Tonight is the continuing saga of Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre and its replacement. A senior official arrives to inform the committee that the budget means another 400 metres squared are to be knocked off the building so bang goes the community hall...take it or leave it...
No sight of a member of the Administration to offer an explanation...I tell you, if this is the Coalition's idea of proper consultation they have a lot to learn.
So, a community centre which should have been opening its doors in September loses its function hall (to be replaced with a space half its size) gets chipped at metre by metre and no chance of a sod being dug until January 09.
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Til the nationalists get what they want they will keep on asking the question
I have deliberately let a day go by before reacting to Wendy's latest, fearful that my first reaction might be superficial.
In Quebec the independence referendum never goes away...why would it? Till the nationalists get the answer they want they will keep on asking the question. And so it will be in Scotland.
The question Wendy should be addressing right now is how to renew the appeal of the Labour Party. It certainly won't be achieved by allowing the SNP, new darlings of the media, to play on its own ground, to its own strengths - especially when, lying behind the stratagem is an apparently unspoken acknowledgement, that Labour is weakened and may only do worse in a General Election.
This is very risky territory: I, for one, am totally opposed to the idea of Scotland as a separate State. I am yet to be persuaded this tactic can maintain a United Kingdom.
In Quebec the independence referendum never goes away...why would it? Till the nationalists get the answer they want they will keep on asking the question. And so it will be in Scotland.
The question Wendy should be addressing right now is how to renew the appeal of the Labour Party. It certainly won't be achieved by allowing the SNP, new darlings of the media, to play on its own ground, to its own strengths - especially when, lying behind the stratagem is an apparently unspoken acknowledgement, that Labour is weakened and may only do worse in a General Election.
This is very risky territory: I, for one, am totally opposed to the idea of Scotland as a separate State. I am yet to be persuaded this tactic can maintain a United Kingdom.
Sunday, 4 May 2008
The Force is strong...
When my daughter married she entered the reception hall to the Emperor's music from Star Wars...'Da da da, da da, da da da...'
Her first son was born on 4th May - May the fourth be with you. Mercifully she did not call him Skywalker or Hans. Had he been a girl she was to be called Leah.
Today he is five.
'What would you like for your birthday?'
'A Darth Vader light sabre, Granny...'
'Right...'
'It's red, Granny...and it zzzzmmmzzz'. He rotates double clenched fists as if wielding the weapon.
'Right...'
Hand raised, palm facing me, he intones, 'The Force is strong in this one.'
I tell you, you could not make this up - he got his red light sabre: one very happy five year old.
Her first son was born on 4th May - May the fourth be with you. Mercifully she did not call him Skywalker or Hans. Had he been a girl she was to be called Leah.
Today he is five.
'What would you like for your birthday?'
'A Darth Vader light sabre, Granny...'
'Right...'
'It's red, Granny...and it zzzzmmmzzz'. He rotates double clenched fists as if wielding the weapon.
'Right...'
Hand raised, palm facing me, he intones, 'The Force is strong in this one.'
I tell you, you could not make this up - he got his red light sabre: one very happy five year old.
Saturday, 3 May 2008
A drubbing
Well that was a drubbing that was...and helluva difficult to see anything to cheer about, if you're Labour that is...times they are a' changing...
What follows for Labour will be difficult: how to avoid the internal blame game and to keep pointing forward.
There is no doubt proportional representation meaning Labour has gone into one coalition or another with a hitherto minority party has made it dead easy for those in Wales or Scotland to put their vote somewhere else. In England it is a clear reaction against rising prices and worries about financial instability. After a decade of never having it so good, Middle Englanders aren't enjoying the financial pinch. In truth, neither too, are Middle Scotlanders ...
