Transport minister Keith Brown is due to meet the Outer Hebrides Commerce Group (OHCG) on Tuesday.
Polybox boss Calum Campbellm, the chairman of OHCG, welcomed the opportunity to present to the minister in straightforward terms, the negative impact the 50% increase in commercial fares is having on the islands’ economy.
“We also hope that the SNP Government won’t proceed with their plans to add another 50% to ferry fares in eight months time. We need the Government to support our islands during one of the worst recessions in living memory.”
Woody’s Express boss David Wood, another member of OHCG, is still concerned that the SNP Government didn’t listen to their pleas before implementing what he called the “first massive increase” of 50% last April.
“We do hope that Keith Brown will be in listening mode and will pay attention to the detail our group is going to present to him. We are pleased to have the opportunity to inform Keith Brown – we now need him and the SNP Government to act, and drop their reckless plans for another massive ferry hike in March next year.”
There is no doubt that RET is important but your bias towards Labour know’s no bounds. What about UBC? Why were council payments made days before election day? What about those local figures who are alleged to owe UBC large amounts of money. Sorry forgot, this is a Labour Blog run by their local press officer.
@We want fawning reporting: yawn.
Teddies back in your pram, please
Yes Mr x I have to agree. Your political colours are well and truly shining through, . At least try and pretend to be objective. Yes RET is important, remember that Labour failed for years to acknowledge the need for it. It is only lately that they have supported it. There is a total lack of policies from Labour and they are anything but angels. You don’t mention this never mind pursuing the way you have pursued others. Yes a definite bias.
Labour?….I thought he was a Tory, ach same thing anyway.
Yea come on mr x. Your giving us the heads up on a meeting between the transport minister and the OHTG and you dont mention Labour or UBC, how biased can you get.
Me thinks its objective reading thats lacking in this case
This is simply an OHCG press release which has gone out to all media, councillors and even MSPs. I didn’t write it but it is obviously enough for the ignorant cyberprat to go on the attack. Then, to make matters worse, when he gets no immediate response, he just Has To Agree to begin a conversation with himself under another name. Utterly pathetic level of debate. You just show yourselves up for what you are.
Just a measure of the judgemental nature of some readers Iain – particularly those who feel the need to talk to themselves. You at least post news releases in a timely manner which has been lacking elsewhere recently.
It is rather sad that Mr x dismisses this as someone debating with themselves. I have made one post and I’m talking to myself ,sorry Mr x you have got it wrong. A sad reflection to excuse your biased outlook.
As for Jeannie Alone, belonging to the party with no future, she will have plenty of time to have political debates with herself. . .
I have to agree that ” have to agree ” should now shut up . He and his waspish anonymous mates attacked Ian X for merely publishing someone elses press release .. They were sure they had evidence but they should have checked before rushing in to print. they got it badly wrong again . Shame they dont have the good grace or intelligence to know when to quit . Ian why do you bother talkng to people like that.
Ian T I’m baffled by your claim about me thinking I had evidence before rushing to print. What are you talking about ? Evidence on what ?
As far as being anonymous, I am no more anonymous than you.
This evidence you have mentioned, can you explain what it is you believe I have. I would hate to have evidence and not know that I have it.
Ian T – I pity the fool who doesn’t agree with you! LOL
ADS now legal for Charities, churches, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, that one seems to have slipped through X’s net.
Positive noises on this from the Scottish Government today. I have to say about time along with the u-turn on ADS which by the way proves that it was a decision of the Scottish Government and not an European directive as they tried to say. Will they refund the voluntary organisations for their losses? I will reserve judgement on this until we are sure that they really are prepared to listen. But credit where it is due the Scottish Government have realised that the haulage companies have a valid argument that needs proper investigation.
Before I’m accused of being a cybernat, let me say that I’m a very disenchanted Lib/Dem. The ADS was a Lib/Dem initiated scheme and not a Labour one as with free eyesight tests. How Mr Paterson can say that the snp have done a u-turn on this baffles me. Business travel remains the full fare which affects me on some occassions. Sadly there might be some merit in their claims that they are restricted through European business competition legislation. Maybe Mr x can use his journalist skills and look into these claims.. ..
U-turn going back either fully or partially on a decision made earlier. Hope that helps.
So that means the Tories, who are no strangers to u-turns, in attempting to sort out the mad max esque world the Labour party left us in again, is a u-turn?
Mr Paterson I suppose that anything which gives you an edge politically is a u-turn. Most people would expect business travel to be included before they would refer to it as a u-turn. I’m not so sure when it was set up in the first place it was done correctly.
Did The Labour Party cause the problems in the American sub-prime mortgage market. Or did The Labour Party cause the Euro crisis and the Asian market collapse in 2007 in which the roots of our present world banking crisis are deeply buried. The Tory led coalition are following an austerity regime with a decimation of public services and a private sector too risk averse to step in to plug the gap. That is not a u-turn this is a throw back to Thatcherism. If you create growth then you create investment you cannot have one without the other. Take this more locally if you want to grow the Western Isles economy you must invest in it. Providing a level playing field for local companies is imperative to that growth. RET savings on freight may not have been passed on but you can be sure the increase will be.
This present world slump is not a failure of governments it is a failure of capitalism. And the answer is not more capitalism.
Indeed it was the Labour party who led us into the recession with the one of the biggest budget deficits in the developed world, Gordon Brown was borrowing around £7000 a second when on his binge, he deregulated the banks, more or less giving them a free hand, and here you are trying to tell us Labour had nothing to do with it, and the abyss was unavoidable? we still have “no more boom and bust” ringing in our ears. It is good to see you embracing Plan macB though.
