Labour's criminal record

I have copied this from Conservative home, with thanks. It tells a sobering message. The complete disgrace that 13 years of Labour party rule have delivered to the people of Britain. Change cannot come soon enough

Alex Salmond humiliated in Copenhagen

Alex Salmond has jetted off to Copenhagen at taxpayers expense when he would have been better saving the money and concentrating on running the  administration.

He has been comprehensively humiliated in his efforts to boost his ego and flagging SNP poll ratings. The people are sick fed up with his divisive agenda. Roll on the General Election.

Cllr Paul Edie must resign

Over the last two days we have seen Cllr Edie conduct a robust defence
of the proposed tendering system for carers services. He maintained that
the proposals were robust and watertight and took personal
responsibility for the process.

The same day, Cllr Dawe, leader of the council puts out a press release
saying that she has been in touch with officers (and not apparently Cllr
Edie) who told her that there were flaws in the system.

On that basis, she suspends the process and calls in independent
assessors. Clearly Cllr Dawes has no confidence in Cllr Edie and his
position is now fatally undermined.

Given an untendable position will he now do the honourable thing and
resign? Or will Cllr Dawe have to sack him?

I call on him to resign now in order to minimise any further damage to
the reputation  of Edinburgh Council.

Common sense and responsibility

The other night I went out and found that a one way street close to my home had just had a further set of bollards installed.


The effect of this is to reduce the amount of parking available to local residents and will further restrict the flow of traffic in an area already congested due to silly restrictions.

My main concern though, was not the restriction itself but rather the simply irresponsible attitude to public funds. At a time when the country and Edinburgh council in particular, is facing a huge budget deficit why on earth has somebody authorised pointless and unnecessary expenditure like this?

It is time that the LibDem/SNP coalition on Edinburgh council recognised that the funds come from the taxpayer, who is facing financial cutbacks and started reducing spending accordingly. Indeed, they are trying to close schools and reduce the care budget while spending money on pointless projects in minor roads. You couldn't make it up!

Sadly the LibDems are fundamentally incapable of recognising this basic concept of economics. It is time we had a change. We can start with Westminster and work our way down, electing Conservatives who will treat the taxpayer with respect and will exercise restraint when making spending decisions.

Conservatives on Europe

Yesterday David Cameron announced a revised stance on Europe. He announced that there would be no referendum on the Lisbon Treaty for reasons he had previously explained. Given the treaty has now been ratified by all and will be implemented, there is little point closing the door after the horse has bolted.


Let us be very clear about the Lisbon Treaty. This is a betrayal of monumental proportions by Gordon Brown who promised a referendum and then reneged on that promise, treating the British people with complete contempt, demonstrating his lack of spine and character.

The Liberals are worse because they too abrogated their promise, and when they had the opportunity to force the government to hold that referendum, they nailed their colours firmly to the fence and sat on their hands. If the LibDems had voted according to their promise, there would have been a referendum. Shame on them!

True to his word however, David Cameron is not letting matters rest there. He has promised specific legislation to ensure no further transfer of powers to Europe without a referendum and another that explicitly puts Parliament superior to any diktat from Brussels.

I support these actions and will campaign strongly to ensure that these proposals are implemented strongly and effectively. To do that, however requires that I am elected as the Conservative MP for Edinburgh West. I say therefore, go out and tell your friends and acquaintances that we have a candidate who believes passionately in the Union, in the sovereignty of parliament and who will defend the right of the people against an ever increasing interference from the European Union

I don't think you really need me to tell you that our country's finances are in a mess. Over the last twelve years Gordon Brown has consistently overspent at a time when most countries were reducing their national debts.

In an article for the Centre for Policy Studies, Conservative MP and opposition whip Brooks Newmark shows the apalling reality of Gordon Browns irresponsibility.

He says: “The Government claims that Britain’s debt stands at an already shocking £805 billion, equivalent to 57.5% of GDP. This is a significant underestimate. In truth, Britain’s public debt is an astronomical £2.2 trillion, equivalent to 157.2% of GDP. This means that, in addition to grappling with the effects of the recession and credit crunch, every single British household is being hobbled by the ball and chain of public debt to the tune of £85,610”

The reason for this huge discrepancy is the extensive use of off balance sheet PFI schemes and huge unfunded pension liabilities.

