From the STV online tracking of the Sky News Scotland Debates programme with Alex Salmond and others.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Bold move by SNP but we need your help
We have until midnight on Monday to raise £50,000 for the Scottish National Party to take the bold and risky strategy of challenging the BBC at the Court of Session over its refusal to include the SNP in the final Leaders' Debate.
If we can raise the money by midnight on Monday, the SNP will be at court on Tuesday morning trying to overturn the decision of the public service broadcaster to publicise 3 of the main parties and completely exclude the party which currently governs Scotland.
Stand up for Scotland, let our voices be heard, donate what you can afford here.
Thank you!
If we can raise the money by midnight on Monday, the SNP will be at court on Tuesday morning trying to overturn the decision of the public service broadcaster to publicise 3 of the main parties and completely exclude the party which currently governs Scotland.
Stand up for Scotland, let our voices be heard, donate what you can afford here.
Thank you!
The Scotland Debate - live on Sky News
So, immigration didn't cause high unemployment says Jim Murphy? I agree, obviously. But he better have a wee chat to his mate Ian Davidson, the Labour candidate for Glasgow South West. He put out a newsletter and said he'd be doing all he could to bring unemployment down and at the same time keep an eye on immigration, thus linking the two in the mind of the public. Calls himself a socialist too!
We're poorer than Ireland and Iceland - whatever Labour say
I spoke in the Economy Debate in Parliament on Thursday. Unfortunately I was so angry at the hypocrisy of the Labour motion that I seem to have damaged my throat! Anyway you can read why here if you're interested. During the debate I called on the Labour Party to apologise to countries like Iceland and Ireland for the despicable glee with which they've talked about their recent economic difficulties.
When Ireland and Iceland got into trouble (like the UK did, remember) folk like Jim Murphy and George Foulkes were cock-a-hoop and almost singing it from the rooftops because those two countries are part of the "arc of prosperity" often referred to as examples of small independent nations who, surprise surprise could look after themselves.
So when their economies got into trouble (again, like the UK's did) this lot used it as "evidence" that they couldn't look after themselves and therefore neither could Scotland. Bit of a strange analysis but that's what happens when you clutch at straws.
Now, however, the International Monetary Fund forecasting (generally very accurate) tells us that Ireland and Iceland will both, between 2010 and 2014, be wealthier per head of population than the UK. Norway of course will be a great deal wealthier but they were lucky, they discovered oil and gas. Hmmmm.
Economic recovery is not dependent on the size of the country but how your government tackles the problems and that is the point. We are dependent on a government based in London which will always use economic levers to tackle the economy of the South East of England, our neighbouring country. Ireland and Iceland will use the best economic levers for Ireland and Iceland and they'll either get it right or they'll get it wrong depending on how smart their government is.
The real disgrace here is that politicians representing Scotland, ie representing us, embarrassed Scotland by jumping for joy when the people of Ireland and Iceland were facing such tough times. The Labour opponent of Angus Brendan McNeill MP actually said the words "Iceland's finished, so is Ireland's economy" on Radio Scotland on Friday.
Can you imagine how we would feel if Irish politicians were now to be saying such disrespectful things about our country? I know that desperate times call for desperate measures but I really do think the Labour Party are not fit to be in power if they cannot control themselves and behave respectfully to our friends in other countries.
When Ireland and Iceland got into trouble (like the UK did, remember) folk like Jim Murphy and George Foulkes were cock-a-hoop and almost singing it from the rooftops because those two countries are part of the "arc of prosperity" often referred to as examples of small independent nations who, surprise surprise could look after themselves.
So when their economies got into trouble (again, like the UK's did) this lot used it as "evidence" that they couldn't look after themselves and therefore neither could Scotland. Bit of a strange analysis but that's what happens when you clutch at straws.
Now, however, the International Monetary Fund forecasting (generally very accurate) tells us that Ireland and Iceland will both, between 2010 and 2014, be wealthier per head of population than the UK. Norway of course will be a great deal wealthier but they were lucky, they discovered oil and gas. Hmmmm.
