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?"
Thursday 28 May 2009
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.
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.
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.
Friday 22 May 2009
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.
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.
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.
Monday 18 May 2009
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.
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.
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.
Saturday 9 May 2009
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.
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.
Thursday 7 May 2009
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.
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.
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