Letters: Don’t be taken in by Tory tactics

Dear Editor

The Tories never stop using the tactic of divide and rule and they are pulling out all the stops to divide the Labour Party and the party from the people to convince voters that only the Tories are electable. They are assisted in this campaign by the majority of the media on which we rely for information.

When the banking industry caused the world financial disaster in 2008 many drastic measures were taken, and, to get the nation’s acceptance, the slogan “we are all in this together” was launched to convince everyone to accept the debt as theirs – and to date we are still paying it.

The divide and rule tactic was and is used against those they call skivers and scroungers, those not in work claiming benefits. This has been followed by compelling people who are disabled to be assesses – by a private company – on their fitness to work, avoiding any medical assessment being made.

Next in line are those on housing benefit, who are at the mercy of rent rises by landlords or who are deemed to have a spare room and face eviction.

These tactics did convince some people – but fortunately not the majority.

The Tories then changed tactics again, blaming other countries and other people for all our troubles and they embarked on a campaign to convince people that everything would be fine if we left the European Union. The Tories were successful in that it has absolutely divided the nation.

The Tories have now returned to their other campaign of further dividing people by stepping up the attack on the Labour Party – and Jeremy Corbyn in particular.

The Tory Party cannot solve problems, as the last eight years have shown, because they themselves are part of the system that governs our lives in the interests of the few.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

 

Have your say on Welfare Foods Scheme proposals

Low-income families with young children will receive increased payments, digital smartcards and access to a wider range of foods under new proposals. The Scottish Government is consulting on plans to reshape the Welfare Foods Scheme, which aims to help families access a healthy diet. Continue reading Have your say on Welfare Foods Scheme proposals

Bullying and harassment: changes to Councillors’ Code of Conduct proposed

Ministers have published proposed changes to the Councillors’ Code of Conduct that will explicitly prohibit harassment and bullying. The amended Code has been submitted to the Scottish Parliament for approval following its endorsement by COSLA. This brings the Councillors’ Code in line with recent changes to the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Councillors have also agreed to update guidance on acceptable behaviour to accompany the changes to the Code.

Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart said: “Despite the great progress that has been made in promoting and achieving equality, it is clear that harassment and bullying are still issues that need tackled and this is unacceptable.

“Government works for the people and we need to be unequivocal that prejudice of any kind will not be tolerated. The proposed changes to the Councillors’ Code mean that it will specifically condemn harassment and bullying and make clear that where behaviour falls short people can expect to be held to account.”

COSLA President Councillor, Alison Evison said: “This change sends a strong message that all forms of bullying and harassment are not only completely unacceptable but are considered a breach of the Code of Conduct. It is only right that elected members in all spheres of government are held equally to account for their behaviour and set a high example to the rest of society.

“The change to the Code of Conduct is an important part of a wider picture such as continued efforts by COSLA and the Scottish Government to tackle gender based violence, including harassment, through the Equally Safe strategy.”

 If agreed by Parliament the changes to the Code are expected to come into force in the summer.

 The amendment states that ‘bullying or harassment is completely unacceptable and will be considered to be a breach of this Code’.

The changes have been endorsed by the Standards Commission and the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life, the independent bodies responsible for enforcing the Code, as well as by COSLA.  Similar changes to the Scottish Ministerial Code were issued by the First Minister in February.

 

New rules will protect fans from ticket touting

  • New rules will require ticket resellers to provide more information around resold event tickets, protecting consumers from rip off prices
  • Resellers now have to supply any unique ticket numbers (UTN) to the buyer to identify the ticket’s seat, standing area or location
  • Changes build on government’s action to increase transparency for consumers in the secondary market

Fans of live events are set to benefit from new rules coming into force today which will demand more information from sellers on secondary ticket websites to better protect fans from rip-off prices. Continue reading New rules will protect fans from ticket touting