An Update
Much has happened since I last posted. At a UK level we have seen the death of Margaret Thatcher and the reaction to that, the surge in the local elections for UKIP and the Tories massive over-reaction to the threat posed by them.
On a personal level there have also been a lot going on. My friend and colleague SNP Councillor Tom Buchanan sadly passed away at the age of only 56 following a lengthy battle with a brain tumour.
Tom was a very highly regarded chair of Economic Development in the council who did so much to keep the worst of the impact of recession from Edinburgh. He was a very warm and supportive friend and simply a joy to be around. The possessor of the type of charisma that draws you to the person on entering a crowded room. He was very funny with an impish sense of humour and also very supportive, a gentleman of the old school. He is much missed.
Other things happening in life in the city include my appointment as Chair of the Care Inspectorate, the body which oversees the registration and inspection of care homes and a range of care, housing support and criminal justice social work services.
This is a big role for me but I seem to have been blessed again, as I was in Edinburgh, with a strong management team with whom I am looking forward to developing a long and productive relationship. I am really excited about this new direction and I am looking forward to working with our team and other partners towards our shared goal of improving the quality of care across Scotland.
112th time lucky?
Here we go again. In two weeks time I will be off to Hampden for the second cup final in a row. Last year was a great day out until the footie actually started then it went south - dramatically!
Hibs, in spite of everything, are back in the final having been three goals down at half time in the semis. I am resisting the temptation to ask if this is an omen; asking "is our name on the cup" this year? I do so because I have done that every year since I can remember and it hasn't happened. We got really close in 1980 (three cup final matches against Rangers where we were better but finally lost to a spectacular own goal - a diving header in the last minute of extra time.
The other reason I am not confident is that we are facing Celtic and they never give anything away. That is not to say they are unbeatable and we are one team who can pull it off but we will have our work cut out for us.
11 May 2013
8 March 2013
Speaking Up for Tenants
 |
| Visiting some of the new Council Housing we built when in administration |
I am a fervent believer in the partisan political system and in the notion muted by the Whig Edmund Burke that you "hang together you hang separately". You cannot get coherent change in a political system without organised political movements and that means learning how to compromise.
I have been a Liberal Party member from 1985 and from 1989 a Liberal Democrat and for the last almost 19 years have served that great party as an elected local councillor.
The changes to Housing benefit which are shortly to take effect have severely tested that loyalty. While I can and will defend most of our policies, often with gusto, this is a change which has been ill thought out and is indefensible.
To resolve a largely London based problem the Government has taken a sledge hammer to crack a nut. By docking the housing benefit of claimants who have a spare room in Scotland, where the norm has been to build two bedroom social housing and where there are too few 1 bedroom flats to move into, is making poor people poorer. I didn't join a party which is proud of its role as founder of the Welfare State to be nasty to the destitute.
I have campaigned personally on this issue and pointed out its flaws to two Chief Secretaries to the Treasury, our pensions minister and the Deputy PM. I do not understand how none of these smart guys can see what we are letting ourselves in for.
My good friend Robert Brown, former MSP for Glasgow has crafted an emergency motion on this issue to be put to our party conference in Dundee next weekend.
I hope that the conference committee will allow debate on this and I hope to speak at the debate on this issue.
7 March 2013
Is it the end of the line for Lazarus?
Steve has been in power for something like 23 out of the last 25 years (or maybe that is just how it feels) mostly as a Labour Councillor.
He crossed the floor before the 2007 elections and was for a year or two the only SNP councillor in the city.
Many within the SNP were unhappy with the deal he struck with Labour feeling that they did not extract enough in return for propping up their historic enemy and that might prove his undoing.
Two candidates have emerged - Sandy Howart who represents Meadows/Morningside and Frank Ross who shares my ward.
The fact that two challengers have emerged who may split the anti vote may let Steve off the hook.
Even if he is ousted who would bet against a comeback in the future. After all there are still three parties in the City Chambers he hasn't been a member of!
14 January 2013
FOI Test for SNP at Holyrood
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie is rightly taking the fight to the SNP on Freedom of Information.
It is imperative that those in positions of power demonstrate how their decisions are made especially after an autumn which saw the Scottish Government behave appallingly over whether or not they had asked for legal advice about the position of a newly independent Scotland within the EU.
Over the years I have seen all sorts of decisions made on whims or for populist short term gain at the expense of the longer term good of the public.
