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Opening narrative

In part one I outlined events from the introduction of the two crowns through to the period up to the imposition on Scots, by the English, of the 1707 Treaty of Union.

In the early part of the century, the English first tried to woo Scotland into entering an arrangement which would lead to an agreement to join the kingdoms in a union. But Scots who had endured many English invasions rejected all of the overtures.

The velvet glove approach being rejected England reverted to type and set about destroying the Scottish economy through the imposition of shipping blockades, the application of hefty import taxes on Scottish goods, destruction of Scottish commercial ventures in the Americas and Europe.

It was to be submission to English rule or destruction a process that took nearly 20 years to complete, but famine, English naval and land army blockades coupled with military and financial coercion of European countries into avoiding trade with Scotland brought hardship and death on Scots.

The final and most deplorable betrayal of Scotland was by its own King who approved the destruction of the Darien community in the Panama Isthmus aided greatly by the equally treacherous Spanish. This proved to be the straw that broke the camels back and brought the Scots to the negotiating table.

The English, well chuffed with their conquest declined to negotiate but tabled take it or leave it conditions, the signing of which would bind Scotland to England in a treaty of union. Scots may have been on their knees but they were unbowed and told the English to get stuffed. But Scots were betrayed yet again, this time by an unelected cabal of Scottish lords who sold their country out on the promise of the settlement of their personal debts.

In part two I am highlighting events of significance in the early years after the signing of the Acts of Union. Would the English honour their vows?? Dream on ! 

1707 Acts of Union – The Early years

Queen Anne was succeeded by her second cousin Sophia in 1714, then Sophia’s son, George I, Elector of Hanover. German “Geordie”, did not speak English and was not actively involved in the government of his new United Kingdom preferring to exercise physical control over his German kingdoms.

This resulted in a shift of power away from the monarch to his council of ministers, the head of which was Sir Robert Walpole who promoted himself as the first-ever Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Scotland’s economy declined markedly as a direct result of the union which brought about a major change in the marketing of goods including the removal of tariffs on goods moving between the countries.

Scottish industries such as linen manufacturing suffered badly because they were no longer shielded from English competition.

The Westminster government’s decision to equalize taxation across the United Kingdom increased taxes in Scotland fivefold and was a hammer blow to Scots who had always enjoyed much lower rates of taxation.

The increased taxation impacted adversely on key Scottish industries. The key Scottish fishing industry was subjected to debilitating new salt taxes.

But the English needed the money to pay for their expansionist policies and wars against France, Spain and other European nations, many of whom had been allied to Scotland for centuries.

Westminster also introduced customs and excise control which brought with it the employment of a huge number of customs and excise officers who enforced many new bureaucratic procedures. The result was a further marked increase in poverty as finance was taken away from Scotland to feed the gluttony of the English parliament at Westminster.

Adding insult to injury the Westminster government blatantly abused the terms of the Acts of Union in reneging on a written commitment to make payment of  a substantial manufacturing support payment to Scotland for seven years from 1707.

Westminster reluctantly agreed to make the payment, after nearly 20 years of political standoff. But only then when it was balanced against a removal of a number of tax exemptions. This type of behaviour added insult to injury and would be well-practiced in the years that followed.

In 1713 the Westminster Tory government decided, without consultation to flex it’s authority over the Scots and extend the English malt tax to Scotland provoking major public protests and noncompliance forcing the government to withdraw the tax.

The event was viewed as the culmination of many acts against the wellbeing of Scots and came very close to destroying already frosty relationships between Scotland and England. Indeed inter country relationships became so strained that a Scottish-led motion to commence proceedings to dissolve the Union came extremely close to passing in the House of Lords, failing by just four votes.

The Earl of Mar rebelled against the Westminster Abuse of Power 

Although a Jacobite and against his better judgement he supported the signing of the Acts of Union and pledged his allegiance to German Geordie, but took umbrage when, on arrival in England, the king publicly snubbed him when he welcomed him to the United Kingdom on behalf of the Scottish nation.

The then “Third Secretary for Great Britain” responded to the insult to Scotland and proposed a resolution to have the Acts of Union repealed. When this failed he resigned and returned to Scotland where he continued to agitate for the repeal of the Union.

On 1 September 1715, he raised a standard for “King James VIII” at Braemar and gathered an army of around 10,000 men which gained some successes in the North and East of Scotland. But he made three strategic errors.

1. James, who was resident in France had not been advised about the planned uprising.

2. He failed to coordinate his challenge with similar uprisings occurring in England

3. He was, as events proved, a poor tactician. At the Battle of Sheriffmuir, North of Dunblane on 13 November 1715, a large part of his army advancing from Perth met a much smaller government force under John Campbell, the 2nd Duke of Argyll. The Jacobite’s won the ensuing short battle but Mar failed to march on Glasgow and Edinburgh, a move that would have consolidated his position. Instead, he returned to Perth to regroup and lost the initiative.

Meantime James Stuart was only able to reach Scotland from France on 22 December, when he landed at Peterhead: he was too late, the uprising was all but over. The Jacobite’s abandoned Perth on 31 January 1716, and on 4 February James Stuart and John Erskine, 23rd Earl of Mar, sailed out of Montrose, bound for France. Neither would ever return.

The Westminster government got lucky when it weathered the Jacobite uprising of 1715. A crisis generated by the avarice, greed and a flawed mindset of the victor basking in the glory of conquest. Its arrogant post-union behaviour towards Scotland inflicted extreme hardship on Scots’ through the imposition of hugely unfair taxes and many other oppressive acts.

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Narrative

2017 – Catalonia and Spain

Catalonia is a semi-autonomous region in North-East Spain with a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years.

The wealthy region has about 7.5 million people, with their own language, parliament, flag and anthem.

It also has its own police force and controls some of its public services.

Catalan nationalists have long complained that their region sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain, as taxation is controlled by the Spanish government in Madrid.

Many are also unhappy about constitutional changes imposed by the central government which they believe reduces their autonomy undermining Catalan identity.

In a referendum on 1 October 2017, about 90% of Catalan voters backed independence plunging Spain into its biggest political crisis for 40 years.

The central government retaliated to the threat of a breakaway from Spain by declaring the referendum illegal and suspending Catalan autonomy for almost seven months

In October 2019, Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan politicians and activists to jail terms of between nine and 13 years for that independence bid. Three others were fined.

 

 

1707 Scotland and England

The situation in Scotland in 1707 mirrored events in Catalonia in 2017.

Mass protests and 90% majority against the union.

But Scotland in 2014 failed to get a majority of the electorate to support independence.

And it remains uncertain there will ever be a referendum in which a majority of Scots will vote to break free from the shackles of serfdom imposed upon them by a rich and powerful English elite.

The purpose of this blog is to provide an analysis of significant events over the past 300 years exposing the cynical exposure to and the imposition of the “Stockholm Syndrome” on the People of Scotland.

Scotland will only gain freedom from England when Scots are fully aware of the systematic indoctrination and subjugation imposed upon them by a Westminster government which takes every pound from scots and gives them 10 pence in return in the form of a grant then castigates Scots as a nation of lazy, drunken, drug-taking, wife-beating, bastards who are wholly reliant upon England for handouts to survive.

 

 

 

1700-1707 – England – Scotland and Spain

In the period 1690-1700, after near seven years of famine in Scotland, large numbers of people were driven from the land to the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh forming large numbers of vagrants, many of whom starved to death in the streets.

Scotlands trade with England and Ireland had also suffered through the application of crippling sanctions on goods and services imposed by the Westminster government.

These were desperate times and a way had to be found to improve Scotland’s economic fortunes before it would be swallowed up by its much richer neighbour south of the border.

The Panama Isthmus presented an opportunity to expand Scotlands trading influence across the Americas to the far east continents.

A colony at Darien would provide a facility allowing goods to be ferried from the Pacific across Panama and loaded onto ships in the Atlantic.

This would fast track Pacific trade improving its reliability.

The added bonus for Scotland would be the gathering of lucrative commissions.

It mattered not that the Spanish had claimed territorial control of large parts of Panama since the English fleet would be there to provide protection of Scottish interests through its unique relationship of a shared monarch.

But events did not unravel as expected. The Spanish and English fleets first blockaded then constantly attacked the Darien community eventually destroying it and just about its entire population.

This effectively bankrupt the Scottish nation bringing it to its knees forcing upon it a few years after the agreement to enter into a union with England.

The union was a scandalous event imposed on Scotland by an expansionist Westminster government determined upon the conquest of smaller nations.

The vast majority of Scots rejected the union and railed against it for many a year thereafter.

 

 

Scotland and England Two Kingdoms one King

In the 1690s, many Scots became disillusioned with the off-handed relationship that evolved from the time James VI of Scotland inherited the crown of England in 1603, as James I, in a so-called Union of the Crowns.

Early on in his reign James I arranged regular and frequent meetings with Scottish nobles and the Scottish Privy Council continued to manage the affairs of the country but the Scottish Parliament rarely met and Scots began to feel that their king had abandoned them in preference to England.

Representations to the monarch fell on deaf ears confirming Scottish fears and in the years that followed James and his successors completely gave up on Scotland.

The abject failure to communicate with Scots contributed to growing discontent and in 1641, resulted in Charles being forced to concede powers to the Scottish Parliament.

The settlement stated that the king’s officers of Scotland would be chosen by Scots and Parliament would meet not less than once every three years.

But the English and the Irish were not at all pleased about Scotlands new deal with Charles and it triggered a rebellion in Ireland and civil war in England resulting in the demise of Charles and introduction of Oliver Cromwell and his roundhead army.

Having defeated the Royalists in England and Ireland, Cromwell invaded Scotland and after a short war defeated the Scots and absorbed Scotland into a united British Commonwealth in 1652.

Scots welcomed the Stuarts when Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660 but the honeymoon period did not last for long.

Charles II and his court reverted to behaviour that had brought about the downfall of Charles I treating Scotland as a satellite of England, (just as they did Ireland).

The English Parliament at Westminster offered to give Scots seats in the London based parliament.

This was rejected because Scots would then occupy just a few seats in a House of Commons dominated by English MP’s perpetuating the abuse of their sovereign rights.

 

 

 

change in the Right of Succession imposed by England

On 30 July 1700, William, Duke of Gloucester, the only one of Queen Anne’s children to survive childhood died from Smallpox.

The English parliament decided that the Electress Sophia, from the German principality of Hanover, would succeed Anne.

The English had decided on Sophia because she was a Protestant.