Brooks goes on: “This black hole in the finances would cause most responsible governments to act with honesty and prudence. But not this profligate Prime Minister. At the recent Labour Party Conference, Gordon Brown showed no sign of ending his spending spree when he announced yet more spending commitments – all unfunded. At a time when the level of debt is rising at almost £1 billion a day, or a staggering £700,000 a minute, this is economic irresponsibility, plain and simple”

“The Chancellor has slammed the banking sector for doing exactly what they have done:

“I agree with… the need for far greater transparency. There also needs to be stricter rules in relation to off-balance sheet activity, which has enabled some banks to get around their regulatory responsibilities. That is clearly not a satisfactory position.”

To demand transparency and accountability in the private sector is a fine aim. But, to refuse to apply this in the public sector stinks of hypocrisy and double standards.
It is our children and grandchildren who will be left to pay this debt off for generations to come”.
Unless we have a change of government, and soon, there is no telling what further destruction will come to our country. Only the Conservative party are willing to bring the necessary financial discipline to bear in order to restore our country to financial and economic stability and strength. To achieve this we need a Conservative MP in Edinburgh West. Will you help us achieve this?
As your candidate, I offer a strong voice for change in Edinburgh West and will fight to restore our
economic strength once again.

The Nationalists and public spending

So Alex Salmond thinks the only difference between the Unionist parties is the level and ferocity of public spending cuts.

By implication therefore the SNP are not going to reduce public expenditure at all.

Just where is the money coming from to maintain this largesse? After all the Scottish Parliament raises none of its taxes. All the funds come from Westmnster through the block grant. Do they really believe that when Government taxes are falling due to the recession that they should be exempt?

And if the SNP did have independence, where would the money come from? Taxes? Naturally, but on what? just how long do they think that they could maintain a high tax high spending government? Do they honestly think that with 42% of the population dependent on the Government for their salary that they would be able to tax sufficiently to pay for that? Just how long would the remainder of Scottish business stay here when a two hour drive to the south would put them in a different jurisdiction?

It's the old story, Alex Salmond's SNP are all talk, knowing that they'll never have to deliver on their promises.

Just the same as the Liberals...

Reflections on the party conference

In the aftermath of or very successful party onference last week, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on the themes.

Overall there was a sense that we, the Conservatives, are the government in waiting. We are facing an awful task of rebuilding our shattered economy after twelve years of Labour mismanagement.

Gordon Brown and his pals really have been like little boys in a sweetie shop. They have spent our money without regard and even in the good years when you would have expected some saving to take place, they increaed the overdraft.

Now all they can say is that our debt is, proportionally similar or less than others... As if a debt of £22,000 per head of population didn't matter. Well, it does. That debt is costing the country more than we spend on Defence and Education. It must be reduced.

These reductions will be painful. The public at large know this and also know that Gordon Brown has been irresponsible in his spending. That is not to say that cuts will be popular, they wont, but as history shows, it is the conservative party who have to clean up after Labours spending binges.

If we are to make that difference, we need a Conservative MP in Edinburgh West. Let us be under no illusion, that to win this seat is a challenge that will only be overcome with lots of hard work, but it can, and will be done.

PM Passionate for AV

Isn't it remarkable!

12 years of a Labour government, during which time their majority has been sufficient to do whatever they wanted, during which time electoral reform has never been talked about.

Yet we are expected to believe that the Prime Minister is passionate for electoral reform..... now... Why  do I get the feeling that this Damascene conversion has everything to do with saving his own electoral skin?

Of course we've been there before. Labour made a similar promise for electoral reform in 1997, and it was never honoured....

Britain best placed to come out of the recession? IMF says the opposite.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/6248223/Britains-215bn-a-year-funding-gap-the-worst-in-the-world-says-IMF.html

 So, who do we believe? Gordon Brown? or the IMF? Look at the numbers, and weep. Just how awful is the mess that we are in?

The question is, who can sort this mess? Gordon Brown, who got us into it? Or the Conservative party who have always had to clear up after the Labour party has made a mess of the economy .

Now the Labour party outlaws friendship

Over the weekend we had the unbelievable report that two women in England who looked after each other's children while the other worked were told to end the arrangement because the had not registered as childminders with OFSTED.

