Was I the only one slightly perplexed by the Liberal Democrats choice of Murrayfield to unveil Tavish Scott as their new leader? Given that the BBC reports all three Lib-Dem leadership candidates polled a grand total of 2,457 votes between them, surely the irony of holding an event at a stadium designed to hold over 67,000 spectators isn't lost on others too?
This seems to have escaped the notice of the press generally, but I shall enjoy pointing out this lovely irony to those Lib-Dems I know!
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Friday, 22 August 2008
Post Office Closure Programme Hypocrisy
Good on Edinburgh city council for voting to admonish the Labour government for their post offic closure programme.
I am presently fighting a number of closures in the area I represent, and each and every time have come up against Labour politician strutting about saying that they are campaigning to do likewise. The hypocrisy of these individuals is galling.
These are the self same individuals who actually voted for the programme of 2,500 closures of local post office branches across the UK, and then have the brazen audacity to speak out against them. You have to admire them if nothing else for their sheer brass neck.
One such Labour politician was addressing a public meeting organised by a local community council last week that I was also attending to state that they had voted for the continued UK government subsidy to the Post Office. Aye, well that may be true up to a point, but the same individual failed to mention that they also simultaneously supported the government's closure programme that now threatens the particular local branch in question being discussed at the public meeting.
Thankfully people don't - much as New Labour likes to think they do at times - zip up the back of their heid. People weren't buying any of it and that particular individual Labour MP got a hard time of it at the meeting.
What is striking though is that this level of "subsidy" (or what we could equally term public investment in a public service) is some 175million pounds annually. This pales into insignificance by comparison with the billions lavished on the war in Iraq by Blair then Brown, or the 100billion pounds that a new generation of nuclear weapons may cost the taxpayer.
It seems that the UK government can find all the money it wants to maintain nuclear arms, but heaven forfend that they might have to contribute to the maintenance of a Post Office, that they still own on our behalf.
That leads me on to the other galling part of the presentation of this closure programme. That the Post Office is somehow being presented as a failing business. It is of course nonsense to define it as such. It is a government owned public service, just the way the NHS is. Do we talk about the failure of the NHS because it isn't an income generator? No, and it would be nonsense to do so.
I believe the same is true of the Post Office network as well. It is more than just a business. It is a public service that all people are able to use.
Even if one was to accept that it is a business and should make money like any other, then it is also galling to remember that it was in the black when New Labour came to power. However a deliberate campaign of willful neglect and running it down has been employed by them in government, stripping service after service away from the so called "People's Post Office". Is it any wonder that it fails to make the profit it once did?
One final thought...if the Post Office is a business, then why, when it is apparently failing, does their Chief Executive reportedly earn 1million pounds annually through his wage, pension and bonuses? And why is it their customers who are being punished through this closure programme? They are the last people who bear the blame for the "failure" of this "business".
I am presently fighting a number of closures in the area I represent, and each and every time have come up against Labour politician strutting about saying that they are campaigning to do likewise. The hypocrisy of these individuals is galling.
These are the self same individuals who actually voted for the programme of 2,500 closures of local post office branches across the UK, and then have the brazen audacity to speak out against them. You have to admire them if nothing else for their sheer brass neck.
One such Labour politician was addressing a public meeting organised by a local community council last week that I was also attending to state that they had voted for the continued UK government subsidy to the Post Office. Aye, well that may be true up to a point, but the same individual failed to mention that they also simultaneously supported the government's closure programme that now threatens the particular local branch in question being discussed at the public meeting.
Thankfully people don't - much as New Labour likes to think they do at times - zip up the back of their heid. People weren't buying any of it and that particular individual Labour MP got a hard time of it at the meeting.
What is striking though is that this level of "subsidy" (or what we could equally term public investment in a public service) is some 175million pounds annually. This pales into insignificance by comparison with the billions lavished on the war in Iraq by Blair then Brown, or the 100billion pounds that a new generation of nuclear weapons may cost the taxpayer.