As far as RET is concerned Mr Paterson, the Labour Party were totally against providing any form subsidy for the islands. At the last Scottish elections Iain Grey was forced forced reluctantly to adopt the RET pilot which was already in operation in the Western Isles. He made it abundantly clear that the scheme would not be rolled out to other islands. Yet, as a Labour Party you dare to lecture us of the importance of RET. I don’t remember any correspondence from you stating the Labour Party had got it wrong. The only thing McConnel was prepared to give was a subsidy on passenger fares. As much as I hate to admit it, there would have been no RET if Salmond had not introduced it in 2008.
As far as managing the UK economy the Labour Party got it vastly wrong. Their continuation of Thatcher’s policies almost bankrupted the country. The continual deregulation of the banks by Blair, Brown, Darling allowed the banks to take us to the brink of disaster. We have still find out how irresponsible the banks have and are behaving. Yes, the mismanagement of the banks by the Labour Party has played a major factor in the world economy. Your great former leader Blair in 2010 advocated much of what the coalition are now doing if Labour had won the election that year.
You talk about austerity measures, yes, they were needed after the mess created by the Labour Party. Are the austerity measures going too far, yes, much too far.
In the thirteen years the Labour Party were in power they did almost nothing to stimulate growth other than to deregulate the financial houses. Remenber the billion and a half that Brown removed from peoples pension plans. The 104,000 civil servants whose services were dispensed with. The ever growing number of longterm unemployed. The highest ever child and pensioner poverty in recent years, So much so, that Brown refused to sign up to the European Charter on child povert for several years. Remember the 10p tax threshold. The list is endless. The Labour Party were just as Thatcherite as the current coalition. No wonder Salmond is looking good, the three main parties are throwing it away. If we don’t face up to the reality of the situation we lose the union. We might win the 2014 argument but ~I don’t think we can win that will follow unless we change.
I am big enough to say that the Lib/Dems have got it wrong, are you big enough to say that Labour are not much better. Possibly you are just another unionist like many Lib/Dems who don’t appreciate the severity of what is ahead if we don’t act now.
Despite the mumps and moans bt the Labour Party, both Mr Miliband and Mr Balls have both said that they won’t reverse the austerity measures introduced by the coalition. Do you think that they will do a u-turn on this.
Of course the Labour Party got it wrong, especially when they bailed out the banks without Nationalising them. They got it wrong by listening to all the other parties for bank deregulation (including the SNP). They got it wrong when they did not support the economy by bringing in a living wage to lift working families out of poverty they got it wrong by running the country to please the stock market. They got it wrong by introducing tuition fees but most of all they got it wrong in abandoning Socialist principles to court the power-hungry mega-rich. I stand by my assertion that capitalism has failed and the sooner the capitalists realise this the better. Am I a unionist? Well I believe that borders are artificial constructs and the more borders the less equality you have in the world. I have much in common with Socialists the world over and believe that labels serve discrimination whether that label is my nationality, my gender, my sexual preference or my marital status or any other label you care to stick on from your safe haven of anonymity. I am no Labour lackey but as a member I try to influence the party’s policy whenever I can but unfortunately my influence is minuscule.
Bob plan Macb??? As Scotland enters a double dip recession we see the SNP moving further away from independence.
Keep the pound. Keep the Bank of England. Keep the Queen and worst of all keep the butcher’s apron! Oh and not forgetting you now embrace NATO. More Devo mix than Devo max admittedly but confusing none the less. What next keeping the WMD’s on the Clyde?
I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with nationalisation of the banks. They should have been restructered and reorganised with proper controls. Instead they are still relatively self governing which leaves us almost back to where we were prior to going out of control.
Personally I have no commitment to any party now, the Lib/Dems let me down badly. I feel the changes in direction and values by the Lib/Dems were too much. As for Labour, the changes are unbelievable. They are just another Tory Party.
I’m vey pro-union but believe the three UK parties are playing into Salmond’s hands. Charles Kennedy and Alasdair Darling are no match for him. As much as I hate the man, he has done a number of good things. Although I’m not a socialist, I can see his appeal to the socialists in Scotland. He’s far more socialist than Labour which will increase his support. It is not my intention to offend you, but I’m only saying what I see. Hopefully the pro-unionist’s will get their act together and make a proper case instead of the current negativety. The points you have made are correct and identify the downside of independence. Unfortunately that is playing into the hands of the nationalist. We have to promote the benefits that we get from being part of the union.
Scotland narrowly re-entered recession, but what you failed to mention is the fact that the rest of the UK’s economy shrunk 3 times faster, so the SNP government is doing a fantastic job of sheltering us from the £1,500,000,000.00 slashed from our pocket money, with the 9% actual control they have over the Scottish economy.
You are not for Plan MacB? Must be a another secret kind of investment you are talking about.
Keep the pound – yes, Sterling is a tradable currency, a Sterling zone makes good sense, Germany and France have the same currency-are they not independent?
Keep the Queen – yes, its the 1707 union that need dissolving not the 1603 union. Canada, Austrailia, New Zealand etc have the Queen as monarch-are they not independent?
keep the butcher’s apron – no idea what you are talking about.
Norway are in NATO but are anti nuclear, whats wrong with that?
Can I ask what your own position is on independence, do you think this is as good as it gets?
Perhaps Subsidy ought to look at the history of the Irish republic and what happened to their economy during the long, bitter years when their currency was linked to sterling.
Or would that be too much like doing a little bit of independent thinking rather than swallowing party propaganda wholesale – in the way you can always depend on him to do!
Its the man who puts the “cheat” into Rich Tea, I was wondering when you were going to inflict more of your mind burps on us.
As far as I am aware it is not unusual for the former countries of the sterling area to hang onto that currency for a while after independence. But after a while bin it for something else for various reasons, even France pegged the Franc to Sterling for a while. So other than a few wobbles Ireland had a stable currency.
