caltonjock

 

 

 

 

 

William Grant: MP

Miner’s son, William was born 14 August 1951. He was raised in Rankinston in Cumnock and Doon Valley, East Ayrshire, and educated at Littlemill Primary in northern Rankinston and Cumnock Academy.

He joined the fire service and served for 31 years before retiring at 55 as a deputy commander in the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service. With a public service lump sum retirement benefit payment of around £75k and a pension, (based on available information) to be in the region of £30k per annum a benefit free future was secured.

Personal life

He is a member of the Kyle and Carrick Civic Society, the Alloway Rotary, the Ayr Classic Motorcycle Club and the Ayr Building Preservation Trust and is a keen DIY, gardening and motorcycling enthusiast.

Other Public Service:

He served as a justice of the peace for ten years on Ayr District Court.

Politics:

He was first elected as a Conservative Councillor on South Ayrshire Council at the 2007 Council elections, serving as one of four Councillors in the Ayr West ward and was re-elected in the 2012 Council elections. He unsuccessfully campaigned as the Conservative Party candidate in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock at the 2010 UK General Election.

He successfully gained the seat for the Conservatives from the SNP’s Corri Wilson at the 2017 general election, (which wasn’t a surprise given the bad press coverage to which she was subjected by the Unionist press and state controlled media.)

With the looks of a jolly, well disposed Victor Meldrew, Grant thrives on photo opportunities and courts publicity.

 

 

 

Noteworthy Events in His Political Career

22 Dec 2016: Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) – South Ayrshire Tory and Labour Councillors Refuse to Support Ayrshire Women

Furious Councillor Nan McFarlane said “women across South Ayrshire had been insulted” by the performance of Conservative and Labour members after a so-called chamber debate descended into farce. It followed their shut down of an SNP motion to protest against changes to the State Pension Age by the UK government.

The alterations have hit many women across the country by lifting their pension age from 60 to 65. Retrospective changes have been made, in many cases, with minimal notice for women who had planned to retire and now face being forced to work on. But what should have been a mature debate on a very serious subject ended in 90 minutes of embarrassing political football at County Buildings.

SNP colleagues had called for a written protest to Westminster against the transitional changes which, they said, would be sent on behalf of all women in South Ayrshire. What they were met with was a ludicrous amendment slapped down by council leader, Bill McIntosh, which proposed that the SNP write instead to Holyrood complaining about the terms of the local government settlement. But the two issues are totally unrelated and in any event the proposed changes to the pension age will come fully into force in the very near future.

But what is crystal clear is the shame which this attempt at a debate brought upon South Ayrshire Council. Following a painful series of exchanges and a 15-13 vote in favour of denying women support, there was little holding back from those who felt politics should have played second fiddle. Councillor McFarlane said: “I actually feel like I’ve been the victim of domestic abuse sitting through that. Those who voted with that amendment should be utterly ashamed of themselves. Women all across South Ayrshire have been insulted by what has taken place and I have never been so disgusted by that council.”

Independent Councillor, Brian Connolly, asked: “Can someone tell me what pensions have got to do with the local government settlement? Nothing as far as I can see.”

During the fractious debate, SNP colleague Douglas Campbell said: “I never cease to be amazed by this council. This undoubtedly marks a low point for me during my time here. All we’ve done is make ourselves a laughing stock and the fact we couldn’t debate this issue is a disgrace.

SNP leader Allan Dorans, who tabled the original motion, said: “I’m embarrassed to be a member of this council. To blame the Scottish Government for this is political posturing at its worst and members who vote with the amendment are doing women a huge injustice.”

Only Ann Galbraith (Conservative) and Ian Cavana (Labour) broke ranks with the administration to vote with the motion. But their show of defiance was not enough. (daily record)

 

 

 

9 Aug 2017: Bill Grant (MP) Refuses to Support “WASPI” Women Campaign

Bill Grant Conservative MP for Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock met with women (born in the 1950s) from within his constituency who have had their state pension age changed by the implementation of the 1995 and 2011 Pension acts.

The WASPI group (Women Against State Pension Inequality) shared their, and fellow Waspi’s stories and how they have been affected by these changes and the lack of notice they were given, had they known at the time of both pension acts, they would have been able to make alternative arrangements.

The MP heard stories of women who are now need to sell their family homes, women relying on their families to subsidize them to be able to buy food, women who have developed mental health issues over their impoverished situation as a result of this injustice.

Despite this, the MP refused to sign the WASPI pledge to support WASPI women and to work in Parliament to find a solution for the women affected. More details here: (http://www.waspi.co.uk/)

There are 4750 women affected in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock which is Grant’s constituency.

A statement by the group said: “WASPI are not against equality, we agree with this. Our complaint is not being informed of the 1995 Pension Act until at least 14 years or later, and some cases not being informed at all. Women in Ayrshire WASPI have never received letters regarding the 2011 Pension act which accumulates to an extra six years wait on a state pension that they have paid into since they were 15 years old.

Therefore the basis of our complaint is Maladministration by DWP. The Conservative party continually state the Scottish Government should sort this out, but the reality is that under section 28 of the Scotland act they do not have the power to pay state pensions.

The other factor is that they paid their National Insurance to Westminster therefore Westminster should pay them their state pension or agree to transitional payments.”

Bill Grant MP said: “I share the UK government aim of securing a sustainable state pension. If I can raise issues to help redress inequality, I certainly will. However, I did not feel it was appropriate for me to sign the WASPI pledge.  The Government has previously made a concession worth £1.1 billion that will reduce the impact on women most affected by pension changes.” (carrick gazette)

 

 

 

28 Dec 2017: Cumnock MP Bill Grant Slammed For Appearing To Be Fast Asleep in Parliament During “WASPI” Debate

A photograph shows the Conservative MP pictured sitting behind Moray MP Douglas Ross with his eyes closed, appearing to be fast asleep during the debate on pensions equality for women.

Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP Jeane Freeman has hit out at the MP for disrespecting the plight of the Women Against State Pension Inequality. She said: “Not only did Bill Grant MP refuse to sign the WASPI pledge to support WASPI women in their fight for pension equality a few months ago, he fails to give the WASPI debate in parliament the attention it deserves by falling asleep on the job.”

However, Mr Grant has claimed that he wasn’t sleeping during the debate on pensions equality for women and that, instead, he was “listening intently”. He followed up saying that he supported the government aim of securing a sustainable state pension (cumnock chronicle)

 

 

29 Jun 2017: Retired Fireman, Bill Grant (MP) and the Rest of the Tory Crazy Gang Vote to Retain Wage Repression and an Increase in Austerity Measures

The Tory government defeated a Labour Party amendment to the Queen’s Speech calling for an end to cuts to the police and the fire service, the end of the 1% public sector pay cap and to give emergency and public services a fair pay rise by 323 to 309 votes.

Northern Ireland’s 10 DUP MP’s despite speaking out against austerity before the election agreed to vote with Conservative MP’s to give Theresa May the majority she needed after she agreed a £1.5billion bung to Northern Ireland to win their votes.

There was much criticism from bodies representing Britain’s 5 million emergency and public services staff of the government’s refusal to rethink public sector cuts after their response to recent terrorist events and the courage of firefighters who risked their lives in the Grenfell Tower blaze.

Especially after Theresa May told a nurse on BBC Question Time that there is “no magic money tree” for a pay rise to stop nurses having to turn to food banks and pay day loans in the run up to her snap election, before agreeing to part with £1.5billion in return for DUP support.

Comment:

21 Jul 2017: Ralph Robertson: Bill Grant MP has had pay rises of 3.9%, 5%, 0%, 4.6%, 5.2%, 2.2%, 2.7%, 0%, 1%, on his fire brigade pension if he retired 2007 and I am sure he was happy to take it all. Working firefighters over the same period have had next to nothing with wage freezes and 1% rises.

22 Jul 2017: Nick Larkin: Also got a pay rise on his Council pay of around 8% in or around 2011 so no stranger to a pay rise. Remember, too, this is the man who was too ill to stand again as a Councillor in 2017 for £24K or so a year but just a month later was just fine to stand as an MP for £75K a year plus benefits. No flies on Bill Grant MP

 

 

 

31 Aug 2017: Newly Built Ayr Academy

Bill Grant: “Great visit round the new Ayr Academy. Proud to have been part of a council that invested heavily in new schools right across the area.”

Bit of selective dementia Bill. Nowt to do with your council. It is thanks to the First Minister and Scottish Government who provided the funding enabling the building of the academy through the “Schools for the Future Programme”.

Construction of the £25million school began at Ayr’s Craigie Estate in January 2016. The building was officially opened, (with young people and parents among the 180 guests on the night) by John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.

Its eye-catching replacement has space for up to 1,000 pupils, and features two learning plazas, a multi-use hall, two gyms, fitness/movement room, and sports pitches. The project is part of a £94million pipeline of works being delivered across South Ayrshire in the next year, with the aim of enhancing standards through targeted investment.

John Swinney said “At the outset of our £1.8bn Schools for the Future programme in 2009, we originally aimed to build or refurbish 55 schools across Scotland – we have now more than doubled that commitment and it is fantastic to see so many of these wonderful buildings, like this one here in Ayr, now coming into use. More widely, since 2007 we have completed 651 school building projects, which is almost double the amount completed over the preceding eight years. This is part of our aim to provide our children and young people with inspiring environments which enable all of them to engage with their learning and, which in turn, help to raise attainment. It is great to hear the positive reaction of staff and pupils at Ayr Academy to their new school and I wish them all the best for the future.”

Councillor William Grant, said the event was a unique opportunity to see the building, “This fantastic new building has been warmly welcomed by the community, with many of them invited as special guests to celebrate the start of a new era. You can see that young people have been energized by their new surroundings, with staff now looking to deliver a step-change in the way lessons are delivered. The official opening was a great night with a lot of pride on display as pupils performed for the invited guests. And as the fanfare subsides teachers are now focusing on the important task of enhancing education standards and delivering better results for the community.”

 

 

 

14 Sep 2017: Bill Grant: A proclamation: “Under this Conservative government, unemployment is at its lowest level since 1975. Over 3 million more people are now in work since 2010.”

Comment: Typical “smoke and mirrors” statement from someone whose income is well protected by the state: Chronic “underemployment” is slowly replacing the role outright joblessness used to play in the labour market. There has been a 400% increase in the number of people on zero-hours contracts since 2002. One million people in part-time work can’t find full-time jobs. There are now twice as many “underemployed” workers as unemployed workers. Underemployment has increased since 2002, while unemployment has declined. (http://uk.businessinsider.com/ons-underemployment-double-unemployment-rate-2017-9)

 

 

 

17 Sep 2017: Nearly All People Transferred onto the Tory Universal Credit Benefit Are Facing Eviction

After a Department for Work and Pensions report showed that one in four new benefits claimants were waiting longer than 6 weeks to be paid any money, a new investigation carried out by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has blown these figures completely out of the water.

In their new report, the CAB revealed that a staggering 79% (4 our of 5) of people currently on, or waiting to be on, universal credit are at risk of eviction because they have missed rent or council tax payments. They are also at risk of having their energy supplies cut off because as they have no choice but to skip bills.

As Universal Credit is introduced, ministers continue to be urged to pause the dramatic welfare reform that sees seven benefits rolled into one. The DWP is under pressure from charities, landlords and MPs – and yet are still perversely progressing with its nationwide release. (Evolve politics)

Comment: An all-party report raises fears over workability of Universal Credit yet Bill Grant and his Tory colleagues continue to laud its benefits. The Commons work and pensions committee said the government has yet to produce a full business case justifying universal credit, seven years after the programme started, and there remains considerable uncertainty about its costs and benefits. Government ministers have have produced no evidence to back up the key, central economic assumption of the biggest reform to the welfare system in 50 years. The committee warned that the improved job outcomes the reform promises are uncertain, while anticipated taxpayer savings rely on it becoming increasingly automated and “industrialised”, despite evidence that significant numbers of claimants find it difficult to access and use the digital-only system.

Universal credit aims to roll six major working-age benefits into one monthly payment, including job seeker’s allowance, tax credit and housing benefit. It has been criticized for design flaws and administrative errors that have left thousands of poorer claimants at risk of poverty, debt and rent arrears. The Office for Budget Responsibility said last month that political uncertainties and problems with the design and implementation of the much-delayed project, currently around five years behind schedule, meant universal credit presented a “significant risk” to public spending.

