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.
22 May 2009
03 February 2009
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.
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.
02 February 2009
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!
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!
11 December 2008
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.
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.
09 November 2008
A TALE OF TWO COUNTRIES....
A very difficult few working weeks, and some campaigning in both Glenrothes, and Baillieston, as well as watching the jubilant scenes from America.
What a contrast!
I have not met anyone who is not happy at Obama's victory, though I have to confess that I was surprised by the margin, as I had expected the result to be a lot closer. One thing is for sure, only McCain or Guiliiani could have the Presidency for the Republicans. The main reason why the Republicans didn't is due entirely to the vision and hope which an Obama presidency offers. It was truly inspirational to watch black Americans describe how much an Obama win means to them. A message of hope over fear won the day. Having listened to McCain's concession, you have to wonder how close the result could have been if he had not wandered to the right during the last three months of the campaign. One wonders if Guiliiani had been the running mate, how many other states would have been in play in the electoral college.
Then we have the opposite end of the spectrum, Glenrothes. The vicious and brutal nature of New Labour's campaign would shame many, but not it seems the deployers of the dark arts within New Labour. The lies and half truths over home charges, seem to have won the day, however, I believe that the Bank of England interest rate announcement at midday probably had an effect that could not be countered. Baillieston on the other hand can be put down to voter fatigue, which was clear to me when doing knock up. One wonders how a council by-election on the south side of Glasgow would have panned out, after the disgraceful decision by the GHA to award the Housing Repair contract to the a private sector company, apparently nicknamed CANNOT.
Rather than be a Garscadden moment, I believe this was the reality check. Like Jim Sillars, I believe New Labour's problems will continue after the New Year, when it is expected that the economy will be hit with further job losses, particularly in the banking sector.
So a three nil win for New Labour on Thursday, they held onto a Council ward in Edinburgh, but rather than being a crucial cup final, it is the equivalent of a defeat with a long promising season ahead (The mighty Jags are now unbeaten since their last 3-0 defeat!).
So how have the triumphant forces of New Labour reacted? Well they have learned nothing if it is true that the Calman Commission receive a dossier (another dodgy one perhaps) from Downing Street as reported today, that the Scottish Parliament should not receive any new powers. As in the last few by-elections I have campaigned in, many voters regardless of their political voting intention would vote yes in an Independence Referendum. Our political opponents are sadly mistaken if they believe that the Constitutional question is over.
So a victory of vision, ambition and hope in one country, and a victory of fear in this one.
Everyone in the SNP should hold their nerve, and react positively to this setback. Scotland is a social democratic nation, if not a socialist one. The politics of hope, and a positive outlook will always triumph.
Now I can return to our campaign in Glasgow South West, where I have already consoled myself with opening a large postbag of voters pledging to the SNP in the next Westminster election.....
What a contrast!
I have not met anyone who is not happy at Obama's victory, though I have to confess that I was surprised by the margin, as I had expected the result to be a lot closer. One thing is for sure, only McCain or Guiliiani could have the Presidency for the Republicans. The main reason why the Republicans didn't is due entirely to the vision and hope which an Obama presidency offers. It was truly inspirational to watch black Americans describe how much an Obama win means to them. A message of hope over fear won the day. Having listened to McCain's concession, you have to wonder how close the result could have been if he had not wandered to the right during the last three months of the campaign. One wonders if Guiliiani had been the running mate, how many other states would have been in play in the electoral college.
Then we have the opposite end of the spectrum, Glenrothes. The vicious and brutal nature of New Labour's campaign would shame many, but not it seems the deployers of the dark arts within New Labour. The lies and half truths over home charges, seem to have won the day, however, I believe that the Bank of England interest rate announcement at midday probably had an effect that could not be countered. Baillieston on the other hand can be put down to voter fatigue, which was clear to me when doing knock up. One wonders how a council by-election on the south side of Glasgow would have panned out, after the disgraceful decision by the GHA to award the Housing Repair contract to the a private sector company, apparently nicknamed CANNOT.
Rather than be a Garscadden moment, I believe this was the reality check. Like Jim Sillars, I believe New Labour's problems will continue after the New Year, when it is expected that the economy will be hit with further job losses, particularly in the banking sector.
So a three nil win for New Labour on Thursday, they held onto a Council ward in Edinburgh, but rather than being a crucial cup final, it is the equivalent of a defeat with a long promising season ahead (The mighty Jags are now unbeaten since their last 3-0 defeat!).
So how have the triumphant forces of New Labour reacted? Well they have learned nothing if it is true that the Calman Commission receive a dossier (another dodgy one perhaps) from Downing Street as reported today, that the Scottish Parliament should not receive any new powers. As in the last few by-elections I have campaigned in, many voters regardless of their political voting intention would vote yes in an Independence Referendum. Our political opponents are sadly mistaken if they believe that the Constitutional question is over.
So a victory of vision, ambition and hope in one country, and a victory of fear in this one.
Everyone in the SNP should hold their nerve, and react positively to this setback. Scotland is a social democratic nation, if not a socialist one. The politics of hope, and a positive outlook will always triumph.
Now I can return to our campaign in Glasgow South West, where I have already consoled myself with opening a large postbag of voters pledging to the SNP in the next Westminster election.....
27 October 2008
NEGATIVE PLAYS....