I’m sorry Subsidy Junkie, but I can’t accept that the performance of the Scottish economy is totally down to the SNP. There are many external influences which play a part. It is too easy to pat Mr Salmond on the back.
A few wobbles??? The usual junk from the usual source. Most people would look at the Irish economy during these years as define them as decades of total stagnation in which hundreds of thousands of people left their native shores.
But let’s not allow the truth to get in the way of party propaganda. That would be too much like truly independent thinking!
Yes a few wobbles when sterling temporarily devalued for the odd year here and there.
It frankly shows your absolute ignorance to claim it was because of a currency parity that caused Irelands economic dip through those years, nothing to do with the fact that there was two world wars and they had just come through a civil war.
Next you will be trying to claim that Greece’s problem was that it had the same currency as France, and that somehow is the SNP’s fault too!
There is little doubt that it was only after the Irish Republic ended its link with sterling that any growth occurred in the Irish ecoonomy – and that occurred quite a few decades after the Second World War you mention.
Once again, your contribution is ‘debate’ is characterised by misinformation and falsehood.
And to blame the crumbling state of the Irish economy simply on the devaluation of sterling is pure and utter fantasy. You’ll be telling us next that Ireland was part of an ‘arc of prosperity’ next.
Now, where did I hear that line before….?
PS – Irish link to sterling ended in 1979. The Second World War ended in 1945. A difference of 34 years!
Just thought I’d try to complete the education that was obviously too great a challenge for you early in life!
I see Ireland are trying to get back into the UK with its larger debt per head of population. In fact most countries across the world are trying to become part of the UK. Silly me, that’s wrpng their doing their best to avoid the UK.
Re – Cove
And the relevance of that to the debate? This all started with Subsidy Junkie applauding the Scottish Government’s decision to link its currency to sterling after independence (for a period of over fifty years!) I was simply pointing out that as this policy never worked for the Irish, it’s extremely unlikely to work for the Scots. However, it seems to me that the only argument I’ve had against this view are the above rantings and Subsidy Junkie’s little historical fantasies…
Let us remember certain facts. A former Governor of the Bank of England is on record as declaring that unemployment in the north is a price worth paying for prosperity in the south. Is independence likely to improve this attitude? Is there any evidence that when the Irish currency was linked to sterling that this particular institution paid any great attention to the health of Ireland’s economy? Why is this situation going to improve for Scotland if or when this country gains independence?
PS – the ‘over fifty years!’ comment related to the Irish links to sterling…
The Irish economy was in a mess pre and post independence. The influence of the church had a crippling effect on advancement. Develera was happy to use the church to keep him in power. Having their monetary system tied to the pound was a plus for their economy.
Your statement on the poorer north is a 100% correct. This is at the root of the independence revival of the nineties. As the screw turns on the welfare state the case for independence gets stronger. Do you advocate we do nothing ? and just take what we are given. There is now a Labour Party theme of the undeserving poor and the deserving poor. Dependent upon whether your in employment, a great socialist attitude.. Generations are have been lost due to Thatchers economic policies. The number of people with no future grows year on year. Do we just lie down and die ?
Yesterday’s news showed things getting worse, more people will be worse off. The Spanish economy is growing quicker than that of the UK.
There is much that I agree with in your above statement, Cove. You are perfectly right about the effect of De Valera’s policies on the Irish Republic. Some of his successors were no better. They condemned that country to rates of emigration that rivalled those which occurred in the Great Famine in that nation’s history.
However, there is little evidence for your view that ‘having their monetary system tied to the pound was a plus for their economy.’ In fact, contrary to what masterminds like Subsidy Junkie might claim, the Irish economy only began to improve significantly when they abandoned their links to sterling in the late seventies.
Political independence means nothing on its own. Economic independence is much more important. How does the Scottish Government hope to achieve this while it continues to tie this nation’s fortunes to the whims of
Treasury mandarins and officials in the Bank of England down south?
It seems to me a policy dreamed up on the back of a postcard. The very fact that clowns like Subsidy Junkie unthinkingly and mindlessly support it seems to me further proof of that!
What is political independence ? The UK is tied to Europe, prior to that it was the Commonwealth and trading treaties. The benefit of Scotland being independent is that it can agree to policies which benefits Scotland not the SE of England.
As for using the pound, this does not need to be for ever. To me it makes sense to stick with the the pound at the outset. There is still a great deal of latitude economically. Regardless of what we use it is still influenced by the money markets. Even the great US dollar is subject to external influences.
When I look at the Irish problems they are in a better state than we are. They have much less debt per head of population than the UK has. When I look at the UK economy as both of us have said, it is geared to making the SE of England at any expense to the other areas. I don’t fancy moving to the SE, I don’t know about you..
The only reason that we are sticking with the pound is that Plan A (the euro) fell through, Cove. Hardly grand or clever strategy. As long as we remain linked to sterling, the Bank will still make the City of Westminster and the south-east its first priority. Nothing changes in that! No matter what flag waves above our heads…
I would seriously dispute the Irish are in better state economically than we are. One has to consider the broader picture (ie the flaws in their health service, their poor infrastructre, even the way that so many of their people pay for their education) and not just fix on the debt issue. …
The only people I heard talk about the euro as the currency has been the pro-unionists. Regardless of what currency is used, there is still a great deal of latitude. At the end of the day the pound is stronly influenced by Washington and Brussels. It won’t be long until the Chinese become the major player in the money market.
As for the NHS, it will not exist in its current form by 2020. The modernisation which the coalition have introduced, which Miliband won’t change when Labour get back into power will see the demise of the health service. The welfare state is already being seriously undermined by Westminster. State schools have been targeted by the various governments since 1979 bytrying to create independent schools or academies.