It seems that the UK government can find all the money it wants to maintain nuclear arms, but heaven forfend that they might have to contribute to the maintenance of a Post Office, that they still own on our behalf.
That leads me on to the other galling part of the presentation of this closure programme. That the Post Office is somehow being presented as a failing business. It is of course nonsense to define it as such. It is a government owned public service, just the way the NHS is. Do we talk about the failure of the NHS because it isn't an income generator? No, and it would be nonsense to do so.
I believe the same is true of the Post Office network as well. It is more than just a business. It is a public service that all people are able to use.
Even if one was to accept that it is a business and should make money like any other, then it is also galling to remember that it was in the black when New Labour came to power. However a deliberate campaign of willful neglect and running it down has been employed by them in government, stripping service after service away from the so called "People's Post Office". Is it any wonder that it fails to make the profit it once did?
One final thought...if the Post Office is a business, then why, when it is apparently failing, does their Chief Executive reportedly earn 1million pounds annually through his wage, pension and bonuses? And why is it their customers who are being punished through this closure programme? They are the last people who bear the blame for the "failure" of this "business".
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Questions Over Olympic Saltire Ban
Will athletes and supporters from Scotland be banned from flying the Saltire at this year's Olympics?
The ‘House Rules’ for visitors on the Official Website of the Beijing Olympics state:
“2. To avoid delays at security and to maintain an orderly flow, please DO NOT bring the following articles to any venue:… flags of non-members of the Olympics or Paralympics; flags or banners larger than 2 m x 1 m; flagpoles; any banners, slogans, fliers, brochures or samples.”
As the United Kingdom, rather than its constituent nations, is a member country of the Olympics, the rule would appear to ban the Saltire, as well as the flags of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, from being brought into Olympic venues. The rule would also have the effect of preventing the Tibetan flag from being displayed at events.
Athletes from across Scotland and the rest of the UK will be taking part in the Beijing Olympics, and fans should be allowed to show their support by waving the national flag of their choice.
With participants like Andy Murray often wearing Saltires on their kit as a symbol of national pride it will be a shame if fans are not able to echo that by waving Saltires from the stands.
I will be writing to the British Olympic Association and the International Olympic Committee and urging them to challenge this ruling.
I will also be calling on them to clarify the implications for athletes. On previous occasions Scottish athletes have been prevented from sporting a saltire – it would be unfortunate where any athlete to find themselves in that position again.
The Olympics should be a global celebration of different cultures and nationalities with this meeting in Beijing offering an opportunity for dialogue over the future of Tibet.
China’s crack-down on any show of support for Tibet – including the flying of flags – is out of keeping with the Olympic spirit and will raise many ongoing concerns as to China’s commitment to improve free speech and expression in the run up to the Games.
That it will have this unfortunate side-effect for anyone wanting to fly a Saltire or the English, Welsh or Northern Irish flag may focus people’s minds on the need for further dialogue between China and Tibet.
The ‘House Rules’ for visitors on the Official Website of the Beijing Olympics state:
“2. To avoid delays at security and to maintain an orderly flow, please DO NOT bring the following articles to any venue:… flags of non-members of the Olympics or Paralympics; flags or banners larger than 2 m x 1 m; flagpoles; any banners, slogans, fliers, brochures or samples.”
As the United Kingdom, rather than its constituent nations, is a member country of the Olympics, the rule would appear to ban the Saltire, as well as the flags of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, from being brought into Olympic venues. The rule would also have the effect of preventing the Tibetan flag from being displayed at events.
Athletes from across Scotland and the rest of the UK will be taking part in the Beijing Olympics, and fans should be allowed to show their support by waving the national flag of their choice.
With participants like Andy Murray often wearing Saltires on their kit as a symbol of national pride it will be a shame if fans are not able to echo that by waving Saltires from the stands.
