Westminster may be in recess but sadly the world’s not at peace. It may be the time of the resurrection but there’s tragically no sign of even respite for the Palestinian people. New horrors are occurring daily in Gaza, with famine and disease now stalking them along with bombs and bullets. The deaths of aid workers are shameful with so… Read more »
Facts not fiction are important in aIl aspects of life and it’s certainly that way with the closure of Grangemouth Refinery. Listen to the UK Government, and it’s just a commercial decision. Something to be regretted but there’s nowt that can be done. Move on and get over it Jock, that’s the way of the world. Even Graham Stuart, the… Read more »
In any industrial dispute or closure there’s a battle of the narrative waged between employers and employees seeking to get their side of the story out. It’s important as it sets the tone in the press but also for the public. Sometimes it’s just localised and between the opposing sides in the dispute. On other occasions Governments can become involved… Read more »
Having spoken in Parliament and written about the injustice suffered by women born in the 1950s and denied pensions, a Ministerial Statement last Monday offered hope. This was following the publication of an Ombudsman’s report confirming that there had been error by the DWP, and that compensation should be provided. Sadly, the Ministers comments were simply a reprise of facts,… Read more »
Hamish McBeth was a popular TV series with Robert Carlyle portraying the idyllic life of a Highland police officer. Yet for many cops in remote or island Scotland their lot’s not a happy one. For sure, they enjoy their job and are rightly proud of the service they provide but it’s coming at a financial cost to them. In some… Read more »
Applications for onshore wind farms and other renewable energy projects have been causing concern in the county. It’s not simply the visual impact but both the construction phase and future operation have implications for traffic and other aspects of community life. On that basis the establishment of a new organisation to oversee electricity supply should be welcome. In some ways… Read more »
Increased disappointment with Holyrood is in some ways to be expected. A political malaise is afflicting most western democracies and Scotland’s not unique with its growing contempt for politics and politicians. But in Scotland where constitutional politics are to the fore its heightened. Westminster isn’t exactly excelling and that’s before a change in administration will see little discernible change. Unionists… Read more »
Last week Parliament provided an opportunity for MPs to express their anger with the delay in addressing the manifest pension injustice faced by many women born in the 1950s. There’s quite a few here in the county and many have been in touch with me. Across the country the number’s huge and their hurt and loss has been significant. Some… Read more »
We’re used to energy acronyms and initials in Scotland. Ofgem, SP and SSE are part of our lexicon. Now there’s two more. And they’re going to be significant, even controversial in parts. ESO is the Electricity System Operator, in fact it’s National Grid ESO and part of that privatised combine, mostly foreign owned, which operates the grid. This new group will neither produce… Read more »
The budget dominated Westminster last week. As reported it was mostly about electioneering rather than addressing the needs of the economy or our society. Of course, as in all these major pronouncements there are aspects to welcome. One such was a reduction in National Insurance which will benefit many who are working yet struggling. However, for many it’s almost entirely… Read more »