Since Thatcher came to power there has been an ongoing drive to reduce public expenditure by the various governments at Westminster whilst at the same time reducing jobs, wages etc.
We are living in a time where the rich are getting much richer and the poor are getting much poorer. The single minded greed of the rich and the political policies which support them is the downfall of the UK and a major driver for independence.
If we are as wealthy a nation as claimed, we should be able to support a first class health service, welfare state and education system that has easy access for all.
As for Ireland their infrastructure is not any worse than Scotland’s. It is only since Perth was made a city that we have got a motorway betweeb two cities. We all know the problems with broadband and other communication systems The rail network, poor roads in a dreadful state. There is 20 times as much spent on the roads in the SE than all of the other regions put together.
.
The Scottish Government was certainly talking (rather loudly) about the Euro till the crisis in that zone has occurred.
Have you ever been to Ireland? They’ve turned ‘dreadful roads’ into an art-form there. As for its health and education service ….
As for the gap between rich and poor, that has increased everywhere – and a country dominated by two ‘conservative’ parties has not been immune to the process… Or are you still naive enough to believe a certain politician’s view that Ireland was part of an ‘arc of prosperity’. Anyone who ever spent time in that country guffawed loudly at that.
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Rich-and-poor-divide-is-growing-in-Ireland-by-the-day-162568426.html
Yes, I have been to Ireland on numerous visits. Going back a long time, probably before you were born, which I don’t mean negatively. The changes are enormous, especially since the they joined the ec. Yes I agree, they are faced with a downturn but they will come out of it far better than they wen’t into it. I can’t say the same for the North of the UK.
We too have conservative minded party’s competing for power. The Labour Party are as right wing as their Tory counterparts. The words socialist and trade union are now totally taboo in the uk. The economic devision of wealth between the North and South along with the evergrowing gap between rich and poor is one of the worst in the Western World. The ratio of those who have to those who haven’t is also getting wider. It is sad that the Labour Party has abandoned their principles, who is fighting the poorman’s corner at Westminster? Our future looks bleak.
Think you’re being unduly optimistic about the southern end of A B MacNeil’s celebrated ‘arc of prosperity’ and unduly pessimistic about this side of the water, Cove.
As someone who professes familiarity with that country since before I ‘was born’, you will be aware that Ireland has long possessed one of the most cancerous political systems in Europe. Whatever you may think about our parliamentarians, we have never put anyone in office who was as personally corrupt as Charlie Haughey nor his successor, Mr Ahern. (Check out the sums old Charlie salted away – especially one considers the size of the population of Ireland.) Peculiarly, it is more difficult to deal with isssues like that in a small state. The web of political and family connections is too tight. Journalists stay schtumm for fear they may one day need a job.
I think the future is not as bleak as you claim. Neither is the solution a so-called ‘independent’ country with its currency linked to sterling. That seems
to me the worst of all possible worlds.
PS – Where is that idiot ‘Subsidy Junkie’? We could do with his Frank Spencer impersonations around here!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Haughey
Well, you are entitled to your thought’s about the economy and it not being as bad as I perceive. Having seen what Thatcher, Blair and Brown and now Cameron have done and are now proposing, I fear for the future. As for corruption, Thatcher’s husband increased his fortune many fold when she was PM. Blair, Brown and Cameron were not in politics to make a difference. They were in it for their personal needs. Remember, they almost needed dynamite to get Brown out of Downing Street. A man corrupted by power.
Remember the MP expenses, the houses bought at tax payers expence. The list goes on, maybe you don’t accept this as wrong. Westminster has many, many corrupt stories to tell. As for Mr Macneil, what’s your gripe ? We all know you personally dislike him.
As for Subsidy Junkie, who is he ? Why ask me about him ?
Compared to Haughey….? I think the ones you mention were beginners compared to him – as anybody who had any real knowledge of Ireland or his politics would know.
I have no personal dislike of MacNeil. That’s the kind of simple-minded statement I would expect from Subsidy Junkie and his kind.
However, he has shown by his political judgement he has neither the intellect nor the intelligence nor the integrity to be an MP. He must be the first Westminster representative ever to fail to put in a parliamentary submission ever when the jobs of the largest private employer in his constituency were under threat. And where was he when the decision about their jobs were announced?
In Benbecula beside them? In London fighting for them? No – in Washington on a junkie!
And you expect him to receive my unconditional loyalty? He didn’t show that to his constituents!
You may think that Westminster corruption is small time, I don’t. You refer to the Irish economy as being an iffy two bit joke, stealing out of that is nothing to what is happening at Westminster. We have not seen the tip of the corruption. We only have to look at the policies and behaviour of our leaders at Westminster. Using their position to better themselves and that of their pals. What about the relationship between Blair and Murdoch.
As for the local Labour Party world of fantasy and fiction about Macneil it is hardly worth comment. What about your other pal, Subsidy Junkie ? You have not told me who he is yet ? and why I should know where he is ?
Think it can be proven it’s not fantasy and fiction about MacNeil, Cove. He did go on a Subsidy Junket when the jobs of the largest private employer in the area were under threat. The record’s on his inaction at that time is there for checking. In most constituencies, both the voters and the local media would have done it long ago. Unfortunately …
You can also easily check any independent source or international observers re corruption in other European countries. It’s one field where the British are lagging behind. Perhaps you should look out up websites on comparable statistics on Italy, France, Belguim, Ireland (especially Haughey and Ahern.) etc. You might gain some sense of proportion on the level of corruption in Westminster compared to other European countries. Not – I hasten to add – that any is acceptable!
Who knows where the Subsidy Junkie is? Washington in his hero’s footsteps? On a lunar expedition?