What is our world coming to?

Surely it is non of the state's business what friends do to assist each other. Of course as soon as the news broke, the government says that it is looking into the matter. It was they who introduced the law.... What is there to look into other than repeal?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8277378.stm

The Baroness and the housekeeper.

This week, we have been faced with the almost unbelievable farce surrounding the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland.

For those of you who haven't been following the case, the Baroness was instrumental in framing and guiding into law, regulations to prevent the employment of illegal immigrants. The law was framed so as to require employers to show that they had satisfied themselves that their employee has the right to work in the UK. It is a strict requirement that copies of passports and visas must be taken and retained, failing which the employer is liable for heavy fines. There is no room for inadvertent mistakes.

It was amazing therefore to read in the press that the Baroness had employed a Tongan lady whose visa had expired. When the news broke, the poor housekeeper was fired, and the Baroness has now been fined £5,000, a considerable sum.

You would think that the country's most senior law officer who had herself only recently enacted a draconian piece of legislation would not have been caught out in this way. You would also think that having been caught out that her position in the Government would be untenable and she, as a matter of honour, would have resigned immediately. No! The baroness tells us that the offence was a technicality equivalent to failing to pay the congestion charge .(and be subject to a £5,000 fine?... Do me a favour!!!)

What is even more amazing is that the Prime Minister does not consider an offence of this magnitude to be a resigning matter. It makes me wonder, just what does it take for someone to be unfit for office? I wonder what the Prime Minister, and indeed the Attorney General would have said and done if the culprit had been a member of another political party, or had been an ordinary member of the public?

The Government is rotten. It's time we had a change. In Edinburgh West we will have a change, lets make sure that change returns a Conservative to Westminster once again.

The madness of health and safety

In the last week it has been reported that a school in Edinburgh had to employ a tradesman to hang children's pictures at a cost of £350.

Now we are told that a group of parents who volunteered to paint their childrens classroom walls cannot do so because of so called health and safety rules.

Both cases are simply bonkers.

The idiots who have interpreted the rules in these ways are frankly not fit to occupy any position of responsibility or authority.

In the first case, I have to ask why the school janitor couldn't do this? Any reason behind this clearly has nothing to do with health and safety, it is down to the stupidity of contracts entered into under the Labour Governments PFI arrangements. Arrangements which were never supposed to be used for this kind of contract and has exposed those involved in drafting them as incompetent, at best.

In the second case, I'd like to see these so called best practise guidelines, because they cannot say that an ordinary volunteer cannot do something as basic as painting a wall.

In any case, what are they worried about? A volunteer is by definition offering their services voluntarily. Presumably those people understand the risks involved. There is not a court in the world that would uphold a claim by a volunteer against the education department where someone volunteered to help and through misadventure was injured (pot of paint falling over? Slipping off a ladder?)

I think it's time that we dealt with the jobsworths in the education department. Get rid of them and allow common sense to take over again.

Drogba's ban

Maybe it's just me, but I was appalled by the behaviour of Chelsea player Didier Drogba after their semi final defeat by Barcelona.

Verbally abusing referees is simply not acceptable and it is high time that football authorities took steps. In this case they have. A 6 match ban and a large fine have been handed down.

This is s step in the right direction, but only a step. Footballers need to understand that like it or not they are role models in society. They are heroes to many, as such their behaviour directly influences a large number of people.

No one questions that society is broken and something needs to be done. Selfish self indulgence, lack of discipline, arrogance, lack of respect for authority, violence are all manifestations of that breakdown.

It would be nice to thionk that footballers would take their role seriously and start to live lives that show a good example to those who follow them. Hold your tongues, stop lashing out, think carefully before being seen drunk at night clubs are just some of the ways that they could make a difference to some.

In terms of football authorities, could I suggest that a draconian clamp down on behaviour would help. For example, a sending off results in an immediate season's ban. A second sending off and you never play again- anywhere.

Lothian Buses- Queensferry

Queensferry, despite being part of Edinburgh is not served by Lothian Buses. I have written asking why. I have no doubt that I will receive an answer saying why it cannot be done, although I would love to be surprised and receive a response to the effect that they are looking to do something positive and introduce a service or even extend a service.

Why for example could the 41 not run express to Queensferry?