But Anne’s nearest living relative was her Catholic half-brother James Francis Edward Stuart whose father, James II and VII, had been forced to give up the thrones by William of Orange and his wife, Mary Stuart, in 1688–89.

Supporters of James – the Jacobites – campaigned to regain the crowns, with the support of Catholic France and the prospect of another civil war loomed.

But public opinion was divided. A significant number in the central belt of Scotland supported the abdication of James II and VII because it brought with it the removal of the Church of Rome from a dominant position over the religious affairs of Scotland.

Hard-line protestants were ecstatic at the thought of Sophia becoming Queen of Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament infuriated that the English Parliament did not consult them on the choice of Sophia’s family as the next heirs, passed the Act of Security 1704, denouncing “English influence” over Scotlands affairs of state and threated to end the personal union between England and Scotland.

 

 

 

trading – the lifeblood of a nation

The deterioration in cross border relationships increased as each country developed its own trade policies and markets.

Both were determined to protect their home markets achieving this through the introduction of tariffs on an ever-expanding range of goods reducing trade making foreign trade a necessity.

England successfully expanded its trade with its overseas colonies through its exclusive use of the English, East India Company.

Then a setback for Scotland, in the mid-1690s cold weather caused successive crop failures and famine in parts of Scotland destroyed many farming communities. The Scottish economy was hard hit.

In 1695 the Scottish Parliament wrote to King William about the “great discouragements to trade” and an “increase of poor” and begged him to allow a jointly funded trading company to be founded with the purpose of developing overseas trading markets.

William was supportive but his advisors at Westminster counselled that any new venture would present a threat to the English funded East India Company.

William heeded their advice and refused to support any attempts to raise English capital for the proposed venture.

In the face of stiff opposition from William and Westminster and with its back to the wall the Scottish Parliament authorised the creation of a new Scottish overseas trading company, to be funded entirely from the already struggling Scottish economy.

The Darien venture, establishing a trading base on the Isthmus of Panama evolved from this.

The English response was an immediate and brutal spoiler, the introduction of the “English Navigation Act” barring any overseas colony from trading with or supporting anyone associated with or part of the Darien colony in Panama.

Scottish ports were blockaded by the English navy and many Scottish vessels bound for Europe were boarded, cleared of personnel and sunk

William of Orange also threatened the imposition of an English navy embargo on the ports of any European country who traded with Scotland and with the largest navy in the world at his disposal his was no idle threat.

Westminsters plan to starve Scotland into submission was very real indeed.

The Spanish, who jealously protected their investment in the Panama Isthmus blockaded the Darien port attacking it repeatedly.

Its blockade, supported by the English navy starved the community of any resupply of food, water or contact with Scotland.

Denied assistance the Scottish colony was eventually wiped out and the Scottish economy was ruined.

In 1704, the Scottish Parliament brought to its knees by England proposed a “treaty” on trade supported in perpetuity with the introduction of new laws securing the liberty, religion, and independency of Scotland.”

England’s response, in 1706 was a “Treaty of Union” offering free trade but only in return for a full union of the kingdoms and parliaments.

Scots were not impressed. One political commentator of the period said, “all the Sugar of the English plantations shall not be able to sweeten” the loss of Scotland’s independence.

 

 

 

The Act of Union

The Scottish and English parliaments negotiated, the Acts of Union 1707, under which England and Scotland were united into a single Kingdom of Great Britain, with succession under the rules prescribed by the Act of Settlement.

Dozens of Scottish burghs, shires and parishes sent petitions signed by tens of thousands of people to the Scottish parliament protest and Presbyterians and Jacobites, who fundamentally disagreed on just about everything, formed a coalition in opposition against the proposed union.

The coalition stated that Parliament should “listen to the mind of the nation”. It didn’t.

In 1707 Scots cherished their realm as an ancient and honourable kingdom with an unbroken line of kings from 330 BC.

Accepting that their nation was not powerful or rich they were proud that it had maintained its independence for nearly 2000 years.

A majority of Scots regarded the prospect of the union as a dishonourable conquest by England.

A 1706 Poem “Upon the Union” said of the English. They are: “inveterate enemies who trample on our laws, and us despise”, and asked: “and shall we our scars forget? And to our ruine be now more unite?”

 

 

The Scottish legal system

England and Scotland had their own long-established distinct systems of law and justice and each country zealously guarded their courts of law.

As the treaty of union approached a union of English and Scottish law was considered to be impossible.

With result that the terms of the union treaty maintained Scots law, the Scottish Courts of Session and Judiciary and legal offices such as Lord Advocate.

But the new British parliament was empowered to make new laws for Scotland and to reform old laws where necessary.

 

 

the Presbyterian Church

Many Presbyterians in Scotland baulked at the concept of closer union with Anglican England.

They feared that the Scottish church would be swallowed up by its Anglican counterpart, and they objected to the presence of bishops in the House of Lords.  But they are still there in 2019!!!!

They also remained committed to the 1638 National Covenant and the 1643 Solemn League and Covenant, which affirmed the Presbyterian nature of the Scottish church and advocated the reformation of the English church which was still modelled around Church of Rome procedures and statutes.

Addressing fears about the loss of the Scottish church, a special act guaranteed that the Presbyterian church would continue for “all-time coming”.

This increased Presbyterian support for the union.

But, their joy was shortlived not long after the union the British parliament began to exert increasing control over the Scottish church and this led to the formation of the Free Church of Scotland in 1843.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Scottish Borders Council

The appalling record of the Tory Councillors in control of the Borders Council from 2007-2012 (see part 3) convinced the electorate of the urgent need to remove the Tory party from office.

After the 2012 election, the Scottish National Party formed a coalition with the support of Independents and Liberal Democrats repeating the ping pong pattern now common in the Borders where the electorate loyalty is split between Tory and SNP giving the Independent Councillors group the power of deciding which party will manage the Council for the next 5 years.

 

 

 

Enter Michelle Ballantyne

In 2012 Ballantyne was first elected as a local councillor on Scottish Borders Council, leading the Conservative Party Group. She was re-elected in 2017.

She gave up her post with the Council following the resignation of a Tory list MSP at Holyrood. In May 2017 she was appointed to the Scottish Parliament as a list MSP for the South Scotland region.

In her position as Leader of the Tory Group, she worked around 16 hours weekly for which she received a remuneration of between £20,000 – £25,000.

Additional perks of the post included the use of a mobile phone, Provision of a laptop and reimbursement of mileage and associated expenses.

 

 

 

Double-jobbing Michelle is to donate her Councillor salary to Haining charity

On Sunday 9 July, Ballantyne was one of several MSPs featured in a national newspaper report of “double-jobbing” Scottish parliamentarians who make money from other jobs on top of their £61,778 MSP’s salary.

In the week back in early May 2017 when Ballantyne was re-elected to serve the Selkirkshire ward for the Conservatives on Scottish Borders Council, she also learned she was about to become an MSP.

At the time, Ballantyne, who had led the Tory group at Newtown, said she would continue as a backbench councillor for the foreseeable future.

Responding to the Sunday article Ballantyne who is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Haining Trust said: “From this month, I will be donating my councillor’s salary to the Haining Charitable trust.”

More here: https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/15405768.double-jobbing-michelle-donates-salary-to-haining-charity/

 

 

Her approach to politics was encouraging. She offered the public the following:

“We will not agree on every issue. But let us respect those differences and respect one another.

Let us recognize that we do not serve an ideology or a political party, we serve the people.

To me that is the backbone of what politics is about – everyone wants the best for our country and our communities what makes us different is how we believe we can achieve the best outcome for the people we serve.”

 

 

 

But her promotion to the Tory MSP group front bench after less than a year at Holyrood as shadow social security secretary exposed her to be a typical bellicose Tory who fully supports the ultra right-wing agenda of Boris Johnson and his cronies at Westminster. So much for serving the people.!!!

Contrary to her rhetoric in the time since her appointment has boosted her public profile by introducing “wrecking ball” tactics to Scottish politics.

Comparing her to Tory Party politicians of the past she would not be misplaced if likened to Enoch Powell.

 

 

 

Here are a few of her foot in mouth utterances:

Michelle Ballantyne Mocks the poor

Michelle Ballantyne, the Tory Party shadow social security secretary, has been accused of showing a “callous indifference” to inequality after sharing a Facebook post about wealth distribution and benefits which insisted “you cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity”. Critics condemned the comments as “completely heartless”.

The Facebook message she shared outlined what it called the “five best sentences”.

These included: “What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.”

“The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.”

“You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

“When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation!”

The post asked: “Can you think of a reason for not sharing this? Neither could I.”

More here: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17984973.scottish-tory-msp-condemned-completely-heartless-facebook-post

 

 

Tory List MSP Michelle Ballantyne slated over new health service gaffe

Ballantyne is facing criticism after remarking at the end of a Tory-led debate on health at Holyrood that she would be “quite happy if the government had nothing to do with the running of the NHS.”

She went on to say that the Scottish Government should not use the health service as a political football or micro-manage it.

Her critics suggested it was a Tory nod towards privatisation.

More here: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17548733.tory-msp-slated-over-new-health-service-gaffe

 

 

 

Tory List MSP Michelle Ballantyne lambasted after defending the Rape clause and two-child limit on tax credits

The South Scotland Conservative list MSP came in for widespread condemnation for her defence of universal credit and its two-child limit for benefit handouts during a Scottish Parliament debate on poverty and inequality last week.

Since then she has received calls for her to resign from her position and been dubbed a hypocrite.

More here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/michelle-ballantyne-msp-bites-back-calls-her-resignation

 

 

 

SNP accuse Tory MSP of ‘chilling indifference’ towards benefit changes

The SNP has accused the Scottish Conservatives’ welfare spokeswoman of “chilling indifference” towards pensioners who could miss out on benefit payments due to Westminster reforms.

Michelle Ballantyne was asked in a Holyrood committee yesterday if she would support a cross-party letter to the UK Government calling for a delay to pension credit changes.

The Tory MSP replied: “Do I care one way or the other? I probably do not, actually, if I am honest, because I am not sure that you will neccessarily get a rush of people taking it up unless some good work is done to advertise it.”

It follows UK Government reforms which will force mixed-age couples to apply for Universal Credit instead – meaning a cut in income of up to £7000 a year.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-accuse-tory-msp-of-chilling-indifference-towards-benefit-changes-1-4920251

 

 

 

 

Michelle Ballantyne MSP: ‘People on benefits cannot have as many children as they like’

A Conservative MSP has told Holyrood that people on benefits cannot have “as many children as they like”.

Michelle Ballantyne made the comment during a debate on inequality.