When the Scottish Parliament was set up Jim Wallace, as Justice Minister, piloted through the most comprehensive FOI legislation in British history. This meant that the actions of ministers at Holyrood and those of us in local government were open to closer scrutiny than ever before.
Contrast this with what happened at a UK level. Tony Blair now rails against the muted FOI act his government introduced claiming it was one of the worst things he did in power.
Noting that the worst thing he actually did was sanction the invasion of Iraq and mislead the British public over whether Saddam had WMD then i am not surprised he wanted to to hide his actions away from wider public scrutiny.
In these times when all sorts of people make wild speculation about the existential threat to the Liberal Democrats we would do well to recall the words of an old Tory.
“News is what someone, somewhere wants to suppress, everything else is just advertising.”
according to Press Baron Lord Northcliff in 1914.
If the Liberal Democrats didn't exist to promote open government and to protect our traditional freedoms we would have to invent them.
*RENNIE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL IS FIRST TEST OF WHETHER SNP
GOVERNMENT HAS LISTENED TO CONCERNS*
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP has urged the SNP to
begin 2013 with a fresh commitment to open government. Speaking ahead of
the Stage 3 debate on the Freedom of Information (Amendment) (Scotland)
Bill, Mr Rennie has called on Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to
support the introduction of a purpose clause to the bill.
The purpose clause would plainly set out how the bill could be used to
expand the public’s right to access information about bodies which spend
the public pound. It requires governments to increase progressively the
availability of information held by Scottish public authorities. This is an
amendment the Scottish Liberal Democrats will be supporting in the final
debate.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Rennie said:
“2012 saw the SNP throw away any credibility it had for governing openly
and transparently. While Alex Salmond talked of a modern, liberal Scotland,
his government was drawing the blinds and double locking the doors. The
Freedom of Information (Amendment) (Scotland) bill is the first test of
whether the SNP have been listening to concerns about their fondness for
secrecy.
“When the parliament has its final debate on the bill, I will be urging
Nicola Sturgeon to support the introduction of a purpose clause. This
would, in very plain terms, require any Scottish government to take the
steps needed to improve the public’s access to information. It would
require bodies to proactively release information rather than wait for
someone to ask.
“As more local authorities deliver their services through arms’ length
organisations, I share the concerns of the Information Commissioner that
citizen’s rights will continue to be eroded if access to information is not
expanded. Nicola Sturgeon has admitted Freedom of Information coverage has
been eroded since the act was enacted so now she needs to act.
“We also need a commitment to expand, by the end of the year, the range of
bodies covered by FOI law to include bodies that spend public money. The
SNP could then begin the year with a fresh commitment to open government.
“From misleading Scotland about the existence of legal advice on an
independent Scotland’s position in the EU, to hiding cuts to college
budgets, people I meet across Scotland have been appalled with the SNP’s
dislike for openness. Only this week we’ve learnt that now the ministerial
code will be changed to provide clarity around what ministers can and
cannot say about legal advice.
“The Scottish Parliament was founded on the tenets of openness. Under the
SNP, those foundations are beginning to crumble. I will be urging Nicola
Sturgeon to demonstrate that her government has listened to concerns by
supporting a move for clarity in the Freedom of Information (Amendment)
(Scotland) bill.”
It is imperative that those in positions of power demonstrate how their decisions are made especially after an autumn which saw the Scottish Government behave appallingly over whether or not they had asked for legal advice about the position of a newly independent Scotland within the EU.
Over the years I have seen all sorts of decisions made on whims or for populist short term gain at the expense of the longer term good of the public.
When the Scottish Parliament was set up Jim Wallace, as Justice Minister, piloted through the most comprehensive FOI legislation in British history. This meant that the actions of ministers at Holyrood and those of us in local government were open to closer scrutiny than ever before.
Contrast this with what happened at a UK level. Tony Blair now rails against the muted FOI act his government introduced claiming it was one of the worst things he did in power.
Noting that the worst thing he actually did was sanction the invasion of Iraq and mislead the British public over whether Saddam had WMD then i am not surprised he wanted to to hide his actions away from wider public scrutiny.
In these times when all sorts of people make wild speculation about the existential threat to the Liberal Democrats we would do well to recall the words of an old Tory.
“News is what someone, somewhere wants to suppress, everything else is just advertising.”
according to Press Baron Lord Northcliff in 1914.
If the Liberal Democrats didn't exist to promote open government and to protect our traditional freedoms we would have to invent them.
