Month: August 2014

The Salmond – Darling Debate

Looking back at the Salmond – Darling Debate

The anti-Scottish independence campaign, known as, “Blether Together”, has an, “underlying contempt” for the status of the First Minister of Scotland. Alan Smart, a former senior executive at STV and former Head of Broadcasting at the Scottish Parliament said, “The arrogance of the, “Blether Together” side is astonishing.” “They refused to allow David Cameron, [UK Prime Minister] to debate with the Scottish First Minister, but said, “David Cameron does not have a vote in this referendum. Alistair Darling does. He is ready to debate Alex Salmond ANY TIME AND ANY PLACE.” they then set about dictating where and when his substitute Alistair Darling, [former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer] would debate,”

Lord McConnell, [former Labour First Minister of Scotland] entered the debate saying, “there should be a truce in the run up and during the Commonwealth Games, (23 Jul-3 Aug) to ensure they don’t become politicized,” Shortly after it emerged that first television head-to-head debate of the campaign, to be broadcast by STV, would not go ahead after, “Blether Together” insisted it should be held on the 16 July.

Mindful of Lord McConnel’s views, (with which he agreed) Alex Salmond issued a statement saying he would be happy to debate with Darling AFTER the Glasgow Commonwealth Games had finished. This was rejected by, “Blether Together” who, in an attempt to make mischief accused STV of rolling over to demands by the First Minister.

Alan Smart, (who previously held senior positions within the pro-UK Labour Party), added, “There is a metropolitan arrogance with, “Blether Together”. “It’s an underlying contempt that betrays the fact they have a lot of people from London parachuted up to Scotland who think we live in some Hicksville.” “It would therefore seem dumb for, “Blether Together” to insist on having the first set piece debate just before the Games start,” Smart added.

The debate was eventually held on 5 August, 2 day’s after the games. So much for Darlings challenge, “any time any place” and he wanted the debate just before the games were scheduled to start clearly rejecting the advice of his colleagues.

Anas Sarwar -handed the chalice of power by his corrupt father and it stays mine until I get my peerage he Says

The Sarwar Dynasty in Central Glasgow

Wings Over Scotland | The Not-So-Great Dictator

Mohammad Sarwar’s peerage blocked by Inland Revenue

No stranger to controversy tax investigators expressed concern about his tax affairs and he stood trial for fraud soon after his election in 1997 he was also suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party over allegations of bribing political opponents.

Ex-MP Mohammad Sarwar warns Pakistan faces 'bloody chaos' as he refuses to rule out running for president of nation - Daily Record

Mohammad Sarwar – officially the most expensive MP in Westminster. 

The multi-millionaire Labour backbencher, with an estimated personal fortune of £16 million, claimed almost £100,000 to cover mortgage interest that he paid from an account with a Swiss bank.

Sarwar, then chairman of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee, also claimed more than £3,000 for ground rent and service charges every year as well as around £1,500 for council tax and hundreds of pounds for home phone bills that included calls to Pakistan.

Sarwar also claimed a total of £174,882 in expenses 2008/2009  but turned up for only 55 per cent of votes, spoke in only nine debates and asked 55 parliamentary questions.

In the period 2004/2009 he claimed a total of £86,497 in second homes allowance (Additional Costs Allowance £600,000 flat in an exclusive building just over the river from the Houses of Parliament. and a total of £638,640 in other expenses, including office and staff costs.

uk-first-muslim-mp-now-in-pakistan-government-31.7.2013

Mohammad Sarwar announced he would not stand for election in 2010.

The ex Govan Labour MP gave up his British citizenship so that he could be appointed governor of Punjab, the largest state in Pakistan. The third most senior figure in Pakistan.

sarwarbrownlamont

Anas Sarwar – Son of Mohammad 

Sarwar 27, was selected for and elected to the safe Labour Glasgow seat previously held by his father. His rise to the top echelons of the party was spectacular, but not unexpected. He was the head co-ordinator of the, “No” campaign in the 2014 Scottish Referendum. How’s that for nepotism!!!! No end to it, as yet.

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2011: Sarwar appointed Deputy leader of the Labour Party in Scotland.

In his address to Party loyalists he said  ” I will never define my politics by allegiance to the Scottish flag but rather to the values and principles of the Labour movement”.

Anas Sarwar back in Scottish Labour frontbench as constitution spokesman | The National

2014 Relinquished MSP status transferred his allegiance to the Unionist Labour Party in England taking up the post of shadow spokesman at international development.

