Prime Minister’s New Year message: ‘no new year’s resolutions for us, just an ongoing resolve to deliver what we promised’ Continue reading David Cameron: “a crucial year in this great turnaround decade”
Tag: Politics
First Minister’s New Year message
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has used her 2016 New Year message to hail Scotland’s ‘can-do’ culture and set out enterprise and innovative public services as priorities for the year ahead. Continue reading First Minister’s New Year message
First Minister takes trade union fight to Westminster
‘Imposing Trade Union Bill on Scotland is unacceptable’ – FM.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will take the fight to stop the Trade Union Bill coming into force in Scotland to Downing Street today. In her meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron the First Minister will set out the clear opposition for the bill north of the border.
The First Minister will also make clear that Scotland must not lose out from changes to the way the Scottish budget is calculated after new tax and spend powers are devolved. Continue reading First Minister takes trade union fight to Westminster
Letters: Something better change
Dear Editor
For too long the working population has been told that decision-making on investment is the province of the wealthy and very well off, and it is they who create the nation’s wealth. The arrogance and stupidity of such a claim shows the value they place on the working population’s contribution to that wealth.
Listed below are a few respective contributions:
Investors: It takes minimum effort and little time of one day to move money around through financial markets seeking a higher rate of profit.
Workers: If employed full-time, spend the best part of one whole day working and getting to and from work.
Investors: Their investment is usually short-term, then switching to maximise profit.
Workers: Their investment is life-long commitment to work.
Investors: Having the power of decision-making to hire and fire and even closing down places of work, showing no responsibility for workers or country.
Workers: Have lifetime commitment to home and provision for the family in all respects.
Investors: Employ tax lawyers to seek ways of reducing amounts due; alternatively hide their money in offshore tax havens avoiding tax altogether.
Workers: Income tax is taken from their wage packets, VAT on products and services.
Further, the political representatives of the wealthy have continued to starve local councils of funds to maintain community life, forcing savage cuts to all services. They now have the audacity to tell local councils to sell public assets of all kinds, buildings and land. This is where investors will step in to make a killing out of the people who created and paid for their public services, buildings and land, maintenance of parks, gardens, sports areas and open spaces.
Can all this be justified? The answer can only be NO, the way things are done must change, because if not there will be no end to the endless cycle of unemployment, hardship and unhappiness.
A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens
A Book of Ideas for Scotland
‘Scotland is crying out for some big, transformative ideas’ – Common Weal’s Robin McAlpine
Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine will join over 100 Common Weal supporters from across Edinburgh and The Lothians to launch the Common Weal ‘A Book of Ideas’ at City of Edinburgh Methodist Church on Friday evening. Continue reading A Book of Ideas for Scotland
Change is coming … on Tuesday!
OPEN SPACE EVENT
Tuesday 1 December 6 – 9pm
McDonald Road Library
First Minister’s St Andrew’s Day message
“We are a nation which has welcomed and will continue to welcome many people from across the world over the years” – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
Ms Sturgeon said: “St Andrew, who is renowned as the “fisher of men’, is a perfect embodiment of the warm welcome and kindness which we extend to all who come to Scotland.
“St Andrew spoke up for the less privileged. He was responsible for drawing attention to the existence of the loaves and fishes which eventually fed the 5,000. He championed the minority and saw that they were included.
“At this time, when the world is touched by terror and people are fleeing their homeland in search of peace, Scotland can draw from its patron saint and continues to be a place of safe haven.
“We are a nation which has welcomed and will continue to welcome many people from across the world over the years. From China to Poland, from Syria to India, people have brought their cultures and traditions to this country. Our communities have benefited and so has the richness of our lives, making Scotland the thriving country it is today.
“Let’s use today, our national day, to reinforce that warm welcome.”
U-turn welcome but Scotland still faces cuts
Swinney condemns ‘austerity of choice’
Chancellor George Osborne’s U-turn on tax credits has been widely welcomed, but Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney has warned that the Scottish Government will see a real terms reduction of almost 6 per cent in the funding for day to day public services over the next four years. Continue reading U-turn welcome but Scotland still faces cuts
First Minister: “Workers’ rights are human rights”
First Minister to deliver Jimmy Reid Memorial Lecture
The UK Government’s Trade Union Bill does not reflect the reality of industrial relations in Scotland and does not contain a single proposal that would be passed by the Scottish Parliament, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will say tomorrow. Continue reading First Minister: “Workers’ rights are human rights”
Swinney urges Osborne: do the right thing
Chancellor must listen to growing opposition to austerity measures
The Scottish Government has consistently demonstrated that the UK’s deficit and debt can be brought down without the need for huge public spending cuts as set out by the UK Government, Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary John Swinney said today. Continue reading Swinney urges Osborne: do the right thing