Prompting a strong reaction in the chamber, she said: “The two-child limit is about fairness.

It is fair that people on benefit cannot have as many children as they like while people who work and pay their way and don’t claim benefits have to make decisions about the number of children they can have.

“Universal Credit may have its flaws, but the thinking behind the system is sound.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45970837/michelle-ballantyne-msp-people-on-benefits-cannot-have-as-many-children-as-they-like

 

 

 

 

Tory MSP gets a kicking after another own goal in Scottish parliament

If Michelle Ballantyne did not exist she would have to be invented by the SNP and, indeed, Labour.

The South of Scotland Tory has been a member of the Scottish parliament for only two years but she has made a greater mark on it than many of her more established colleagues.

She is a natural goal-scorer; unfortunately, she scores all her goals at the wrong end.

Previous Ballantyne own goals have been registered on the bedroom tax (it doesn’t really exist) and welfare (poor people should think before having more children) and this week she turned her attention to the NHS.

On Wednesday she told parliament she would “be quite happy if the government had nothing to do with its running”.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tory-msp-gets-a-kicking-after-another-own-goal-in-scottish-parliament-5jxm3wdzk

 

 

 

A Borders politician has come under fire yet again for controversial welfare comments.

Former Selkirk councillor Michelle Ballantyne is the Scottish Conservative Party’s social security spokeswoman at Holyrood.

During exchanges at a hearing of the Social Security Committee this week the South of Scotland MSP denied there was a ‘bedroom tax’.

And she warned SNP depute leader Keith Brown not to ‘even go down that route’ while discussing Scottish mitigation of Westminster welfare policies.

The UK Government’s bedroom tax, which was introduced more than six years ago, imposes penalties on people claiming housing benefit for living in homes regarded as being larger than needed.

https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/17452997.anger-at-borders-msps-bedroom-tax-denial

 

 

 

A senior Tory MSP has been urged to apologise after a “callous” comment about the plight of pensioners.

Tory welfare spokeswoman Michelle Ballantyne has come under renewed pressure after saying she did not “care one way or the other” about delaying reforms pension credits.

The UK Government announced in January that from May 15 new pensioners whose partners are younger than the state retirement age of 65 will no longer be able to claim a means-tested top-up called pension credit.

The reforms could see thousands of UK pensioners losing up to £7,000 a year in top-ups.

Asked whether she would support a cross-party letter to the UK Government calling for a delay to the changes, Ms Ballantyne said: “I will support a letter that says that we are concerned that there has been a very low take-up of the benefit and that there has not been sufficient information out there.

“If you want to call for the Government to delay it, do I care one way or the other? I probably do not.”

Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan said: “This is just the latest instance of Michelle Ballantyne opening her mouth and accidentally saying what she really thinks.

Tory MSP accused of ‘callous’ comment about the plight of pensioners

 

 

16 Nov 2019 – Ballantyne uses her Twitter page to attack the SNP

She posted: In the last week alone, this SNP Government has:

1. Helped cover up the death of a child.
2. Destroyed internal memos to avoid accountability.
3. Told to stop misusing unemployment figures.

“This election really think about it. Is this really who you want to represent you?”

She certainly got a response. Fill your boots with the many thousands of negative replies she received. The Twitterati demolished her. But so enamoured with Tory Party dogma attacks on the Scots she ignores the people she claims to represent. But she was only 6th on the list of Tory candidates for the MSP position. Yet still made it to Holyrood. Strings pulled!!!!!!!

“https://www.trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/1195630091503624194”

 

 

A few of the early comments:

I have to say this is an appalling lie, which is beneath any politician to share. I am sure it is also against electoral rules

In the last week alone, this Westminster Government has.. Suppressed reports of treasonous activity with Russians. Said nothing about 6 patient deaths from listeria, and the worst-performing NHS in the UK. Uses employment figures that mean 1 hr of work a fortnight = employed

Using the death of a child to score a cheap political point. Michelle, you are a dirty low down stinking scumbag.

The politicking around the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is dire in general, but “Helped cover up the death of a child” is a desperate, disgusting take from a Tory MSP who’s happy to drag our politics down into the sewer.

Michelle try to remember that, much as you may regret it, you are not one of the Royal family and the law does apply to you.

You should think absolute shame of yourself!! Reporting you for out and out lies!!!

Well it sure as hell won’t be the party of the bedroom tax, rape clause, Windrush, hostile environment, Universal Credit, which dredges up the tragic death of a child for party gain & tries to import Trumpian smear tactics

Anyone from any party who uses the death of a child for political gain is the lowest of the low, but for a party whose policies have caused untold suffering & deaths that’s got to be lower than shark shit

Nobody voted for you Michelle. Keep lying. Everyone can see you are a liar

you really are a downright nasty individual. Using a child’s death to score a point… 6 people have died in the English NHS very recently… No politician of any stripe has tried to make political capital out of their deaths.

 

 

 

 

The Scottish Borders: A region without railway stations

By 1849, the North British Railway Company had opened a stretch of its Waverley Line from Edinburgh to Hawick and later extended it to Carlisle.

Rail routes quickly expanded crisscrossing the region like veins in the human body.

By the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century there were stopping points at Hawick, Eyemouth, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Kelso, Coldstream, Duns, Galashiels, Melrose, Peebles, Lauder and more.

In other words, pretty much every major population centre in the Borders. However, that “golden age” would not last.

By the 1950s, the increasing number of cars on the road had a negative effect on passenger numbers and the Tory government decided to close many parts of the rail network deemed as unprofitable.

It appointed a Canadian businessman, Dr. Richard Beeching and gave him the remit to operate the rail network profitably.

This he did with a vengeance. He produced a report recommending the closure of many rail lines throughout the UK.

It was accepted and implemented over a period of 5 years between 1964-1969.

the worst of all the Beeching cuts was the axing of the 98-mile Waverley Route from Edinburgh to Carlisle and many other closures left the Scottish Borders as the only region of Britain without a train service and Hawick, 56 miles from Edinburgh and 42 miles from Carlisle, as the largest town farthest from a railway station.

The savage cuts in the area left 100,000 or more people completely isolated from the rail network and for over 50 plus years it was the only mainland region of Great Britain without a railway station.

To its great credit within 5 years of being returned to Holyrood as the first-ever SNP government in Scotland, the Waverly Line was rebuilt righting the wrong perpetrated against the people the Scottish borders by the Tory and Labour governments. (Credit to railway expert David Spaven.)

 

 

 

 

Scottish Borders Council – 2003 – 2012

This is a part of Scotland in which local political control was vested without question with the Tory Party for many years.

The situation is similar to that in the West of Scotland where it was possible to pin a Labour label on a donkey and it would be ushered into office.

Disillusioned voters seized their opportunity at the time Scottish devolution was introduced and switched their loyalty to Independent candidates.

The SNP soon gained a foothold with a few councillors then gradually expanded its political base.

In the 2003 council election, 15 independent Councillors were returned giving the group deciding control of the Council. They formed an alliance with 10 Tories and took charge of the council.

The ousted Tory Party had been returned to power but needed to address the issue of a massive £4 million overspend in the Education budget.

A programme of cuts in services and increases in council tax soon followed.

A legacy in incompetence rewarded thanks to the Independent Group. Voters did not get the change they had wished for.

 

 

 

Reasons your Scottish Borders Council tax is so high: 15 Councillors soak up £1/2 million, Officials & Chief Exec on £100K plus & golden pensions.

The Scottish Borders is widely known as having one of the lowest-paid workforces in the entire United Kingdom, and the trade unions representing council workers proudly announced that they had negotiated a pay freeze in return for no compulsory job losses.

For those wondering why the Council Tax demands in the Scottish Borders are so high for a region with poor take-home pay, figures showing massive salaries & allowances for Councillors & Department Heads which recession hit Borders residents are also having to pay for were revealed.

Full report here: https://scottishlaw.blogspot.com/2012/07/revealed-scottish-borders-council-ex.html

 

 

 

“Akin to Money Laundering”: Tory-LibDem Scottish Borders Council ‘played Russian Roulette’ with taxpayers £172 million in bankrupt Icelandic Banks

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws have shed startling new light on the practices of Scottish Borders Council and their huge financial losses in collapsed Icelandic banks, revealing the Tory-Libdem controlled local authority made a staggering 94 deposits, some totalling as much as £4 million pounds at a time over three years from 2006–2009 with now-bankrupt Icelandic banks totalling a whopping £172 MILLION POUNDS.

The new revelations in the continuing investigation by former Scotsman journalist Bill Chisholm of the multi-million-pound losses suffered by Scottish Borders Council in the now bust Icelandic banks Landsbanki & Heritable have prompted further calls for an independent investigation of Scottish Borders Council’s poor investment calls using taxpayers money.

One Forensic Accountant warned there appeared to be a massive lack of accountability on the part of officials at Scottish Borders Council “who appeared to be playing Russian roulette in Iceland with taxpayers money”.

Commenting on the structure of the deposits, he said: “If this had been tried in British banks, money laundering laws would have queried the amount & frequency of the deposits yet it seems the Council was eager to invest its millions without too many questions in foreign banks.”

An investment analyst further indicated it was well known at the time in 2008 the Icelandic banks were in trouble and may go under. He queried why the Council seemed to totally rely on its treasury advice without checking up for itself.

 

 

 

Scottish Borders Council ex-Chief Executive David Hume received £318K PAYOFF in secret voluntary redundancy package negotiated by lawyers

Questions are being raised about why SBC Council Chiefs, Councillors & legal officers fought for over a year to cover up the details of the huge pay-off.

Revelations of Hume’s spending spree on Council funded credit cards was taken up by the SNP’s Christine Grahame, MSP for the area and Chair of the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee who questioned why Mr. Hume was able to use a corporate credit card while many constituents in the Scottish Borders are facing financial oblivion.

The full record of Tory incompetence can be found here. https://scottishlaw.blogspot.com/2011/04/akin-to-money-laundering-tory-libdem.html

 

 

 

 

At an inquiry into allegations of impropriety in the Scottish Police Authority – Alex Neil MSP also revealed a cataloge of incompetence within the Scottish Borders Council

Commenting that a “collective amnesia” appeared to be affecting some of the SPA board members – including David Hume. He said:

“Hume sat on a Governance Review of the SPA, along with a former President of the Law Society of Scotland, the Chair of the Fire Service and others. Mr. Hume is the former Chief Executive of Scottish Borders Council.

In 2012 it was reported David Hume took a £318,434 secret “too ill to work again” secret legal deal from the corruption-ridden south of Scotland local authority.