Identity Cards

http://www.no2id.netIf ever there was a totem of the Labour obsession with total control of people's lives then this is it.

We do not need identity cards in this country. It changes the relationship between the state and the citizen. The state is here to serve the citizen, ID cards will turn that on its head. The arguments about national security are spurious at best, an ID card would not have prevented a single one of our terrorist attrocities.

Good to see therefore that Senior Conservatives are warning potential contractors that their contracts will be cancelled, so don't spend any money.

Trident

I notice that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says that He would not renew Trident. Of course he can say what he likes safe in the knowledge that he will never be called upon to implement and of his commitments.... Not even a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Those who will have to make that decision know that life isn't so simple.

Scottish Conservatives top European Parliament attendance records

Speaking as an independent analysis of Scottish MEPs’ attendance records in the European Parliament revealed that Scottish Conservative MEPs Struan Stevenson and John Purvis topped the league table and the SNP finished bottom, Struan Stevenson said:

"Scottish Conservatives have always said voters should judge us on our record and this is independent proof that our record is good. Tory MEPs have not only been more open with our expenses than any other party but this evidence says we are also the hardest working. We always said we would offer a strong voice for Scotland in Europe and now we have the proof.

"The SNP claims to be Scotland's voice in Europe but again this evidence shows their MEPs are all too often posted missing. This seems to be a chronic problem in the SNP - Alex Salmond is an MP, he claims an MP’s wage, but rarely attends Westminster.

"I am proud that the evidence over the last few days has shown that Scottish Conservative MEPs are hard working and leading the way in openness on expenses. Where we have led, others are scrambling to follow, except Labour who refuse to come clean over their Euro expenses. Which only begs the question: What have they got to hide?"

Cut Crime - say the Lib Dems

I received a number of election communications recently including one from the Lib Dems who claimed to want to cut crime, and criticised the Conservtives for failing to support a European arrest warrant.

This is an EU invention that allows anyone to be extradited to another European Country for something that is not a crime in Britain. This is all part of their enthusiasm for a United States of Europe.

What's more this is the Lib Dem party that have consistently been soft on crime, for example advocating shorter jail sentences, letting off burglars (Simon Hughes and Mark Oaten), Votes for prisoners including rapists and paedophiles and calling for the legalisation of hard drugs and to quote Vince Cable MP, 'Liberals (and LibDems in particular)…' come across as '…"soft": preoccupied with understanding rather than punishing criminals, fretting about threats to freedom from excessive police powers, pressing for liberalisation of drug laws rather than enforcing them'

Sorry folks, I'm not taking lessons from the Lib Dems on cutting crime.

CRB Checks - or not

One of the features of the Labour Government was the introduction of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) (Disclosure Scotland) checks as a Child protection measure.

Sadly the good intentions behind this have been outweighed by the negative effects. For example a significant reduction in people being willing to volunteer to work with children and the creation of a sense of suspicion and the poisoning of relationships between generations.

It is said that One of the main reasons for the formation of the Criminal Records Bureau was to reduce the risk of organisations being sued for employing convicted criminals who went on to abuse vulnerable people while in the course of their duty, as the 1990s saw an increase in the American-influenced compensation culture across Britain (Wikipedia).

One additional problem with the system is the way that each and every organisation needs to do an individual check. For example, one person checked in order to be a school governor still needs to be checked by another organisation e.g. a church youth club with whom they may wish to become involved.

This is great business for the company running the bureau, as they make a fortune, but does it help to protect the vulnerable? Well no, according to Sociologist Frank Furedi who has stated that CRB checks cannot provide a "cast-iron guarantee" that children will be safe with a particular adult. (Wikipedia) The system did nothing to prevent the Soham murders.

Maybe it's time that in the light of events that the next Government should have a long, close look at the CRB to see if it is indeed fit for purpose or just another money making machine for an unaccountable company.

June is National Microchipping month

National Microchipping Month is held annually, with animal welfare groups, veterinary practices and local authorities all over the UK holding chipping clinics in a bid to make the public more aware of how a simple chip can be the difference between being reunited with your pet and never seeing them again.

The UK is now home to approximately 23 million pet animals, of which dogs account for 8 million, thus I believe National Microchipping Month is an extremely important way to educate the public about the benefits of microchipping.