Clearly  a diehard, “Red Labour” unionist supporter intent on furthering his career in England, piggybacking on his Glasgow constituency.

Scottish Labour Party leader named

2013:  Sarwar attacked the Scottish Government for its alleged failure to mitigate the worst effects of the Bedroom Tax.

But , during a vote on the said tax being repealed in Westminster on 13 November 2013, Sarwar along with 45 other Labour MPs abstained, with the subsequent vote being lost by 252 to 226 – fewer than the number of Labour MPs who had failed to vote.

The bill was carried with the assistance of the labour party and the Bedroom Tax was imposed upon Scotland. And it was the Labour party that had called for the debate and vote.

Anti-Bedroom Tax Protesters visit Anas Sarwar MP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM3TdWjudzk

A few days later, adding insult,  Johann Lamont (Labour Party Leader) had the gall to submit a bill, to the Scottish Parliament requiring the Scottish Government to use their, limited fiscal powers to reduce the effects of the tax.

The SNP government, already alerted to the urgent need to provide help to many thousands of Scots had brought forward measures cancelling any negative impact that the tax might have on many unfortunate Scots on welfare in Scotland.

But this required a transfer of  finance away from other programmes and would have been unnecessary had Scottish Labour MP’s turned up at Westminster and voted for a cancellation of the Tax.

Feb 2015: Jackie Baillie, ever willing to claim credit for the good works of others had the audacity to make claims in the press that it had been her intervention that had saved the day for Scots forcing the SNP government to find recurring finance cancelling out the effects of the Bedroom Tax. The brazen bid for glory exposed her to the ridicule of the Scottish electorate who were well aware that £30m had to be diverted away from the Scottish health Service to fund the new tax burden. the Scottish electorate.

jackie baillie

In 2014, Sarwar came under criticism for choosing to send his son to Hutchesons’ Grammar School, the same exclusive independent school that he himself attended, rather than a state school highlighting the hypocrisy of Labour Party politicians who preached social justice and  public services while sending their own children to private schools.

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Scottish Labour deputy leader claims Holyrood not democratic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy2M85OBrBc

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Sep 2013: Anas Sarwar lies about charity report. 

Sarwar disgracefully misrepresented the findings of an impartial, non-political research study which found that an independent Scotland would be far better placed to reduce inequality.

Full report here: (https://wingsoverscotland.com/lying-liars-tell-more-lies)

Anas Sarwar, the ex-deputy leader of Scottish Labour, kicks off his political comeback trail with a meal and speech on his vision for the party and country

14 November 2015: No such thing as a free lunch?   Ousted MP Anas Sarwar throws a banquet for scores of Scottish Labour faithful

Plotting his political comeback,  Sarwar, who lost his Glasgow Central Westminster seat in May, contacted parliamentarians, councillors and activists with an invite to hear his “view on the future of the Labour Party and Scotland”.

Guests were treated to a free dinner at the Riverside Palace, one of Scotland’s leading banqueting venues which can cater for up to 500 people and boasts of its high degree of elegance and grandeur. The move raised eyebrows amongst senior party figures, who believe it to be a pitch to re-position himself at Scottish Labour’s top table.

Wary of yet another failure Sarwar ruled out a head-to-head election battle with the SNP as his route back to Scottish politics preferring the safety first approach getting himself onto Glasgow’s regional list, which now must be based on a male and female taking the top two slots.

But in what some colleagues describe as a one-man show, questions are being asked as to why, after four years as deputy, Sarwar is now seeking a fresh platform for his views on the party.

A Scottish Labour parliamentarian said “The present and future of the Labour Party in Scotland isn’t about an individual’s view. It’s a collective approach, a team approach. Do the people on the street want to commit to supporting one person’s vision for the party?  People are apprehensive about the ambitions of Sarwar. ”

scottish labour | A Thousand Flowers | Page 7

Feb 2016: Sarwar tops the Labour Party list for Glasgow and is guaranteed a seat through the back door

Scottish Labour’s list for the Glasgow region was topped by former MP Anas Sarwar, followed by former leader Johann Lamont, current MSP James Kelly and former MSP Pauline McNeil.

Wings Over Scotland | Eyes on the prized

Keeping it in the Family

Nepotism In The Labour party

Hilary Benn MP. Son of the late Tony Benn.

Neil Kinnock’s son, Stephen Kinnock, (married to Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt) has been selected to represent Aberavon, which the party has continuously held since the 1920s. A safe seat.