Hume then joined the SPA while also working for the Scottish Government in a position on Children’s Hearings Scotland.

Hume’s salary for the CHS work was funnelled through his consultancy company – Enlighten: David Hume Consulting Ltd.

Hume’s term as SBC Chief Executive span dark years at the local authority, financial scandals with the loss of £4million from the education budget, consistent allegations of a culture of backhanders at the council, and a lack of duty of care.

Scottish Borders Council had been caught up in the Miss X Rape scandal, resulting in a Scottish Parliament inquiry which heard the Council had covered up a years-long case where a severely disabled woman who lived close to the Council’s St Boswell’s HQ was repeatedly raped and abused.

It transpired Scottish Borders Council held a written admission of rape from the man a full two years before the case came to light. A man was later jailed for 10 years for the crimes.

Scottish Borders Council decided not to discipline any social worker, despite the fact that Miss X, a woman with learning disabilities, had been subjected to an appalling catalogue of violent physical and sexual abuse.

Full story here: https://petercherbi.wordpress.com/tag/scottish-borders-council/

 

A1 roadway bins

 

Damning report on education scandal

There was an ‘inexcusable lack of financial control’ within Scottish Borders Council that concluded the Scottish Parliament’s education, culture, and sport committee following a five-month investigation into the council’s 3.9 million education budget overspend.

These findings are unlikely to do anything to restore the public’s trust in the council, following hot on the heels of it setting its most controversial and heavily criticized budget, which contained 5.5 million of cuts to services, resulting in petitions, public meetings, and protests in recent weeks.

Full story here: https://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/damning-report-on-education-scandal-1-241773

 

 

 

 

Damning report finds the Council has not learned financial management lessons

Scottish Borders Council has been forced to deny it has failed to “learn lessons” after a retired journalist penned a hard-hitting report alleging poor financial management.

The National reported recently on how Bill Chisholm, who was awarded the MBE for his services to journalism, used freedom of information laws to force the council to reveal how the authority lost £2.4 million on the aborted Easter Langlee waste transfer system that was never built by New Earth Solutions, which went bust.

In a new report, Chisholm states: “Since the turn of the 21st century there have been at least four other ‘events’ in which Scottish Borders Council (SBC) displayed either incompetence or recklessness in financial management with multi-million-pound consequences for taxpayers as a result of questionable decisions.”

Full story here: https://www.thenational.scot/news/15673046.damning-report-finds-council-has-not-learned-financial-management-lessons/

 

 

 

 

The Scandal of the Tory Council – Easter Langlee Recycling Plant Development

The fact that not a single brick was ever laid at Easter Langlee has been completely overlooked.

And not a single Scottish politician has been prepared to back calls for an investigation into a saga which resulted in the loss of many millions of pounds for investors and taxpayers alike.

Financial advisers who persuaded unwitting clients to invest millions of pounds in unregulated offshore funds like the one chosen by Scottish Borders Council to bankroll a £23 million waste treatment facility should be banned from the sector, it has been claimed.

It follows the latest revelations involving the liquidated New Earth Recycling & Renewables [Infrastructure] fund (NERR) which loaned over £30 million to insolvent waste management contractors New Earth Solutions Group (NESG).

Back in 2011 NESG was handed a 24-year £80 million contract by Borders councillors to solve the region’s refuse disposal problems before landfilling of rubbish is outlawed in a few years’ time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Ballantyne up a tree!!!

 

 

The Ballantyne Family

Neil and Michelle should be proud of their achievements, raising four very physically fit, handsome young men and two beautiful young ladies and twinning this with developing a new business totally foreign to anything they had done before.

All of their children are now actively engaged in their own ventures well away from politics and doing very well.

It is sad therefore when the Ballantyne family, (perhaps other than mom and dad) get caught up in online attacks by trolls and other people with malicious intent.

These people should desist from spouting their venom against those who are entirely innocent of any political utterances their spurious approach to politics is to be deprecated.

 

 

 

Ballantynes of Walkerburn

In a sales pitch to voters and potential customers, she said;

“My husband and I set up a manufacturing company 25 years ago and we have experienced the real challenge of creating the wealth that drives our economy.

Since then, we’ve become the UK’s major figurine manufacturer.

We’ve expanded into new areas like crystal and glass engraving.

We’ve taken advantage of evolving technologies, becoming energy efficient through solar energy.

I am a director of the company working approximately 2 hours each month in this role for which I receive remuneration of between £5,001 and £10,000 a year.”

 

 

Pretty straight forward then!! Not quite!!!

The founding company, “Firm Relay” was in place from Dec 1990 – 20 Mar 1991.

The company name changed to “Classic Miniatures” (Scotland) in Jun 1991, finally changing in that same year to “Ballantynes of Walkerburn.”

Interesting sequence of events given that “Classic Miniatures Ltd” is an English based company based in London.  Conjecture but the first plan might have been to operate in Scotland as a subsidiary of the London company.

In any event, the input of Ballantyne’s father must have been greatly welcomed given his 30 plus years in the business.

In Sep 1995, Michael Ronald Cross (Michelle’s father) Owner and Chairman of “Classic Miniatures Ltd. was appointed to the Board of Directors of Ballantynes of Walkerburn remaining in post until Jun 1999 but retaining a significant shareholding in the company.

 

 

 

Classic Miniatures (London) Ltd.

Michael Ronald Cross, (Michelle’s father) founded Classic Miniatures Ltd. in 1976.

Initially a manufacturer of metal figurines, it now mainstreams medals, badges and awards.

Cross was the Chairman and controlling shareholder from 1964 until 2016 at which time he sold the company to “Distinctio” a French company and major player in Europe, specializing in the production and end-user sale of high-end tailor-made trophies. Cross was retained as company chairman.

It is a well-financed, reputable company, with a strong customer base in both the private and public sectors and is a major supplier to universities, schools, the Army, Navy and Air Force, Sports Associations and corporate bodies.

Whilst the company continues to expand its operational reach in the UK a no-deal Brexit might well be welcomed by a UK competitor.

 

 

Voluntary Sector Work (paraphrasing her words)

“I have spent 34 years working in the NHS and the voluntary sector including:

 

 

Voluntary Sector Work (paraphrasing her words)

“I have spent 34 years working in the NHS and the voluntary sector including:

The Haining Charitable Trust

I am a Director of this company which was incorporated in 2010. The Trust is tasked with the preservation of the heritage, cultural, archaeological & amenity of the Haining estate for the benefit of the community of Selkirk and for the wider public. Assets are approximately £3m. with an annual turnover around 110K.

 

 

 

Stable Life Ltd.

I was the Head of the service until 23 May 2017, at the charitable company “Stable Life Limited”.

The company supports disadvantaged young people and their families who live in the Scottish Borders and who are experiencing personal challenges.

I worked approximately 20 hours per week and received remuneration of between £15,001 and £20,000 each year.

 

 

 

 

Face to Face Borders Ltd.

A charitable company comprising around 80 Directors.

It operated from 1986 – 2015 then folded. Its aim is to provide drug and alcohol counselling and support services for children and young people in the Scottish borders.

 

 

 

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policies

Ballantyne’s wide experience counselling drug and other substance abuse users clearly drive her thinking on what needs to be done by the UK government who have reserved policy decisions to Westminster.

But her unwarranted attacks on Scottish government drugs abuse policies (which are dictated and monitored by the Tory government in Westminster) are unjustified and mislead the public into believing that the problems will all go away if the government release significant amounts of new money to local councils so that they will be enabled to employ many thousands more counsellors who will persuade those at risk not to take drugs or consume over much alcohol. Repeating the failing of the past.

If she really wished to improve matters in Scotland she would support a transfer of policies away from the Tory government in Westminster to the Scottish government in Edinburgh.

This would provide the Scottish government with the authority to introduce new policies which have been successfully introduced in other countries driving down the number of deaths of drug users and many of the needlestick injuries to innocent persons, often children, caused by carelessly discarded needles.

The introduction of a harm reduction policy would change things for the better.

Harm Reduction would be aimed at reducing drug-related individual and societal harms and includes, needle exchange, methadone, heroin maintenance programmes, and drug education in Scottish schools and colleges.

Needle exchange services would be provided in drug consumption rooms.

In drug consumption rooms, drug users can use their pre-obtained drugs in a quiet and safe environment.

They can exchange their used needles for new ones, preventing needle littering on the street.

Moreover, each clean needle handed out to a user helps to prevent the spreading of infectious diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

Using in a public space is so stressful that it tends to push the user’s health concerns to the background.

Using in a protected environment rather than on the street reduces the risk of overdoses or abscesses.

 

 

 

 

But the Tory party in Westminster insists it knows best. Does it?

In 2012 Ballantyne was elected to Scottish Borders Council, where she served as Leader of the Conservative Group.

She was then successfully-re-elected in March 2017 and resumed her position as leader.

Scottish drug-related deaths hit a record high

This report surfaced in her time as leader of the  Tory-controlled council.

The number of deaths caused by the misuse of drugs in the Scottish Borders has increased seven-fold in the past ten years. The Scottish Borders Drugs and Alcohol Partnership plan to tackle the problem through ‘prevention and treatment’.

Voluntary Groups in the Borders such as Face2Face in Galashiels and Up2U in Peebles increase awareness of the dangers of drugs to young people and NHS Borders provides medical treatment and support both at home and in hospital.

A Tory spokesperson waded in with this:

“Almost 220,000 needles were handed out to drug users in Dumfries & Galloway and the Borders last year.

Over 4.5m syringes were distributed throughout Scotland, almost the same amount as the number of people who live there.

These numbers show there are almost as many needles handed out in Scotland as there are people living in this country.

People speak about the importance of reducing needle-sharing, but what about the importance of ridding our parks and playgrounds of dumped drug-using equipment?”

Jackson Carlow piped up with this gem: “Despite the number being down on the previous year, only 25% of the syringes handed out were through a replacement scheme, raising concerns over whether needles are being disposed of responsibly.

And yet the Tory Party refuses to give way and transfer control of drugs policy to the Scottish government in doing preventing the introduction of policies implementation of which would resolve the ever-increasing problem of discarded needles in a public place. So more of the same is the future more deaths and life-threatening injuries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ballantynes of Selkirk

Michelle Lorraine Ballantyne (nee Cross), b1960 in Surrey, England.

Her father, Michael Ronald Cross, b1938, owns property in Twickenham, value around £1.5m, where he lives with his wife Dr. Francis Maria Cross

She married Captain Neil Ballantyne, b1960, in 1983. Neil served with the KOSB and The Parachute Regiment.