Many billions of pounds have been written off to this debacle since Ian Duncan Smith first muted it many years ago and still Bill Grant and his ilk insist it will all be for the better in time. But who’s betterment? A Scottish Tory member of the cross party Commons Work and Pensions committee recently praised the Universal Credit (UC) roll out claiming it eased claimants into work mirroring the benefits of employed income. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tGsb9TA6Tc

 

 

 

6 Oct 2017: Bill Grant: Housing is a Tory Priority

Housing has always been a Conservative Party priority, as can be seen from election campaign posters. The PM pledged ‘ a new generation of council houses’ and increased the government’s affordable housing budget by £2 billion, to more than £9 billion.

Of course, housing is devolved to the Scottish Government, but I note Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson believes there should be a new housing infrastructure agency in Scotland, wants a housing minister at Holyrood, and aims to build 25,000 new homes annually.

Alison Thewliss (SNP) said in the Commons: The Scottish Parliament has delivered more than 69,500 affordable homes since 2007, during the period of SNP government, and the new-build social sector completion rate is at 72 per 100,000 population, compared with just 49 in England. And why was there no commitment to increase social rented housing in the Budget?

Comment: But the facts are that house building under the Tories is at its lowest level since the 1920’s

An analysis of house building going back more than a century shows the most recent years of Conservative rule has seen the lowest average house build rate since Stanley Baldwin was in Downing Street in 1923.

According to figures compiled by the House of Commons Library, an average of 127,000 homes a year have been built in England and Wales since the Tories took office in 2010. This is the lowest level since Baldwin’s first stint as Prime Minister in 1923, when just 86,000 homes were built.

A political commentator said: “These humiliating figures show that Ministers’ promises on housing have been nothing more than empty words. Official statistics confirm that since 2010 not only have Conservative Ministers built many fewer homes than claimed and after seven years of failure the Tory’s have no plan to fix the housing crisis. (Huffington Post)

 

 

 

18 Oct 2017: Grant Exchanges Views with Constituents

Bill Grant MP posted: ‘Heaven forbid Grant has to slum it’!? Grant’s a wee boy from Rankinston with no backside in his breeks. But you’re right about one thing ladies, I don’t see the point of arguing with folk on social media. I try to be non-political and informative, and that was the intention of this post.

Georgie Dawson: You may have came from Rankinston with no backside in your breeks, but you are a long way from there now, seemingly forgetting what you learnt from your roots. I grew up in Dalmilling, and I was always told not to sh*t in my own backdoor as it will come back to bite you on your ass, but you don’t seem to understand this, and voted against a public sector pay rise which affects firefighters.

Since this was your job, you basically stabbed your colleagues in the back, and told them that they aren’t worth a decent wage. As for being non-political and informative, you mention the Tory party in many of your posts, where the government has supposed to have made all these major steps forward, when actually it is only one side of the story.

As for the content of this post, mentioning “helping where we can” is gonna get people’s hackles up because there are children here suffering from malnutrition purely because of the the decisions made by your Government.

So maybe you should start thinking about what you post, and the real truths behind the statements, because, as someone who works with statistics, I know how easy it is to make things say what you want while hiding the awful truth that is hiding in the shadows.

Bill Grant MP: Georgie, you’re clearly a person with deeply-held views, and I applaud you for that. I absolutely want to see pay rises for working folk, across all sectors, and you do to, so we’re not a million miles apart.

It’s easy to forget the recession of 2008 was the worst since the 1930s. Both the UK and Scottish governments observed pay freezes, followed by the one per cent cap on public sector pay.

Now, despite a recovery, come the challenges of Brexit.

However, I believe we’re very close to seeing the cap lifted. Also like you, I don’t want to see anyone living on the breadline. There are clearly issues with the implementation of Universal Credit which require to be addressed – and they will be.

Georgie Dawson: Mr Grant, without any disrespect in this comment, I must disagree that we aren’t a million miles apart in what we want to see happen. It is just a matter of political viewpoint, you are right wing, I am very much left wing. Yes there is common ground, but there is a large degree of difference in what action we want to see within that common ground.

I want everyone to be earning a living wage of around £10/hr. I want free childcare for all, free school meals for all, free sanitary products for women. I want to see the highest earners paying far more tax than they do now, all businesses and large corporations held to account over tax avoidance, all tax avoidance schemes being made illegal. The NHS to go back to the way it was originally supposed to be, no private companies involved, no large trusts taking huge wages home when that money could be getting pumped into equipment etc.

So we are definitely poles apart, and always will be. However, if you do want the things that you say, then do what’s right, vote for pay rises, vote against benefit cuts, vote against Universal Credit. Yes, that may mean going against the party whip and getting a bollocking for it, but sometimes doing what is right is worth it. As for your staff member, (Edwin Lawrence) his comments were inflammatory, disgusting, and downright dangerous.

People need to feel that they can ask for help without being judged or labelled, and his attitude flies in the face of that. I honestly believe that a person with such an attitude is detrimental to public service,and the fact that you haven’t condemned his comments is disturbing, and I have a feeling I’m not the only one.

Grace Garrity: None of them have the strengh to vote against their lords and masters

Nick Larkin: To Bill Grant MP. I have rarely read such breathtaking hypocrisy as is contained in your response to Georgie Dawson.

You purport to support wage rises for all sectors and remind us of the recession of 2008 with accompanying, at best, pay freezes for most.

I am sure I am not alone in remembering the recession of 2008 when you and your colleagues at South Ayrshire Council capped staff ‘cost of living’ salary increases at 1% while awarding yourselves as Councillors a pay rise of the order of 8% and at the same time…..at the same time… reducing the time when the Council sat in session in a year, by three weeks……..big pay rise for less work.

It was some time ago so I apologize if the figures are not absolutely accurate but they are not far off and certainly display the outrageous hypocrisy in Bill Grant MP’s post in response to Georgie Dawson.

I will leave it to readers to decide whether your actions indicate that you look after number one, first and last and de’il tak the hindmost? Many of us who really care about this area and its people have long memories even if you may not.

Nick Larkin: To Bill Grant MP: You say you strive to be non-political in your official MP’s Facebook Page. Do you realize just how ridiculous is that statement?

It is akin to Pep Guardiola, in the official Manchester City FC Manager’s Facebook Page saying “I strive to talk about anything but football in this Page” It’s a new level of Bonkers and your advisors must be telling you to rethink that nonsense.

Edwin Lawrence: I’ll bet Pep doesn’t seriously talk football on a Facebook page. He’s not going to reveal tactics, formations, injury fears etc. Jurgen and Jose might see it!

Nick Larkin: To Edwin Lawrence: I understand your flippancy which is not amusing. Bottom line, though, is that for an MP to strive to avoid talking about politics on their official MP’s FB Page is simply a new level of bonkers.

On a more serious note….I do not imagine Bill Grant MP will stand again but you and your reputation, by association, will remain. Please, give your continued involvement with Bill Grant MP a great deal of thought.

 

 

 

Bill Grant In the House of Commons

Grant has spoken in 44 debates, received answers to 3 written questions and voted in 95.73% of parliamentary divisions (always with the government) since joining Parliament.

I have selected 2 debates for comment but there are many more incidences of his extreme right wing views and cavalier attitude towards Scots whom he claims to represent.

To gain a better understanding of his motivation log on to ; (https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25643/bill_grant/ayr%2C_carrick_and_cumnock)

 

 

 

5 Feb 2018: NHS Winter Crisis Debate

David Linden SNP: Scottish National party Members want, first and foremost, to put on record our thanks to NHS staff. A number of members of my family work for the NHS. I spent time with them at the weekend, and we got that time because they were working over the Christmas period.

We know that Christmas and the winter period has been profoundly challenging due to flu, but it is important that resources follow that. That is why we have record funding support for the NHS in Scotland and NHS Scotland A&E departments are the best performing in the UK.

Last week, the Scottish Parliament voted to abolish the public sector pay cap and to look at bringing in a 3% pay increase for our public sector workers. That is action, rather than warm words.

Far too often we hear warm words from this Government, but in the National Health Service we need to see action, particularly on the public sector pay cap. What steps is the Minister taking to tackle wage stagnation within the national health service?

Stephen Barclay Tory: Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care): I thank the hon. Gentleman for his mature approach, in recognizing the huge amount of work performed by NHS staff. Indeed, as I pointed out, 1,200 more people a day are being treated in A&E, which reflects how much more is being done in our NHS with more resource, more money, more doctors, more nurses and more paramedics.

In terms of the specifics on money, the Government have given £1.6 billion to support performance improvements, which will be used to treat a quarter of a million more patients in 2018-19.

The NHS planning guidance also shows that it expects performance to improve in the face of growing demand. That shows how more is being done, and more needs to be done.

Bill Grant Tory: Could I reflect on the rather rosy picture that my colleague from the Scottish National party, David Linden, painted of the NHS in Scotland?

We have poor waiting times at A&Es, we are closing a pediatric ward in Paisley, and the chemotherapy unit at Station 15 in Ayr is under threat.

Does the Minister think that having the highest tax base in the United Kingdom is a threat to recruitment in NHS Scotland, and that higher taxes in Scotland might play to the advantage of NHS England?

Stephen Barclay Tory: Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care): It is not just about how much money is put into the NHS, but about the outcomes that are delivered as a result.

He is right to allude to the fact that in Scotland the SNP has not delivered the improvements it promised on the NHS. That is why there is so much dissatisfaction in Scotland with what is happening in the NHS there.

Comment: Absolute drivel from Grant. The voters of Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock are badly served by an MP driven by Tory Party doctrine rather than concern for his constituents.

I prefer to believe the information contained in the 2 publications below:

Https://thoughtcontrolscotland.com/2018/02/08/nhs-scotland-ae-significantly-outperforms-nhs-england-ae-in-january-2018/

https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/files/2017-07/learning-from-scotland-s-nhs-final.pdf

 

 

 

31 Jan 2018: Personal Independence Payments – A Debate in the Commons

Laura Pidcock Lab: I called for the debate because of my concern about the rapidly increasing level of casework my constituency office has to deal with regarding personal independence payments, (PIP).

A growing number of my constituents are finding many aspects of the process difficult, not because they are not capable but because the forms are confusing and the assessment procedure extremely complex and exhausting.

There are now many more face-to-face consultations, more regular reviews and more reassessments of awards than under the preceding benefit, disability living allowance, (DLA).

I asked people to comment and send me emails about their experiences, and I was absolutely deluged. I received more than 600 emails and 1,500 messages on Facebook and Twitter.

Most of those people took a great deal of time to tell me what had happened to them. Individually, their stories are shocking; collectively, they shame the Government and the Department for Work and Pensions.

They are testament to a broken and cruel system. Worsened following the introduction of even more complex regulations in 2017.

Stephen Kerr Tory: She mentioned her Twitter appeal and so on. An official survey shows that 76% of people in the system responded to say that they were satisfied.

That itself is not a happy position, but it shows that her representation of people’s average experience as wholly negative on the basis of a Twitter appeal does not reflect the results of a scientific survey.

Laura Pidcock Lab: What an absolute joke that is. To diminish those people’s experiences, which made me weep, is an absolute disgrace.

Those people took their time in extremely difficult circumstances to tell us about the difficulties with the system. To talk about another survey to try to diminish those experiences is disgraceful.

Luke Graham Tory: I would not necessarily disagree with some of the criticisms she is making of the assessment process.

Some of my constituents face those challenges, and we would be happy to work across the House to try to fix them.

But does she recognize that under PIP, 66% of claimants with mental issues now get the higher rate of benefit, versus 22% under DLA?

Can I ask her for a little balance when she comes to look at the system rather than just criticism?

Laura Pidcock Lab: The balance is that thousands of people are locked out of the system and never even get an award because they are so ground down by the process. The Government need to realize what a cruel and callous system they are putting people through and the knock-on effect that has on our constituents.

I am a bit shocked by the disbelief on the Conservative side—they look stunned that this is taking place. That is the reality for disabled people in this country. People are falling further into depression and self-harm, having suicidal thoughts and becoming reliant on food banks.

All of those things are harmful for our society. Losing Motability cars was a consistent theme, along with falling into debt. The NHS is also being put under much strain.

Bill Grant Tory: But the waiting time has been reduced by 40 weeks to 13 weeks in the past four years? That has to be an improvement.

Sarah Newton Tory: Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions: Accusations have been made today, about me as a Conservative and about all Conservatives, that frankly I am not going to accept.

It is simply not fair to say that Conservatives think disabled people are scroungers or do not deserve the support that we so want them to have.

Conservatives want to ensure that everybody in our society can play their full part. We want to support people with disabilities to do so. Judge us on our actions.

Ronnie Cowan SNP: the debate is of particular importance to my constituents and I have to say that I am disappointed at the state of the two Scottish Conservative Members who turned up to the debate with a clear intention to disrupt the opening speaker.

I note they then left the Chamber and have not contributed to the debate.

This is a timely debate, given the announcement that the UK Government are to review PIP claims, at a cost of £3.7 billion, by 2023.