As for Macneil, a person whom I have only met once or twice I find him very much on the ball. The cuts which were being made were down to the Labour
Party. It may have been proposed by the organisation which carries out the running of certain MOD responsibilities. This is neither here nor there as ultimately it was the Labour Defence Secretary who was responsible for any cuts.
I could quote the junior Scottish Labour Minister who told us all to holiday in the UK during the foot and mouth outbreak. He flew to the states and told the yanks to holiday in Scotland. The first thing he did on his return was to fly out to Italy on holiday. Did this make him the wrong for the job? Was he fit to be an MSP? As far as I’m concerned it is easy to make an issue of somebody if that’s what you wish to do.
The real problem for the local Labour Party is that they have no real positive policies for Scotland never mind the Western Isles. This might sound unfair but they don’t have anyone of note to fight for Scotland. For too long they took the Scots for granted. It is not just the lack of a good candidate but the severe lack of positive policies.
Aye – MacNeil is on the ball all right. Unfortunately, it’s only where goal-line technology is involved. His most urgent priority on being re-elected to his position as MP for the Western Isles was concerned was to appear on ”Newsnight Scotland’ to discuss that very topic.
And whether you like it or not, there’s no comparision between going on holiday to Italy and failing to make a submission to Parliament when the jobs of those working for the largest private employer in the constituency are under review. (A process that would have happened no matter what party was in power.) As for jetting off to Washington at the time when that decision was made, there is little doubt that this was an inexcusable dereliction of duty for any MP – as has been acknowledged to me on many occasions by his own supporters. Surely even you can see his place was on the political battlefield, not on the other side of the Atlantic….
Or are you just blindly, unthinkingly loyal …?
What a bitter Labour attack without reason or logic.
Saw a poll today in the paper where Labour were seen to be dull and boring without any positive policies. Maybe Richtea and Cove have seen it ?
Why is that bitter? Why is it without reason or logic?
I love the way the dazzling insight of the likes of Jacko. Isn’t every word above true? Where did the Western Isles representative jet off to when the jobs of the largest private employer in his constituency was threatened?
How does that compare with a proper, professional representative – like, say, Angus Robertson (SNP) when similar jobs in his area were threatened? Didn’t he stay at home and lead a campaign?
Isn’t that, Jacko, what one would expect a half-decent MP to do?
Remember to sorry excuses that Labour had for MP and MSP. Spineles, heartless and not too bright, Labour’s reps to the Western Isles. You people have never forgiven Angus Macneil for exposing your wee scam of honours for money. Angus is a constant thorn in your party’s side. Why are you such a committed Thatcherite ? For thirteen years when in power all your party offered was a continuation of Thatchers policies. She is such a heroine of Labour, that they made plans for a state funeral. The same woman who destroyed the lives of millions over generations. How do you defend that ? How do you sleep at night ? You attack Angus Macneil and praise Margaret Thatcher. Angus has done more for the poor on these islands than what Labour would do in the next two hundred years. What do you and your party have against the poor ?
Where has Margaret Thatcher been praised above?
All I have done is raise legitimate questions about the way the Westminster representative for the Western Isles reacted when the jobs of those working for the largest private employer in his constituency were under threat. In any other area, such as the Central Belt, these questions would have been asked by the Scotsman, the Herald, the BBC.
What is the matter with you and your pals, Jacko? Do you believe in democracy? Don’t you believe that people have the right to ask questions when their MP jets off to Washington and fails to put in a parliamentary submission when the jobs of those working for the largest private employer in their area were under threat?
Did Angus Robertson SNP react in that way when the jobs in his constituency were threatened? Or did he act in the way a semi-decent MP should?
Rich Tea, leave Jacko, Junkie and Cove be, they support the greatest MP ever, who has done so much for the poor here over the last 200 years, and I list only 5 of them:
1. Erm….
2. Harummph….
3. Piping
4. Flag Waving ( Union Jack Club) does that qualify?
5. Help me here Whacko, Jacko, Junkie, Cove, any advance on 5?
Are the Labour people a bit rattled, they can’t face the truth. Remember Labour’s last two representatives to these islands. They kept telling those who had problems that it was just the way things are in the real world. Obviously Labour does not think that our islands are part of the real wold. That must be why they did nothing for us.
Who’s rattled, Jacko? You have not produced a single argument in your last two contributions to this debate. Just one long mindless rant.
I challenge you to answer the following question….
Apart from the utter act of desertion, when he disappeared to Washington when he should have been fighting for the jobs of those working for the largest private employer in the Western Isles, what on earth has Mr MscNeil done for his constituency since he was elected?
PS – I think we can safely ignore the personal publicity stunts – like flapping the St George’s Cross, discussing goal-line technology, helping Shetland ‘independence’ on The Politics Show, complaining about the difficulties of filling in his MP’s expenses online etc etc etc.
Whacko, Jacko, Junkie, Flunkie, Cove, where are youse? Have youse NOTHING positive to say about your MP? And quit the Labour excuse, it’s getting tiresome, surely after seven years he has done somefink??
See this is a prime example of where the Labour party and its sycophants have lost the plot, where it has deserted its roots and is no longer the party of the working people.
You clowns have made the measure of a politicians success on how many Olympics they have organised, how many banks they have given money to, or how many schools they have closed, but hey, if that’s what you guys think its all about, don’t let me burst your bubble.
For me these things play a part, a small part. What really matter is how many pensioners has he helped to sort out their heating? How many people has he helped sort out housing issues? how many times has he stood up for people on a whole range of issues that actually matter to ordinary people? Literally hundreds, successfully.
Now run along and carry on imitating the Tories.
There is a lot more than party politics to this, Subsidy – whether you like it or not.
What kind of political representative goes on a Subsidy Junket to Washington at a time when the jobs of the largest private employer in his area are under threat? (Would Angus Robertson MP have done this? The answer is – I think – obvious.)