Given that the average parliamentary constituency is home to approximately 35,600 pets I am encouraging and supporting this campaign in Edinburgh West.

Two arson attacks a day in Scottish schools - more than England

I was shocked and amazed to read Liz Smith MSP's comments regarding arson attacks in Scottish Schools

Liz said

“These figures are appalling. Scotland has nearly two arson attacks, or incidences of ‘fireraising’, in schools each day of the year. That is more than in England, a country with ten times the population!
“Scottish Conservatives want to give teachers and headteachers the powers they need to deal with violence and remove disruptive pupils. In addition, we must ensure that headteachers to ban, search for and confiscate any item they think likely to cause disruption in schools, including lighters and matches.

“School discipline is a major issue for all parents as well as for everyone in the teaching profession. These shocking statistics must be a wake up call to Fiona Hyslop and the SNP Scottish Government.”

I'm with Liz on this, something needs to be done.

No reward for failure

I note that John McFall MP seems to love the phrase "no reward for failure". Indeed his boss Gordon Brown seems to be keen on it too. Especially when they have been using it to give Bankers a metaphorical kicking.

Of course I agree with them, there should be no rewards for failure. It will be interesting to see therefore if Mr McFall, Gordon Brown and all the members of the Government will stand by their cry and accept no rewards for failure either.

After all their stewardship of the economy cannot be described as anything other than an abject failure by any measure you care to use.

Naturally, I expect this failure to be confirmed by the general public at the ballot box, sometime in the coming year.

If there are to be no rewards for failure, then none of the government MP's should be paid any pension and there certainly should be no peerages either.

Will they do the honourable thing? No I don't think so either.

Johnny come lately

I noted with interest that the Liberal MP for Edinburgh West has recently joined a couple of conservative led campaigns.

Firstly he joined Struan Stevenson MEP's campaign to outlaw the use of dog and cat fur in the EU. A campaign he has run tirelessly since the late 1990's. I am pleased to note that largely as a result of Struan's hard work and campaigning, the law was changed. So, it was good to see cross party support, albeit somewhat at the last minute.

The second campaign that he joined was the Conservative campaign to get justice for the Equitable life pensioners. This is a campaign that has been run by the Conservatives.

It was Conservatives who forced the Government to allow the Parliamentary Ombudsman to investigate the regulation of Equitable Life and we welcomed her report that was critical of Government regulatory failures. We were therefore pleased when he issued a press release supporting our campaign last week.

As they say, better late than never.

MP's expenses (again)

The issue here is quite simple. Too many of our politicians are operating under a self centred and greedy approach.

What is required is a return by this minority (and it is a minority) to an attitude that "I am here to serve the public, and I will do nothing that brings the office of MP into disrepute".

If that attitude were to be held by all, you would not need to change anything.

Frankly I am sick fed up to the back teeth of MP's saying that something which looks dodgy and which appears questionable is "within the rules". As supposedly honourable members MP's should not need rules. They should do what is right.

Have they no shame? It is time for the public to speak at the ballot box. I care not whether the MP's are Labour, Liberal, Conservative or SNP, I will not defend those who abuse the system for their own personal financial gain.

I attended a recording of BBC's any questions last night (Friday 7th May). Inevitably the question was asked about expenses. It did not take long for John McFall to fail to properly condemn the abuses and to try to turn the question to the disgraced Conservative Derel Conway. The difference of course is that the Conservative party expelled Derek Conway. The Labour party have done nothing about Alistair Darling, Gordon Brown, Jacvkie Smith, and a host of others.

The whole thing stinks. Sadly it is a minority who have done this.

It's time to stop the yob culture

In the last day or so, Chelsea lost to Barcelona in a cup match. It is clear that the referee did not have a good game, but the real problem came from the apalling behaviour of the players who verbally assaulted the referee and other officials. These are men who are extremely well paid and are at the top of the profession.

These men are role models for thousands of others young and old. How then can we condone behaviour like this? What was even worse was the way that the manager seemed to excuse their behaviour.

This is symptomatic of the yob culture that permeates our society from top to bottom. There is a lack of good manners and respect, and the media are the worst cheerleaders for this.