I will be writing to the British Olympic Association and the International Olympic Committee and urging them to challenge this ruling.
I will also be calling on them to clarify the implications for athletes. On previous occasions Scottish athletes have been prevented from sporting a saltire – it would be unfortunate where any athlete to find themselves in that position again.
The Olympics should be a global celebration of different cultures and nationalities with this meeting in Beijing offering an opportunity for dialogue over the future of Tibet.
China’s crack-down on any show of support for Tibet – including the flying of flags – is out of keeping with the Olympic spirit and will raise many ongoing concerns as to China’s commitment to improve free speech and expression in the run up to the Games.
That it will have this unfortunate side-effect for anyone wanting to fly a Saltire or the English, Welsh or Northern Irish flag may focus people’s minds on the need for further dialogue between China and Tibet.
Friday, 25 July 2008
The Earthquake has Arrived
Much has been written across the blogs about yesterday's (or technically this morning's I suppose) SNP victory in Glasgow East. Not a lot to add other than to say how delighted I am for John Mason, who is a thoroughly decent man, and how delighted I am for all those of us who worked to get him elected. The ramifications of this victory will be felt for a long time.
Anyway, just wanted to post a few photos from yesterday, which are all below. You can also see a lot of pics from the SNP campaign here.
Julie and Gareth
The Cumbernauld and Kilsyth crew, Julie, myself and Stuart McDonald
Outside the SNP campaign rooms on Baillieston Road as the campaign begins to wind down at close of poll
Myself and Patrick at the after poll party hospitably hosted by the Barrachnie Inn
Julie and Patrick fly the flag
Willie, Kenny and Gordon watch the by-election coverage
Mark, Grant and Malcolm
Elaine is excited!
Willie with Ian and Lily Hudghton
John Mason MP arrives back at the Barrachnie Inn to speak to the team
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Adventures in Glasgow East
Nominations are now closed for the Glasgow East by-election and apparently there are nine candidates in all. I'm not going to list them all, after all why would I offer publicity to anyone other than the excellent SNP candidate John Mason (pictured), but it is pretty clear that this contest is all about the SNP and the Labour Party which has represented the area since the 1920s. None of the others have a look in.
This by
-election has generated much comment in the blogosphere, some of which has suggested that we shouldn't write off the other parties, the Liberal Democrats in particular. However, having been in Glasgow East quite a bit since the by-election was announced, I am able to say fairly confidently that the Liberals shouldn't be expending too much effort on this contest. I have found little evidence to suggest that they are going to attract very much support, and to be frank have identified more Tories in my canvassing efforts than I have Liberal Democrat supporters. I don't imagine I need to state the obvious about Tories themselves being thin on the ground in Glasgow East, so this tells a story in itself about what the Lib-Dem vote is likely to be on 24th July.
-election has generated much comment in the blogosphere, some of which has suggested that we shouldn't write off the other parties, the Liberal Democrats in particular. However, having been in Glasgow East quite a bit since the by-election was announced, I am able to say fairly confidently that the Liberals shouldn't be expending too much effort on this contest. I have found little evidence to suggest that they are going to attract very much support, and to be frank have identified more Tories in my canvassing efforts than I have Liberal Democrat supporters. I don't imagine I need to state the obvious about Tories themselves being thin on the ground in Glasgow East, so this tells a story in itself about what the Lib-Dem vote is likely to be on 24th July.It has been a pleasure to campaign for John Mason in this campaign. I have known John for many years and he is a thoroughly decent individual. This has been often remarked upon by many people in the constituency, particularly in that part that John has represented for a decade on Glasgow City Council. That speaks for itself as to John's character.
