Northern Scot Column
Posted on Saturday, October 27 2007
Failing our FarmersIt's been a busy week in Westminster and with plenty of controversy, not least of which was the meeting between DEFRA Minister Hilary Benn and Scottish farmers who were in London to press their case for compensation. A perfectly reasonable request you might think, given that the hardship being suffered by farmers is a direct result of the failure to contain live Foot & Mouth samples in a government laboratory site. Unfortunately, said government does not share this view and, in fact they did not seem at all happy that those affected so badly should have the cheek to ask them for compensation. Instead the SNP Government in Scotland has been left to pick up the cost of an agricultural crisis that was not of its making but which it recognises the importance of dealing with. It's time DEFRA paid for their own problems instead of passing the buck. Damaging DemocracyThe next controversy came in the shape of the report into the running of the recent Scottish Parliament elections. The report has been highly critical of the procedures and decisions made by both the Scotland Office in London and the former Labour/Liberal Scottish Executive in Edinburgh. In particular criticisms were made of the partisan manner in which decisions were taken. Another major criticism was the holding of Scottish Parliament & Council elections on the same day, a situation that my SNP colleagues and I have always been highly critical of. Holding the two elections on the same day means that voters are using three different voting systems on the same day and with proportional voting systems they are electing up to 5 direct representatives and selecting a party on the Scottish Parliament list system. An additional problem is that the Local Government issues get very little coverage in the national media which is simply not good for democracy and devalues the role of Councillors. Since the report the Labour Scottish Secretary has apologised to the electorate for the way in which his department ran the elections and I hope that these lessons will be learned. Tens of thousands of voters were disenfranchised and that is simply unacceptable. The Scottish Parliament is perfectly capable of running its own elections fairly and honestly and I think that is the way forward. Fishing Talks & EuropeMeanwhile fishing talks have been ongoing to decide on quotas and an almighty row has blown up in Westminster over European issues. On the specific issue of fishing the SNP continues to push for the dumping of the Common Fisheries Policy which is failing the fishing industry, failing in conservation terms and failing to give Scotland a fair deal. Given that Scotland represents the major part of the UK's fishing industry we also continue to push for the Scottish Government to take the lead on fishing negotiations and to ensure that Scotland's fair share of quota is not bargained away.
Robertson challenges Peacock to defence debate
Posted on Wednesday, October 24 2007
Responding to Peter Peacock's comments about SNP Defence Policy Moray MP Angus Robertson, who is Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary RAF Group and the SNP's Defence Spokesman said: " I welcome the late interest from Peter Peacock MSP on the reserved matter of defence. It is unfortunate that Mr Peacock has previously been largely absent from Moray when hundreds of jobs were cut by his London Labour colleagues just a short time ago. " I am also sure that Mr Peacock will understand the importance of not creating unwarranted uncertainty in the armed forces. " It is good however that as a Member of the Scottish Parliament Peter Peacock wants to examine defence issues as the SNP have always advocated that defence matters should be dealt with in Scotland. " I am also very happy to invite Peter Peacock to come to Moray and debate issues like the defence job losses, Labour's closure of various Scottish defence facilities, the amalgamation of Scottish Regiments and the Labour Government's breach of the Military Covenant, an issue that the Royal British Legion is currently campaigning on. " Additionally he may wish to discuss the severe shortage of support for conventional defence forces while the government contemplates blowing a staggering 100 Billion Pounds on a new nuclear missile system. " Labour has a woeful record on support for our defence community and I am delighted to stand on the SNP's record on this issue while Mr Peacock repeats the misguided mantra that saw him trailing behind the SNP in Moray elections. " Mr Peacock is free to contact my office at any time and they will be happy to make arrangements for a public debate on these important issues." Ends.
POST OFFICE CUTS GIVE CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Posted on Tuesday, October 23 2007
Moray's Parliamentarians have expressed their ongoing concern for the future of the Post Office network in Moray following today's [Tuesday's] announcement of the proposed first round of Post Office closures covering Glasgow, Central Scotland & Argyll and Bute.In total 44 Post Offices have been earmarked for closure and while the announcement covering Moray is not due till April the level of apprehension for Postmasters and customers alike is growing by the week.In London Moray MP Angus Robertson met with Royal Mail officials to discuss the serious concerns over the network cuts.Following the meeting Mr Robertson commented:“ The extent of these cuts is worse than expected, and it is particularly disturbing that these closures will impact on some of the most deprived areas hardest. “ We cannot forget that Post Offices provide a lifeline local service, and if these closures go ahead it will undermine both the economic and, in many areas, the social heart of communities. “ The scale of this first round of cuts clearly raises serious fears about the extent of the next round. Indeed, today’s announcement shows the thinking that Post Office Ltd are using, which though encouraging for remote areas, seems set to bring bad news for urban areas, and closely scattered towns and villages."Speaking from the Scottish Parliament Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said:" Having previously met with Postmasters in Moray to discuss their concerns I am very aware of the worries they will have just now." In Westminster and the Scottish Parliament SNP members have raised these issues repeatedly and in the Council Chamber the Moray SNP Councillors have raised the issue with a view to having the Council investigate ways of supporting the network." It remains to be seen what the proposals will be for Moray but we will continue to fight these closures all the way."Ends.
EVERYONE'S INVITED TO 'WEAR IT PINK'
Posted on Tuesday, October 23 2007
EVERYONE'S INVITED TO 'WEAR IT PINK'Angus Robertson MP is joining forces with Breast Cancer Campaign in its award winning wear it pink day on Friday 26 October 2007 as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and urges you to join in too. So what do you have to do? It couldn't be easier. Whether you are in an office, at school, or simply doing the shopping, on 26 October donate £2 to Breast Cancer Campaign and wear an item of pink - anything you like, lots of pink, a little bit of pink, as long as it's pink. Your donation will allow Campaign to continue researching the cure and help the one woman in nine in the UK that will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Last year's wear it pink day raised a whopping £3 million for breast cancer research and helped to fund over forty new research projects in the United Kingdom. This year we want to raise more. Angus Robertson MP says: " Every year over 44,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer. Like many others, I know people who have lost friends and family members to breast cancer. I would like to encourage everyone in Moray and throughout the country to support wear it pink day to help raise valuable funds for breast cancer research. " I know that many constituents will be involved in fundraising activities so if you see them give them the encouragement they deserve but more importantly – GIVE THEM MONEY!" Ends. Notes to Editors: Breast Cancer Campaign is the only charity that specialises in funding independent research into breast cancer throughout the UK. Their aim is to find the cure for breast cancer by funding research which looks at improving diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, better understanding how it develops and ultimately either curing the disease or preventing it. Currently it supports 95 research projects, worth over £11.6 million in 50 centres of excellence across the UK. For more information about Breast Cancer Campaign visit www.breastcancercampaign.org For further information about wear it pink visit www.wearitpink.co.uk Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women Breast cancer accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women In the UK, every year over 44,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women.
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