It is hardly a surprise that the High Court concluded that the Government’s changes to PIP were “blatantly discriminatory” to those with mental health conditions.

That has been self-evident for some time. Of course, this disaster is of the Government’s own making: they tried to rip off the most vulnerable people in society and now we are all paying the price.

The taxpayer will have to foot the bill for those mistakes. What is the human cost? Claimants pushed to the edge and living their lives on the brink. When will the Government get anything right first time

Neil Gray SNP: PIP and other benefits are to be devolved to the new Scottish social security agency.

The Bill to create the agency is currently being debated in Committee in the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government are seeking to make a number of changes to the way in which PIP is assessed to make sure that it treats people with dignity and respect.

First, the Scottish Government are seeking to make an automatic provision that would allow the agency to gather all the relevant medical or related information at application stage, which would reduce the number of face-to-face assessments, reduce the burden on the applicant and hopefully ensure that the correct decision is taken at the outset, rather than people having to go through the flawed mandatory reconsideration and appeal process in place at this time.

Secondly, the Scottish Government will ensure that private contractors are not involved in the assessment process.

There are a range of other measures that the Scottish Government will take to ensure that we get the system right for those seeking support.

In conclusion, hopefully the Minister will consider the new system in Scotland once it is up and running, hopefully before 2020 and that the UK Government will then look north and learn some lessons.

Comment Three Tory speakers, all Scots; contributed nothing but hot air to important parliamentary business. Evidently mischief time for persons with little to do. Grant’s assertion that 13 weeks is just about OK for a decision on benefit qualification appears to be atypical of his views and must be of concern to his constituents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David James Duguid

Born 1970. Raised on the family farm at Breedless, just North of Turriff. Educated at Banff Academy. Studied Chemistry at Robert Gordon University.

Employment

Took up a career with BP (10 years) in the oil and gas industry before moving on to project management with Hitachi (15 years). Lives in Turriff. Established management consultancy business (D&R Duguid Consultancy Ltd), from November 2016, with his partner Rose, whom he met and married at the time he was deployed to Azerbaijan.

Politics

An avid Brexiteer and Unionist his burning purpose was to ensure the fishing community was not sold short at the time the Tory party took the UK out of the EC. Active at a local level within the Party the surprise 2017 General Election thrust him into the forefront of Banff & Buchan politics when he was asked and agreed to stand as a candidate for election to Westminster. The portents for his success were high, the constituency having voted to remain in the UK in the 2014 referendum and to leave the EC in the 2016 referendum. Fishing policy, after Brexit, dominated Tory strategy and his electioneering campaign was focused on this single issue. The argument he advanced against the SNP was that it was a party determined to keep Scotland in the EC, the success of which would require many constituents to continue to depend on the unpopular European Common Fisheries Policy for their livelihood.

 May 2017: Tory candidate signs pledge to exit EU and CFP

After meeting with local fishermen he issued a press  statement saying, “Banff and Buchan needs an MP at the heart of government in Westminster, not one in opposition contributing little. The fishing industry in the UK is entering crucial negotiations on our future relationship with the EU and we need to ensure that the interests of our coastal communities are represented. I will be a strong and influential voice for our fishermen, who are rightly determined to make the most of the huge opportunity afforded by the Brexit vote.I have signed the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s Brexit pledge and I would challenge the SNP to do the same. I do not believe that this industry should ever be considered expendable and I will ensure that the views of our fishermen are heard at the highest levels of government. I will stand up for the interests of our fishing and farming communities as we navigate our way out of the EU.”

10 May 2017: A few short days later – Tories accused of using fishermen as a bargaining chip in Brexit talks

Tory leader Ruth Davidson will be in Peterhead today to answer local fishing industry leaders’ call for Scotland’s fisheries not to be a bargaining chip in the Brexit negotiations. She will do so against the background of a “bombshell” letter from Andrea Leadsom, the UK Secretary of State in charge of fisheries. In which she admitted parts of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), as it exists will become part of UK law.

In a letter to Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Leadsom said the UK Government would try to “disapply” the most unpopular and unworkable elements of the EU CFP, but admitted that some of the policy would still apply to the UK. Leadsom wrote, “No decision has yet been made on the extent to which the EU legislation governing the Common Fisheries Policy will be incorporated into domestic law. The Government will continue to champion sustainable fisheries and we are committed to ongoing cooperation with other countries over the management of shared stocks and ending discards.”

Eilidh Whiteford, SNP candidate in Banff and Buchan commented: “This letter is a bombshell which utterly demolishes the Tories’ bogus claims about fishing. The cat is now out of the bag — while Ruth Davidson is heading to the North East to pretend the Torys are the fishermen’s friends, her Westminster bosses are plotting a gigantic sell-out. The letter couldn’t be clearer — for all their rhetoric, the Torys are planning to incorporate key parts of the CFP ‘into domestic law’. And they are also ‘committed to ongoing cooperation with other countries over the management of shared stocks. That means that they are planning to use Scottish waters and our fishing industry as a Brexit bargaining chip. In doing so, they are also taking an enormous gamble with the livelihoods of those fish processors that depend on European exports by jeopardizing our position within the single market. A vote for the SNP will show the Torys that they will not get away with selling out Scotland’s fishing communities for a second time.” Whiteford was referring to a Scottish Office paper on entering the common market which was released under the 30-year rule, in which officials wrote that, “in the wider UK context they [the fishermen] must be regarded as expendable”.

The fishing industry in Scotland was adamant that Scottish fishing grounds should not be a Brexit bargaining chip. Bertie Armstrong said, “The whole industry, from those who go to sea through the processors to the hauliers, is united behind one simple aim: our coming out of the EU and the CFP. Brexit offers us a huge opportunity to re-assert control of our waters and to establish once and for all a sensible, practicable new fisheries management regime.”

The Government’s Brexit White Paper merely says: “Given the heavy reliance on UK waters of the EU fishing industry and the importance of EU waters to the UK, it is in both our interests to reach a mutually beneficial deal that works for the UK and the EU’s fishing communities.”

Duguid, quietly offered, “The Conservative Government at Westminster is following through on the democratic will of the British people to leave the EU.”

9 Jun 2017: David Duguid elected to serve as the new Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan

In his acceptance speech he said: “I am completely over the moon with this result. It’s felt like a long campaign, but in fact it has been a compressed one. I am glad the campaigning is over but in a similar respect I am glad I can now get on with the job I was elected to do in serving the people of Banff and Buchan. I am really proud of the team behind me. I am going to be doing the job, but I couldn’t be doing it without them.”

Comment: The electorate chose to ignore the damming content of the letter, (sent to local fishing industry leaders by Andrea Leadsom) the UK Secretary of State in charge of fisheries preferring to believe the rhetoric of the “Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s” Brexit pledge signed by Duguid as part of his campaign strategy. His statement, made at the time, that he did not believe that the fishing industry in Banff and Buchan should ever be considered expendable and his absolute assurance that he would give his cast iron guarantee the he would ensure that the views of fishermen would be heard at the highest levels of government and that he would stand up for the interests of the fishing and farming communities of Banff & Buchan.

19 Jul 2017: North Sea cod certified fully sustainable

North Sea cod has today been officially certified as fully sustainable and can be eaten freely. The green light was given by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) which gave the fishery its all important blue tick label. The decision will provide a major boost for the UK fishing industry and the Scottish fleet in particular. especially as Brexit approaches. The situation is a complete contrast from the situation a little over a decade ago when North Sea cod stocks were at a critically low level. The MSC said today the blue tick indicated that North Sea cod caught by Scottish and English boats is “sustainable and fully traceable”. cod stocks in the North Sea stood at around 280,000 tons just 40 years ago and then went into steep decline due to over-fishing when stock fell to under 40,000 tons. The EC Common Fisheries Policy instructed a ban on cod catches, until such time as stocks would be recovered. Forming part of the strategy to resolve the problem of over fishing the Grimsby fleet of more than 100 North Sea trawlers was reduced to a handful of local boats. The stock recovery plan was in place for around ten years and the policy brought long term dividends for Scottish fisheries.  The MSC said the announcement that cod was now sustainable was a “momentous achievement” for the industry. But the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), conservation body WWF warned that historically, the population of North Sea cod was still at a low level and efficient control measures would need to kept in place.

Comment: Without the Common Fisheries Policy the North Sea would most likely be barren of cod so far as trawler fishing is concerned. The policy of the Grimsby trawler fleet operators was decided by the needs of the Grimsby fish processing industry which had in place many contracts with the EC and worldwide for the supply of processed fish. The Scottish North Sea trawler fleet was primarily deployed to catch fish for the “fresh fish markets” of the UK, EC and worldwide and did not impact on cod stocks to the same extreme as the Grimsby fleet.

26 Jul 2017: Brexit – A slap in the face for Scottish Fisheries –  Grimsby area MPs appointed to key fisheries posts

Grimsby MP, Melanie Onn has been elected to chair the House of Commons, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fisheries. Her duties will ensure she discharges a leading role shaping the future of Britain’s post-Brexit fishing industry. The influential cross-party group of MPs will meet regularly to take evidence from key players in the seafood industry and experts, and will be empowered to question Government Ministers on their policies towards fisheries. It will also be able to hold the government to account in the all important Brexit implications for the fishing industry. Ms Onn said her appointment would give her more influence and a better chance to fight for Grimsby’s seafood industry. “I’m delighted to be elected to this position. Thousands of people in Grimsby work in the seafood sector, and I will now have a bigger platform from which to pressure the Government into providing greater support for the industry. I said during the election campaign that I would fight for the best Brexit deal for Great Grimsby, which means holding the Government to the promises made to the fishing industry during the referendum, and protecting the seafood sector’s ability to trade with Europe. My new role will give me more opportunities to question the Ministers responsible for these areas, and to make sure they know how their actions will affect the livelihoods of workers in Grimsby.” Other members of the committee are: Alistair Carmichael, Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland, Sheryll Murray, Conservative MP for South East Cornwall, Peter Aldous, Conservative MP for Waveney and David Duguid, Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan. 

Meanwhile, Martin Vickers, the Conservative MP for the neighbouring constituency of Cleethorpes has been appointed vice chairman of the Commons Iceland group. He said: “Three quarters of all the fish processed in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area comes from Iceland and Icelandic investment supports hundreds of local jobs, so the country is very important to us.” 

Comment: As an all-party committee the composition of 4 Conservative and 1 Lib Dem MP is disgraceful abuse of the electorate of Scotland. It is clear the Tory party intends protecting Grimsby, the main fish processing centre in the UK at the expense of all other outlets.

6 Dec 2017: Scottish affairs discussion at Westminster

David Duguid: Fishing is a totemic industry in my constituency of Banff and Buchan, where there is real concern that the Scottish Government want to take Scotland back into the common fisheries policy. Can he reassure me that in all conversations and negotiations, he stands firm on taking Scotland’s fisherman out of the CFP, and keeping them out? David Mundell: My hon. Friend has already come to be seen as a champion for the fishing industry. I can give him an absolute guarantee, unlike the Scottish National Party, which would take us straight back into the common fisheries policy, this Government will take Scotland and the rest of the UK out of that discredited policy.

Comment: A typical loaded question designed for effect rather than purpose. Duguid and Mundell are perpetuating the “boogie man” myth of the SNP in a blatant attempt to hide the truth from the electorate. The Tory government, as previously advised by Andrea Leadsom, the UK Secretary of State in charge of fisheries, will be unable to completely remove the UK from its commitment to the EC fisheries policy.

8 Dec 2017: Duguid threatens to break ranks over Brexit, warning UK ministers that he will not vote for a deal that fails to “advance the interests” of Banff & Buchan fishermen

The MP, for Banff and Buchan, argued that the UK must not “bargain away” any concession of access to its waters during the Brexit talks. There has been speculation that UK ministers could use access to British waters as a bargaining chip in negotiations, giving away some fishing rights in return for concessions elsewhere. Fishermen have strongly rejected any suggestion of a compromise over access, which was the message that Mr Duguid took to the Commons.

Post Brexit fishing, the Facts:

Duguid is “farting against thunder” with his threat. He voted with his Scottish Unionist colleagues against the interests of Scotland on many occasions since he took up office. He has poorly served the constituents of Banff and Buchan. The facts are that a clean break from the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy is impossible. The Scottish Tory Party is lying to the electorate in order to gather votes in constituencies where sea fishing is a key industry. Many of the important stocks are shared and straddle maritime boundaries, the UK and its future fisheries neighbours (the remaining EU27, Norway and the Faroe Islands) will be obliged to prepare new fisheries agreements which set a Total Allowable Catch (TACs) for each species and allocate it between the parties. In determining the allocation of quotas to each party the EU will seek to maintain the Common Fisheries Policy’s relative stability keys, whilst the UK will seek leverage from a claimed greater zonal attachment of stocks to its waters. Whilst there is no comprehensive data on spatial distribution of fish stocks in current EU waters, it has estimated this for a Brexit scenario on the basis of 2014 catches reported for each sea area defined by ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas. The estimate is that the potential UK catch arising from the threatened post-Brexit exclusion of EU vessels from UK waters could increase by as much as 671,000 tonnes (representing a gain of 90 per cent of current catches). However, since much of this would be lower value species such as blue whiting, the benefit would fall to 387,000 tonnes in cod equivalents.