Rachel Kinnock, “Personal Adviser”, (next step MP in a safe seat) to Ed Milliband, (Labour Leader). Did the same job for Gordon Brown when he was Prime Minister.

Labour Grandee, Jack Straw’s son, William Straw is to stand for Parliament in Rossendale and Darwen in Lancashire.

Baron John Prescott’s son David Prescott. Short-listed to stand in a safe seat.

Euan Blair, 28 year’s old, company director!!!! Owner of a listed house, (valued around £1,500,000) in a smart area of Central London. Touted by Tony & Cheri for a safe seat in Coventry.

British Medical Association Writes to David Cameron

A letter, supported by 95% of Doctors in England, signed off by a leader of the BMA has this week been sent to Mr Cameron warning that the sick, frail and elderly are being failed by Westminster. The rarely used somewhat politically incorrect intervention by the medical profession advises an urgent need for a major change in direction transferring control of Health and Social Welfare away from private healthcare back to the control of the Nation. A summary of the letter;

The crisis in health and welfare support services is directly attributable to Westminster’s, (Health & Social Services Act) embracing and implementing a programme of rapid ill conceived transfers of services to the private sector. It is estimated in excess of £11Billion and 35,000 staff, (from frontline services) has been given over to private healthcare which has not delivered. This systematic break-up of the National Health Service and welfare support, (under-funded by around £30 Billion) is becoming dangerously fragmented. Rationing of and removal of some treatments is being ordered by non-medical managers all to the detriment of patient care. Very soon changes will be, “bedded in” and virtually impossible to reverse effectively providing citizens with very limited healthcare and Welfare support.

Clearly, where applicable the foregoing applies to the Health Service in England, but Welfare Support is only partially devolved to Scotland and, (at the time of writing) our citizens are suffering the brunt of changes in these systems, (controlled by Ian Duncan Smith).

In the event of a, “no” vote in the Referendum coupled with the, (increasingly likely) return of a Conservative Government in 2015, there is every probability that changes in the National Health Service in England will be transferred, (for early implementation) to Scotland. This will be achieved through a major reduction in the Scottish, “Block Grant” significantly lowering Healthcare finance availability forcing the Scottish Government to adopt the same Healthcare profile as that available in England.

A, “Yes” vote in the Referendum will allow Scotland’s citizens to decide their own future in terms of Healthcare and Social Welfare support. I am confident we will turn away from the disastrous systems envisaged by Westminster.

National Service to be Re-introduced

National Service to be Re-introduced

UK armed forces have been reduced to levels which some believe are in conflict with the world as it is today. Expensive recruitment campaigns designed to cover the gap by increasing levels of part-time forces have abjectly failed and other measures, short of recruiting regular forces, are being considered. In preparation for the move a, “Private Members Bill” was introduced, for Westminster Parliamentary approval late 2013. It failed to get a second reading but the exercise was designed only to alert members to the possibility of major change securing the armed forces of the UK. In the event of a, “No” vote young Scot’s 18-26 might need to complete 1 year of compulsory National Service. A, “Yes” vote in the referendum will remove the threat since the policy of the Scottish government is to rely ensure the defence of Scotland is trusted to regular forces. http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/nationalservice.html

New Nuclear Agreement Signed UK & USA

USA & UK Sign New Nuclear Agreement.

A new agreement critical to Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons system, was signed the other day by British and US officials. Whitehall was silent. We had to rely on the White House, and a message from Barack Obama to the US Congress, to tell us that the 1958 UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA) had been updated.
However, the content of the new agreement will remain secret. To reveal them, Whitehall officials say, could “assist proliferation” of nuclear weapons. That is a curious comment given that both the US and UK insist the agreement does not in any way breach their obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). The vast majority of Scot’s wish to see the removal of nuclear weapons from Scotland. A view shared by all political parties in Scotland.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/defence-and-security-blog/2014/jul/29/nuclear-weapons-us-uk-cooperation

Fracking Mad

Fracking Mad

Westminster will introduce new laws removing Scottish governments control over major planning applications in the event of a,”no” vote in the referendum. Energy policy is reserved to Westminster but at this time the Scottish Government has control over major planning applications. Conservatives last night urged SNP ministers to, “get a move on” and explore the potential for drilling now rather than waiting until after the independence referendum. Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Tory energy spokesman, said, “Fracking has revolutionised the US market, and Scotland cannot afford to be left behind on this matter.”

Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Energy Minister, said the Scottish Government will set up a working group to consider the panel’s findings and ensure regulation of the industry is robust. He said: “The views of the local communities are of prime importance to us and they will have an opportunity to feed their views and concerns into this group.” More info

1. Film, “Gasland” A view from the fracking states of America. http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/gasland_2010/
2. Map showing area’s ear marked for fracking http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/fracking-map-of-scotland-revealed-by-uk-ministers-1-3236349
3. Briefing note from the SNP government http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/jul/tale-two-governments-fracking
4. Greenpeace view, http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/newsdesk/energy/data/cabinet-marginals-licensed-fracking-exploration
5. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10997120/Fracking-possible-in-Scotlands-most-populated-areas.html

This is a bombshell for Scotland. We do not need to establish a fracking industry, with all of the associated environmental problems that it brings with it.
Vote, “Yes” in the referendum so that the people of Scotland will be able to decide the future note a government based in London, Westminster.

The September Referendum

The September Referendum

Just a reminder that the Scottish Parliament of 1707 was dissolved by proclamation on 22 April 1707. The last official meeting of it was on 25 March 1707 when it was adjourned. The referendum in September is therefore to vote for the restoration of Scottish national sovereignty. It has nothing to do with separation since Scotland and England were never joined.

Performance NHS in Scotland

Alex Salmond – Defending the Governments NHS Record Dr Keighley

Mr Salmond defended his Government’s record on the NHS, saying satisfaction levels with the service were rising. He cited the social attitudes survey for Scotland had shown “that satisfaction with the National Health Service has risen to 61%”.

The First Minister added: ” By way of comparison, when Johann Lamont was a minister it was 45% in 2006.” He said that Dr Keighley had made “the entirely reasonable point that despite the fact that the National Health Service has been protected in its budget in real terms, it is under sustained pressure because of the rising demand for health services”.

Mr Salmond also said the BMA Scotland chairman had ” accepted we are doing everything we can within the resources that are available to us”. He added: ” We’re acting to improve performance in accident and emergency, acting to improve meeting our cancer targets.

“We are particularly concerned we’ve moved below the 62-day target, but the Labour Party never once achieved that, not once in office did the Labour Party achieve the 62-day cancer target.”Yes, we believe 93% of people being seen within four hours at accident and emergency isn’t good enough, but the Labour Party in power when Johann Lamont was a minister proclaimed 87% was an excellent performance.

“Our performance, under pressure though the NHS undoubtedly, is better than when the Labour Party were in power.” He questioned what ” possible credibility” Ms Lamont had as a “minister from the last government, complaining about situation when they couldn’t run Scotland when public finances were plentiful”.
Press Association. http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/salmond-rejects-labour-nhs-claims-1.442519

Dr Willie Wilson, (NHS for Yes)) – Strongly countered Dr Keighley stating;

“Independence offers us a unique chance to secure Scotland’s health service – to protect it from future Westminster funding cuts, and the damaging impact of privatisation south of the border.”

Sir Harry Burns, (Chief Medical Officer Scotland) said;

“Independence could be, “very positive” for Scotland’s health.

http://www.yesscotland.net/news/only-yes-vote-will-give-scotlands-nhs-protection-it-needs

The UK’s new Aircraft carrier

The UK’s new Aircraft carrier

The, “pride and joy” of the UK Royal Navy the “super duper” £7 billion aircraft carrier of the future, (ensuring retention of the UK’s position in the world as a superpower) is being kit assembled in Rosyth. The Queen formally named the ship in July 2014. The article, (attached) provides up to date news about the build together with interactive videos. http://www.queenelizabethcruises.net/hms-queen-elizabeth-aircraft-carrier/

One of the new Lockheed Martin F35b stealth jump jets, (the carrier will have a compliment of 40) was scheduled to complete a fly-past and landing, demonstrating the power and flexibility of the new super fighter. But the plane was grounded due to design faults. It appears it’s introduction may be delayed by up to 2 more years. The plane might have been jinxed from the start. The design & build budget is hopelessly out of control and there is a growing unease in the Pentagon and Westminster. See attached videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5u1WSag0A0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27qdB1D0s9M

It appears HMS Queen Elizabeth, (the new aircraft carrier without the aircraft) widely reported as being built in Rosyth Dockyard are a bit wide of the mark. It is simply being assembled in Rosyth. In excess of 80% of fitting & manufacturing work is contracted out to business located in England and other places well removed from Rosyth. The local economy is gaining very little. Another, “Bitter Together” lie methinks.