My brother and sister in law who are both loyal Labour voters and have young children told me last November they were shocked at the cost of the weekly shop...when working people with decent jobs start to worry about affording the cost of feeding their bairns then the government is in trouble. If Labour wants to win the general election the Chancellor has to find a way to bring down fuel costs sharpish - high fuel costs have an insidious but direct impact on the family budget that no amount of worthy statements about the environment or whatever will contradict.
Most importantly, though, our front bench politicans have to be just that: good politicans, not capable administrators - leave the civil service to do that. Brown et al have an election to win and now, more than ever, is the time for them to start thinking like politicians... and to remember that money is tight for the folk whose votes we need...
What follows for Labour will be difficult: how to avoid the internal blame game and to keep pointing forward.
There is no doubt proportional representation meaning Labour has gone into one coalition or another with a hitherto minority party has made it dead easy for those in Wales or Scotland to put their vote somewhere else. In England it is a clear reaction against rising prices and worries about financial instability. After a decade of never having it so good, Middle Englanders aren't enjoying the financial pinch. In truth, neither too, are Middle Scotlanders ...
My brother and sister in law who are both loyal Labour voters and have young children told me last November they were shocked at the cost of the weekly shop...when working people with decent jobs start to worry about affording the cost of feeding their bairns then the government is in trouble. If Labour wants to win the general election the Chancellor has to find a way to bring down fuel costs sharpish - high fuel costs have an insidious but direct impact on the family budget that no amount of worthy statements about the environment or whatever will contradict.
Most importantly, though, our front bench politicans have to be just that: good politicans, not capable administrators - leave the civil service to do that. Brown et al have an election to win and now, more than ever, is the time for them to start thinking like politicians... and to remember that money is tight for the folk whose votes we need...
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Labour Day
Despite trying, it was too late for the carnations - but Gilleasbuig MacMillan, minister of the High Kirk, reminded us in opening prayers, today was Labour Day...as ever, his contribution was measured...which was the last measured thing I heard ...the rest was excruciating.
The Liberal front bench spokespeople begin to show the assurance of well briefed politicians but it is clear tensions exist between the Management Team and political executive. Today there are at least 2 small minded... spiteful even... amendments where the Coalition choose to delete positive commentary on officers' performance from the record and then speak disparagingly - knowing their words will not make the official minutes - about the officers.
It seems there is a lingering mistrust about the officers' agenda...a year on, you would imagine this should be resolved already; that it isn't means the Coalition trusts nobody, not even themselves. And if there is an Iago at work, accomplished at playing two ends against the middle with well judged gossip designed to foster suspicion while strengthening his own position, then this mistrust will simply grow.
I knew only one other politican who was so insecure he was suspicious of everybody to the point he saw enemies everywhere. It, along with his willingness to listen and believe malicious gossip, did for him in the end.
The Liberal front bench spokespeople begin to show the assurance of well briefed politicians but it is clear tensions exist between the Management Team and political executive. Today there are at least 2 small minded... spiteful even... amendments where the Coalition choose to delete positive commentary on officers' performance from the record and then speak disparagingly - knowing their words will not make the official minutes - about the officers.
It seems there is a lingering mistrust about the officers' agenda...a year on, you would imagine this should be resolved already; that it isn't means the Coalition trusts nobody, not even themselves. And if there is an Iago at work, accomplished at playing two ends against the middle with well judged gossip designed to foster suspicion while strengthening his own position, then this mistrust will simply grow.
I knew only one other politican who was so insecure he was suspicious of everybody to the point he saw enemies everywhere. It, along with his willingness to listen and believe malicious gossip, did for him in the end.
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Y viva la Socialiste...
Just back from Rome where the presidential election last week produced a substantial victory for the centre right and for Berlusconi's candidate in Rome too (53% to 47% for the centre left).