ICES is represented by Martin Vickers, the Conservative MP for the constituency of Cleethorpes. It is the area comprising the West of Scotland and the northern parts of the North Sea and is where the UK would gain the most improvement in catch quotas, But UK operators stand to lose important access to fishing grounds to the West of Ireland.

It is expected the UK might be able to retain access to important fish stocks in Norwegian waters of the North Sea, which it currently enjoys via the bilateral EU- Norway Fisheries Agreement. But that access, which involves almost half of the EU quota of cod, is linked to the European Economic Area ( EEA) Treaty, and the British Government has all but ruled out retaining membership of this body.

The fear is the current UK quota of these Norwegian stocks might then be lost in a post-Brexit scenario (for example the quotas could be retained by the EU and divided among the remaining 27 states, or revert it back to Norway). Even if access is not lost, the UK will have to come up with the quotas to exchange.

All of these factors reduce the likely benefit to the UK from the attachment of European fish stocks to the UK zone.

Furthermore, the UK exports approximately 80 per cent of its wild caught seafood, with 66 per cent going to 27 EU states, so UK fishers have a strong interest in maintaining tariff-free access to that market.

However, the EU will impose quotas and access to fish in the UK zone in return as it did with Norway and Greenland so the waters ahead for the UK fleet may not be the plain sailing the Tory party promised.

Other political events

4 Oct 2017: Banff and Buchan MP, David Duguid expressed confidence that North-East ports will win decommissioning contracts.

The Conservative politician said harbour masters were feeling positive about the chance of gaining contracts connected to the subsea sector. Speaking at the UK Conservative conference in Manchester, he said he was hopeful Scotland could develop a deep water port for decommissioning in Peterhead, Aberdeen or Dundee as well as further afield. He said: “I’ve been talking to some harbour masters in my constituency ports of Fraserburgh, Macduff and Buckie who reckon they could do a bit of decommissioning.

Comment: Duguid’s lied.  This is what Mundell had to say in the Commons only 3 weeks before.

Questions to Mundell – Decommissioning of Oil Platforms Scotland Bowie: Does the UK Government have plans to develop an ultra deep water port on the East Coast of Scotland. Note: Without such a port in play the bulk of the multi billion pounds work will be awarded to contractors outside Scotland. 

Mundell: The Government is committed to supporting the development of a world-leading decommissioning industry. But no UK port currently has the ultra-deep water facilities needed to directly accommodate the fully-loaded heavy lift vessels commonly used for decommissioning large platforms.

Comment: So! No plans in place. The work is destined for foreign shores.

Pay Cap for Public Service workers

In the first few months after the General Election the UK was attacked by Islamic terrorists in Manchester and in London. These incidents were compounded by the tragic fire at the Grenfell Tower block. The performance of the emergency services workers was exemplary. Their actions saved many lives achieved often at great personal risk. The Prime Minister and many politicians took time on national television and in the press to heap well deserved praise on their shoulders. Only a few weeks after the display of gratitude MP’s were provided with opportunity to reward public service workers when opposition parties tabled a motion asking the Tory Government to bring an end to the seven year long public service pay cap. The motion was lost when the entire block of Tory MP’s, including the Scottish bakers dozen voted it down. Praise is easy to administer but reward is another matter. The saving grace for Scottish public service workers is that their pay is decided by the SNP government in Scotland and the pay cap was discontinued in Scotland.

10 Nov 2017: One SNP MP has questioned May’s Government more than rest of new Scottish intake combined

Glasgow East MP David Linden was the hardest-working Scot in Westminster. Data showed in the first 5 months of the new parliament he pressurised the Tory Government more than all other new Scottish MPs  by submitting 233 written questions. This compares with 217 from the 11 Tories, six Labour members and three LibDems put together. Tory David Duguid contributed nothing. 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Jan 2018: The Tory Party in Scotland has fewer than ten thousand members aged under thirty and faces a generation gap crisis

Bowie acknowledged the party faced a “serious problem” following years of heavy dependence on the loyalty of older voters and called for a drive to promote new Tory faces, to respond to young adults’ concerns and improve the party’s social media skills. He said the party had the twin challenge of boosting numbers of members aged under thirty and of renewing its appeal to younger groups to ensure the Tories do not face “terminal decline”. Asked how many young members there are, he replied: “It’s not great – we are talking about four figures, not five.”

Bowie, part of a group of young MPs working with Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquarters to reach out to a lost generation of voters said: “For far too long we were reliant far too much on the older vote. We took for granted that when people become slightly older, owned property, had a job and a family, they would naturally pivot towards Conservatives. We needed to have some base in the 18 to 40 group and we are now at a historic low in that age range voting for us. People are not “going to go on the journey towards Conservatism” if they do not know anyone in their age group supporting the party.”

The Young Conservatives’ membership peaked at 157,000 in 1949. By 1970 membership had reduced to 50,000. Factional in-fighting in the 1980s and 1990s brought the movement to its knees and it was disbanded in 1996. Conservative Future was established soon after, gaining membership of around 15,000 from universities and local Tory Associations. But, as before, it was wound up after the exposure of bullying and blackmail of members. 

 

 

 

6 Mar 2017: The Crazy Gang strike again – Scottish Tory youth gush over Donald Trump’s “love” of the UK

Leaders of the European Conservatives and Reformist group, Scottish Tory MEP Ian Duncan and the Scottish Conservative youth wing have said that US President Donald Trump’s “love” of the UK bodes well for the growing relationship between his administration and the UK Tory Government. At a Conservative Future fringe meeting at the Scottish Tory conference in Glasgow leading young members gushed over the new US leader, who had attracted unprecedented protests over his policies including a ban on citizens from seven Muslim majority nations entering the US and his promise to build a border wall with Mexico.

Speaking to an audience of party members, Scottish Conservative future chair James Bundy said he was excited about “Donald Trump’s love for the UK”. A candidate for Grangemouth in the 2017 local elections he told the audience, which also included young US conservative Republicans, that he welcomed the growing relationship between UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Trump. He said: “For a Britain, that’s leaving the EU, May’s visit was a very encouraging sign. Our prime minister is striking up a new relationship with the US. This can only be good.”

MEP Duncan regaled the audience with stories of negative reactions of EU parliamentarians to Brexit. Speaking about Nigel Farage, UKIP MEP he repeated the Brexit movement’s self-commentary, saying that “they aren’t laughing at him now”. He said that continuing EU member states may have to contribute more to the union after Brexit, and described an EU request for its members to pay more money into the NATO military alliance as “strike one to Donald Trump.” Speaking about Trump’s erratic nature, he said: “Donald Trump confounds expectations and is unpredictable and that is good, especially in negotiations.”

The Scottish Tories have quickly become born-again Brexiteers, but even by their standards, their wholehearted embrace of Trump will raise eyebrows. Young people across the UK voted overwhelmingly to Remain – just as Scotland did – and now face losing all of the opportunities to work, study and travel that come with EU membership. The Tory vision of life outside the EU means pleading with Donald Trump for a trade deal and many people in Scotland will be looking for an alternative.”

 

 

 

11 Sep 2018: Boundary Commission redraws the constituency map of Scotland

Under changes proposed by the boundary commission-only East Lothian would remain unchanged while the total number of Scottish constituencies at Westminster would be reduced from 59 to 53. In a rare departure from his usual unqualified support of his party Andrew Bowie, Tory MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine said: “I am very proud to represent West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine – and every town, village, and community within the constituency. These proposals have already provoked a significant amount of debate and I am sure these latest revisions will continue to do so. However, I don’t detect a huge appetite within the UK to change the current boundary system. I think voters are more concerned with the state of our NHS, local schools and the economy. They want to see the government focused on securing the best possible deal as we leave the EU.”

His plans for a long political career in the North East of Scotland are under threat and concentrates his mind on survival

Edinburgh SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said: “Instead of reducing the number of democratically elected MPs, there should be a reduction of the 791 unelected peers in the bloated House of Lords. These proposed plans would see Scotland’s representation at Westminster slashed by over 10 percent, with Scottish MP voices further diminished in a Parliament that looks increasing like it’s set up to work against those protecting Scotland’s interests. For the mainland Highlands – which has a geographic area one and a half times the size of Wales – to be cut down to just two constituencies, as this report recommends, is ludicrous. There is no appetite for these changes at present and I am confident that these proposals won’t see the light of day.”

 

 

 

6 Jul 2017: Tory MP Bowie asks the PM yet another loaded question

The SNP government was spared fines of up to £60 million after ministers missed the EU deadline for processing 95 percent of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies and Bowie just couldn’t resist yet another backstabbing attack. There is no end to Bowie’s embarrassing crawling. He said: “I would like to ask if the Prime Minister agrees with me that it is utterly shameful that the Scottish government, for the second year in a row, have had to go pleading to the European Commission for an extension to the farm payment deadline? And, if further proof was needed that the SNP are failing rural Scotland?” Theresa May, in response, insisted this is another example of Ms. Sturgeon and the SNP “failing to deliver” for the Scottish people.

“But his cynical bitching was clearly designed to portray Scotland in a bad light and it backfired badly when Scotland’s performance was compared to an adverse report presented only a few months before at which time the Public Accounts Committee expressed their its deep concern about England’s pathetic performance, (much worse than Scotland’s) on the same matter.” (see below)

 

 

 

10 February 2017: Westminster MPs express concern about the government failing, yet again, to meet the EU deadline for making farm subsidy payments to English Landowners and Farmers.

MPs say that EU subsidies account for about 50% of British farm incomes and the government’s failure to pay EU subsidies on time or help farmers hit hard by delays raises doubts about its ability to cope with Brexit. Delays to Common Agricultural Policy payments meant some farmers had to sell livestock to pay bills. The government said major progress had since been made and it had met its 2017 target to pay 93% of farmers by March.

The Rural Payments Agency, which distributes EU funds to farmers paid out just 38% of farmers on 1 December 2015. By the end of March 2016, only 84% of farmers had been paid – meaning some 14,300 farmers had received no payment. Some were still owed more than 1,000 euros (£850) nine months after they should have been paid.

 

 

 

Payments to flood-affected farmers in North Yorkshire and Cumbria had also “lagged behind the rest of England until June 2016”, the MPs said. The committee heard that some farmers had needed to take out bank loans or sell livestock to cover their costs because payments had been delayed. The government was also criticized for the high number of “disallowance penalties” – fines imposed by the European Commission for late or inaccurate payments or other failures to meet the rules. England has already incurred £642m in penalties since 2005, the fourth highest in the EU.

The committee’s deputy chairman, Richard Bacon, described the late payment of subsidies as “a sorry affair”. He said: “Farmers have suffered badly from the collapse in service levels, and the government has done too little to help them cope with the fallout.”

The Public Accounts Committee report said: “The department’s record of failure when developing systems to support subsidy payments to farmers does not inspire confidence in its ability to cope with the challenges associated with Brexit that lie ahead.”

The EU commission recognized there were extenuating circumstances why the Scottish government missed the 95% target by a few percent which is why a fine was not imposed. Contrast Scotland’s performance against England’s:

“The EU Commission has imposed financial penalties, amounting to £642m in the last 10 years, the fourth largest in the EU, on English ministers for failing to meet farming subsidy targets.”

 

 

 

 

30 Oct 2018: Hammond associates his Scottish Tory MP cronies with his freeze on whisky duty.

In his budget speech, Hammond said he had been persuaded to freeze duty on whisky by the Scottish Tory MP group. If affirmed this would be a gross violation by himself, of Westminster protocols. BUT it might be he was just spouting a load of bullsh*t

 

 

 

The Whisky trade lobby’s the Chancellor

It is noteworthy that the all-Party Group on Scotch Whisky, a powerful committee with links to the Scotch Whisky Association officially operating in Westminster, lists only one Tory MP as a member (and he represents Carlisle). The Lobby group’s remit is:  “to promote and facilitate communication and understanding between representatives from the Scotch Whisky industry and MPs.”

Members

Brendan O’Hara, Scottish National Party (Chairman): Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour Party: John Stevenson Conservative Party: Lord Purvis of Tweed, Liberal Democrat Party: Chris Law, Scottish National Party: Michelle Thomson, Independent: Ian Blackford, Scottish National Party: Martin John Docherty, Scottish National Party. Not one Scottish Tory MP in the group.

