Barry Black – Aspiring politician.
Education: Robert Gordon University studying for a BA (Hons) Applied Social Science (4 year course 2013-2017).
Work: March 2013 – June 2014 (part time?) Marks and Spencer
Volunteer Work: Restless Development, June 2014– on-going
October 2010; Barry Black, (silly boy) pronounces on the release of Al Megrahi
Scottish SNP Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill, said in August 20, 2009, “For these reasons (stage 4 cancer) – and these reasons alone – it is my decision that Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, convicted in 2001 for the Lockerbie bombing, now terminally ill with prostate cancer, be released on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to Libya to die.”
‘Call Me Dave’ Cameron was in Washington this week meeting Barack and held a joint press conference where they were on first name terms and spoke of their respect for each other. A posh white Etonite and a middle class black man? I get it. Anyway, a US media hackette asked our ‘beloved’ PM whether or not his government would hold an inquiry into MacAskill’s decision. His succinct reply stated that it wasn’t up to his government, that it was Scotland’s *cough* SNP’s *cough* decision. He called for all relevant papers to be published, including medical reports and a report of Mr MacAskill’s ‘suspicious’ meeting with the terrorist himself. And so they should be.
Kenny MacAskill has since denied any deal between Scotland and Libya. The First Minister has also denied that BP influenced the decision. Fair enough, but why has former UK Justice Minister Jack Straw been quoted as saying the decision was based on trade? Hmm..
Kenny, you mentioned that you were upholding Scottish values of caring, compassion and decency, that you were making the decision on behalf of the Scottish people. I’m Scottish and I would have let the scumbag rot in jail.
Where’s the compassion for the victims, Kenny? Were they allowed to go home to be surrounded by their loved ones? No, they’re in graves now and according to you, by now, so should Megrahi.
Didn’t it make every one of you sick, when Megrahi left the aircraft and Libyans were waving Scottish flags in celebration of his return?
MacAskill has declined the opportunity to go to the USA to give evidence to support his decision. Why did he decline? Because he cannot support it – or because it was a corrupt decision? Will we ever know? So Kenny, a year on – why?
September 2011: UK Labour Government ‘lied about Lockerbie bomber’
Young Barry should eat his words since it was the direct involvement of his beloved labour party and it’s leader Tony Blair that brought about the release of al Megrahi. Who was completely innocent of the charges brought against him by the illegal activities of the secret services of the US and UK
Secret documents reportedly show the UK lied about the reasons behind the Lockerbie bomber’s release from prison. Britain’s Mail On Sunday newspaper made the claims against the former Labour government yesterday, citing secret documents it had obtained.
Abdel Baset al Megrahi was released from a Scottish prison in 2009 after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and given three months to live. Megrahi was convicted in connection with the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people, many of them Americans. He had been sentenced to life imprisonment.
After his arrival in Libya, Megrahi was given a feted welcome by Muammar Gaddafi’s government, actions which drew protests from around the world.
At the time of his release, the Scottish executive, which heads Scotland’s devolved parliament, said it had made the decision to free Megrahi on compassionate grounds.
Since then, the Labour Party has consistently denied that it had interfered and said it was the Scottish ministers’ responsibility. But according to The Mail On Sunday, the confidential documents showed that the UK Government gave in to pressure from Gaddafi after he threatened to start a “holy war” if Megrahi died in prison.
The papers, found on the floor of the British ambassador’s abandoned residence in the Libyan capital Tripoli, reportedly revealed Gaddafi warned there would be “dire consequences”.
The threat led officials to fear British nationals would be harassed “or worse”, UK energy contracts in the country would be revoked and there would be an end to counter-terrorism assistance.
Alastair Darling, Britain’s finance minister from 2007 to 2010, admitted that the Labour administration was trying to keep Gaddafi onside, but dismissed the idea that their pressure had in fact managed to secured Megrahi’s release, AFP reported. “We wanted to bring Gaddafi in from the cold because at that time it was thought that that was going to be possible,” he told the BBC. “It’s true to say that the British Government wanted Megrahi out. “There was no other way to try and bring Gaddafi under control… It didn’t work and he now looks pretty nigh finished.”
adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/uk-lied-about-lockerbie-bomber/story-e6frea8l-1226129388926?nk=49b745617f8734ab2a05cec34bafe5b3
Comment: Better to engage brain before mouth Barry. Don’t believe all you read in the papers or view on BBC News. They follow the UK government agenda which was bent on discrediting the Scottish government
June 2012: Aberdeen Youth Council (AYC) condemns Barney Crockett led Labour Party Controlled Local District Primary 1 Class Size proposals
* The Aberdeen City Youth Council (AYC) condemned proposals by the Education Culture Sport committee to increase the class size of P1 in a city school to 25. Speaking on behalf of the AYC, Barry Black, a pupil in S6 at St Machar Academy, said:
“Most experts and political leaders agree that the early years are vital in a person’s educational development. These plans to nothing to help that and I fear that this may have a negative effect upon the future of hundreds of young people in our city.”
