I am looking for people throughout the Western Isles and north of Scotland who have access to an HD webcam to take part in a media project. Fees will be paid to anyone chosen to take part. If you are interested, please drop me a note.
Iain Maciver
[email protected]
The Labour Party in the Western Isles is proud it is so inclusive. It does not kick out anyone – unless they over-claim on sheep subsidy or stand against an official candidate. However, the constituency party began tearing itself apart after it emerged the executive had secretly welcomed Scotland’s most vicious homophobe, one John “I wish them dead” Macleod, into their midst.
Thinking themselves electable again soon, many wanted the arrogant, self-centred self-publicising bible-basher slung out. The CLP executive did their usual rabbit-in-the-headlights impressions. They hoped he would publicly apologise for branding gay people in his national newspaper columns, as not fit to live. Fat chance. Has the despicable excuse for a man, who is also banned for life from the SNP after an “incident” that party chiefs have sworn to keep secret, ever shown the humility necessary for an apology?
Despite the inaction of the dopeys who should be striving to uphold the Labour Party’s founding principles, which includes disavowing hate crimes and those responsible, Macleod himself has finally got the message and realised he is as welcome as an inadvertent emission in a spacesuit. He has headed for the exit. Oh dear, I hope it was nothing I said. If anyone’s interested, a party to celebrate conformation of the hater’s departure is underway. “The party will be on a biblical scale,” a mischievous Labour insider whispers. Forty days and 40 nights? Steady, guys. Are you sure you’ve got rid of all the homophobes?
In response to SNP Transport Minister’s statement, David Wood of Woody’s Express said: “The SNP government and their local representatives are twisting in the wind on this issue. After weeks of denying that their flawed ferry pricing policy would take millions of pounds out the islands’ economy the Government has just conceded that they’ve found £2.5 million pounds of “transitional relief” for islanders.
“This “transitional relief” represents a slow drawn out death for our economy. The withdrawal of support still represents a brutal blow for our communities, in reality island customers will have to find the equivalent of £ 2.5 million, every year, to make up for the removal of support. The SNP Government constantly fail to recognise that this is not a “hauliers issue” but a matter for every man, woman and child in our islands – our campaign must continue and it most certainly will”.
Gail Robertson – of DJ Buchanan Haulage said: “By stating that no fare will increase by more than 50% – is the minister saying that he is content with fare increases of 49.9%? the level of support available for commercial traffic for islands is being greatly reduced. Mr Brown keeps referring to hauliers and the prices they will pay – this is not a tax on hauliers but a tax imposed by the SNP Government on island households and island communities.
“The OHTG is meeting with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar later this week to see how we can win more concessions for our islands. We have got momentum but we have to continue the fight until we retain what our islands currently enjoy, if not people and island based business will pay dearly. We are pleased that the Government is taking up our idea of having a proper impact study. In the meantime they should leave the current support in place.”
Information meetings are to be held for wannabe candidates for the council elections on May 3.
The meetings will include a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of councillors with an explanation of the wider election process. It will also cover topics such as the single transferable voting system, the nomination process, postal voting, polling and count arrangements.
There is nothing in the notice to indicate that the meetings will include instructions on how, once elected, the chosen ones can work behind the scenes to ensure that any local contractors they don’t like can be prevented from getting any council work and how they can blame national legislation if anyone starts asking difficult questions.
However, full details are expected to be available to anyone who asks about the full package of salaries as well as the allowances, subsistence, fees, side-contracts, etc., which are available without causing too much of a stooshie.
Any person considering standing for election to the comhairle, or any elector wishing further information on the election, is encouraged to attend any of the meetings. Joe Public can go along too. The meetings will be:
Tuesday 28 February, Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula 7.30pm
Tuesday 28 February, Tarbert Community Centre 7.30pm
Wednesday 29 February, Castlebay School 7.30pm
Tuesday 6 March, Council Chamber, Stornoway 7.30pm
Following much soul searching and self examination, along with deep discussion with my wife and children and many friends and aquaiitances, I have decided to put myself forward as an independent candidate in the Sgire an Rubha ward at the Council Election in May.
This is not a decision that I have arrived at easily, especially as it means that I have to give up my SNP membership, but given the abandonment of RET for Commercial vehicles, which is going to have such a detrimental impact on the islands I see no other choice for me.
Having said all that I find the reaction of the Labour Party pitiful, especially given their negativity to RET from the outset and I totally refute their statements which only emphasise how out of touch they are with the electorate in our islands.