What kind of local media would not be asking questions about his failure to put in a parliamentary submission when these jobs were under threat?
What kind of individuals would continue to provide him with support for this utter inactivity?
The truth is that the last group are exactly like those who run along imitating the old Tory party, playing a game of ‘Follow My Leader’ and acting out of blind loyalty at all
Just like you, Subsidy – the man who was led up the hill like the Grand Old Duke of York, defending the recent changes in RET only to discover that your leaders have now changed their mind.
Isn’t it time you started thinking for yourself. You can start by answering this question…
What in practical terms has MacNeil done on an overall constituency level since he was elected seven years ago – apart that is from letting those working for the area’s largest employer badly down when their jobs were under threat?
Largest private employer, what a load of rubbish. A government wholly owned company who were accountable to the Labour Defence Secretary. It was the Labour Party who planned to close the range not Angus Macneil. Don’t try and exclude your party from the wrong doing as they have the overall say on what happens with the range.
Remember the Coastguard closure fiasco which was planned by Labour and executed by the coalition. Your party even had the cheek to have their own demo and avoided the one organised by the Coastguard. Who does Labour represent ? Not the people of Scotland
All bases in which the Ministry of Defence make significant investment are subject to review, Jacko, from time to time. It’s part of a process which is put in place by any competent Government to ensure that they continue to give value for money, particularly at a time of economic difficulty.
In most cases, the MP representing his constituents earning their living at such an establishment would make a submission to Parliament and try – like Angus Robertson the hard-working and influential SNP MP for Moray and Nairn when a similar base in his area was theatened – to argue for its retention. Not, however, in this case.
Instead, Mr Macneil behaved in a unique way, failing to make a submission and taking part in a Subsidy Junket to Washington at the very moment the decision was announced.
I presume you think this is a defensible way for an MP to act. If you do, I think you must be unique too.
PS – I think Serco is the largest private employer in the Western Isles. It would be interesting to see you come up with any evidence that this is ‘a load of rubbish’.
Angus Brendan Macneil was told a full 18 months before the review became public, and that there would be significant job losses in his constituency. He chose to keep that to himself, feigning surprise when the details of the job losses became public. In a way, I can understand his position, since he wants out of NATO, which efficetively means and all bases in Scotland will be closed down.
Every word you’ve written can be verified and checked, Monkey.
The dishonesty and lack of integrity are indefensible – even by the likes of Jacko, Cove, Subsidy Junkie and the rest of that easily led crew.
I have not seen anything as poor on accountability as I read above. Is the defence secretary not in overall charge of the defence budget ? The cuts which were being proposed were initially accepted by the defence secretary. He endorsed his departments decision to close the range. Now, opposition politicians can moan and complain, but ultimately the decision lies with the government. Labour wanted to close the range, end of story.
You all appear to forget that it was Labour who made the plans to close the Coastguard. It was Labour’s idea, the same as the range. No matter how you deal out the cards it is the same hand. Labour wanted to make these cuts. You may not have liked the way Mr Macneil went about his business and as a constituent you are entitled. This does not change the fact that Labour were the culprits.
Let me ask this question again, what policies does Labour have for Scotland?
None of what you say changes the basic points that have been made! Mr MacNeil did jet off to Washington when the jobs of his constituents were under threat. He failed to take even the basic step of putting in a submission to Parliament objecting to the closure. He sat on knowledge for 18 months and then faked surprise when the news leaked out. He did not contact the Scottish Secretary in order to try to gain his support when the Minstry of Defence told him of his plans to cut the base.
All of this shows him to be a less than effective and intelligent MP for the Western Isles.
As an SNP supporter, how would you compare his actions to that of Angus Robertson (Moray and Nairn) ? Which one is professiional?
You say I’m an SNP supporter, yet I believe in the union. Typical labour reaction, anyone who says anything about labour which they don’t like they stick a label on you. How can anyone support labour when they don’t tell you what they stand for. I’ve asked his several times, yet it is ignored. What does labour stand for and who do they represent in society ? Is it a secret ? or are you ashamed of your party?
The source of the problem with closing the range lay with Labour, it was labour’s decision. The role played by Macneil was secondary, if you were unhappy with him you should have met with him and raised it.
You ignore the labor coastguard cuts as if they were’nt relevant, all you want to do is talk about Macneil. People are fed up with this type of bleeting.
If you want to get people to vote for your party you need to tell people what the party is all about. You also need real leaders at both Holyrood and Westminster who have a vision with real policies and willing to tell the public what they are. The more you go on about Macneil it becomes clear you don’t have any policies and the only way to rais your profile is to moan.
Ok, Jacko. I accept you’re not an SNP supporter. I’m less and less worried about political labels and I think you’re leaping in with both feet when you describe Labour as ‘your party’, as if you’ve any idea how I vote.
. I would vote for people like Jim Murphy (Labour), Angus Robertson (SNP) ant competence in my political
Sorry… No idea how that happened! Before I was interrupted, I said I would vote for people like Jim Murphy and others (Labour), Angus Robertson and John Swinney etc (SNP), a smattering of the Lib Dems.
Most of the time, what I want from my political representatives in either Westminster or Holyrood is integrity, intelligence, competence and a determination to defend the local interest.
In Macneil, the Western Isles has an MP who failed to take basic steps to protect the jobs of islanders and was in Washington the day the (unexpectedly favourable) decision was announced. Are these signs of any of these necessary virtues?
I think the answer is obvious!
When it comes to attaching labels you put one on me to begin with. As for murphy he is a self seeking hypocite along with both the Alexanders. There are very few scot’s at westminster who are worth their salt, especially amongst labour and lib/dems. They’ve sold their souls, no one knows what they stand for.
Did I, Jacko? I think anyone looking at this thread would see that you put a label on me long ago in this exchange, assuming my political views.
