At last! This week we had official confirmation of what we knew all along. The Prime Minister admitted that he had misled the Chilcott enquiry with his answers about the funding of the Iraq war. There is a more direct term for this, but convention prevents me from calling a spade a spade…
The fact is that the Prime Minister, when Chancellor, broke the military covenant and sent our soldiers into a war without the necessary equipment. That was unforgiveable! Whether or not we may agree with a war, we must never betray our soldiers in this way again.
Just recently, a mother told me that her two sons, who are in the army have had to use their own money to buy the use of extra bullet proof vests as there were not enough to go round in Afghanistan.
The Labour Government has betrayed our country, betrayed our soldiers and betrayed the people. They should go!
Friday, 19 March 2010
Thursday, 4 March 2010
It's time for change
As we draw ever closer to the General Election you will, inevitably,
notice an increased number of leaflets coming through your door. The purpose, of course, being to persuade you to vote for whoever has produced the leaflet, and on that count I plead guilty!
It is worth pointing out however, that my leaflets have been produced and
distributed entirely through the voluntary efforts of your local
Conservative party and no public funds whatsoever have been used.
As we approach the election, it is worth remembering that we are
fighting the next election - not the last one. As such, fancy graphs of
what happened before, are entirely irrelevant. We are fighting this
election on a platform that promises change. Change from "big Government"
to "small Government". Change from the nanny state to one where personal
responsibility is encouraged, where those who can, are left alone to get
on with life, while those who can't, are given the support they need.
So, let's vote for change. Let's look to the future and let's make a
difference.
notice an increased number of leaflets coming through your door. The purpose, of course, being to persuade you to vote for whoever has produced the leaflet, and on that count I plead guilty!
It is worth pointing out however, that my leaflets have been produced and
distributed entirely through the voluntary efforts of your local
Conservative party and no public funds whatsoever have been used.
As we approach the election, it is worth remembering that we are
fighting the next election - not the last one. As such, fancy graphs of
what happened before, are entirely irrelevant. We are fighting this
election on a platform that promises change. Change from "big Government"
to "small Government". Change from the nanny state to one where personal
responsibility is encouraged, where those who can, are left alone to get
on with life, while those who can't, are given the support they need.
So, let's vote for change. Let's look to the future and let's make a
difference.
Monday, 22 February 2010
More inheritance tax?
There is nothing that our tired and divided Labour government will not
tax to fund their crazy "spend spend spend" mentality.
Their latest idea is a ‘Pay As You Die’ scheme that will force the elderly to sign away their homes to pay their soaring council tax bills.
The Government quietly enacted a measure in November 2009 to permit pensioners to ‘defer’ their council tax bills, and instead pay – with interest – when their property is sold or on death of the surviving resident spouse.
The Liberal Democrats, as ever support the Labour Government and their policy paper, ‘Fairer, Simpler, Greener‘ advocates “There could be an arrangement to allow pensioners to postpone payment of the property tax, with the unpaid tax becoming a charge upon the owner-occupiers estate. They could be recouped by the Revenue when the house was sold.”
The simple message from this is that a vote for the Liberals will result in an extra inheritance tax levied by the local council and a higher council tax .
Their latest idea is a ‘Pay As You Die’ scheme that will force the elderly to sign away their homes to pay their soaring council tax bills.
The Government quietly enacted a measure in November 2009 to permit pensioners to ‘defer’ their council tax bills, and instead pay – with interest – when their property is sold or on death of the surviving resident spouse.
The Liberal Democrats, as ever support the Labour Government and their policy paper, ‘Fairer, Simpler, Greener‘ advocates “There could be an arrangement to allow pensioners to postpone payment of the property tax, with the unpaid tax becoming a charge upon the owner-occupiers estate. They could be recouped by the Revenue when the house was sold.”
The simple message from this is that a vote for the Liberals will result in an extra inheritance tax levied by the local council and a higher council tax .