It's time that action is taken against footballers who behave badly. The sanctions have to be severe. Maybe it's time that any player handed a yellow card should immediately be banned for a number of games, without pay. Anyone sent off shold not play for the rest of the season. Anyone sent off in two consecutive seasons should be banned for life.

Yes, the punishments are severe, but from whom much is given, much is required. It's not unreasonable to expect some discipline, respect and good manners from those paid extraordinary sums of money and whether they like it or not are role models for thousands on thousands of men and boys.

Car Scrapping

So, we're being encouraged to scrap old polluting cars with the incentive of a £2,000 discount against a new car.

Has nobody noticed that the people who own ten year old cars are unlikely to be able to afford a new car?

Yet another example of Labour spin with no substance behind it.

Who do you think you are kidding?...Mr Darling

You couldn't make it up!

Here we are in the mother and father of all recessions. The country is bankrupt and billions of pounds in debt, you'd think that the government would be worried and would be taking steps to reduce the debt so that we don't become a bankrupt state.

No, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling continue fiddling while Britain burns. There is no attempt to reduce government spending other than some vague mention of efficiency savings. There is no attempt to raise more money from taxes. Yes, we see some increases in excise duties, and yes we see a new top rate tax of 50% for high earners.

Except that those high earners have been given a year's notice, during which time they can rearrange their finances. Chances are a good number will leave the country thus reducing the tax take when the time comes. The new higher rate isn't scheduled to come in until after the next election.

You would have thought that given the crisis we have, and according to Alistair Darling it's the worst in 60 years, that putting the finances on an even keel would be a priority. So why not introduce the higher rate tax charge now?

Could it be that it's nothing to do with the government finances and everything to do with partisan politics? Yes, setting a trap and inviting the Conservatives to repudiate the tax opening them to charges of aiding and abetting the rich.

Great! Class warfare at its best. The politics of envy lives on in New Labour.

Frankly this Labour government have completely lost the plot. It's time for them to have the courage of their convictions or get out of office and allow a new government to come in and sort out the mess, as we have in the past and as we will in the future

Liberals see the light on tax

The Liberal leader has announced a plan to raise personal allowances to £10,000. Welcome to the real world!! He is only catching up with something I have been proposing for a couple of years now.

The idea that someone on the minimum wage and working 40 hours a week should pay £2,000 in tax yet received tax credits to offset this is Bizarre in the extreme, but that is how Gordon Brown's mind works.

Simplification of the system by removing the need for tax credits can save a fortune in government costs, so removing the poorest from the tax system altogether will actually reduce government spending.

Of course there are two problems with the Liberal ideas. Firstly the party is divided. There is a significant number of them, Edinburgh West Liberal MP included, who have formed a left wing group within the Liberal party to oppose the "right wing faction" consisting of Nick Clegg and Vince Cable. Secondly there is no prospect of the Liberals forming a government, therefore his ideas are pointless unless implemented by a Conservative Government.

Since this is an idea that I was proposing long before the Liberals jumped on the bandwagon, better to elect the real thing who can have a positive influence to make it happen.

I'm sorry (well sort of)

Gordon Brown is reputed to have said today regarding the smeargate affair ....

"I am sorry about what happened... I wrote to those people affected, expressing deep regret, and the person responsible went immediately... I take full responsibility for what happened. That's why the person who was responsible went."

Interesting comments these. Note that he says he is sorry about what happened (translated - I'm sorry my right hand man got caught).

He takes full responsibility (does he? What has he done to take responsibility? Sack someone else, someone he appointed and who he has had as a trusted advisor for almost ten years?)

That's why the person responsible went (Went? Went where? It is not clear that he has left the civil service.)

The fact of the matter is that while Gordon Brown may well be telling the truth when he says he did not know about the emails, those around him acted in the way they did because of the tone set by the leader, Gordon Brown.

What this affair has brought to light is that far from bringing a new spin free regime to politics, he has been exposed as scheming double dealing bully and completely lacking in any sort of moral compass.

Apologies- due and not

Over the past few days we have seen the McBride scandal emerge.

This is a man who worked in Downing Street in the heartof Gordon Brown's government operation. The tone and content of the planned smears are frankly abhorrent and exposes a rottenness at the heart of government.

Gordon Brown says that he knew nothing of the emails. That may well be true, we have no way of knowing. What is clear however is that Gordon Brown has set the tone of the office that allowed those working for him to believe that they were doing the right thing by him in planning to smear political opponents and their families. In that sense, he knew all right. He set the tone, he set the scene.