Chairman, Brendan O’Hara, wrote to the Chancellor on behalf of the Group warning him of industry concerns, saying it was vital that businesses and sectors were protected and not burdened with even more counterproductive and unnecessary tax hikes on whisky.

He said:  “Scotch whisky is one of Scotland’s major assets and a global success story. At a time of continued Brexit uncertainty and instability, we cannot risk or undermine our whisky industry by increasing the tax liability on our producers who are already contributing so much. Scotch whisky cannot be forced to bankroll the UK’s failing economic strategy. For too long the Treasury has viewed the industry as a ‘cash cow’, as evidenced by last year’s counterproductive duty hike. That approach must come to an end and we call on the Chancellor to rule out unnecessary tax hikes and instead take heed of the economic reality and retain the duty freeze on scotch whisky to ensure that this vital Scottish industry continues to grow.”

 

 

 

The sector’s trade body –   The Scotch Whisky Association said that a freeze would “not only deliver greater revenue for the Treasury but also help to support an industry that has invested more than £500m in capital projects over the last five years”.

The Bonded Warehouse Association (Whisky Trade) has around 100 companies as members throughout the UK and has established very close links to Government, regulatory bodies and other Associations. It engages government ministers on a strategic and partnership level to ensure that its members have a powerful voice that is acknowledged and listened to along with a consistent approach and vehicle to influence future policy. And just recently the Tory Party sponsored this lot to a free dinner party at Westminster. (https://www.thebwa.com/about-us)

 

 

 

2017: Bowie and the  Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS)

This is a privately funded scheme designed to provide MPs an opportunity to gain arms-length experience of the British armed forces so that they are better placed to debate military issues at Westminster. Sounds good, so far!! But there’s a catch. The scheme is sponsored and fully funded as a “foundation” by three defense lobbying companies BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Agusta/Westland. 

All costs attributed to activities furthering the aims of the scheme are met by the sponsors. But there is a catch. There can be no criticism of the sponsors as Tory MP Douglas Carswell found out when in 1998, he was banned from the organization after criticizing the propriety of the defense companies sponsoring it when he saw British soldiers under-equipped on the front line.

In their first year of service, applicants are granted the honorary rank of Army – Major / RAF – Squadron Leader / RN – Lt Commander depending on which branch of the armed forces they choose. In subsequent years they can expect promotion to a much higher rank and more money. The allocation of areas of interest depends on seniority. Year one allows access to the basics of the services, whilst more senior members deal with joint working, doctrine and strategic defense considerations.

Well, well so it might be he will resurface soon as Andrew Bowie,  Lt Commander (RN) MP. (Not bad for a rookie sailor still wet behind the ears)

 

 

 

Bowie joins his ultra-right-wing International Republican Institute (IRI) activists in Washington. Celebrating the legacy of Thatcher and Reagan

His statement does not apply to Scotland where communications, media, etc are state-controlled and the rights of Scots are trampled underfoot by the Westminster elite.

 

 

 

And Scots in Aberdeen foolishly believed Bowie,s  Tory hype that he would concentrate his efforts in full support of the electorate that sent him to Westminster.

As of March 2018, he was promoted to the position of parliamentary private secretary (PPS) within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). His new role required his extended presence in Westminster as did his duties as a member of the UK Armed Forces Lobby group and his developing “Atlanticist” links. but he assured the constituents of West Aberdeenshire he would make an effort to fit these unrelated commitments together with his MP duties, into his busy schedule.

 

 

 

27 Aug 2018: The Shadowy Thales Group in Glasgow

Thales has maintained offices in Glasgow from the end of WW1 and contributed to the recent botched build of the new aircraft carriers at Rosyth. Bowie visited the company unannounced, (possibly as a lobbyist) and commented:  “Great visit to the Thales Group in Glasgow today to see the incredible work being done on optronics for advanced systems for use on land, at sea and in the air by our armed forces. ”

Strange one this. Is it not conduct unbecoming to promote himself and his party in the constituency of another MP? Namely Chris Stephens SNP.  The company Bowie praises is an unsavory organization whose reputation worldwide scores less than zero on the good conduct scale. Check out this blog:  “https://rhk111smilitaryandarmspage.wordpress.com/2018/03/29/the-thales-groups-long-history-of-corruption/”

 

 

 

 

 

14 Aug 2018: And he had the temerity to tell the volunteers they were good citizens!!!

Bowie: “Yesterday I visited and met with the dedicated volunteers at the South Aberdeenshire Food Bank based in Banchory who do such amazing work for people who, for whatever reason, tragically find themselves in need of their service. False praise from Bowie.

 

 

 

     

 

 

In Defence of President Trump

In just about any other circumstance the people of Scotland would praise the achievements of “The  Donald” attributing them in some measure to the Scottish blood coursing through his veins. And they would be right to do so.

But credit for his political success gaining the presidency of the US against all the odds, is being denied him by a vicious sustained and unjustified campaign orchestrated by a sinister group of individuals who choose to press unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing on Trump.

They are assisted in their mission: the removal of the President from office by those who backed President Obama and Clinton including the bulk of the Hollywood “luvvie” establishment intent on retaining the privileges granted to them by the previous political regime.

With control of the media almost exclusively in the hands of lefty leaning leadership “The Donald” has been subjected to lampooning and ridicule in excess of that visited on Adolf Hitler.

Scots need to remember the 2014 Scottish referendum and the behaviour of Obama and Hilary Clinton who actively campaigned against Scots who wished to remove Scotland from an “Act of Union” which had been imposed on the nation by corrupt politicians for their profit.

I fully expect President Trump will fulfil his promise, to “drain the swamp” that is the corrupt  Washington establishment. Scots should ignore the hype and extend the hand of friendship to him when he next visits Scotland

An examination of his achievements in his first year of office gives lie to those who insist he is a flawed character whose abilities for high political office are questionable

 

 

 

Recent Developments – Conspiracy Against Trump

Justice Department investigating McCabe’s work on Clinton email probe (http://archive.is/gPQXP)

House Intelligence Committee opens investigation into the DOJ, FBI (http://archive.is/3vc8E)

House Intelligence Committee votes to release classified Nunes memo (http://archive.is/PtXsA)

FBI officials review surveillance memo, could not cite any factual inaccuracies (http://archive.is/wLMm3)

Jeff Sessions orders investigation of texts between FBI officials accused of anti-Trump bias (http://archive.is/SARJq)

Justice Department reopens Hillary Clinton email investigation (http://archive.is/mAoCD)

The Justice Department has launched a new inquiry into whether the Clinton Foundation engaged in any pay-to-play politics or other illegal activities while Hillary Clinton served as Secretary of State (http://archive.is/WalT6)

Comey’s original Clinton memo released, cites possible violations (http://archive.is/afNSf)

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley says Comey leaked “at least one” classified memo to a professor friend (http://archive.is/0s9Wt)

Judge allows House panel to subpoena Fusion GPS’s financial records (http://archive.is/YwY4B)

GOP senators request criminal investigation of Trump dossier author (http://archive.is/lxT2S)

DOJ deal gives Nunes access to ALL documents and witnesses sought in Russia probe (http://archive.is/Jg5nQ)

 

 

 

Border & Immigration

The Wall

Border wall prototypes have finished construction in San Diego, California – will now enter the testing and evaluation period. http://archive.is/jZGBH

Border wall models thwart US commandos in test. http://archive.is/fKoOA

Trump asks Congress for $18B for border wall. http://archive.is/5d0DE

 

 

 

Travel Restrictions

Trump has updated his travel ban, includes these 8 countries – Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, Somalia – No expiration date
http://archive.is/LBATj

Supreme Court allows full enforcement of Trump travel ban. http://archive.is/otLuw

 

 

 

Sanctuary Cities

DOJ to subpoena 23 jurisdictions over sanctuary city policies. http://archive.is/mP23x

DHS preparing to arrest leaders of sanctuary cities. http://archive.is/dg2VH

Withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities – must allow ICE access to jails + notify them when illegal immigrants are about to be released (currently on hold by a (federal judge). http://archive.is/FoDiY

Miami has removed its “sanctuary” status. http://archive.is/QePeJ

Feds planning massive Northern California immigration sweep to strike against sanctuary laws. http://archive.is/PtNZL

ICE is increasing presence in California because of (sanctuary state) law, says Trump immigration chief. http://archive.is/9tUh3

The House has passed a bill that prevents sanctuary cities from receiving funds from the Department of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. http://archive.is/bNPtE

Blocking the Police Assistance Program from sanctuary cities. http://archive.is/qR347

 

 

 

Illegal Immigration

Illegal border crossings down nearly 70% since Trump took office (Historic low according to ICE). http://archive.is/63kUA

Unshackling ICE – told that they can take action against ALL illegal immigrants – increasing presence in sanctuary cities. http://archive.is/ccuk2

DACA has been officially rescinded – 6 month grace period for Congress to act – no new DACA will be issued effective immediate – currently issued DACA expires in their regular 2 years – DACA that would expire in the next six months will expire in six months and one day instead. http://archive.is/Y9LLx

Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn DACA program. http://archive.is/OVzFc

DACA renewals drop 21%. http://archive.is/K6CX9

Trump said Thursday that any DACA deal he signs will need to include funding for his border wall, more money for immigration enforcement, an overhaul of the family-based immigration system and an end to the diversity visa lottery. http://archive.is/tEcQ0

Rescinded DAPA. http://archive.is/1fUlp

Kate’s Law – harsher penalties for previously deported criminals – passed the House and onto Senate. http://archive.is/JtDd6

No Sanctuary For Criminals Act – deny federal grants to sanctuary cities if they don’t comply with federal immigration law – passed the House and onto Senate. http://archive.is/EzVpI

Ended the “catch and release” immigration policy. http://archive.is/NS2FC

Trump has unveiled a new strict 70-point immigration enforcement plan. http://archive.is/U5doo

Massive overhaul of the immigration system proposed – move from family reunification to skill-based – cutting legal immigration by half by 2027. http://archive.is/5gCwG

More Mexicans are leaving USA than migrating to it. http://archive.is/jSw7Z

 

 

 

Deportations

Deportation orders up 31% nationwide under Trump. http://archive.is/RmNIy

Deportations in LA are up 60% alone. http://archive.is/zu59S

Trump to deport 300,000 refugees from the USA over the next few months. http://archive.is/asxmP

Trump Ends Protection From Deportation for 200,000 Salvadorans, will also affect their 192,000 children. http://archive.is/RVY8e

Homeland Security Department terminates temporary residency program for almost 60,000 Haitians. http://archive.is/Bhkug

The House has voted to make membership in a criminal street gang, like MS-13, a deportation offence. http://archive.is/pvl8M

The Trump administration is drafting a plan to speed up deportations of teenage Central American illegal immigrants who crossed the border unaccompanied by adults. http://archive.is/gtOCA

Trump cuts off visas for countries that refuse deported immigrants. http://archive.is/UFv9E

Trump administration will ban immigrants from Haiti from applying for temporary visas given to low-skilled workers. http://archive.is/fm3mO

 

 

 

Immigration Arrests

Border apprehensions hit 45-year low under Trump – down 40% (http://archive.is/rvG89)

YUGE ICE raids – 650 arrested between July 23 and 26 – most committed no crime other than being illegal. http://archive.is/EfqSg

ICE has conducted another MASSIVE raid on sanctuary cities – 498 illegal immigrants arrested. http://archive.is/LGxKK

101 illegal immigrants arrested in latest ICE operation in New Jersey. http://archive.is/pluev

The Trump administration is planning an increase in federal immigration jails across the country for the thousands of additional illegal immigrants being arrested. http://archive.is/2DTPV

 

 

Refugees

Trump administration reduces refugee admissions by 70% in first year.http://archive.is/07Zgq

Trump plans to set cap for refugee admissions at 45,000 next year (less than 17,500 from the Middle East) – lowest number in decades. http://archive.is/mbG81

August had the fewest monthly refugee arrivals in 15 years. http://archive.is/TyRvd

Christian refugees admitted now outnumber Muslim refugees admitted. http://archive.is/HcU6Q

Trump signs EO on Resuming the US Refugee Admissions Program with Enhanced Vetting Capabilities. http://archive.is/4bO1r

Trump’s DHS is ending Temporary Protected Status for Sudanese refugees.http://archive.is/sz80O

 

 

 

Misc

Extreme vetting in progress – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to begin to require in-person interviews with potential immigrants as part of the green-card application process. http://archive.is/d4bgo

Trump to Pull U.S. From U.N. Migration Compact. http://archive.is/y3ZV6

Homeland Security will now monitor social media accounts of those applying for citizenship. http://archive.is/oFtNe