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
More school issues
Just recently the LibDems voted to close Drumbrae school despite massive
opposition. Now we read that the LibDems have saved schools. Yet
Drumbrae school is still closing.
It was the classic case of the "one size fits all and we know best" mentality that has plagued our education sector for so many years. The crazy thing is that the plans to close these schools won't actually save much money because Edinburgh council are not reducing the number of people employed in the Education department. It also makes a mockery of the SNP plans to reduce class sizes- after all they are the LibDems partners on the council.
Just to add insult to injury, their PPC is now calling for "new investment to give schools the flexibility to reduce class sizes or develop one-to-one tuition and improve discipline." It seems that, as ever they are facing both ways and hoping that the public wont notice. Well we have, and with only 80 odd days till the election, memories will last.
Compare this to the plans that the Conservatives have to allow parents and others to set up and run new schools free of council interference.
Very soon we will have the choice of supporting a failed Labour Government who are backed by the LibDems and a new Conservative Government who believe in setting people free to get on with life wthout government interference.
So, if you want change, Vote conservative. A vote for anyone else will change nothing.
It was the classic case of the "one size fits all and we know best" mentality that has plagued our education sector for so many years. The crazy thing is that the plans to close these schools won't actually save much money because Edinburgh council are not reducing the number of people employed in the Education department. It also makes a mockery of the SNP plans to reduce class sizes- after all they are the LibDems partners on the council.
Just to add insult to injury, their PPC is now calling for "new investment to give schools the flexibility to reduce class sizes or develop one-to-one tuition and improve discipline." It seems that, as ever they are facing both ways and hoping that the public wont notice. Well we have, and with only 80 odd days till the election, memories will last.
Compare this to the plans that the Conservatives have to allow parents and others to set up and run new schools free of council interference.
Very soon we will have the choice of supporting a failed Labour Government who are backed by the LibDems and a new Conservative Government who believe in setting people free to get on with life wthout government interference.
So, if you want change, Vote conservative. A vote for anyone else will change nothing.
Friday, 12 February 2010
Cleaning the beach at Cramond
I posted recently on the efforts of the Marine Conservation Society to maintain a clean beach at Cramond. This recent event was one of a regular series of events. The trust gather four times a year to record the litter and clean the beach.
If you want to know more of the work of the Marine Conservation Society, contact them direct at
If you want to know more of the work of the Marine Conservation Society, contact them direct at
3 Coates Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7AA
Tel / Fax: 0131 226 2391
Mobile: 07894 566624
The Marine Conservation Society
(MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to
protecting our seas, shores anrd wildlife.
Join us - visit our new website www.mcsuk.org
Join us - visit our new website www.mcsuk.org
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Liberal Hypocrisy on Schools
Just recently the LibDems voted to close Drumbrae school despite massive
opposition. Now we read that the LibDems have saved schools. Yet
Drumbrae school is still closing.
Just to add insult to injury, their PPC is now calling for "new investment to give schools the flexibility to reduce class sizes or develop one-to-one tuition and improve discipline." It seems that, as ever they are facing both ways and hoping that the public wont notice. Well we have, and with only 80 odd days till the election, memories will last.
Just to add insult to injury, their PPC is now calling for "new investment to give schools the flexibility to reduce class sizes or develop one-to-one tuition and improve discipline." It seems that, as ever they are facing both ways and hoping that the public wont notice. Well we have, and with only 80 odd days till the election, memories will last.
Cleaning at Cramond
Last weekend I joined the Marine Conservation Trust and a large group of people at Cramond Beach to help with a beach clean and survey. This is something that the Trust has been doing for a number of years and represents people power in action. Every piece of litter over a 100 meter stretch of beach was gathered and catalogued. It is a sobering and saddening thing to see the number of pieces of sanitary ware and cotton buds that have been flushed down toilets and washed up on a public beach. This is a message that really needs to be publicised. Carelessness and selfish behaviour affects others. I for one commend the work of the Marine Conservation Trust as they seek to raise awareness and in a practical way help the people to help themselves in making our lives better.
