Parliament debated cuts to Universal Credit last week. A few Tories spoke out against it knowing the severe hardship it’s going to cause. They included former social security Ministers who know just how inadequate our benefits system is. But as ever Boris Johnsons large majority drove it home. I spoke in it, mentioning how I’m from a generation who viewed… Read more »
In Greenock recently I visited the memorial to those who had been killed on 8th April 1820 during the Radical War or Rising of 1820, call it what you will. It’s poignant as the eight names displayed contain three teenagers and an eight-year-old. They’d been part of a crowd seeking to free prisoners who’d been captured in Paisley and were… Read more »
Scottish political absurdity was displayed this week with a SNP MP seeking MoD naval contracts for Scotland, whilst the Scottish Government failed to allow a Clyde Yard to even tender to build CalMac ferries for Islay. BAE at Govan are an outstanding Yard and deserve the work on merit. But the same skills exist on the Lower Clyde, as on… Read more »
The untapped resources of the North Sea are as nothing to the untapped resource of our people” said the legendary Jimmy Reid in his address, when installed as Glasgow University Rector in 1972. It was described by the New York Times as the finest since Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. But unleashing our people’s talents can only happen if there’s work… Read more »
The Former Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice and ALBA Depute Leader Kenny MacAskill MP has raised the case of Craig Murray, the imprisoned journalist, with the UK Attorney General in an exchange in the House of Commons today (Thursday). Following the exchange Mr MacAskill said: “A great injustice has been visited upon Craig Murray who has been jailed for eight months without the… Read more »
There’s no doubt that social care needs funded and the backlog in the NHS addressed. It’s who pays that’s the issue and that’s what makes Boris Johnsons National Insurance tax hike wrong. The low paid and young are bearing the brunt and that’s not right. Income tax is far fairer than national insurance and taxing wealth’s what’s really required. Those… Read more »
I reshared a posting on my personal facebook page from Newsthump a satirical site that’s witty yet caustic. It was a picture of Theresa Coffey, the Work and Pensions Minister, with a caption declaring “majority of Paralympians fit for work” and suggestions of benefit rules changes to come. Some friends thought it was true, giving vent to their spleen in… Read more »
“DIRECT AWARD” OF ALL SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT FERRIES TO FERGUSSON’S NOW ESSENTIAL ALBA Depute Leader Kenny MacAskill MP has slammed the betrayal of the workforce at Fergusson Marine over the decision to award the contract for the Islay ferries to overseas contractors. Mr MacAskill whose biography of Jimmy Reid, who led the UCS work in on the Upper Clyde, documents his political journey… Read more »
“AN AFFRONT TO DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS” AND “THREAT TO CIVIL LIBERTIES” SPCB MUST THINK AGAIN ALBA Depute Leader and Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MP has written to the Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP who convenes the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) strongly urging the SPCB to think again on their “shameful” decision to request draconian powers from the Home Secretary in… Read more »
Kenny MacAskill backs campaign to end scandal of unsold food being wasted, instead of donated to charities feeding hungry people One in 8 people in the UK struggles to afford food, yet more than a quarter of all the food grown in the UK is never eaten. France – which offers tax breaks for businesses redistributes 6x more fresh unsold food… Read more »