Trump signs law to gives border patrol better tools to stop smuggling of fentanyl. http://archive.is/EsLZP

Cancelled Obama Era special immigration program for foreign entrepreneurs. http://archive.is/kvoyO

Creating an office for the victims of illegal immigrant crimes. http://archive.is/vpoYx

 

 

 

Jobs

Unemployment Rate

Unemployment rate is down to 4.1%, the lowest it’s been since August 2000. http://archive.is/TqhjB

Black unemployment rate hits ALL TIME low – 6.8%. http://archive.is/bYDiw

The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped to 4.7%, the lowest in US history. http://archive.is/LAeem

Some states are experiencing their lowest unemployment rates in their histories.http://archive.is/lfKsR

Texas Jobless Rate Hits 40-Year Record Low of 3.9 Percent. http://archive.is/R8sn9

The unemployment rate in manufacturing dropped to 2.6%, the lowest in US history. http://archive.is/hUnl1

 

 

 

Job Numbers

Trump has now created 2 million+ jobs since taking office. http://archive.is/okAGU

The number of employed Americans is at an ALL TIME high – 154,345,000. http://archive.is/4KYyH

The number of unemployed Americans is at a 10 year low – 6,801,000. http://archive.is/4KYyH

Job-cut announcements in 2017 see lowest level since 1990. http://archive.is/7kQtJ

US job openings have hit an ALL TIME high – 6 million+. http://archive.is/Urhfb

The labour force participation rate is up to 63.1%, the highest it’s been under Trump. http://archive.is/4KYyH

Huge amount of jobs being created in key industries – manufacturing, mining, construction, education, business services, etc. https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/ceshighlights.pdf

November saw 40,000 new manufacturing jobs, the highest in US history. http://archive.is/rcaOs

 

 

 

Food Stamps & Welfare

Number of Americans Receiving Unemployment Benefits Falls to 44-Year Low. http://archive.is/2JJQc

Food Stamp Enrolment Drops by 2 Million in 2017. http://archive.is/VNHVT

Food stamp program costs hit 7 year low. http://archive.is/5X7Tj

President Trump’s administration has decided to restore work requirements for welfare under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program – http://archive.is/A19qT

WIC welfare participation hits 17-year low. http://archive.is/IYi7Y

 

 

 

Wages

90% of workers likely to see more money in pay check next month thanks to Trump’s tax cuts. http://archive.is/Xm9ZW

The US Census Bureau has announced that the American median income is increasing for the first time since 2007. http://archive.is/3IWMd

Average weekly pay checks increased by 3.1% over the last 12 months – first time it has exceeded 3% in 7 years. http://archive.is/r0ogl

Shortage of illegal labour has caused construction worker wages to increase by 30% in Texas. http://archive.is/znIXZ

 

 

 

Misc

Toyota, Mazda to build $1.6 billion plant in Alabama. http://archive.is/Fjbih

Fiat Chysler to relocate truck production from Mexico to Michigan. http://archive.is/husht

13,000 jobs being created in WI because of Foxconn plant – largest job announcement in WI history. http://archive.is/NN30y

Foxconn announces that a Second plant is coming – Michigan. http://archive.is/ePQWX

Getting rid of regulations that restrict coal miners – create more mining jobs – opened new coal mine. http://archive.is/2XiJJ

Pennsylvania coal company to open a second coal mine. http://archive.is/fK2LD

Creating thousands of more jobs for immigration officers and border patrol. http://archive.is/5ROux

1000s of jobs being created through pact with Saudi Arabia. http://archive.is/dIkH3

Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America. http://archive.is/KHQrz

 

 

 

Economy

Stock Market

The Dow (26,258), S&P 500 (2,838) and Nasdaq (7,418) composite rose to all-time highs on Monday. http://archive.is/foWa3

Since the election, the DOW is up 34.9%, the Nasdaq is up 34%, and the S&P 500 is up 25.2%. https://imgur.com/a/i3yEl

Red-hot Dow closes above 26,000 for the first time. http://archive.is/DHjyO

DOW rises 5000 points in a year for the first time ever. http://archive.is/atYC5

DOW closes at a record high for the 70th time this year (24,792), the most record closes in a calendar year. http://archive.is/iW0kL

 

 

 

GDP

US second quarter GDP growth has been revised to 3.1% – fastest growth in more than two years. http://archive.is/nXXeb

U.S. Third-Quarter Growth Revised to Three-Year High of 3.3%. http://archive.is/97TVR

U.S. economy to grow nearly 3 percent in 2018 because of Trump tax cuts, IMF says. http://archive.is/lmUGn

 

 

 

Tax Cuts

Trump has signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, giving Americans $1.5 trillion in tax cuts and slashing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% – 91% of middle-class Americans will receive a tax cut. http://archive.is/b5z7T

Over 100 companies giving ‘Trump Bonuses’ after tax victory. http://archive.is/cFCq5

In response to Trump’s tax cuts, Apple announces $350 billion investment in the US economy, 20,000 new jobs. http://archive.is/dw6Av

Walmart will raise its starting wage rate for hourly employees in the U.S. to $11, expand maternity & parental leave benefits, and provide a one-time cash bonus for eligible employees of as much as $1,000 due to tax reform. http://archive.is/HLJN9

The Walt Disney Co. to give more than 125,000 employees a one-time $1000 cash bonus and “make an initial investment of $50 million in a new and ongoing education program for hourly employees.” http://archive.is/NBU1i

Ford Motor Co. will give more than 54,000 United Auto Workers hourly employees profit-sharing checks of about $7,500 this year. http://archive.is/eo60Q

Starbucks employees win pay raises, expanded benefits thanks to Trump’s tax plan. http://archive.is/yUMjS

Boeing will invest $300 million in the American economy, AT&T will invest $1 billion, and Comcast will invest over $50 billion in response to tax cuts. https://imgur.com/a/ZrWek

Companies dump undocumented workers after gaining profits from tax cuts. http://archive.is/DKZ4v

Utilities cutting rates, cite benefits of Trump tax reform. http://archive.is/yEMIY

Patriots owner Robert Kraft building factory in North Carolina after tax cuts. http://archive.is/GeEZI

Presidential Executive Order on Identifying and Reducing Tax Regulatory Burdens. http://archive.is/X2Tif

 

 

 

It’s the Economy Stupid

Economists agree: Trump, not Obama, gets credit for the economy. http://archive.is/pvowG

According to the Federal Reserve, household wealth in America has reached a record high of $1.7 trillion – due to rising property values and financial gains. http://archive.is/V7AC0

In Trump era, American corporations are seeing their best earnings in 13 years. http://archive.is/KcZjc

U.S. Economy Reaches Its Potential Output for First Time in Decade. http://archive.is/NEWhM

Pulled out of the Paris Accord – save billions in taxpayer money and trillions in GDP, put American industries first by creating and maintaining millions of industrial jobs. http://archive.is/3Pcr3

Buy & Hire American executive order – restrict guest worker visas and require more agencies to buy more goods and services from American companies and workers. http://archive.is/SPmkc

Going through with building the Keystone and Dakota Pipelines – expanding energy infrastructure and creating 1000s of jobs. http://archive.is/1L6ys

Signed an executive order that requires all federal agencies to create task forces to look at and determine which regulations hurt the economy – cut red tape. http://archive.is/EmzX7

US manufacturing records best year since 2004. http://archive.is/5IFem

Retail sales are up 5.8% compared to last year. http://archive.is/TMEgu

Home sales have hit their best numbers in 10 years – up 17.5%. http://archive.is/afseF

 

 

 

Trade

Pulled out of TPP. http://archive.is/8jHzK

Signed an arms deal worth more than $350 billion and various other investment agreements with Saudi Arabia. http://archive.is/dIkH3

Trump administration approves $42 million arms deal with Ukraine. http://archive.is/1T987

Reworking NAFTA with Canada and Mexico in order to make better trade deals – might pull out. http://archive.is/2Ewiq

Xi Jinping, Donald Trump oversee signing of US$253 billion in trade deals. http://archive.is/LFKEU

Increased tariffs on Canadian lumber by 20% (worth $1 billion). http://archive.is/kIOXE

Resuming trading natural gas and beef with China. http://archive.is/9CEPP

Trading coal and rice to China. http://archive.is/nVbVb

Negotiated new sugar deal with Mexico. http://archive.is/sPLUi

US pork exports going back to Argentina for the first time since 1992. http://archive.is/P43dU

Trading energy with new countries in Europe (Poland, Lithuania) – end their reliance on Russian energy. http://archive.is/9L9mH, http://archive.is/fpEyU

Trade deficit falling faster than expected . http://archive.is/DoROR

Exports at a 2.5-year high. http://archive.is/Ulytn

Oil exports at all time high. http://archive.is/cp9ks

Coal exports up 60%. http://archive.is/4ONbf

 

 

 

Confidence in the Economy

Economic confidence is at a 9-year high. http://archive.is/GFkEz

Consumer Confidence Breaks Another Record, Hits 17-Year High. http://archive.is/TCGSw

CEO confidence highest since 2014. http://archive.is/87U1E

US Manufacturing Index at a 33-year high . http://archive.is/3BSTP

Manufacturer confidence at a 20-year high. http://archive.is/QuuCN

Home builder confidence at 12-year high. http://archive.is/bErU1

 

 

 

Misc.

Trump has signed a $15 billion relief package for Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey – includes a short-term suspension of the debt ceiling and money to keep the government running for the next 3 months. http://archive.is/2djqr

New memorandum to protect American IPs from China – potentially save billions in dollars and millions in jobs. http://archive.is/c1Bta

Broadcom Limited is moving its headquarters from Singapore back into the United States – more than 20 billion dollars in annual revenue will return to America. http://archive.is/SbaNL

Singapore Airlines agrees to buy $13.8 billion worth of Boeing jets. http://archive.is/Bht3L

Gas prices at a 12-year low. http://archive.is/Xdq12

 

 

 

Government

Appointed conservative Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. http://archive.is/nZs6G

Trump signed 96 bills into law in 2017. http://archive.is/CRMhx

Trump signed 55 Executive Orders in 2017. https://www.federalregister.gov/executive-orders/donald-trump/2017

Cutting regulations in government agencies (add 1, take out 2). http://archive.is/ygnHp

So far, 16 regulations have been cut for every 1 added – 800 Obama regulations cut (saved $200+ billion). http://archive.is/b4sMl

Trump has cut the number of regulations in the Federal Register by 32% in his first 9 months in office. Put a regulatory freeze on all federal agencies. http://archive.is/qLTxX

Cut the White House budget – save taxpayers $22 million. http://archive.is/Cnj07

Signed an executive order to reduce operating costs of the federal government. http://archive.is/uOBvJ

11,000 government jobs slashed under Trump – downsizing government. http://archive.is/YJDLt

Fixed lobbying laws – 5 year lobbying ban on White House officials. http://archive.is/CwYrw

Investigating voter fraud in the 2016 election. http://archive.is/YskG8

Senate just confirmed 65 Trump nominees for various positions (August 3rd). http://archive.is/ZUZ6w

Trump is quietly completely transforming the federal judiciary – nominated nearly 60 judges, filling more vacancies than Barack Obama did in his entire first year. http://archive.is/xUU3T

President Donald J. Trump Announces Eighth Wave of United States Attorney Nominations. http://archive.is/ULtdT

The Senate has confirmed Jessie Liu as the US Attorney for the District of Columbia – she is famous for jailing a (Rothschild). http://archive.is/xjmV0

Fired corrupt and incompetent FBI Director James Comey. http://archive.is/zXuAQ

Purging the State Department of Obama loyalists. http://archive.is/nBiti

Fired all 46 attorney generals hired by Obama. http://archive.is/omFAa

Ending many of Obama’s useless Executive Orders. http://archive.is/rk5Zz

Ben Carson Finds $500 Billion (Billion!) In Errors during Audit of Obama. http://archive.is/N1jUD

Eliminated 1200 man hours of wasteful paperwork requirements including Y2K preparedness. http://archive.is/ekhIR

 

 

 

Defence

Military

Trump signs $700 billion military budget into law. http://archive.is/h2Q9E

Trump unveils “America First” national security strategy. http://archive.is/DexS1

Trump is about to put his mark on the US nuclear arsenal. http://archive.is/jY088

 

 

 

Iran

Trump has decertified the Iran Deal. http://archive.is/dhpzi

 

 

 

North Korea

Trump continues to put pressure on North Korea – de-escalate or face destruction. http://archive.is/azyan

China has announced it will cooperate with US sanctions on North Korea, will close all North Korean businesses within the next 120 days – severely limits North Korea’s ability to import food, fuel, etc. http://archive.is/aDUBg

US and China are seeing “certain signs” that international sanctions against North Korea are beginning to impact the country’s economy – vow to keep sanctions until North Korea denuclearizes. http://archive.is/ZsqsU

Trump has signed an Executive Order that gives the Treasury Department new authority to target companies and institutions doing business with North Korea. http://archive.is/jagYE

Trump declares North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism. http://archive.is/uUClK

 

 

 

ISIS

ISIS has lost 98% of its territory, mostly under Trump. http://archive.is/m4zgv – https://imgur.com/a/qrkon.