From my point of view as a politician, seeing what we picked up on the beach makes me ask questions as to the materials used in these products. For example, should we be using plastic for cotton buds? Can we highlight what happens when we put things down the toilet? How can we change attitudes to reduce the amount of waste?
I do not claim to have the answers, but knowing some of the questions helps me to look for solutions. If the people of Edinburgh West choose me as their next MP, this kind of issue can be given prominence and we can work for a better, cleaner future for us all.
Vote for change, vote Conservative
A vote for anyone else changes nothing
From my point of view as a politician, seeing what we picked up on the beach makes me ask questions as to the materials used in these products. For example, should we be using plastic for cotton buds? Can we highlight what happens when we put things down the toilet? How can we change attitudes to reduce the amount of waste?
I do not claim to have the answers, but knowing some of the questions helps me to look for solutions. If the people of Edinburgh West choose me as their next MP, this kind of issue can be given prominence and we can work for a better, cleaner future for us all.
Vote for change, vote Conservative
A vote for anyone else changes nothing
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Its time for change
We now have less than 90 days until the most likely date for the
general election of 6th May. The media is full of reports and comments
about politics and I'm sure that you will soon get heartily sick of it all.
Ultimately we will get our chance to have our say. It comes down to a simple choice. Do we want another 5 years of a Labour government who have brought the country to bankruptcy, increased inequality while reducing social mobility along the way? or do we want a change?
Do we want a new government that will reduce the debt and rebuild a broken society?
If the answer to the latter is yes, then only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will make that difference.
At the European Elections, we were within 2% of overtaking the Liberals. Since then, the Liberal MP has announced his retirement and our private polling shows that even more people are supporting our call for change.
We have an excellent chance to contribute to change in Edinburgh West, tell your friends.
"Vote Conservative for change, a vote for anyone else changes nothing"
Ultimately we will get our chance to have our say. It comes down to a simple choice. Do we want another 5 years of a Labour government who have brought the country to bankruptcy, increased inequality while reducing social mobility along the way? or do we want a change?
Do we want a new government that will reduce the debt and rebuild a broken society?
If the answer to the latter is yes, then only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will make that difference.
At the European Elections, we were within 2% of overtaking the Liberals. Since then, the Liberal MP has announced his retirement and our private polling shows that even more people are supporting our call for change.
We have an excellent chance to contribute to change in Edinburgh West, tell your friends.
"Vote Conservative for change, a vote for anyone else changes nothing"
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Labour and LibDems betray us again
This week the Conservative party put down an amendment to the
Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill. This amendment which would have
put a "referendum lock" on any future handover of power to Brussels - in
other words making any future Treaty which transfers power to Brussels
subject to a vote of the British people.
The amendment was voted down by the Labour and LibDems, in both cases
under a three line whip. This demonstrates the complete and utter
disregard that both parties have for the British people. After all, both
parties, along with the Conservatives promised at the last General
election, to hold a referendum on the European constitution.
In the end, when the vote came, only the Conservatives kept their election promise.
What is now required is a new government that will deal honestly with the public. Very soon we will have that chance to vote.
"Vote Conservative for change, a vote for anyone else changes nothing"
Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill. This amendment which would have
put a "referendum lock" on any future handover of power to Brussels - in
other words making any future Treaty which transfers power to Brussels
subject to a vote of the British people.
The amendment was voted down by the Labour and LibDems, in both cases
under a three line whip. This demonstrates the complete and utter
disregard that both parties have for the British people. After all, both
parties, along with the Conservatives promised at the last General
election, to hold a referendum on the European constitution.
In the end, when the vote came, only the Conservatives kept their election promise.
What is now required is a new government that will deal honestly with the public. Very soon we will have that chance to vote.
"Vote Conservative for change, a vote for anyone else changes nothing"
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