Regards
Iain Don Maciver
15 Lower Bayble
OUTER HEBRIDES TRANSPORT GROUP
Email: [email protected]
NEWS RELEASE
OUTER HEBRIDES TRANSPORT GROUP DEMAND THAT MINISTER GIVES ACCESS TO ALL
Gail Robertson of DJ Buchanan Haulage in Benbecula and Co-ordinator of the Outer Hebrides Transport Group said: “The Scottish Government should remember that it’s islanders that want the meeting on Tuesday. By denying islanders access to a meeting in Edinburgh, Scottish Transport Minister, Keith Brown is behaving like a football manager who wants to select not only his own team but also his opponents’.
“We will be taking a full squad to St Andrew’s House in the hope and expectation that Mr Brown will reconsider his position”.
One of those denied a chance to make the case for the retention of RET for commercial vehicles, livestock haulier and agricultural supplier, Norman MacAskill of Drimore Farm on South Uist, said: “I can’t believe that the transport minister is so arrogant that he feels he can dictate to the islands who can go and speak with him and I can’t believe how politically impotent our MSP Alasdair Allan is.
“How on earth can Mr Allan not secure a meeting for people involved in crofting, fishing, construction, fish farming and weaving. Regardless of his attitude we will be going to Edinburgh and hope that Mr Brown will let us into the meeting. Islanders are now appreciating the devastating impact the removal of RET will have on every household and business.
“This SNP tax will have a devastating effect on our economy. Mr Brown would do well to remember that the first SNP representative in the islands was Donald Stewart who campaigned for RET and he would be turning in his grave if he were to appreciate what the SNP Government were proposing. People might think that Islanders have heather growing out their ears but we assure Mr Brown that we are not coming with sticks and knives”
David Wood of Woody’s Express said: “The behaviour of the SNP on this issue has been breathtakingly arrogant. We have a simple message for Keith Brown. We want a continuation of RET for commercial vehicles and we want the government to undertake a proper consultation and not to fob islanders off with the sham they are calling a consultation.
“Islanders are amazed that the government is choosing who can lobby them and shutting the door to a representative group – we hope they will see sense before Tuesday afternoon.”
More from the Stornoway fuel meeting from Maciver TV
More footage of how a string of Scottish Fuels flunkies tried in vain to defend their pricing policy in the Western Isles.
OUTER HEBRIDES TRANSPORT GROUP
Email: [email protected]
Office of Keith Brown
Scottish Transport Minister
Dear XXXXXX
The Outer Hebrides Transport Group will not be accepting as specified, the invitation to meet with Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP.
We are appalled that Keith Brown and our MSP Alasdair Allan are manipulating the list of people who can go and represent more than 90 island based companies who’ve signed up for our campaign, at the meeting scheduled for Edinburgh next Tuesday. And to add further insult Mr Brown is offering us only 45 minutes of his time.
Barmy Brown thinks he and Allan can decide who can complain
As you should know by now, the withdrawal of RET for commercial vehicles is not an issue that solely concerns the hauliers of these islands. This economic folly will impact on every family and business in the Outer Hebrides. And our Group is implacably opposed to the flawed household and haulage tax that the SNP Government is determined to implement in two months’ time.
Sadly, fundamental democratic principles and the conventions of common courtesy have been jettisoned by Mr Allan and the Transport Minister. Can they explain why the names of our MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil, (critical of the policy) and our council leader Angus Campbell (a critic also) have been omitted from the list those of those “approved” to meet the SNP Government next week?
And can they further explain why SNP councillor Donald Manford has been added to the “approved” list without any reference to our Group or indication as to why he should attend and the council leader and others be denied access to the meeting.
When did the Scottish Government begin approving those fit to lobby or meet with SNP Government minister? This type of censorship, control and attempted manipulation should embarrass any democrat.
This RET issue affects every man woman and child in the Hebrides and to that end government must hear the views from across the economic community of the islands. The goods we take to and from the Hebrides sustain our economy, and hauliers are a small but vital part of that process. Our MP and our Council Leader, along with others, must be allowed to make that case in Edinburgh.
As co-ordinator of the Outer Hebrides Transport Group I was asked to bring together a representative group to meet with the minister – but I can assure you that neither I, nor my colleagues, will be bullied or coerced into meeting on the terms dictated by Alasdair Allan MSP or Transport Minister, Keith Brown.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope that they will see sense and allow our Group to determine in the normal manner those who should make the case to protect the interests of the islands economy.
Yours sincerely
Gail Robertson
Co-ordinator
Outer Hebrides Transport Group
Angry scenes at Stornoway fuel meeting by Maciver TV
Here are some exchanges at the public meeting with representatives of Scottish Fuels who turned up to deny they were responsible for high fuel prices in the Western Isles.
The chairman is Reverend Iain D Campbell and to his right is Norman Macleod, who is not only a senior manager of Scottish Fuels but also a local councillor.
Unedited. More clips to follow.