What is really bizarre however is the Liberal Democrats who have popped up demanding that David Cameron apologise for the actions of a former candidate in Watford. This is nothing more than blatant opportunism as bad as the Governments shenanigans.

Clearly what happened in Watford was outrageous, and it was dealt with both by the party and the full force of the law. To draw any sort of parallel beyond that is simply crazy.

Bob's blunder

You have to wonder about the judgement of Asst Commissioner Bob Quick that he carries sensitive documents where they can be seen.

Surely anyone handling sensitive documents would know that you do not compromise operations in this way. If he didn't think, then you have to question his competence.

That home secretary Jacqui Smith is standing by him only serves to emphasise her own incompetence and lack of judgement.

The fact of the matter is that both should now resign.

Freedom of Speech

One would have thought that a Liberal MP would be in favour of freedom of speech. Sadly this is not the case. Edinburgh West MP John Barrett has voted down free speech (!) in the latest Bill going through Parliament (Criminal Justice & Immigration Act) which will mean that ordinary folk will be dismissed and bullied for voicing their beliefs in work and every aspect of life.

Strange how the Liberals seem to have more in common with repression than liberalism.

MP's expenses

What an embarrassment!!!

Every day the press brings us yet another story about MP's (and MSP's) apparently abusing their expenses. Initially it was back bench MP's, now each member of the cabinet from Gordon Brown downwards is being implicated in sleaze. http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-does-brown-claim-second-home.html

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/david_hughes/blog/2009/04/06/if_only_alistair_darling_was_as_good_with_the_nations_finances_as_with_his_own

Even the Liberals are at it. The MSP for West Edinburgh charges us 49p for each time she visits her constituency office. A journey of 1 mile. Now lets be clear, this is entirely within the rules, but come on... Doesn't this smack of desperation, or penny pinching, or more likely milking the system for all it's worth?(Sunday Times 5th April 2009)

Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling, not to mention Geoff Hoon and Jacqui Smith have all designated their main residences as their second homes in order to claim expenses. Again it's all within the rules, but I have to ask is it in the spirit of the rules?

There is a saying that if it looks like fish and smells like fish, it probably is fish.

Surely the system of MP's expenses was set up in order to ensure that the costs of being an MP were properly reimbursed, and not to allow them to feather their nests as seems to be the pattern. All within the rules of course!

I am employed in business, and as part of my job I claim expenses. The principle I work to is that no one should ever be able to question what I claim, because it should be obvious that the claim is both legitimate and within both the rules and the spirit of the rules. In other words I will not leave myself open to a charge of abusing the system. Quite apart from the reputational issues, most commercial organisations will sack anyone abusing their expenses.

What I say therefore is this. If the people of Edinburgh West choose me to represent them in parliament at the next election I promise that I will not abuse the rules relating to expenses in any way that gives the impression that I am feathering my nest at the tax payers expense.

I will claim only what is reasonable, properly incurred and I will not twist the system for example, to redesignate my Edinburgh home as a second residence in order to claim extra allowances.

In short I will seek to be the Honourable member for Edinburgh West.

Perhaps if more MP's remembered that they are supposed to be honourable members we wouldn't have the stench of corruption that is all pervading at present.

Identity Cards

The Government is often keen to tell us that for those with nothing to hide, the ID cards offer nothing to fear.

If that is the case, why has the government fought disclosure of the interim reviews for five years?

Trams

The Edinburgh Evening news reports that the contractors are demanding £80m more two days before TIE closes Princes Street for the best part of a year. Are we really to believe that this is the last time that a gun is going to be held to our collective heads? Are we really to believe that the cost will not soar out of all proportion? Would we not be better to take a deep breath, eat humble pie, and pull the plug on the whole infernal project?

Edinburgh Traffic

Is it just me, or is it the case that most of the traffic congestion in Edinburgh has been caused by the Edinburgh Council Roads department with inappropriate closure of Roads, The utility Companies who are digging up the roads at will, (it is said with the conivance of the Council Roads department who are still sore at losing the congestion charge vote) and TIE with the infernal tram project.