However, one can see from all your arguments – including the emotive terms of your last contribution – that you are very low on logic , thought and reasoned argument, getting high on guff and bluster instead. The louder your voice, the more you think you’ve won the argument.
No wonder you’re so impressed by the man in Westminster. You’ve got a great deal in common with him.
Jacko, Rich Tea, Subsidy et.al.
MP’s and for that matter MSP’s in the Islands used to be judged by the amount of inward investment and jobs they attracted to their constituency- causeways, bridges, hospitals, social housing, European funding, large capital projects,and most of all jobs- Arnish, Consumer Direct, DWP, etc., I cannot, for the life of me , think of a single job attracted, created or sustained by the current MP and MSP. Perhaps this is because they are SNP party men through and through, and they will take that stance regardless of the detrimental effect their party’s policies have on the Western Isles- the 50%hike in haulage prices this year is a prime example. I have had enough of them.
I see you have descended to your normal personal character attacks in the same way that you have done in the past when your arguement does not hold water. Have a good day as the early part must have been rotten, as your outburst reflects that. I suggest you look for a better pastime as political debate is well beyond your very limited abilities. There are some simple basic courses where you might learn something but your limited abilities will be a hinderence.
Jacko – that’s utter hypocrisy on your part, especially when it comes to claiming that I have been guilty of an outburst. Regrettably, it has been your tactic throughout, as any neutral individual would agree when reading through the above contributions. (You ask countless, meaningless rhetorical questions. You use emotive expressions like ‘spineless, heartless and not too bright’, ‘rattled’, ‘typical reaction’, ‘a load of rubbish’ etc which would hardly be in any basic guidebook to political debate – especially when your facts are the ones that are utterly inaccurate.) And then – just like Subsidy Junkie – you become all so hyper-sensitive and flustered when someone does a little of the same to you.
I totally agree with the previous contributors. MPs etc should be judged by their ability to attract investments, jobs etc. This is only right and proper and I’m still left asking the same question I’ve alwaysdone.
What – in practical terms – has the current MP done for his constituency since he was elected seven years ago?
Rich Tea – is personally helping and standing up for hundreds of island folk at their various points of need, not practical?
Is saving he coastguard not practical?
Is getting some concessions on the tugs not practical?
Is getting a freeze on fuel duty not practical?
I can go on, but due to the absolute, worse than incompetent, blundering, bungling, poor excuse for a group of people who have not a clue of how a country is run, or works, the Labour party, we are in a time where we should be praising guys like AB for hanging onto the things we have, or are you blissfully unaware that we are in what looks like the worst recession in a century?
you stupid boy RT.
Long time since I was called a boy, Subsidy! I’ll take it as a compliment…
I think you just identify with him too much – especially since you describe him in such simple-minded and heroic terms. (Giving him sole credit for a freeze on fuel duty, for instance, is surely a fantasy too far! As for the rest, …)
Think it must be because he went on a Subsidy Junket to Washington rather than do what any other MP would have done when the jobs of the largest private employer in his area were threatened.
Did Angus Robertson the SNP MP for Moray and Nairn, react like that when the jobs in his constituency were also under the axe? Or did he perform the duties of a Member of Parliament in a far less incompetent, blundering, bungling way?
PS – I’ve borrowed your own words there. Thanks for the loan!
Well that’s some improvement I must say, I will go to sleep tonight knowing that I have explained what “practical” means in real life.
What is really comical is that you are shouting about what you perceive to be someone not cleaning up a shambles that your buddies created! Who does that??
Also I don’t recall giving AB sole credit for a fuel freeze?
But carry on borrowing, after all you are nearly a decade behind the curve.
There is no fool like an old fool. RT
Sorry – it must be the way you mangle the English language. You appear to be giving him sole credit in the entry above.
Let us continually remind us what the MP failed to do… He was given 18 months prior knowledge of the possibility of the closing of the base. He did nothing in that time to act upon this information. Never consulted. Never began to organise a campaign. Never did anything to, perhaps, prevent it happening.
Why should any Minister of Defence (of whatever party) bear any responsibility for political incompetence and stupidity of this level? He provided the MP with the correct information. He gave a generous opportunity for any intelligent public representative to organise a campaign against closure.
No. The responsibility lies with the MP. He failed to do anything to stop the possibility of it occurring. After all, we didn’t see Angus Robertson behave like that. He didn’t go to Washington on a Subsidy Junket when jobs in his area were threatened in a similar way. Did he, Subsidy?
As for being an old fool, Subsidy … I think an absolute definition of idiocy must be someone who defends a policy (like the changes in Commercial RET) only to discover his leaders had changed their minds and decided to make changes to it in line with the suggestions his opposition had made in their exchanges. The most dismaying thing about this is that you appear to have learned nothing from the experience.
Blind folly. Blind and utter obedience. When are you – and your kind – going to grow up and learn to think for yourself?
My goodness !! Rich Tea and his buddy have totally lost the plot. To continually repeat yourself time after time does not make it right.
you ignore the facts time after time, who caused the financial mess ? LABOUR Who wanted to close the range ? LABOUR Who wanted to close the Coastguard ? LABOUR Who will make a bigger mess of the economy if they get back in ? LABOUR Who can we not trust ? LABOUR.
Who has got a nutter and a liability for a leader in Edinburgh ? LABOUR Who is the moon man in charge labour at Westminster ? Miliband
I never thought I would see the day when LABOUR were worse than the coalition. The labour party faithful don’t know what their party stands for or whom in society that they represent.
