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 .