I have found plenty of people who are going to come out and support the SNP for the first time in this by-election. The reasons have been a combination of three things. Firstly, they like John Mason for the reasons I outlined above, combined with the fact that he has a track record of standing up for people in the east end. Secondly, they are thoroughly scunnered with Labour, with many people having invested their political hopes in that party for their lifetimes, to see this loyalty rewarded with nothing in return. Thirdly, and most crucially, they have been impressed by the SNP in government. They have seen that the worst predictions of the unionists and their standard bearers in certain segments of the media that the sky would fall in if the SNP should ever come to power are utter nonsense. And more than that, they have seen an SNP government freeze the council tax and move to replace it with a fairer form of local taxation; lower prescription charges and move to abolish them; retain the accident and emergency department at Monklands Hospital; and move to get 1000 more police officers on the streets of Scotland.
In short they see an SNP government doing the types of things that they thought the Labour Party might, were they not a pale imitation of the force for social justice that they were founded to be.
This all adds up to making this the most interesting and exciting by-election I have ever campaigned in, and I am increasingly confident that John Mason and the SNP activists working for him and our party can deliver a historic victory on 24th July.
By the way, for those who are interested I am pictured with my pal Anne McLaughlin outside John's campaign headquarters on Baillieston Road after a shift campaigning in Glasgow East!
Saturday, 28 June 2008
By-election(s) and Resignations
Hmm...my promise that I would be back blogging soon in April didn't really come true. Anyway, I feel inspired to do so today by having been awakened this morning by a text from David Linden and an e-mail to my Blackberry from Anne McLaughlin to inform me that David Marshall is resigning as the Labour MP for Glasgow East.
Most unexpected and quite exciting news. Of course, this has still to be definitely confirmed but if and when it is, we can look forward to a summer of campaiging in Glasgow's east end. The result in the constituency last time was a fairly overwhelming Labour victory, but in the current climate I am confident that the SNP can poll very well in any by-election there.
However, expect there to be two by-elections on the same day should this contest in Glasgow East come to pass. I would imagine that the Labour Party will take advantage of this to sort a by-election for Motherwell and Wishaw to run concurrently with any Glasgow East poll and to allow Jack McConnell to head off for his new job in Malawi.
Anyway, as exciting as this all is, if the news being reported on the BBC this morning that Wendy is for the off, then expect the Glasgow East by-election to not quite dominate tomorrow's headlines as it might otherwise.
Most unexpected and quite exciting news. Of course, this has still to be definitely confirmed but if and when it is, we can look forward to a summer of campaiging in Glasgow's east end. The result in the constituency last time was a fairly overwhelming Labour victory, but in the current climate I am confident that the SNP can poll very well in any by-election there.
However, expect there to be two by-elections on the same day should this contest in Glasgow East come to pass. I would imagine that the Labour Party will take advantage of this to sort a by-election for Motherwell and Wishaw to run concurrently with any Glasgow East poll and to allow Jack McConnell to head off for his new job in Malawi.
Anyway, as exciting as this all is, if the news being reported on the BBC this morning that Wendy is for the off, then expect the Glasgow East by-election to not quite dominate tomorrow's headlines as it might otherwise.
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Sorry for the Unintended Interlude
Well, my New Years resolution to blog more regularly was going so well until I noticed that it had been over a month since I last posted anything here.
In between times I have launched a new website at http://www.jamiehepburn.org
I have been busy trying to upload a huge backlog of my activites in Parliament so it has meant the blog here has been a tad neglected.
I have also written an article for an exciting new web project that Julie has organised. Have a look at http://www.destination.sco.eu/
Anyway, I will undertake to get back blogging a bit more regularly soon. Just wanted to post here today to prove I hadn't forgot all about the blog site.
In between times I have launched a new website at http://www.jamiehepburn.org
I have been busy trying to upload a huge backlog of my activites in Parliament so it has meant the blog here has been a tad neglected.
I have also written an article for an exciting new web project that Julie has organised. Have a look at http://www.destination.sco.eu/
Anyway, I will undertake to get back blogging a bit more regularly soon. Just wanted to post here today to prove I hadn't forgot all about the blog site.
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