Economic recovery is not dependent on the size of the country but how your government tackles the problems and that is the point. We are dependent on a government based in London which will always use economic levers to tackle the economy of the South East of England, our neighbouring country. Ireland and Iceland will use the best economic levers for Ireland and Iceland and they'll either get it right or they'll get it wrong depending on how smart their government is.
The real disgrace here is that politicians representing Scotland, ie representing us, embarrassed Scotland by jumping for joy when the people of Ireland and Iceland were facing such tough times. The Labour opponent of Angus Brendan McNeill MP actually said the words "Iceland's finished, so is Ireland's economy" on Radio Scotland on Friday.
Can you imagine how we would feel if Irish politicians were now to be saying such disrespectful things about our country? I know that desperate times call for desperate measures but I really do think the Labour Party are not fit to be in power if they cannot control themselves and behave respectfully to our friends in other countries.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Don't let them suppress your voice
I always think it suits certain political parties that there are such high numbers of people who don't vote and so many who are not even registered to vote. These tend to be the people who are most disillusioned and it suits some politicians because they know if the most disillusioned voters actually did vote, it wouldn't be for them.
I was shocked recently to read that 100,000 people in Glasgow alone have not registered to vote. That is just crazy, that's giving up and not even trying to make yourself heard. If you're one of those people you can still register. You have until tomorrow, Tuesday 20th April to fill in this simple form here and take it to the registration office in Queen Street. Post it today first class, take it in tomorrow or tell me and I'll get someone to hand it in for you. But whatever you do, don't lose your vote!
And if you live outside Glasgow, go to this website and get your form and address where you should submit it. It will take all of ten minutes and it may seem like a small thing but it isn't - being able to vote is one of the foundations of our democracy and if you're not registered, you are in effect saying you don't mind not being included in the democratic process.
I was shocked recently to read that 100,000 people in Glasgow alone have not registered to vote. That is just crazy, that's giving up and not even trying to make yourself heard. If you're one of those people you can still register. You have until tomorrow, Tuesday 20th April to fill in this simple form here and take it to the registration office in Queen Street. Post it today first class, take it in tomorrow or tell me and I'll get someone to hand it in for you. But whatever you do, don't lose your vote!
And if you live outside Glasgow, go to this website and get your form and address where you should submit it. It will take all of ten minutes and it may seem like a small thing but it isn't - being able to vote is one of the foundations of our democracy and if you're not registered, you are in effect saying you don't mind not being included in the democratic process.
Sunday, 18 April 2010
The world's grinding to a halt!
Half the world has been plunged into chaos because of the volcano in Iceland and it's affecting things I hadn't even thought about. Teachers only have certain times they can go on holiday (more than most of course but there's no flexibility) and the result is that many go away at Easter. Now there are many of them stuck abroad. So what happens to the kids, who teaches them?
And there's a plane full of armed forces personnel who've been fighting in Afghanistan, stuck in Cyprus. They were coming home for well deserved (and no doubt desperately needed) family time but they've no chance. And given that members of the armed forces have to take the time travelling home out of their annual leave days (which is outrageous), they're unlikely to get any of that time back. Imagine their kids excitedly waiting to see them and not being able to. My dad was in the army and I remember when he had to go away it was terrible. So the excitement in the house when he was coming home for a visit was almost at fever pitch.
It's all very well being stuck in a nice hot country for an extra few days / week / an indeterminate period of time but if you can't afford it, what are you supposed to do? Expect to hear some dreadful stories over the next few weeks and spare a thought right now for those who want to and need to come home but can't.
And there's a plane full of armed forces personnel who've been fighting in Afghanistan, stuck in Cyprus. They were coming home for well deserved (and no doubt desperately needed) family time but they've no chance. And given that members of the armed forces have to take the time travelling home out of their annual leave days (which is outrageous), they're unlikely to get any of that time back. Imagine their kids excitedly waiting to see them and not being able to. My dad was in the army and I remember when he had to go away it was terrible. So the excitement in the house when he was coming home for a visit was almost at fever pitch.
It's all very well being stuck in a nice hot country for an extra few days / week / an indeterminate period of time but if you can't afford it, what are you supposed to do? Expect to hear some dreadful stories over the next few weeks and spare a thought right now for those who want to and need to come home but can't.
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