Who failed to respond when the Ministry of Defence gave him` 18 months notice of the closure of the Range? Who did not organise any campaign to prevent its closure? Who faked and pretended surprise when the news of its planned closure leaked out? Who did not involve the Scottish Secretary to organise an ‘all-Scotland’ approach to prevent it happpening? Who called for the resignation of the Scotttish Secretary of State BEFORE the decision was finally announced? Who was on a subsidy junket in Washington when the surprise decision to save it was announced, leaving others to defend the battlefield? Who has done nothing in whole and practical terms for his constituency since he was elected 7 years ago?
The answer is not Angus Robertson!
PS – Jacko, Cove and Subsidy Junkie – Think I’d better give you a clue, given your obvious level of difficulty. He has the same forename.
@ Jacko – Rich teas rehabilitation works in small steps and stages. You are wanting too much too soon. he has dropped the whole “what has he done for me lately” nonsense, that is a major leap, even for someone who has small political feet as Rich Tea does.
BTW did anyone see the Davidson thug on newsnight last night, must make the labour/unionists proud! LOL
Subsidy Junkie – Have I? Even with your obvious lack of intelligence, you should have been aware that I asked it again above.
I agree with you about Davidson. His performance was unbelievable for a professional politician – in the same class as the appearance of another politician who appeared on ‘The Politics Show’ a short while ago, discussing the Shetland question. Both men were rude, ignorant and did their party no great favours.
SJ I don’t think the man is capable learning anything or he would have abandoned Labour long ago. Organiser, policy maker, hasn’t a clue what he stands for. I think there was never any rich in the tea.
At least I can read and think for myself, Jacko – two skills you haven’t mastered yet. I believe the last one is not acquired from blind loyalty to ANY party, far less one whose representative in Westminster scarpered off to Washington when he should have been doing his utmost to defend people’s jobs at home!
Ha! Ha!! Aye and he is still your MP and Scotland will be independent before next election. This will happen iirespective of what you or I want. As far as your two skills, it must have been something that you have learned since getting of bed this morning. Personally I have my doubts, the labour party must have told you. As for any party loyalty, I have none.
Why your consumed with such anger about Macneil beats me. If I was as annoyed about Macneil as you are, Iwould not been as stupid as you and allow it to dominate my life for the past three years. That’s how long you have been moaning about him.
I think I’m more sad about the MacNeil situation than annoyed. The Western Isles are in decline and not doing anything about this, including really examining the quality and performance of the individual who represents them in Westminster. (I exclude Dr Allan from this. He, at least, is professional and hard-working.) In most constituencies, the fact that Mr MacNeil never even took off his jacket to put up a fight for the jobs of those working for the largest private employer in the constituency would be a matter of serious concern, highlighted in the national press. It seems to me regrettable that despite this scrape and others, members of his own party continue to support him. Especially when at a time of great difficulty for families in the Uists, he completely failed to support them!
What tosh! It was Labour were closing the range, it was their plan, the same as the coastguard. As for the Western Isles being in decline, it is the same across Scotland. You quoted earlier the statement from the former Bank of Egland Governor. This situatio has not changed one bit since 1979. All three main UK parties are committed to this economic policy including your beloved Labour Party. It is not Salmond who is winning the argument it is the Westminster Politicions. When you see guys like Davidson leader of the Scottish Select Committee you realise that the Labour and coalition Scottish MP’s are fighting harder for London than their own constituants. Things will only get worse if the UK leaders don’t change direction.
If the 2014 referendum does not result in indepence it will the next time round, which will be sooner than we think. There is a lot of dissatisfaction north of Birmingham and if things don’t change it could lead to civil unrest which nobody wnts to see. I’am only saying what I see on the horizoon.
Compare the actions of the previous MP when the future of the Range was under threat before …
One was utterly professional. The other was a rank amatuer!
Ha Ha Ha !!!! Macneil has definetly got to you, you need to get over it. If the last guy was that good, how come he lost his seat prior to the national swing to SNP? He was hopeless all the way through his time at Westminster. A very nice man, probably too nice. As for the Labour MSP all he did was nod his head when told to. Macneil does an excellent job but you can’t handle it. When you answer your party’s policies for Scotland, what your party stands for and who they represent in society I will list a number of Mr Macneil’s achievments . Labour have never forgiven Macneil for going to the police when labour were handing out honours for donations.
Jacko – What kind of ground was he standing on when he performed the last act?
RT – Who wanted to close the range ,LABOUR Who wanted to close the coastguuard LABOUR Who stopped them being closed MACNEIL
Jacko – Who responded immediately when the previous Tory government reviewed the future of the Base? – MacDonald. Who did not respond for 18 months when the next Government did a similar review of the future of the Base? – MacNeil. Who failed to put in a parliamentary submission to try and prevent its closure? – MacNeil. Who acted all surprised when the news of the closure leaked out? MacNeil. Who failed to involve the then Secreatary of State for Scotland in the fight for its retention – as any normal MP would have done? MacNeil. Who (quite remarkably) called for the resignation of the Scottish Secretary of State BEFORE the decision was announced? MacNeil. Whose commitment to the work-force was such that he was on a junket in the USA the day the decision was announced? MacNeil….
But we could go on like this all year, Jacko. If you ever learned to read, you might spot that this wasn’t the question I asked..
But clearly that’s asking a bit much of you.
Typical New Labour fantasy Irrespective of what Macneil did or did not do, it was your party New Labour who wanted to close the range. Why did new labour want to close the range, could it have been punishment for the Western Isles not having a Labour MP.
What about the Coastguard, you keep ignoring it. Labour again wanting to lock the door again, putting lives in danger and people on the dole.
You must be very wealthy to be a Labour supporter. What has Labour done for the ordinary people ? Made them poor, made them unemployed, pushed children into poverty, the worst in living memories. People have woken up to the hypocritical cheating Labour politicians. If I was you I wouldworry more about your party’s future than worrying about Angus Macneil.