Iraq is ‘fully liberated’ from ISIS, its military says. http://archive.is/hqJXb

U.S.-backed forces reclaim ISIS capital of Raqqa. http://archive.is/zmXjQ

U.S.-allied forces take Syria’s largest oil field from ISIS – major blow to ISIS’ income. http://archive.is/dIj4W

Phased out Timber Sycamore – CIA’s secret program to arm Anti-Assad rebels (and therefore ISIS). http://archive.is/OFbQp

1000+ ISIS soldiers have recently surrendered to Kurdish authorities in Iraq. http://archive.is/xfyjs

Putin, Trump agree to defeat ISIS in Syria. http://archive.is/cSxOi

Teaming up with Russia to create a ceasefire in south-west Syria – step in the right direction to end civil war. http://archive.is/24ahP

Encouraging Middle Eastern countries to team up and exterminate ISIS and terrorism as a whole – teaming up with Saudi Arabia to fight terrorism. http://archive.is/haVeS

 

 

 

Foreign Aid

Trump withdraws $285 million worth of funding from the UN. http://archive.is/c3d7w

Trump has withdrawn the USA from UNESCO – saves $500 million. http://archive.is/mp3z5

US withholds $65 million from the UN Palestinian refugee program. http://archive.is/b2nbb

America has withdrawn almost $300 million in foreign aid to Egypt. http://archive.is/ZmhZC

Trump withholding $255 million in aid to Pakistan, as he accuses country of giving safe haven to terrorists. http://archive.is/Iy8rk

State Department suspends security assistance to Pakistan. http://archive.is/QzIsH

Trump threatens to cut foreign aid to countries that oppose his Jerusalem decision. http://archive.is/Rk4ey

 

 

 

Veterans Association

Increasing funds to and modernizing the VA – better service + easier access + more accountability (VA Accountability Act) – 500+ corrupt employees fired. http://archive.is/glNJR – http://archive.is/CsyeS – http://archive.is/fjZfN

Signed the Forever GI Bill – improved college aid for veterans – removal of the 15 year use or lose limit. http://archive.is/fMXAS

President Trump has signed an Executive Order on “Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition from Uniformed Service to Civilian Life.” http://archive.is/Qa0hc

S. 583 – American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017 – Prioritizes hiring and training of ex – military services personnel. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/583/text

 

 

 

Sanctions

Sanctioned Iran for their missile use. http://archive.is/qpxlQ

Sanctioned North Korea for their missile use. http://archive.is/kTvd1

Sanctioned Syria for their chemical attack. http://archive.is/ekN5v

Sanctioned Russia for their activity in Ukraine. http://archive.is/H8MxD

 

 

 

Misc.

Law to protect whistle-blowers. http://archive.is/Czgzp

Reworking NATO so other countries pay their fair share (Germany) – Many countries have already increased their funding (Canada, Romania, etc.). http://archive.is/KwXM5

Announcement of a new and improved military strategy in Afghanistan – fixing the mess left by Bush and Obama. http://archive.is/sC2JK

US kills 150 ISIS terrorists in Syria air-strike during government shutdown. http://archive.is/28qLs

Afghanistan MOAB took out ISIS tunnels and killed 90+ terrorists. http://archive.is/1vJxh

United States forces have captured Mustafa al-Imam in Libya, who played a large part in the Benghazi attacks. http://archive.is/LrBsr

The Air Force could recall up to 1,000 retired pilots after the President signed an executive order aimed at addressing an “acute shortage of pilots.” http://archive.is/NGPuP

Trading missiles to Poland to protect them from Russian aggression. http://archive.is/0Cfl7

 

 

 

 

Crime

2017 US crime rates expected to show drop off. http://archive.is/sSSDw

President Trump has fully pardoned former sheriff Joe Arpaio. http://archive.is/Ex8Zs

Seeking the harshest possible punishments for criminals. http://archive.is/YE7r0

Large crime sweeps all over the country (MS-13). http://archive.is/Rmum9

Arrests of MS-13 members and associates are up 83% under Trump. http://archive.is/vPMZU

Creating a Department of Justice task force to fight against violent crimes + cartels. http://archive.is/zSrjw

Sending the Feds into Chicago to fix their crime epidemic. http://archive.is/iaXAP

Busting paedophile rings all over the country (hundreds arrested) + passing legislation to combat human trafficking. http://archive.is/VQesR – http://archive.is/NsNVD

Cocaine seizures at the border have more than doubled under Trump. http://archive.is/Hw3d3

Trump signs Executive Order Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption
http://archive.is/M2MQX

Trump has lifted restrictions imposed by Obama on the transfer of surplus military-style equipment to the police
http://archive.is/EXgzm

Trump DOJ ends Obama-era “Operation Chokepoint” – program that unfairly targeted gun dealers. http://archive.is/6lG57

Justice Department to take on affirmative action in colleges against – anti-white discrimination. http://archive.is/UlZBB

It has been revealed that the Department of Homeland Security considers Antifa a domestic terror group. http://archive.is/lzD0s

FBI cites black extremist groups as new domestic terrorist threats. http://archive.is/5v9jm

Justice Department has demanded release of 1.3 million IP addresses related to a major “Trump Resistance site”. http://archive.is/F62Rj

DoJ investigation into intelligence leaks underway. http://archive.is/RXWvR

FBI in Puerto Rico investigating if corrupt local officials are ‘withholding’ or ‘mishandling’ crucial supplies. http://archive.is/Bvob5

Trump administration orders FBI probe into Harvey Weinstein. http://archive.is/1yr4x

Trump DOJ settles lawsuits over Tea Party targeting by Obama IRS. http://archive.is/xnpEA

S. 419 – Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2017. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/419/text

 

 

 

Investigations

Congress to investigate Obama scheme to nix investigation into Hezbollah terrorists. http://archive.is/b8t70

Jeff Sessions orders new look into Uranium One criminal investigation. http://archive.is/5EH66

FBI uncovered Russian bribery plot before Obama administration approved controversial nuclear deal with Moscow – massive bribery, kickback, extortion, money laundering, and cover up scheme – directly incriminates The Clinton Foundation. http://archive.is/724V6

The Senate Judiciary Committee opens a corruption probe investigating the Obama administration’s approval of the Uranium One deal. http://archive.is/BPqCf

House Financial Services Committee reveal that emails confirm that Obama’s DOJ funnelled “slush fund” money to leftist organizations. http://archive.is/MHLXO

The House Judiciary Committee is once again requesting the appointment of a second special counsel to investigate Loretta Lynch, James Comey, and Hillary Clinton. http://archive.is/Y1r7F

The FBI has released documents suggesting James Comey planned on exonerating Hillary before FBI investigation was complete. http://archive.is/SOudi

FBI re-opens case relating to the Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting. http://archive.is/7eetm

Early Comey Draft Accused Clinton Of “Gross Negligence” Criminal Standard On Emails. http://archive.is/mSHUJ

 

 

 

Healthcare & Well-being

Healthcare

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has gotten rid of the Obamacare Individual Mandate – Americans are no longer penalized for opting out of Obamacare. http://archive.is/YQibE

Trump has signed an executive order on healthcare that allows people to purchase healthcare across state lines. http://archive.is/6hJ9m

Trump to halt ‘massive’ Obamacare subsidies to insurers. http://archive.is/UghuP

Kentucky to add Medicaid work requirement; first state to follow Trump plan. http://archive.is/menYm

The Trump administration is rolling back Obamacare mandates that cover birth control. http://archive.is/g801O

 

 

 

Abortion

Trump Administration Defines Life ‘Beginning at Conception’. http://archive.is/tMRA3

Trump administration to shield health workers who refuse to perform abortions or treat transgender patients. http://archive.is/75V6E

Trump rescinds Obama-era guidance making it harder for states to de-fund Planned Parenthood. http://archive.is/4OLvf

Signed law giving states the option to withdraw taxpayer funding from Planned Parenthood. http://archive.is/7Pilk

The House has passed a bill (237-189) that would ban abortion after 20 weeks – Trump supports the bill. http://archive.is/Z1ysK

De-funding international groups that promote/perform abortion . http://archive.is/23b9Q

 

 

 

Opioid Crisis

Trump has declared a nationwide Public Health Emergency to address the opioids crisis. http://archive.is/hyczT

Signed an executive order to combat drug addiction and the opioid epidemic. http://archive.is/ORno1

Largest ever crackdown on opioid-related fraud (120 arrested, including doctors). http://archive.is/FtqiM

 

 

 

Misc

Jeff Sessions to crack down on legalized marijuana, ending Obama-era policy. http://archive.is/XvmHt

Trump’s EPA gave $100 million to Flint to help with their water crisis. http://archive.is/qppvc

Taking action on healthcare fraud (412 arrested). http://archive.is/cIlzx

The president has signed a disaster proclamation in response to Hurricane Harvey – unleashes the full force of the federal government to help Texas. http://archive.is/SJinr

 

 

 

Education

Common core is finished – give power to the States to choose curriculum. http://archive.is/o3NIW

Pulling the federal Agency from K-12 education. http://archive.is/ZFvPn

Jeff Sessions says that the DoJ will be stepping up enforcement of free speech rights on college campuses. http://archive.is/QtHVL

DeVos offers buyouts to shrink Education Department workforce. http://archive.is/24gkP

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday rescinded Obama-era guidelines for investigating allegations of sexual assault on campus, replacing them with guidelines she said would help schools “treat all students fairly.” http://archive.is/82z6P

Huge overhaul of the federal student loan system announced. http://archive.is/N5FZA

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos proposes another delay of an Obama-era overhaul of rules to erase the federal student debt of borrowers defrauded by colleges. http://archive.is/ORXDa

Getting rid of transgender bathrooms in schools – up to the states. http://archive.is/m4NXJ

Trump’s USDA Relaxes Obama-Era School Lunch Restrictions. http://archive.is/JH7Vz

Signed an executive order to help out historically black colleges and universities. http://archive.is/HciMV

Trump has signed a $200 million memo to boost computer science education in schools. http://archive.is/xQiGt

Signed a resolution encouraging women in entrepreneurship and STEM. http://archive.is/AclCP

 

 

 

Environment

Pulled out of the Paris Accord. http://archive.is/3Pcr3

Trump administration removes climate change from list of national security threats. http://archive.is/cZLkX

The Trump administration will abandon the Obama-era clean power plan aimed at reducing (global warming). http://archive.is/RhYW1

Trump administration dramatically expands offshore drilling. http://archive.is/GaROR

Congress lifts a 40-year-old ban on energy development (drilling for oil) in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). http://archive.is/8JL5e

Trump administration set to roll back $900 million in Obama-era offshore drilling regulations. http://archive.is/BmWYL

 

 

Space

Trump signs directive ordering NASA to lead space exploration program to send US astronauts back to the moon and eventually to Mars. http://archive.is/p96j2

Increasing funds to NASA – Mars mission by 2033

Brought back the National Space Council

USA and Russia agree to cooperate on building the first lunar station

 

 

 

GOP

4 House special election wins

Donald Trump’s Support Among Blacks Has Doubled Since 2016. http://archive.is/w9lVO

The RNC doubled the DNC in fundraising in August – $7.3 million to $3.8 million – the RNC now has $45.8 million cash on hand with $0 debt, while the DNC has $6.8 million on hand with $3.4 million in debt. http://archive.is/h9GU3

RNC pulls in $75 million in Trump’s first 6 months – Double Obama’s first 6 months. http://archive.is/F0qnn

Voter registration data shows that blue states are getting redder and red states are getting redder. http://archive.is/jMuf1

Unironically got a Democratic Governor to switch parties – first time in 25 years. http://archive.is/JJRya

Trump has caused RINO Senator Jeff Flake to announce he will not seek re-election

 

 

 

Misc

NCHS is reporting that whites once again make up a majority of births in the US – reversing a decade long decline. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/report002.pdf

House approves GOP bill making it easier for gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines. http://archive.is/lB31P

The U.S. Supreme Court leaves in place a Mississippi law that lets businesses and government workers refuse to provide services to gay and transgender people, on religious grounds. http://archive.is/bxQvS

Trump shrinks Utah monuments created by Obama, Clinton. http://archive.is/AtVa6

Trump names Jerusalem the capital of Israel, will move US embassy. http://archive.is/iJSZ9

Senate sends $36.5 billion disaster relief bill to Trump’s desk. http://archive.is/Q4qKp

Senate votes to nullify rule letting consumers band together to sue banks or credit card companies. http://archive.is/ljB4w

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the unveiling of 2,800 documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. http://archive.is/T7f4j

Trump negotiates the release of 3 UCLA basketball players from China. http://archive.is/EK4d5

Executive Order on the Establishment of the American Technology Council. http://archive.is/QdSzo

Trump blocks Chinese purchase of U.S. company for national security reasons

Increases the power of the US Cyber Command – more resources to fight cyberspace threats

Senators Lankford (R) and Booker (D) have co-sponsored a bill that would strip any taxpayer funding to professional sports teams for building their stadiums.