The couple most likely occupied married quarters in Aldershot where they added 3 sons and a daughter to their family between 1983 and 1990.

Neil resigned his commission in 1990 and relocated the family to Ashiestiel Farm, Galashiels which is a traditional detached farmhouse in a fine rural setting.

The well-presented accommodation comprises entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, study, breakfasting kitchen, large pantry, utility room, 5 bedrooms, 1 with en-suite shower room and 2 bathrooms. Further benefits included: oil fired central heating, garden, large store, log store, hen house & parking.

They added 2 more children to the family.

In 1990 together with other persons, set up their manufacturing company, “Ballantynes of Walkerburn” (more on this in part 2)

 

 

 

 

Early Career in England

Completing her nurse training at The London Hospital, Whitechapel, (now part of St Barts Trust, more on this in part 2) she started her career working as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit.

But realizing her bent was with administration and finance she made an early move into Health Service Management then went on to hold a number of posts within finance before taking up a post with South West Thames Regional Health Authority, as the Deputy Regional Finance Training Manager.

 

 

 

Career Progression in Scotland

After the move to Scotland Michelle continued to work as a nurse while also completing an Honours degree at Heriot-Watt University.

She then returned to Health Service Management in 2000, latterly managing Acute Medicine in Edinburgh before moving in 2005 to head up an independent charity providing specialist drug and alcohol support to children, families, and offenders.

She joined the Conservative Party in 2009 mindful of events in her early years that making promises was easy but delivering results was the real challenge and results can only be successfully achieved if promises are realistic and everyone works together sharing responsibility.

In 2012 Michelle was elected to Scottish Borders Council, where she served as Leader of the Conservative Group. Michelle was then successfully-re-elected in March 2017 and resumed her position as a leader at Newtown St Boswells.

In May 2017 Michelle became a list MSP for the South Scotland region, covering Midlothian South, Tweeddale, Lauderdale, and East Lothian while retaining her council seat. Michelle has since stood down from Scottish Borders Council to focus on her duties as an MSP.

During Summer 2017 Michelle was appointed as the party’s Spokesperson for Childcare and Early Years. During her first year in Holyrood, she sat on the Public Petitions Committee and was a substitute member of the Justice Committee.

In May 2018 Michelle was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Social Security.

Following this announcement, Michelle left the Public Petitions Committee to take up a seat on the Social Security Committee.

 

 

 

Political Ideology (in her own words)

The Economy

The truth is that private enterprise is the backbone of any promise that a government makes. We have to have a strong economy and that means getting rid of the deficit and clearing the debt that we are currently shackled with.  If we don’t do this the interest payments on the debt will rise steadily and that is money that should be used to deliver services. (But it has trebled over the past 10 years of the Tory government)

I am proud of the fact that over the last five years the coalition has in the face of a global recession formed a plan and stuck to it ensuring that Britain is now one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. This is no small feat and no one should underestimate how important it is. (What drivel she spouts)

 

 

 

General Taxation

The only money the government has to spend is the taxes it collects from both individuals and businesses. Individuals earn their money from business and public sector earnings are paid from the money government collects from the private sector and therefore it is clear that the only money government has come from the wealth generated within the private sector.

This is why it is so important to back and support businesses because without them we would not be able to have the universal education, health care, defense, security and welfare that we all value.

Without income from the private sector, the government would have no resources to help and all promises would be rendered false. Entrepreneurs and private industry are essential to our well-being and aspirations for the future.

 

 

 

 

Individual Taxation

Making ends meet is for many families the biggest worry that they face and without hope that things are going to improve life can be very hard.

As a Conservative I have always been committed to low taxes it is only right that you should keep the majority of the money that you earn. Raising the amount you can earn before you have to pay tax is a simple and effective way to deliver this.

The next Conservative Government will go even further in putting your money back in your pocket. For those who immediately think that being conservative is all about helping the rich let’s look at the facts – the richest 20% of households will contribute more to reducing the deficit then the remaining 80% put together.

The top 1% of earners contribute 25% of the tax and this is forecast to rise to 27%. The Independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (a tory funded think tank) has confirmed that ‘the very rich have lost the most under this government’.

Taxation is about raising money to provide the government with resources to provide services – it is not a punishment system for doing well and it is most effective in its aim when it encourages aspiration and operates at a level that people are happy to pay.

 

 

 

 

The Scottish National Health Service

The Conservative Party is and always has been committed to a health care service that is free at the point of use based on need and mot on the ability to pay.

My views and understanding of what is happening in the NHS are not based on political rhetoric and scaremongering they are based on thirty years of experience first as a Nurse and subsequently in operational and strategic management.

The NHS has had year on year increases in funding and the Barnet consequential means that Scotland has received our share of those increases however that money has not been passed on to our health boards and the rhetoric on privatization is designed to create fear in the hope of winning votes – it is a shameful way to mislead people and use a service which is the difference between life and death for many people.

There are many changes that could and should be made to the NHS to secure its future and provide the best outcomes for patients but using it as a political football is not one of them. (Oh dear!! howzat for a contradiction in terms?

I will work with our nurses, doctors and allied health professionals to ensure that we make the right decisions to provide an NHS that works for the people it cares for, an NHS that is about health outcomes not about targets and bureaucracy.

 

 

 

Public Spending

No one wants to be the one to have to make cuts in public spending, after all, it doesn’t necessarily help your popularity, but it does take courage and a clear head to make difficult decisions and see them through. That is why I joined the Conservative Party.

To improve life chances for everyone we have to have a strong economy and to do that businesses must be confident to invest in their future and provide employment and opportunity. Governments’ role is to provide constitutional stability and the infrastructure and environment that allows the business to flourish. Conservative-led governments do this.

 

 

 

 

Scottish Independence

Scotland voted to stay as part of the United Kingdom and that now needs to be respected to provide constitutional stability.

As a unionist I want to see Scotland with a strong voice in Westminster and Midlothian with a strong voice in Scotland, devolution should not stop at Holyrood.

(But Scotland has no voice in Westminster. The Tory government totally ignores any input from Scottish politicians, except their own toadies.)

 

 

 

Tax Evaders

For those large corporations who have no allegiance to our country and wish to evade our tax system, I will support further statutory measures to close the loopholes that allow tax dodging.

We have done more on this than any other government before us to prevent tax evaders and this has already raised £85 billion.

(Dream on. voicing a load of twaddle on this. More money has been moved offshore in the last ten years than the previous 200 hundred)

 

 

 

 

Other policies

The right to a good education where the quality of what you learn and achieve is more important than just teacher numbers.

Opportunities to learn, not just in university, but vocationally with access to colleges and work opportunities. (If you can afford to pay for it)

A job for everyone who wants one, and they help to get back to work for those who feel isolated from the opportunity. (Zero hours contracts count since the bulk of jobs fit this description)

The chance to own your home – Help to buy has been a huge success and has helped many people in Midlothian to get on the housing ladder.

We will continue to support and develop programmes that help people to have a home of their own.

(The scheme is discredited since it only assists those who are seeking huge mortgage loans)

A police force that works with our communities, not a one size fits all approach. ( We have this courtesy of the SNP government)

Protection for our environment recognizing that that is also about keeping our scenery beautiful and encouraging the land management that we have benefitted from for hundreds of years.

(Aha!! but fracking does not count does it? and wind and water energy generation is left unfunded so that Westminster can progress its extortionately expensive and dangerous nuclear power plant building agenda)

A strong voice in the world, getting a good deal in Europe and providing appropriate support and aid in areas of conflict and crisis. (No change there then gunboat diplomacy to be enhanced and expanded)

I hear a lot of politicians using expressions like Fairness and Justice – these are words that are used like weapons now to sell an ideology and detract from the facts.

(So true!! There is no fairness or justice in the policies enacted by the Tory government against the people of Scotland over the past 10 years.)

Statistics show that inequality has fallen under the Conservatives.

The income received by the lowest income groups has increased and for the highest income groups, it has fallen.

Wages are now rising faster than inflation and more jobs have been created in the UK than in the whole of Europe put together. (Dream on).

Whilst politics is not a meritocracy I believe that the success or failure of government is based on the quality of the people we elect to do the job and their understanding of the effect of the decisions they make on all sectors of society.

( so true but she needs to listen to her own voice since she is failing to understand the impact of the unfounded allegations she pronounces in the right-wing Scottish press and media.) More in Part 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Telegraph 19 Oct 2019    Letters to the editor

SIR – We represent businesses, large and small, across the United Kingdom.

We have one simple message for the Prime Minister on Brexit: no more delay.

This rank uncertainty is crippling British business and it cannot continue.

Britain must leave the EU on October 31 – no ifs, no buts. An extension will see the final breakdown of trust in our political system.

The Conservative brand will be tarnished forever, and a resurgent Brexit Party will fight every seat in the country.

The result will be a hung Parliament, with more delay and uncertainty.

Britain has compromised repeatedly for more than two years.

If the EU rejects Boris Johnson’s latest proposal, he must call off negotiations immediately and walk away.

Our businesses are prepared for no deal. With the Government and Britain’s entrepreneurs working hand in glove, we can create a hyper-competitive, business-friendly powerhouse of an economy – a true alternative to the sclerotic, backward-looking and lobbyist-riddled EU.

Britain is the centre of world finance and a leader in the industries of the future. We are an immense global power. It’s time to start acting like one.

 

 

 

 

List of signatories

Robert Hiscox: Founder, Hiscox Plc. A Bermuda-incorporated insurance provider

Ben Habib: Founder and CEO, First Property Group Plc. A commercial property investment and fund management company. Elected as a Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament (MEP)in the 2019 European parliamentary election.

Nikolai Hack: UK Managing Director and COO, Exo Investing and Nucoro. Launching in early 2018, it is a fully automated, AI-powered wealth management platform. It is basically a collaboration between the Spanish based, ETS Asset Management Factory, and the Rothschild banking family. Pretty much anyone will know about the Rothschild banking dynasty who bring a lot to the table, and their entrance into the automated investment market is something of an endorsement for space as a whole.

Timothy Congdon: Founder and ex-CEO, Lombard Street Research. Between 1993 and 1997 he was a member of the Treasury Panel that advised the Conservative government on economic policy, sometimes referred to as the “wise men”.

Tim Martin: Chairman, JD Wetherspoon. A staunch supporter of Brexit, representing these views for journalists and on political TV programmes

Julian Morgan: Managing Director and Owner, KPM-Marine Ltd. A marine-products manufacturer based in Birmingham. The Company works to a global standard, which is set by the International Maritime Organization and European standards make no difference to the manufacturing output.

