newsquest who own the Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times.

I am sure I am not the only one to recognise the downgrading of standards at these newspapers. This is not a criticism of the journalists employed at these titles, but a direct shot at the management. The disgraceful decision to terminate all staff contracts and then issue them with new (worse) terms and conditions, has resulted in experienced staff looking for the exit doors, with the result being that a voluntary trawl ended with so many wanting to leave, Newsquest are now in a panic. At one time working for the Herald was a badge of honour, now journalists do not have that feeling.

It is also my understanding that staff who are offered redundancy are being asked to effectively sign a clause stating that they will not pursue a tribunal against the management.

To use antediluvian anti worker legislation does Newsquest no credit.

Newsquest is not a company facing difficult times. Their profits are soaring. The parent company Gannet publicly state that they see reader contributor stories as the way ahead. Readers do not expect this at the longest established English language newspaper in the world. The Evening Times is fast becoming an extended edition of the in-house Glasgow City Council magazine.

Perhaps it is time to seriously consider the Irish Times model, which is owned by a Trust as the way forward for these titles.

All of us as readers need to voice our concerns at the outrageous employment practices deployed by Newsquest, and the dumbing down of our media, particularly at what was once the best titles in the Country.

A BUDGET VERDICT

So I have decided to blog again to keep my avid readers occupied. A very busy January for me in both work, and campaigning around North Pollok, and and in the Greater Pollok area. I am pleased to say that the voters of Glasgow South West continue to give positive feedback to the SNP.

On Wednesday I was scheduled to go to a meeting in the Scottish Parliament which was cancelled at the last meeting thanks to the Budget being voted down. This did surprise me somewhat as I did not think that some of the following was controversial enough to vote down;

- Extra funds for the NHS

- Real investment in delivering free personal care for the elderly

- A Second successive Council Tax freeze (in other words freezing a regressive piece of taxation)

- Investment in the Construction Industry creating 5,000 jobs.

However it seems that the people of Scotland have delivered their verdict to the Budget, and the behaviour of New Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens. In a poll for the Sunday Times published today, it shows that If an election for the Scottish Parliament was called now, the SNP would have a 6% lead in both Constituency and Regional voting, higher than in 2007.

Sensationally, despite the fact that the key economic powers lie with Westminster at present, Alex Salmond is level with Gordon Brown in terms of handling the economy. A Westminster poll has shown the SNP vote shooting up by 10%.

This poll reflects many of the comments from voters, work and trade union colleagues who are all agreed that the opposition parties who voted the Budget down, got that decision badly wrong, and that the Scottish Government are right to press ahead and try for the sake of the nation to proceed with pushing a budget that will help the people of Scotland through one of the worst economic periods ever.

SNP - Still on your side!

CUTS CUTS CUTS!

Yes indeed a month since my last blog post, and I am sure my avid readers have missed my musings.

Over last month a heavy workload, plus continuing campaigning around North Cardonald, Penilee, and Damshot, and the postie still delivers a sizeable mailbag, indicating more and more support for the SNP. No sign of the Brown bounce here!

With the Calman commission being a damp squib, the pre-budget report delivering nothing for households with low incomes, it is little wonder.

Today, John Swinney announced more money for Scotland's local authorities, which is of course very welcome. Interestingly New Labour fail to tell that last year the local government slice of the Scottish Budget was the first time it had increased in nine years. Wonder why?

The main danger of course is that the Party that is supposedly against cuts, or so they keep lecturing us, has delivered a £500 million cuts bombshell of their own, with the news that the pre budget report will see this half billion being eliminated from the Scottish budget over the next three years. This outrage makes the case for Scottish fiscal powers unanswerable, and makes the Calman report look naive to be polite.

The SNP government should continue to expose the effects of the downturn and how Scottish residents are being cheated. Union dividend? Price of the union more like!

With the Tory vultures ready to pounce and gain control in London, and the disastrous consequences that they would represent to Scotland, can anyone stop them? YES!

Only voting SNP at the Westminster elections will stop these disastrous cuts in their tracks. Only the SNP can and will protect the people and public services of our nation.