Another good day in Glenrothes yesterday where there appears to be little sign of the Brown Bounce, and the SNP vote looks like holding.
I have now seen with my own eyes the infamous "The Fifer" newspaper, which contains no fewer than 28 references to the SNP, and only 1 which mentions Labour, yes folks its a Labour leaflet. I have now come to the view that if New Labour were a football team, they would be so negative they would be playing a 8-1-1 formation!
Their latest efforts have turned to SNP led Fife Council's Social Work Care charges. 10 Labour Controlled Councils charge for care services but this doesn't stop the hypocrisy. Despite the fact that 94% of people in Fife who receive care in Fife will not pay a penny, New Labour in Fife are engaging in Scaremongering, that would shame a US Republican.
They claim that people will be paying £11 an hour for care, when in reality the few who are paying will contribute £17 a week. Interestingly, of the two Councils who don't charge for care, one of them is Shetland - largely due to them having an Oil Fund!
Sadly, New Labour have learned nothing from their disastrous negative campaign in Glasgow East. Until people know what they stand for, what they believe in - apart from bashing the SNP, and scaremongering vulnerable people in society, they continue to be shown the door by the voters.
Only the SNP provide a positive vision and campaign in Glenrothes, and the whole of Scotland.
I have now seen with my own eyes the infamous "The Fifer" newspaper, which contains no fewer than 28 references to the SNP, and only 1 which mentions Labour, yes folks its a Labour leaflet. I have now come to the view that if New Labour were a football team, they would be so negative they would be playing a 8-1-1 formation!
Their latest efforts have turned to SNP led Fife Council's Social Work Care charges. 10 Labour Controlled Councils charge for care services but this doesn't stop the hypocrisy. Despite the fact that 94% of people in Fife who receive care in Fife will not pay a penny, New Labour in Fife are engaging in Scaremongering, that would shame a US Republican.
They claim that people will be paying £11 an hour for care, when in reality the few who are paying will contribute £17 a week. Interestingly, of the two Councils who don't charge for care, one of them is Shetland - largely due to them having an Oil Fund!
Sadly, New Labour have learned nothing from their disastrous negative campaign in Glasgow East. Until people know what they stand for, what they believe in - apart from bashing the SNP, and scaremongering vulnerable people in society, they continue to be shown the door by the voters.
Only the SNP provide a positive vision and campaign in Glenrothes, and the whole of Scotland.
22 October 2008
END OF OUTSOURCING...
A very good SNP Conference in Perth, with a good fringe meeting for the Trade Union Group, and despite what I thought was a little nervousness at the start, I believe that all delegates left with a spring in their step as the FM delivered a speech which will resonate across Scotland. For my avid readers, they can see my speech to Conference on the Sunday morning at the BBC website.
Indeed if the opinion poll for Channel 4 news is a reflection then Gordon Brown is getting the blame for the present Credit Crunch.
The best news for me, was the announcement by Nicola Sturgeon to end the outsourcing of Cleaning and Catering contracts in the NHS. A similar move put in place by the Welsh Assembly has seen hospitals being viewed by the public as cleaner, and the reported number of secondary infections being slashed in number.
For me this backs up Jimmy Reid's view, sadly Jimmy was unable to attend Conference, that the SNP Government are adopting the values of the Labour Government of 1945/51. Arguably the greatest British Government ever, their legacy is still felt today as they ushered in the Welfare State and the NHS. Today's Labour Party are a very pale imitation.
The importance of Public Sector provision, is at the heart of SNP philosophy in dealing with Public Services. Universal Public Health Services provision is among them.
You only have to watch Michael Moore's excellent documentary film "Sicko", where an American man is viewed stitching up his own leg, as he cant afford the health insurance, to realise the importance of Universal Health Care.. Perhaps most disappointingly for Americans, only Obama was the top Democrat to not support implementing this in the Presidential Primaries.
Like the great post war Labour Government, the Scottish Government is values led, and even with limited powers is achieving a lasting legacy on health.
The NHS is safe in the hands of the SNP.
Indeed if the opinion poll for Channel 4 news is a reflection then Gordon Brown is getting the blame for the present Credit Crunch.
The best news for me, was the announcement by Nicola Sturgeon to end the outsourcing of Cleaning and Catering contracts in the NHS. A similar move put in place by the Welsh Assembly has seen hospitals being viewed by the public as cleaner, and the reported number of secondary infections being slashed in number.
For me this backs up Jimmy Reid's view, sadly Jimmy was unable to attend Conference, that the SNP Government are adopting the values of the Labour Government of 1945/51. Arguably the greatest British Government ever, their legacy is still felt today as they ushered in the Welfare State and the NHS. Today's Labour Party are a very pale imitation.
The importance of Public Sector provision, is at the heart of SNP philosophy in dealing with Public Services. Universal Public Health Services provision is among them.
You only have to watch Michael Moore's excellent documentary film "Sicko", where an American man is viewed stitching up his own leg, as he cant afford the health insurance, to realise the importance of Universal Health Care.. Perhaps most disappointingly for Americans, only Obama was the top Democrat to not support implementing this in the Presidential Primaries.
Like the great post war Labour Government, the Scottish Government is values led, and even with limited powers is achieving a lasting legacy on health.
The NHS is safe in the hands of the SNP.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