Sir David Ord and Terence Mordant: Director and Chairman, The Bristol Port Company.

Simon Boyd: Managing Director, ReidSteel

Matt Taylor: Founder and CEO, Rockpool Investments LLP

Toby Baxendale: Director, Great Grimsby Seafood Village

Robert Law: Managing Director, AGD Equipment

Mark Pursey; Managing Partner, BTP Advisers

Brian Yeardley; Founder, Brian Yeardley Continental

Mark Wheatley; Businessman and Common Councilman, City of London Corporation

Dave Bentley; Owner, Dave Bentley Ecology Services

David Kirk; Director, David Kirk, and Co

Bill Good; CEO, Diverco Ltd

William Jones; Chairman, Global Village Ltd

Graham Hutton; Founder, Hutton Collins Partners LLP

Rupert Gather; Chairman, Invest UK

Edgar Miller; Managing Director, Palladian Limited

Ian Herbert; Chief Executive Officer, Vistair Ltd

Andrew Kitchen; Director, LK2 Architects Ltd

Lesley Hollingshead; Director, MPS Financials and Accountancy Ltd

Spencer Clarke; Director, 121prodata Ltd

Dr George Bowen; Director, Able Lyons Consulting Pty Ltd

Clive Underdown; Director, APT Ltd

Stephen Britt; Managing Director, Anchor Storage Solutions

Andrew Dixon; Owner, Andrew Dixon Photography

Angela Cook; Managing Director, Angies Transport Services Ltd

Colin and Annette Penny; Directors, APG Equine Limited

Philip Brooker; Managing Director, Arun Microelectronics Ltd

Andy Richards; Director, ASL Catering Agency Ltd

Neil Ballantyne; Managing Director, Ballantynes of Walkerburn. Manufacturer of hand-made sculptures and engravers of fine crystal, glass, and bottles. Co-Owned by Husband and wife team Neil and Michelle Tory list MSP) Holyrood

 

 

 

 

 

Danny Cox; Owner, Barcs Woodworks

Neville Wright; Director, Beeson Wright Ltd

Peter Bishop; Managing Director and Founder, William Bishop Engineering Ltd, Bishop Aeronautics Inc, Bishop GmbH, NATT GmbH, and Co KG, AFCS

Steve Smith; CEO, Buzz Networks Ltd

Adam Cleary; Director and Chief Executive, Cavenham Capital

Kevin Bell; Director, CDM 2014

Steve Ody; Owner, Citrus Travel

Steve Hardeman; Managing director and Co-Owner, Clevedon Fasteners Ltd

Chris Chatfield; Managing Director, Compass Travel

Lord Daresbury; Director, Daresbury Estates Ltd

Michael Bilewycz; Managing Director, Decisis Limited

Christopher Gower; CEO, Direct Nickel Holdings UK Ltd

Judith Donovan; Chairman, DIY Direct Marketing;

Professor Kevin Dowd; Consultant and Economist, Durham University

Nick Berry; Managing Director, Early Oak Reproductions Ltd

Ivor Chivers; Managing Director, Eco Solutions Limited

Julie Williams; Owner, EdgeC

Mick Kelly; Managing Director, Elmesthorpe Projects Ltd

Dr John Hart; CEO, Endocrine Pharmaceuticals Ltd

James Blott; Former CEO and Entrepreneur, Engineering and Defence Sectors

Flavius Fernandes; Director, ERPSirius Ltd

Nick Sellick; CEO & Founder, Estate Insurance Group

Dermot Glynn; Founder, Europe Economics Ltd

John Fifield; Chairman, Fifield Glyn Ltd

Glyn Johnson; Owner and Director, G.H Johnson Plant & Machinery Sales

Tim Trotter; Chairman, Glenfern

Simon Beart; CEO & Owner, Guardian Security & Fire Limited

Lance Forman; Owner, H Forman & Sons

Arabella Arkwright; Partner, Hatton Country World

Alex Bourne; Founder and Director, Hinpack Limited

Trevor Honeyman; Chairman, Honeyman Group Limited

William Bavin; Managing director, House of Marbles & Teign Valley Glass

David W Ford; Founder and Director, Ingenica Solutions Ltd

Charles Breese; Director, Larpent Newton

Richard Royden; Managing Director, Royden & Co

Richard Ayres; Managing Director, Maroon Analytics

Nigel Roberts; Managing Director, Megasteel Limited

Christopher Evans; Director, Ministry Developments Ltd

Ben Walker; Owner, MonkeyFist Construction and Precision Planning

Dr Tom Walker; Founder, MyLash

Ian Harris; Proprietor, N Bloom & Son

Danny Corrigan; Director, CISI Trustee;

Alan Graves; Director, Norcon Computers Ltd

Paul Jenkins; Director, North Cyber Security

James Bromley; Director, One Ten OneHundred Ltd

Karl Pearsall; Director, Original Thing Ltd

Allison Wild; Managing Director, Oxford Biosciences Limited

James Dean; Chairman, Patrick Dean Limited

Peter Harris; Managing Director, Peter James Group

Tim Price; Managing Director, Price Value Partners

Gareth Bott; Owner and Manager, Director R.E.P Air Services Ltd

David Furness; Director, Rapierstar Ltd

Colin Rennie; Principal, Rennie Park Associates

 

 

 

 

Debbie Flint; Founder, Retreats For You

Dr Ian Goodyer; Director, Reydoog Ltd

Dr Tom Brook; Managing Director, Santel Ltd

Neil Sawyer; Director, Sawyers Consulting Limited

Barbara Stratton; Director, Stratasys Ltd

Andrew Hamilton; Director & CEO, Syn2gen Ltd
Michael Webster
Director, Telum Media
Anthony Cornwall
Director, The Vastum Group Ltd
Ken Thomson
Owner, Thomson Harrower Fencing
Tina Bradley
CEO & Founder, Elan London Ltd
John Biggin
Managing Director, TruckEast Ltd
Tony Young
Creative Director, Urban Fires Limited
Dr Michael McGetrick
Founder & Managing Director, UtterSense Ltd
Simon Rowland
Co-Founder & CEO, Veritas International
Bruce Smith
Senior Partner, Westminster Consultants
Alistair Macmillan
Founder and Managing Director, White House Products Limited
Peter Thompson
Director, Woodpecker Inn (Estates) Ltd
Stuart Leasor
Managing Director, Woodstock Leasor Limited
Hunter DuBose
Managing Partner, Spitfire Capital Advisors
Sandra Dangoor
Roger Holehouse
Chairman, Fernwood Group
Adrian Fisher
Founder and Chairman, Adrian Fisher Design Ltd
Richard Wheeler
Director, Southernhay Financial Planning Ltd
Harry Iles
Founder, Lindenbaum Investments Ltd
Richard Heywood
Director, Malin Ltd
Tim Lucas
Director, Lucas Property Investments
Jonathan Blair
Director, TMCo Ltd & Blair Property Ltd
Daniel Goss-Custard
Owner, HMX Media & Stanlake Park Wine Estate
Clive Allen
Director, Bainesbury Holdings Limited
David McHutchon
CEO, Hubmaier Ltd

 

 

 

Angus Allan
Managing Director, Indulgence Patisserie Limited
Michael Lane
Founder and Director, Revival Books Ltd
Jonathan Taylor
Director, Silver Pacific Limited
David Franks
CEO, Franks Advances Ltd
Andy Butcher
Director, Alchemy Expo Ltd
David Hoey
Managing Director, Sandelford
Adrian Huston
Partner, Huston & Co
Keith Hancock
CEO/Chaiman (retired), KHS Group Ltd
Fran Barrett
Director, The Beeches Homecare Services
Alan Roberts
Director, The Dinner Club & Alan Roberts Law
Johnnie Arkwright
Director, Hatton Ltd
Clifford Bull
Director, Eco Energy and Environmental Ltd
Neil Penny
Director & Owner, Enarpee Services Ltd
Scott SD Collins
CEO, Hawtrey Dene Group
Ian Duncan
Ecospeed Marine Ltd
William Drake
Chairman, Pelican Family Investments
David Fell
CEO and founder, Linnmont Limited
David Steed
Owner, Spratling Court Farm
Zana Juppenlatz
Owner, The Bamburgh Gallery
Clive Gough
Managing Director and Owner, Clifford & Gough Limited
Christopher Billington
Director, Classic Mart Limited
Tim Pendry
Chairman, TPPR Limited
Michael Rollings
Director, Blagdon Appliances Ltd
Martyn O’Connor
Director, Heatshine Limited
Robert Turnbull
Owner, The Chatton Gallery
Laurence Worms
Owner, Ash Rare Books
Andy Bolstridge
Owner, Bolstridge Consulting Limited
Stephen Ash
Founder and Director, The Kitchen Facelift Company
Toby Baxendell
Managing Director and Owner, Lee Floorstok Limited
Paul Gray
Owner, Black and White Trading Ltd
Tony & Moya King
Directors, Inspired Acquisitions Ltd, Inspired Assets Ltd, Inspired Canterbury Ltd, Inspired Property Ltd
Jonathan Davis
Director, Jonathan Davis Wealth Management
Peter Harrison
Managing Director, Ocean Footprint Ltd
Alan Richard Morris
Director, Small Green Tree Ltd
Steve Bithell
Managing Director, Noisekiller Acoustics UK Ltd
Maria Sanderson
Director, A&H Pest Control Ltd
Jonathan Kingan
Director, JJK Associates
Mike Brewer
Director, SmithBrewer
Graeme Wingate
Director, Quick Loans Ltd
Karen Traviss
Donald M MacKenzie
Owner and Director, Drive Business Services Ltd
Kira Nicholls
Director, Starspun Media Ltd
Ifor Jones
Owner, IMEJ Windows
Marylyn Jones
Owner, Doleos Holiday Cottages
Adrian Read
Owner, A J Read Upholstery
Andy Chittenden
Director, Governance Health Ltd

 

 

 

 