* The AYT also took issue with the lack of foresight displayed by the Labour controlled Education Committee. Barry said:
“The report outlined investigating the over-capacity in March 2011. That’s over a year since the last meeting and little has been done. it is shocking behaviour and shows complete disregard for primary school children. It’s inevitable that this increase will put immense strain on teachers and other learners, who have already felt the blow of savage cuts and pay freezes.” We should be looking at ways to invest in the early years, not tiptoe around the problem by bringing in a measure like this.”
* The AYC also condemned the City’s Labour controlled council proposals to move around adult learning classrooms. Barry said:
“Adult learning is vital in society, whether helping in employment or filling in skills gaps, and removing these rooms to make way for classrooms does not help the bigger picture. In Milltimber, there are plans for a temporary classroom. This is no substitute for a real learning environment and is too short-term.”
http://www.acyc.info/index.php/youth-council-condemns-primary-1-proposals-press-release/ Barney Crockett not at all pleased about the criticism but Barry got a result.
Comment: Well done barry. Wonder what your Labour colleagues thought of your publically expressed views.
November 2012; Youth Council Speaks Out On Drug Problem
Chair of Aberdeen City Youth Council Barry Black MSYP has recommended the Education, Culture & Sport Committee on Aberdeen City Council approves the creation of a Drugs Youth Worker role. Barry told Aberdeen Voice:
“Our sister group, GRADE A (Get Real About Drugs Action Aberdeen), has worked tirelessly to improve drugs education in the city and has benefited immensely from the support of our youth worker.
An additional Drugs Action worker would make a huge contribution to the already excellent work being done on drugs education in the city.
We recommend the committee approve the funding for the position on the grounds of the benefit to young people.
We have a significant substance misuse issue with young people in the city and this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
We are above the UK average for substance misuse statistics and a full-time drugs education worker would help to contribute to the fight against drugs abuse in the city.” http://aberdeenvoice.com/2012/11/youth-council-speaks-out-on-drug-problem-2/
Comment: But Barry believes strongly that: The, “Prohibition of cannabis legislation should be the subject of a parliamentary debate.
Legalisation and decriminalisation must form part of that debate’ http://barryblackformsyp.yolasite.com/
October 2013: Youth Councillors Back Calls For Ban On Religion On Education Committees
Two city youth Councillors, Barry Black and Kenneth Watt, have backed a Scottish Parliament motion calling for legislation making compulsory the membership of three religious figures on local authorities’ education committees necessary to be abandoned.
Instead of the religious committee members, Black and Watt believe that the three positions should be filled by young people, taken from democratically elected bodies such as the Scottish Youth Parliament or the Aberdeen City Youth Council. Watt said:
“It is not correct in 2013 to have religious figureheads – who nobody elected and many disagree with – to be making decisions about school children. I firmly believe that multiculturalism should be a key part of religion in faith in school, however, this in no way makes it appropriate to have unelected people deciding the budget and crucial decisions for schools.
The majority of young people have no affiliation to religion and by only selecting religious representatives from a faith with a ‘place of worship,’ minority faith groups and those who do not follow religion are not represented.”
Black said: “We have officially recognised youth groups at both national and local level – it would be a much better idea to utilise an elected young person to give input in to their education. Young people should be empowered to make decisions about what matters to them.” http://aberdeenvoice.com/tag/barry-black/
Comment: Church members would take a differing position.
June 2014: Barry Black to contest West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine for Scottish Labour in 2015.
At a meeting last Thursday night, members voted in favour of Mr Black to be their candidate in the General Election. Aberdeenshire Labour Group Leader, Councillor Alison Evison, said: “We are delighted to have Barry Black as our candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in the Westminster elections 2015. These are exciting times for Scottish Labour in Aberdeenshire as we continue to build on the successes of recent years.”
Comment: Not a lot of evidence of success.
caltonjock 