*RENNIE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL IS FIRST TEST OF WHETHER SNP
GOVERNMENT HAS LISTENED TO CONCERNS*
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP has urged the SNP to
begin 2013 with a fresh commitment to open government. Speaking ahead of
the Stage 3 debate on the Freedom of Information (Amendment) (Scotland)
Bill, Mr Rennie has called on Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to
support the introduction of a purpose clause to the bill.
The purpose clause would plainly set out how the bill could be used to
expand the public’s right to access information about bodies which spend
the public pound. It requires governments to increase progressively the
availability of information held by Scottish public authorities. This is an
amendment the Scottish Liberal Democrats will be supporting in the final
debate.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Rennie said:
“2012 saw the SNP throw away any credibility it had for governing openly
and transparently. While Alex Salmond talked of a modern, liberal Scotland,
his government was drawing the blinds and double locking the doors. The
Freedom of Information (Amendment) (Scotland) bill is the first test of
whether the SNP have been listening to concerns about their fondness for
secrecy.
“When the parliament has its final debate on the bill, I will be urging
Nicola Sturgeon to support the introduction of a purpose clause. This
would, in very plain terms, require any Scottish government to take the
steps needed to improve the public’s access to information. It would
require bodies to proactively release information rather than wait for
someone to ask.
“As more local authorities deliver their services through arms’ length
organisations, I share the concerns of the Information Commissioner that
citizen’s rights will continue to be eroded if access to information is not
expanded. Nicola Sturgeon has admitted Freedom of Information coverage has
been eroded since the act was enacted so now she needs to act.
“We also need a commitment to expand, by the end of the year, the range of
bodies covered by FOI law to include bodies that spend public money. The
SNP could then begin the year with a fresh commitment to open government.
“From misleading Scotland about the existence of legal advice on an
independent Scotland’s position in the EU, to hiding cuts to college
budgets, people I meet across Scotland have been appalled with the SNP’s
dislike for openness. Only this week we’ve learnt that now the ministerial
code will be changed to provide clarity around what ministers can and
cannot say about legal advice.
“The Scottish Parliament was founded on the tenets of openness. Under the
SNP, those foundations are beginning to crumble. I will be urging Nicola
Sturgeon to demonstrate that her government has listened to concerns by
supporting a move for clarity in the Freedom of Information (Amendment)
(Scotland) bill.”
13 January 2013
First Flurry
As I type this post the first snow of the year is gently tumbling down. The view from my window looks down on to an ancient cemetery with lots of mature trees and an old gravedigger house which has a number of sloped roofs at different angles.
The first fall of snow always prompts a bit of nervousness. The common view is that the British don't prepare well for winter weather. Certainly when we had the worst winter I can recall a couple of years ago the council stung by criticism of a failure to clear roads and pavements quickly enough produced a set of proposals for dealing with heavy snow fall which has since gone untested.
One of these was to use a "wovel". This is a snow clearing device which uses a wheel to take the strain out of clearing heavy snow in the street. A handy you tube video below shows how it works.
Not expensive I recall that the East Neighbourhood team were all lined up to trial this though my own est team had now presumably choosing the lesser of two wovels!
Now the earth is round and while we shiver in Edinburgh my brother in Tasmania has been trying to enjoy his summer holiday. Chris is a teacher and in Oz their long summer holiday is in our winter months.
The long summer holiday is all well and good but the trouble is that he is also a volunteer with the local Fire Brigade and his pager has been going off regularly due to bush fires.
Try as I might I couldn't upload his video of the decimated woodland but I do have this snap of Hobart by night.
With 100kmph gusts fanning the flames and winds that change direction quickly this is clearly a very risky way to spend your summer.
The first fall of snow always prompts a bit of nervousness. The common view is that the British don't prepare well for winter weather. Certainly when we had the worst winter I can recall a couple of years ago the council stung by criticism of a failure to clear roads and pavements quickly enough produced a set of proposals for dealing with heavy snow fall which has since gone untested.
One of these was to use a "wovel". This is a snow clearing device which uses a wheel to take the strain out of clearing heavy snow in the street. A handy you tube video below shows how it works.
Not expensive I recall that the East Neighbourhood team were all lined up to trial this though my own est team had now presumably choosing the lesser of two wovels!
Now the earth is round and while we shiver in Edinburgh my brother in Tasmania has been trying to enjoy his summer holiday. Chris is a teacher and in Oz their long summer holiday is in our winter months.