Shaun Turner
Managing Director, St John Fox Limited
Sandra Robinson
Director, Boo Designs Ltd
Sam Hawkins
Director, Boo Designs Ltd
Robin Cook
Managing Director, FHE Technology Limited
Richard Merrin
Managing Director, Spreckley Partners Limited
Kerryanne Wilde
Founder & CEO, CERT (UK) Ltd – Community Emergency Response Team (UK)
Neil Hennessy
Director, Pyramid Power Ltd
Nicholas Dickinson
CEO, Congham Hotels
Charles Hancock
CEO, Anglo-Suisse Capital Limited
Anthony Smith
Managing Director, Aspect Contracts Ltd
Lilian Mains
Director, Mains Cottages & Northumberland Self Catering Cottages Ltd
Anthony Mowatt
Group Founder & CEO, Keystone Legal & Bastion Insurance Company
Dr Joanne Freeman and Richard Giden
Directors, Oral Design London (UK) Ltd
Les Stevenson
Director, Commsnet Solutions Limited
Peter Biggins
Director and Owner, Target Print (Leeds) Limited
Nick McKay
Founder and Managing Director, Grange Capital Investments Ltd
Marcus Gibson
Owner, Gibson Index Ltd
Ian Ross
Managing Director, Hallmark Security Ltd
Patrick Armstrong
Director, All English Distribution Ltd
Kevin Holdridge
Managing Director, Kent House Consulting Ltd
Steve Reed
Managing Director, Steve Reed Tourism Ltd
Dr Kishore Budha
Director, Tungsten Works Ltd
Christopher Lees
Owner, Invest In Spain
Heidi Kirwan
Owner, Groundroots Gardening and Landscapes
Sir Jeremy Bagge
Partner, Stradsett Estate
Roland Cornish
Chairman & CEO, Beaumont Cornish Limited
Edmund Truell
Executive Chairman, Disruptive Capital Finance LLP
Rhoddy Swire
Christopher HB Mills
CEO, Harwood Private Equity
David Potter
Chairman, Coeus Software
Damon de Laszlo
Chairman, Harwin plc
Rupert Lowe
Chairman, WHIreland

 

 

 

 

Chris Martin
Director, Annetech Ltd
Simon P. Wagstaff
Founder & Chairman/CEO, The ASA Group
John Hickman
Chairman, Kingston Estates Ltd
James McCague
Director, DN22 Technical Ltd
Paul Brewer
Managing Director, Shropshire 3D Print Ltd
Nick Simpson
Owner, Nick Simpson & Sons Ltd
James Neal
Managing Director, The Quad Group
Allan Bean
Owner & Director, Bean IT Ltd
Robert MacKay
Founder, The Online Clinic
Vicki Smith
CEO, Astara Training Ltd
Graham Beech
Owner, Town & Country Fitness
Richard Somerville
Owner, Rosemary Cattee
Tony Norton
CEO, Nortrak Ltd
Alisha Jackson
Owner, Alisha Jackson Copyrighting
Peter Stannett
Co-Founder, Gloop Agency
Andrew Gibson
Partner & Director, Sancroft Executive Services Limited
Rupert Lowe
Chairman, Proton Partners International trading as Rutherford Cancer Centres
Steve Fraser
Finance Director, Sinclair Goldberg Price Limited
Michael Perkin
Managing Director (retired), OASiS Group plc
King Lawa
CFO, Mega Nursing and Care
Dr Claire Bush
Director, Advanced Vetinary Services Ltd
Noel Tipton
Director, S N Products Limited
Antonio Esposito
Director, Vivdvapes Ltd
Mark Rogers
Director, Langstone Cliff Hotel
Tony Goodwin
Group CEO & Chairman, Antal International
Salvatore Murtas
Director, Vitruvian Comms
Shanti Doon-Pandit
Founder, Trine Oils Limited
Darren Selkus
CEO & Chairman, UV Group Plc
Austin Cox
Owner, AGC Fabrications limited
Charles Fazackerley
Director, Blaithwaite Developments Ltd
Stuart Elson
CEO, The Global Development Partnership Ltd
Damon Francis
CEO, Advenue Limited
Matt Slocombe
Owner, The Crown Inn
Zoe Tranter
Owner, Tranter Mills Solicitors
Craig Smith
Director, Stealth Blackbelt Academy LLP
James Carr
Owner, Ellamés Regent Road Bistro
Steve Pearson
Director, Appliance Care Ltd
David Wookey
Director, DJAW Ltd

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Sharp
Director, Sharp Images UK
Fraser McKenzie
Owner, Maple Advisors Ltd
Peter Mason
Director, Mason Consultants Limited
Geoff Pickering
Owner, Argham Grange Farm T/A A J Pickering
John Birchill
Director, Stourbridge Motorcycle Centre
Martin Baker
Director, Digital Heaven Ltd
Paul Mackenzie
Director, Aspidea Limited
Tom Bohills
Principal, Chronos Law Limited
Sam Bell
Managing Director, Victor Investments Ltd
Anthony Aburrow
Director & Co-Founder, Olive Modular Ltd
Frank Wilman
Director, Future-tech SCI Ltd
Graham Webb
Director, Professional Golf Europe Ltd
Jamie Wightman
Owner, Revel Outdoors
Steve Barson
Director, Burley Appliances Ltd
Philip Tipton
Chairman, Merton Group UK Ltd
Russell Allen
Founder, Crescendo
Peter Brady
Managing Director, Mutual Media Ltd
Anthony Fanshawe
Director, FPN Corporate Finance
Clarke Adams
Director, Ale Piling Ltd
Jimmy Campbell
Director, West of Scotland Heavy Haulage
Amanda Vigar
Director, V & A Vigar Group
Andy Saunders
Owner, ScotchCoulthard
Russ Taylor
Director, John Taylor Crane Services Ltd
Greg Hipkiss
Director, Hipkiss & Company (Insurance Brokers) Ltd
Catherine Françoise
Founder, VPA Productions
Andy Coughlan
Director, Manicgrin Media Ltd
John Lawson
Owner/MD, Ingeniocity Limited
Michael Gower
Owner, Gower Health & Fitness Solutions Limited
Alberto Orru
Founder & Managing Director, InvestArtOne
David Webster
Director, Cuando Limited
Professor David Blake
Chairman, Square Mile Consultants
Laurence Willis
Director, ER Longley Hydroworks LLP
Ian Dobbs
Director, IAD Associates Ltd
Manish Singh
Chief Investment Officer, Crossbridge Capital
Tim Coverdale
Owner, Smithpack Ltd
Paul Towlson
Owner, Progressive Property Network
Ajay Jagota
CEO, KIS Group & Dlighted
Arthur Jones
Founder, ANJ Executive
Tina de Souza
Director, Moskardo Limited
Tony Bell
Managing Director, Parrallel Flooring Accessories
John Elliott
Chairman, Ebac Ltd

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 Nov 2017: Swinson hiding in the corner during a meeting to form a common policy on tackling abuse following allegations of sexual harassment and abuse in British politics. Wonder why Lord Rennard wasn’t invited. Hard necked eh!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

July 2013: Anger as constituents pay Swinson’s Electricity Bill

While East Dunbartonshire working people, pensioners, job seekers, and families struggle to heat their homes and pay for food, local Tory/Liberal Democrat Westminster coalition Minister MP Swinson has been claiming from the taxpayer to pay her electricity bill.

Swinson who has, at the lowest estimation, not including the fact she has her food paid and subsidized, an income in excess of £100k a year – claimed £569.72.

This in the face of the calls from coalition members to end the £300 winter fuel allowance pensioners receive.

Politicians and their banker pals gamble and play with our money and caused the financial crisis, but seem to be the only ones not ‘in this together’, with the rest of us suffering wage cuts and hugely increased food and energy bills. (newsforscotland)

 

 

 

 

 

September 2013: Swinson votes for war against the wishes of her electorate

Before the Westminster general election,  MP. Jo Swinson, espoused fine, compassionate Liberal principles and was generally applauded for her attitudes.

It is very sad that thereafter, and particularly since her elevation to the Cabinet, she forgot those principles and her compassion.

She voted with Cameron and Clegg on all of the big ones.

Principle after principle has fallen as her career and salary has taken an upward trajectory.

From University fees, through the privatization of the NHS and the lowering of taxes for millionaires and billionaires, the further impoverishment of those in poverty through the heinous welfare bill and the imposition of the bedroom tax on poor people with nowhere to move… this woman is for the House of Lords if she can topple enough of her principles to do the Tories bidding.

She is doing very well out of her support for the Tories.

But of course, the only thing that could get in the way of this plan of a job for life (something a huge proportion of her constituents will never have thanks to her Govt. attacks on workers rights) would be Scottish Independence, so she is working hard making sure she is photographed at every White Elephant, bazaar and three-legged race in her constituency.

And now her voting for war.

Like Blair and Thatcher did and look at how they did!

Looked after by their rich sponsors and never wanting for anything… Every lower-middle-class persons dream…Cameron’s shockingly badly handled attempt at forcing us to war- his Maggie moment- Jo’s Maggie moment – failed.

Reason, principle, compassion and the will of the people won.

And this and all of the dreadful compromises she made that impact terribly on peoples lives will be hers and her Rose Garden chums downfall. (plotsplot)

 

 

 

 

April 2015: Lib dem Swinson walked through the lobby with the rest of her political cronies to cut Scotland’s budget by £12 billion.

 

 

 

 

 

January 2015: Swinson’s taxi use excessive!!!

Prudent Lib Dem MP, Swinson has been rather quick to defend her expenses over the past few years. And she has done well after the accusations of buying ludicrous things was batted off. And I quite understand, she can have a long commute to Westminster from Westerton.

So imagine my surprise to read she has needed something called “business class taxis?” Surely a mistake?

http://plotsplot.blogspot.co.uk/2015_01_01_archive.html

Parliament’s official record has Consumer minister Swinson revealing her department spent nearly £80,000 last year on “business class taxis”.

Surely a mistake. How many taxis do you know, Jo, which offer economy and business class? (The Mirror)

 

 

 

 

 

November 2014: All the lunatics are not locked up. Means Test the pensioners

The Business Minister has declared that wealthy pensioners should be stripped of their winter fuel allowance to fund cheaper bus fares for young people.

LibDem  Swinson said subsidizing rich pensioners’ energy bills with payments of up to “£300 [If you qualify by being over 80 and live alone]” each was hard to justify in times of austerity.

She said the cash should be used instead to help young people get to work or college with discounted bus tickets.

It didn’t occur to her that poor pensioners are dying at the rate of 200 a day in the winter because they are cold in their homes, whereas young people at work and in college are kept warm all day in their jobs or colleges because someone else is paying the heating bills there?

Perhaps even the wealthiest pensioners are more concerned about the 200 who die than is Swinson who, remarkably, is also kept warm at the House of Commons, is provided with subsidized meals and booze, and enjoys a huge salary and “Voted strongly for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits”.

No other section of our society is so vulnerable and treated so badly by Swinson and her ilk that they live in fuel poverty.

When these gas rings go off the lives of another 200 pensioners are at risk.