Late today, I phone Ewan to remind him tomorrow's Council (small beer, I grant you in the context of international politics) falls on 1 May - and maybe we should be wearing a red flower in solidarity with socialists the length and breadth of Europe - after all, Labour did win the popular vote last May in Edinburgh and I, for one, remain proud of our many achievements. Perhaps, I have left it too late to arrange...I hope not..and if so I will still cheerfully sing
'Avanti popolo a la rescosa
Bandiera rosa, bandiera rosa
Avanti popolo a la rescosa
Bandiera rosa, bandiera rosa
Bandiera rosa la trionfera
Bandiera rosa la trionfera
Bandiera rosa la trionfera
Y viva la Socialiste,
la bella liberta'
The people’s on the march,
This road they’re treading
It leads to freedom
It leads to freedom
The people’s on the march,
This road they’re treading
It leads to freedom and liberty
From farm and factory,
From school and college
With force of suffering
And source of knowledge
Our leaders leading, our banners waving
Victory proceeding, towards liberty
We’ll wave the scarlet banner triumphantly
We’ll raise the scarlet banner triumphantly
We’ll wave the scarlet banner triumphantly
Y viva la Socialiste, la bella liberta
It fair makes me want to smile and it's definitely not New Labour but we should never forget where we come from.
Late today, I phone Ewan to remind him tomorrow's Council (small beer, I grant you in the context of international politics) falls on 1 May - and maybe we should be wearing a red flower in solidarity with socialists the length and breadth of Europe - after all, Labour did win the popular vote last May in Edinburgh and I, for one, remain proud of our many achievements. Perhaps, I have left it too late to arrange...I hope not..and if so I will still cheerfully sing
'Avanti popolo a la rescosa
Bandiera rosa, bandiera rosa
Avanti popolo a la rescosa
Bandiera rosa, bandiera rosa
Bandiera rosa la trionfera
Bandiera rosa la trionfera
Bandiera rosa la trionfera
Y viva la Socialiste,
la bella liberta'
The people’s on the march,
This road they’re treading
It leads to freedom
It leads to freedom
The people’s on the march,
This road they’re treading
It leads to freedom and liberty
From farm and factory,
From school and college
With force of suffering
And source of knowledge
Our leaders leading, our banners waving
Victory proceeding, towards liberty
We’ll wave the scarlet banner triumphantly
We’ll raise the scarlet banner triumphantly
We’ll wave the scarlet banner triumphantly
Y viva la Socialiste, la bella liberta
It fair makes me want to smile and it's definitely not New Labour but we should never forget where we come from.
Billy is jinxed
Invited by my eldest son and new wife for dinner tonight and very nice it was too.
Our departure, nicely timed so Mike can watch Chelsea v Liverpool, coincides with Billy Fitzpatrick's arrival at his son's house - serendipity means they live within 4 houses of each other (no worries about the Labour vote there, then) - and I learn he has chosen the health service job...and has started already.
The job involves working with new technology. Bad news.
Billy is jinxed where new technology is concerned.
I remember one occasion where he is bewailing the fact he has lost his mobile and broken his specs and it has cost him a fortune to replace both in the same week.
We hail a taxi and break into a (very slow) jog across Ferry Road to get into it. Out pops his new specs (not in their case) from his top pocket, quickly followed by his mobile phone. He stands on the specs and the phone smashes into a hundred pieces...as I say, he is jinxed.
God help the Western General!
Our departure, nicely timed so Mike can watch Chelsea v Liverpool, coincides with Billy Fitzpatrick's arrival at his son's house - serendipity means they live within 4 houses of each other (no worries about the Labour vote there, then) - and I learn he has chosen the health service job...and has started already.
The job involves working with new technology. Bad news.
Billy is jinxed where new technology is concerned.
I remember one occasion where he is bewailing the fact he has lost his mobile and broken his specs and it has cost him a fortune to replace both in the same week.
We hail a taxi and break into a (very slow) jog across Ferry Road to get into it. Out pops his new specs (not in their case) from his top pocket, quickly followed by his mobile phone. He stands on the specs and the phone smashes into a hundred pieces...as I say, he is jinxed.
God help the Western General!
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