The long summer holiday is all well and good but the trouble is that he is also a volunteer with the local Fire Brigade and his pager has been going off regularly due to bush fires.
Try as I might I couldn't upload his video of the decimated woodland but I do have this snap of Hobart by night.
With 100kmph gusts fanning the flames and winds that change direction quickly this is clearly a very risky way to spend your summer.
6 January 2013
A New Year
Good Morning and a belated Happy New Year to my readers.
I personally had a great Christmas and New Year. Like everyone else I spent it watching too much TV and eating too much. I also managed to get through three book and out to see the Life of Pi and Midnight's Children in the cinemas and catch up on a mass of household chores.
Politically 2013 is an election free year in Scotland and provided all political parties up here with a period of respite after annual elections tussles for the last four years.
Before the next set of elections we will have the referendum on whether Scotland should separate from the rest of the UK.
Liberals, as natural federalists, have no problem in being Scottish, British and European. Certainly the mood on the door steps of West Edinburgh I was on with Lib Dem Leader Willie Rennie before Christmas was massively against separation.
One point Willie has stressed is the need once the whole referendum is over for Scotland to come together after what is already promising to be a deeply divisive period in our recent history.
Much of what goes on this year will set the tone for the referendum campaign. Already there is an edge to the nastiness coming from campaigners which both sides would do well to reign in before it gets out of hand.
With the referendum already posing existential questions for the SNP - if they win what are they for? If the lose what are they for? - It will be up to the Liberal Democrats as the least tribal party to do our best to bring a fractured Scotland back together again.
I personally had a great Christmas and New Year. Like everyone else I spent it watching too much TV and eating too much. I also managed to get through three book and out to see the Life of Pi and Midnight's Children in the cinemas and catch up on a mass of household chores.
Politically 2013 is an election free year in Scotland and provided all political parties up here with a period of respite after annual elections tussles for the last four years.
Before the next set of elections we will have the referendum on whether Scotland should separate from the rest of the UK.
Liberals, as natural federalists, have no problem in being Scottish, British and European. Certainly the mood on the door steps of West Edinburgh I was on with Lib Dem Leader Willie Rennie before Christmas was massively against separation.
One point Willie has stressed is the need once the whole referendum is over for Scotland to come together after what is already promising to be a deeply divisive period in our recent history.
Much of what goes on this year will set the tone for the referendum campaign. Already there is an edge to the nastiness coming from campaigners which both sides would do well to reign in before it gets out of hand.
With the referendum already posing existential questions for the SNP - if they win what are they for? If the lose what are they for? - It will be up to the Liberal Democrats as the least tribal party to do our best to bring a fractured Scotland back together again.
15 December 2012
Last Council of the Year
The excellent Phyllis Stephen who runs the Edinburgh Reporter, a highly regarded local digital news site, has been complaining about my lack of blogging recently. So taking the hint I am now back blogging after a few distracted weeks!
This week saw the final meeting of the council for 2012. Issues we discussed included bidding (unsuccessfully as it turned out) for the 2014 Tour de France to start in Edinburgh. This is very disappointing as it would have netted the local economy an estimated £24 million and it would have been a great spectacle. We are still in the running for 2017 though.
I also lodged a motion asking that we lobby the Scottish Government for a share of the near £400 million they have just been given by Westminster for capital. I successfully persuaded the council that we should bat for funding for the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme.
This week also saw the passing of the great Ravi Shankar. I was fortunate enough to see and hear him in concert last year at the Edinburgh International Festival. His body of work was amazing and he was still performing brilliantly into his 90's.
His performance in Edinburgh was outstanding and he will be greatly missed by all who love Indian classical music.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
This week saw the final meeting of the council for 2012. Issues we discussed included bidding (unsuccessfully as it turned out) for the 2014 Tour de France to start in Edinburgh. This is very disappointing as it would have netted the local economy an estimated £24 million and it would have been a great spectacle. We are still in the running for 2017 though.
I also lodged a motion asking that we lobby the Scottish Government for a share of the near £400 million they have just been given by Westminster for capital. I successfully persuaded the council that we should bat for funding for the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme.
This week also saw the passing of the great Ravi Shankar. I was fortunate enough to see and hear him in concert last year at the Edinburgh International Festival. His body of work was amazing and he was still performing brilliantly into his 90's.
His performance in Edinburgh was outstanding and he will be greatly missed by all who love Indian classical music.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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