It seems to me that most of our traffic problems could be solved by changing the philosophy at the Council and simply recognising that the private car is here to stay, will not go away and in any case is for the most part the most efficient form of transport where more than one person is involved.

Bankers and their bonuses (2)

John Barrett and his Liberals have recently suggested that I am out of touch for defending Bankers bonuses.

I wonder if they really have a clue about the way business works.

The fact of the matter is that the Banking industry, indeed most industries, use bonus schemes as incentives to greater performance. Everyone employed in the financial services sector and any other sector involving selling will be familiar with this. Employees have a basic level of salary and they are able to earn additional amounts over and above the basic in return for additional performance measured by specific targets.

Bonuses are paid after the event, in other words any bonuses paid to bankers in Edinburgh during 2008 (and before any taxpayers money was involved) relate to performance in 2007. It doesn't take Einstein to work out that if targets are not met, bonuses will not be paid. Given the losses incurred by the Banking industry in 2008 it is unlikely that many people will be paid bonuses. Those who may receive them will have achieved agreed targets, as such are entitled to their bonus (or incentive) payments.

Nothing that I am saying will come as any surprise to the many thousands of people in Edinburgh West employed in the banking and financial services industry. They already know how the system works.

No, the only people out of touch here are the Liberals.

Homelessness

Last November I took part in a sponsored sleepout in aid of the Homeless persons charity the Rock Trust. Can I say how grateful I am to those who sponsored me, I raised approximately £1500 for the charity.

The experience was an eye opener in more ways than one. Sleeping out meant that the following day I felt rough. It was easy for me as I was able to return to a warm house the following morning. But what of those who have nowhere to go?

A senior member of another homeless persons charity said to me recently that people only become homeless when they have suffered complete family breakdown and they have no one to turn to.

Isn’t that a terrible indictment of our society that has so devalued family life that we still have homelessness?

We have a broken society. My key objective as I seek election to Parliament is to try and help to rebuild our broken society. I claim no special expertise, and I am convinced that government has few answers. The answers do not come from new laws and regulation, they come from encouraging people to take responsibility for themselves and for their neighbours.

The buck has to stop

Here we are in the midst of a huge financial crisis caused largely by the unsustainable levels of debt encouraged by Gordon Brown and he blames everybody else.

The UK has the highest levels of debt in the World yet Gordon Brown thinks the answer is to borrow even more.

Even the Archbishop of Canterbury thinks this is crazy, and generations to come will pay a terrible price repaying his imprudence. So much for sustainability. We have mortgaged out tomorrows so that the Labour party could create an illusion of wealth today.

Gordon Brown says that all this problem is caused by somebody else. He blames the USA and the banking industry over there. If that is the case, why has Sterling collapsed? Why are we seeing the Pound at parity with the Euro and the value against the Dollar down by 25%.

Sorry Gordon, this buck stops with you.

The safe option?

One of the features of elections is that there are people who when looking for a safe option have a tendency to vopte Liberal Democrat on the basis that they are nice, cuddly middle of the road people.

The reality is something else. They are by their own admission more left wing than the Labour party and their prime objective seems to be part of the power regardless of who is in charge.

Evidence of this is their support of the failed Labour administration in Holyrood where they were coalition partners and now their partnership with the SNP in Edinburgh Council.

Neither of these experiences of government reflect well on the LibDems. Indeed they contradict themselves, note Lib Dem MSP Margeret Smith’s support for the Panda Breeding plan at Edinburgh Zoo opposed by a LibDem MP from Portsmouth.
The only way we are going to see a change for the better is when we remove the socialists from control.

The safe optio?

One of the features of elections is that there are people who when looking for a safe option have a tendency to vote Liberal Democrat on the basis that they are nice, cuddly middle of the road people.

The reality is something else. They are by their own admission more left wing than the Labour party and their prime objective seems to be part of the power regardless of who is in charge.

Evidence of this is their support of the failed Labour administration in Holyrood where they were coalition partners and now their partnership with the SNP in Edinburgh Council.

Neither of these experiences of government reflect well on the LibDems. Indeed they contradict themselves, note Lib Dem MSP Margeret Smith’s support for the Panda Breeding plan at Edinburgh Zoo opposed by a LibDem MP from Portsmouth.

The only way we are going to see a change for the better is when we remove the socialists from control.