 

 

 

 

November 2013: Swinson urged to ‘show consistency’ on unpaid workers

Swinson is under fire for railing against the use of unpaid workers – despite her party offering non-paying internships.

Campaigners have called on her to show consistency on the issue – and have accused her of promoting unpaid work through her Get East Dunbartonshire Working campaign.

They also accuse her of criticizing non-paying internships while backing the governments’ workfare scheme which forces people into unpaid work.

Swinson backed a campaign against the exploitation of interns – even though it was recently shown that the LibDems are the only party offering unpaid work experience.

Ross Greer, from Bearsden, convener of Dunbartonshire Greens, said:

“Young people in Scotland are being hammered by her government’s policies and workfare is a perfect example of this. Instead of investing in the economy to create more jobs, Westminster forces our young people into unpaid work experience. This system allows companies to hold back from employing new, paid staff as they can take on these young people for no cost instead. This creates a vicious circle of lost opportunities for young people in need of real, paid employment.”

Neil Scott, also from Bearsden, spoke for the Campise SSP, saying:

“While  Swinson’s constituents pay hundreds of pounds for her heating bill we have to endure damaging policies, all coming from a Tory-led government that we did not elect. She cannot campaign against unpaid internships on one hand whilst advocating unpaid work placements on the other.” (Milngavie Herald)

 

 

 

 

 

November 2013: East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson defends bedroom tax vote

A motion to scrap the controversial ‘bedroom tax’ fell short by 26 votes last week in the House of Commons.

East Dunbartonshire MP  Swinson was one of seven Lib Dem MPs who voted against the motion, helping to achieve the coalition majority.

The spare rooms subsidy has proved unpopular in East Dunbartonshire – with council chiefs and housing association bosses saying hundreds are being hit in the pocket.

The tax, introduced in April, means tenants have their benefits cut if they are deemed to have a spare bedroom.

However, a shortage of one-bedroom properties has meant many are unable to move and are forced to take the drop in income. (Kirkintilloch Herald)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swinson To Ask The Good People of East Dunbartonshire to Forgive Her Disgraceful Betrayal  of the Electorate When A Minister in The Con-Dem Government

In 2010 Swinson was returned to Westminster as the MP for East Dunbartonshire.

Her success almost entirely due to tactical voting witnessed by the support of the media, Tory and a number of Labour supporters denying the SNP candidate an expected victory.

The outcome of the election was a hung parliament but, with the backing of the Liberals the Tory Party took up office.

So yet again Scotland had a government that it had rejected outright (80%+ voted for parties other than the Tories.)

The support of Swinson and her Liberal colleagues ushered in a Government comprised of old Etonians, corrupt businessmen and unelected peers of the realm.

The infamous Con-Lib coalition government brought with it swingeing cuts and misery and the East Dunbartonshire electorate was subjected to five years of savage cuts destroying working-class families and many of the less fortunate in society.

The end result was that the poor got poorer and the rich much richer.

Given their chance in 2015 the people of East Dunbartonshire punished Jo Swinson’s betrayal, booting her, the Tories and the labour party firmly into touch.

The SNP took up the reins of office bringing confidence to the people of East Dunbartonshire that their welfare and political desires would be faithfully represented in Westminster.

Not dismayed and without apology (she is quoted as saying she had no regrets) for her actions and the misrule of the Con-Dem government (in which she held a ministerial appointment) she brazenly announced her candidacy for the East Dunbartonshire seat in the 2017 GE.

For the record, her main residence is in Peckham, London. But (planning ahead) she retained the flat, (in East Dunbartonshire) purchased for her by the obliging taxpayers of the constituency.

The Unionist media and BBC are already talking up Swinson for the seat

 

 

 

 

 

Swinson Comeback Confirmed – The People of East Dunbartonshire Must Be Nuts

Swinson was returned to Westminster as an MP in the June 2017 General Election and soon found her place in a much reduced Lib/Dem Party that had been firmly rejected by the wider electorate.

The Party is so short of talent that she was elected unchallenged to the post of Deputy Leader to the old pensioner Vince Cable, he of the fraudulent Post Office peanuts sell-off to Unionist supporting financiers in the City of London.

Mindful of her appalling record of failing to support female staff under attack from Lord Rennard she had the hard neck to attend  a meeting, on 7 Nov 2017, with Vince Cable in Downing Street, convened by the Prime Minister to thrash out an agreement designed to provide staff employed by politicians with a place of work, free from sexual innuendo and abuse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct 2018: Protecting paedophiles in politics – a petition was submitted to Westminster calling for an amendment to the Official Secrets Act preventing its use in cases where child abuse was involved.

Swinson and her colleague MP’s voted against a proposed change to the Official Secrets Act so that public servants, including MP’s, will continue to be protected from any investigation of allegations about child abuse.

The Lib Dem votes would have sanctioned the change. Why on earth did Swinson et al vote to kill it?

It surely cannot have been part of the coalition agreement. (The London Economic)

 

Reader – Richard Harbury was incensed but unsurprised by the actions of politicians. He wrote:

“The can of political maggots cowering behind a misused act that hides the vile regime of controlled child abuse, blackmail, and extortion within, among other places, Westminster, are not a threat to national security.

The only threats are to their positions of freedom in society, their anonymity and the threat that they are to children.

They are criminals (pending) and any information on any person suspected of a criminal act is classed as evidence and should be made available for the prosecution of the accused and for the protection of the public in general.

Is it time to scrub the filth from parliament and the ‘establishment’? I say yes, yet successive prime ministers have disagreed.

In a perverse twist, those that should be punished for countless abuses of both power and people are actively encouraged and facilitated in child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation with the brushing of evidence under the carpet and the burying of the carpet in a concrete coffin at the bottom of the deepest ocean, after, of course, having the evidence used to blackmail the offenders. That, my friends, is my long and short of it.”

And a wee bit about Swinson’s attitude to sexual harassment within the Lib Dem party?

 

 

 

 

Sep 2019: Lib Dem, Lord Rennard who was supposedly banished from the Party is back campaigning after only a few short months

Bridget Harris, (former political aide to the worse than useless) Nick Clegg,  has accused the Liberal Democratic Party of ignoring women’s safety after one of the party’s peers, who was accused of sexual harassment, was allowed to campaign in a recent by-election.

Her criticism after the disgraced, Lord Rennard was photographed recently on the campaign trail for the party at a recent by-election.

What the hell!!!  So much for justice!!!

 

 

 

February 2013: Lord Rennard – allegations of sexual impropriety

Miss Smith, a senior female officer of the Party was being harrassed and went to Swinson, the Party’s spokesperson for women and equality, who was then also the Con/Dem coalition government, “minister for women”.

A powerful position of trust had been accepted by Swinson who offered that she would be stalwart in her defense of women.

Swinson agreed to investigate and to speak to other women within the Lib/Dem Party who had also alleged that Lord Rennard had behaved inappropriately. She uncovered a very serious pattern of misbehavior.

In a follow-up, interview Swinson told Ms. Smith the problem with taking it forward was that nobody wanted to make a formal complaint.

Ms. Smith said:

“It very quickly became quite Kafkaesque. They were saying, ‘No one wants to make a formal complaint’, and I was saying, ‘I’ll make a formal complaint,’ and they were saying, ‘That’s a shame because no one wants to make a formal complaint’.”

But who knows? There’s a quote in the Mail from an anonymous “Lib Dem insider” who also spoke to  Swinson, as long ago as 2004.

Although that was before Swinson, then just 24, was even an MP, she was already a rising star in the party, famous among other things for wearing a pink T-shirt with the slogan, “I am not a token woman”.

The source said:

“Swinson said to me that Rennard had an issue about women but you have to put up with it if you want to get on in the party.”

The following year she became the youngest MP in the House of Commons.

heresycorner)  (capitalbay)

Alison Suttie (Cleggs Niece) Now a Peer of the realm

 

 

 

August 2013: Liberal Democrat leaders failed female staff

The formal inquiry into the Lord Rennard sexual harassment scandal has found that Clegg, Danny Alexander, Paul Burstow, and Jo Swinson “could have done much more” to protect Rennard’s alleged victims and investigate the claims against him.

Rubbing salt into the wounds Rennard’s niece Alison Suttie, who was also accused of covering up the allegations, was awarded a peerage for her efforts.

The behavior of the Clegg and his executive lieutenants over the scandal shames their party and shames politics. (trendingcentral)

 

Lord Rennard

 

 

Sex scandal: Con/Dem Women’s minister Jo Swinson has disappeared?

Since the Lord Rennard scandal broke, Liberal Democrat MP, Jo Swinson, the women’s and equalities minister, has gone to ground.

Why won’t she answer the questions she so urgently needs to, asks Cathy Newman.  (The Telegraph)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unionist Party scandal  revealed – Tax Haven firms cashing in on East Dunbartonshire PFI contract

The charge to Scottish taxpayers for PFI projects driven by  Labour and Lib Dem Party administrations in Westminster and Holyrood will add up to £30billion over the coming decades.

The East Dunbartonshire Schools PFI project is currently owned 50% by Innisfree Nominees Ltd, which is owned by Innisfree Group Ltd.

The main shareholders in this firm are Coutts and Co Trustees (Jersey) Ltd, based in the Jersey tax haven and part of the taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland group Coutts.

Coutts, whose chairman is Tory peer Lord Waldegrave, was named recently in the leaked Panama papers for asking offshore law firm Mosack Fonseca to set up almost 500 offshore companies for its clients.

Semperian PPP Holdings, which has a parent company also registered in Jersey, holds the other 50% stake in this project, which built six new schools in East Dunbartonshire including Bearsden Academy, Douglas Academy, and Bishopbriggs Academy.

Vast profits are being made by selling on stakes in PFI projects in Scotland. It is reported that one project alone made the seller several million pounds. All tax-free.

51 companies were recorded as being involved in 33 Scottish PFI projects in 2012 – including eight based in the Channel Islands.

The financial return to investors ranges from 10%-95%. All of it tax-free courtesy of the Scottish taxpayer.

Jo Swinson’s Lib Dem Party formed part of the government that implemented the disgraceful sell-off of Scotlands heritage.

Yet the electorate insists on returning a Lib Dem to Westminster. But there could be an explanation. Some may be happy campers enjoying the fruits of their investment.  Remember this:

“East Dunbartonshire has been awarded the accolade of one of the top twenty places in a UK “quality of life” survey.  The owner-occupancy rate is well above average and constituents enjoy good health and high educational results.”

The survey tracks where living standards are highest in Great Britain by ranking local performance across key indicators of the labour market, the housing market, the environment, education, and health.