Promoted Free Speech and Religious Liberty executive order.

New and improved policies towards Cuba (fix American tourism and the human rights of Cubans)

Brought home Otto Warmbier and Aya Hijazi, captives from North Korea and Egypt respectively, that Obama ignored.

Privatizing air traffic control.

The Department of Transportation has gotten rid of many Obama-era regulations regarding truck drivers- H.R. 1238 – Securing the Agriculture and Food Act.

Trump has signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, giving Americans $1.5 trillion in tax cuts and slashing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% – 91% of middle-class Americans will receive a tax cut http: //archive.is/b5z7T

Appointed conservative Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. http://archive.is/nZs6G

Trump has updated his travel ban, includes these 8 countries – Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, Somalia – No expiration date. http://archive.is/LBATj

Trump has cut the number of regulations in the Federal Register by 32% in his first 9 months in office. http://archive.is/nxp5W

ISIS has lost 98% of its territory, mostly under Trump. http://archive.is/m4zgv – https://imgur.com/a/qrkon

Unemployment rate is down to 4.1%, the lowest it’s been since August 2000. http://archive.is/TqhjB

Black unemployment rate hits ALL TIME low – 6.8%. http://archive.is/bYDiw

The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped to 4.7%, the lowest in US history. http://archive.is/LAeem

The US Census Bureau has announced that the American median income is increasing for the first time since 2007. http://archive.is/3IWMd

Consumer Confidence Breaks Another Record, Hits 17-Year High. http://archive.is/TCGSw

Food Stamp Enrolment Drops by 2 Million in 2017. http://archive.is/VNHVT

Major stock indexes all hit record highs this week – DOW (25,295), S&P (2,743) and NASDAQ (7,136). http://archive.is/ioB2Q

Since the election, the DOW is up 34.9%, the NASDAQ is up 34%, and the S&P 500 is up 25.2%. https://imgur.com/a/i3yEl

Pulled out of TPP. http://archive.is/8jHzK

Pulled out of the Paris Accord – save billions in taxpayer money and trillions in GDP, put American industries first by creating and maintaining millions of industrial jobs. http://archive.is/3Pcr3

Going through with building the Keystone and Dakota Pipelines – expanding energy infrastructure and creating 1000s of jobs. http://archive.is/1L6ys

Congress lifts a 40-year-old ban on energy development (drilling for oil) in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). http://archive.is/8JL5e

Buy and Hire American, executive order – restrict guest worker visas requiring more agencies to buy more goods and services from American companies and workers. http://archive.is/SPmkc

Illegal border crossings down nearly 70% since Trump took office (Historic low according to ICE). http://archive.is/63kUA

Deportation orders up 31% nationwide under Trump. http://archive.is/RmNIy

Illegal immigration arrests up 40% nationwide. http://archive.is/63kUA

Trump administration reduces refugee admissions by 70% in first year. http://archive.is/07Zgq

Trump is quietly completely transforming the federal judiciary. http://archive.is/xUU3T

Trump signs $700 billion military budget into law. http://archive.is/h2Q9E

Trump has decertified the Iran Deal. http://archive.is/dhpzi

Trump withdraws $285 million worth of funding from the UN. http://archive.is/c3d7w

Increasing funds to and modernizing the VA – better service + easier access + more accountability (VA Accountability Act) – 500+ corrupt employees fired
http://archive.is/glNJR – http://archive.is/CsyeS – http://archive.is/fjZfN

Arrests of MS-13 members and associates are up 83% under Trump. http://archive.is/vPMZU

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has gotten rid of the Obamacare Individual Mandate – Americans are no longer penalized for opting out of Obamacare. http://archive.is/YQibE

Trump has signed an executive order on healthcare that allows people to purchase healthcare across state lines. http://archive.is/6hJ9m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scotland Together – The Scottish Community Channel Owned by the People of Scotland

Fed-up with the bare faced lies and biased output of BBC Scotland and commercial television. Need a break from Jacki Bird, Sarah Smith and fat-boy Taylor?

Turn to Freeview Channel 989 or (Sky 545, Virgin333 and Freesat 67) and you can start watching “Scotland Together” –  a TV channel built by the people of Scotland.

Programming includes documentaries, political comment, current affairs and news. It also covers nature, arts & crafts, gardening and DIY.

The channel is registered as an Independent Community Benefit Society and holds charitable status.

Could this become a reality? The Community Channel has done it. Go to: (https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/community-channel) and (togethertv.com)

There is an abundance of media savvy people in support of an independent Scotland more than capable of getting this off the ground.. It just needs a kick start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colin James Clark

Multi-Millionaire Colin James Clark was born 20 May 1969.

His father Robbie owned a 1000 acre+ farm and three cottages (rented out) near Auchterless, In 1990.

His early career in agriculture to him to Lincolnshire where he developed an interest in organic farming of products for direct sale.

Circumstances forced his return to Scotland in 2005 and his acceptance of the task of overall management and development of the farming business of Thomastown Farm and Cottages when his brothers expressed a preference to pursue careers not involving farming.

He is the owner of Finask House a Category B Listed property in Daviot, Aberdeenshire, valued at around £1.5 million.

 

 

 

Business and Financial interests outside politics: R&M Clark Farmers

Selling finished beef cattle and store lambs are the main enterprises with annual purchase of 1,400 Continental cross steers and 1500 store lambs.

The aim of the business is to pile on the beef over a period of 60 days then get them to the market.

The Scottish taxpayer provides substantial financial support to the business by way of farming subsidies. In the years 2015/2016, the enterprise was advanced a total of £213,129.00p

 

 

Nessgro Ltd:

Clark shares a controlling 50% interest and is Chairman of Inverness based Nessgro Ltd (annual turnover £1.5m and growing) which specializes in organic root vegetable production on 120 hectares of land.

It has its own wash factory and packhouse which allows a direct to customer sale business.

The company was awarded the prestigious Grower of the Year in 2007 and in 2013 won the Marks and Spencer’s Scottish produce category as well as their Champion of Champions Farming for the Future Award.

The Scottish taxpayer provides substantial financial support to the business by way of farming subsidies. In the year 2016, the enterprise was advanced a total of £134,049.00p

 

 There is no Scotland claim

Edith Davidson, from Innerleithen, wrote to Marks & Spencer after gaining information that the high street giant was labelling Scottish whisky as British.

She spoke of her shock after Marks & Spencer responded telling her to respect the result of the 2014 referendum and accept that Scotland was now “a part of the country known as England”.

 

 

Shareholding (more than £70K) – Clark’s extensive investment portfolio and pensions are managed by Balmoral Asset Management Ltd (Edinburgh)

Shareholding:

Sciemus Ltd; technology and insurance

The Lloyd’s insurance consultancy operating in the space, power, renewable energy, cyber and mining industries, has recently formed an investing partnership with offshore Bermuda registered HSCM Bermuda.

Maven Capital Partners UK LLP (Maven)

Maven Capital Partners is an independent alternative asset manager, with over £415m of assets under management.

Maven was formed in 2009 after a buyout of the Aberdeen Asset Management private equity business and operates from a nationwide network of regional offices.

They arrange finance for management buyouts, acquisition finance, expansion capital and development capital, for companies valued at up to £25 million throughout the UK.

More detail here: (https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/maven-capital-partners)

Examples of Marven/Clark recent financial investments

Maven Capital Partners has led a £5.5m investment into Flexlife, an Aberdeen-based energy service business. In the face of significant competition for the mandate from other private equity houses, Maven has syndicated the deal with the respected energy sector fund, Simmons Parallel Energy. The new funding package will help support Flexlife through its next phase of development.

Maven Capital Partners has bought a controlling stake in the R&M Engineering oil services business from Robbie Mackay in a £5 million deal that shows its faith in the potential of the North Sea market.

The Glasgow-based private equity investor believes R&M Engineering could enjoy years of strong growth amid booming investment in the North Sea.

Based in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, R&M Engineering provides services like the design and fabrication of modules and pipework for oil rigs that are being refurbished or for new facilities.

Private equity firm Maven Capital Partners has led a £14 million management buyout of Forfar- based specialist mechanical and hydraulic engineering firm, Rmec Ltd.

Glasgow-based Maven has invested £7.5 million to support the Rmec buyout, which will be utilized to expand its rental fleet, further develop its workshop and storage facilities and bolster its management team.

Rmec specializes in the manufacture, maintenance, repair, testing, recertification and rental of well services equipment for the oil and gas industry.

It currently employs 20 staff and is reported to have generated sales in the region of £9 million in the most recent financial year.

In March 2013, Maven clients invested £4.6 million to acquire the former Clarence Hotel in Llandudno, North Wales.

The property had been vacant for some time and the existing structure will be comprehensively refurbished, along with a limited new-build on parts of the upper floor, to provide 82 en-suite bedrooms to Travelodge’s specifications with a further two retail units on the ground floor.

The transaction qualifies for BPRA (Business Premises Renovation Allowance) which enables UK taxpaying investors to claim tax allowances against much of the capital invested in refurbishing the empty building and returning it to commercial use.

The completed development is scheduled for completion in Spring 2015.

Maven Capital Partners has secured £7 million of funding to deliver an new hotel development in Glasgow’s Merchant City. The Glasgow-based private equity firm said the funding scheme, utilizing the benefits of the Business Premises Renovation Allowance (BPRA), will include the purchase of Telfer House, a currently empty office building.

Maven said the building will be refurbished into a 96-bedroom ibis Styles hotel, which will be managed by a specialist hotel management company, RedefineBDL.

Ramsay Duff, of Maven Capital Partners, said: “We are delighted to have secured this opportunity for our investors, offering useful tax incentives with a high quality underlying property asset.

 

 

Politics

10 Jun 2017: A crowd-funder begging advert: Please donate to support Colin and send him to represent the Gordon constituency at Westminster.

Only Colin can join and contribute to the Government at Westminster.

Fighting an election costs money as we need to produce letters, leaflets, posters, and campaigning materials to help Colin get his message out across the Gordon and beat Alex Salmond. We need £2000.

 

 

Tory defense of the independence of Scottish affairs

The 2017 General Election returned a baker’s dozen of Conservative Scottish MPs to Westminster.

Ruth Davidson’s force provided the numbers allowing a minority of English MP’s to form a UK government with a barely operational majority (with the support of the Democratic Unionists furnished with a £1.5 billion bribe).

Forming part of the campaigning strategy the party machine in Scotland spread the rumour that Scots Tories returned to Westminster would act as a party within a party, taking instructions from Ruth Davidson.

But that undertaking has proved to be yet another “pie in the sky” unfulfilled promise primarily due to the reality that Tory Unionist MP’s were elected to office without a workable manifesto.

There is the added fact that Ruth Davidson’s Scottish MPs are obliged to work under the Whip system which demands absolute obedience from MPs under threat of removal of party support from any MP who might wish to abstain or vote against the government.

The concluding factor is Brexit. Very few elected politicians in Scotland, (including a significant number of Scottish Unionist MPs) voted to leave the European Union but the entire block of Tory MPs will be required to vote with the government in all events pertaining to Brexit. Hardly acceptable politics, MP’s voting against the wishes of their constituents.

 

 

1 Jan 2018: Scottish Tory Unionist MP’s Contrived Attempt to Muddy the Waters on Broadband Revealed As A Cynical Ploy To Cover Tory Government Failings (https://caltonjock.com/)

 

 

17 Jan 2018: Brexit

Scotland’s 13 Tory MPs chose to please Theresa May over standing up for their constituents when they voted for Whitehall’s “naked power grab” from Holyrood.

During the final stages of the EU withdrawal Bill, the Tories refused to vote with all other Scottish MPs to back a Labour amendment which would have meant powers repatriated from Brussels after Brexit would have come to Scotland. (The National)

 

 

Scottish Tory MP’s vote to carry on with wage repression and increased austerity measures

The Tory government defeated a Labour Party amendment to the Queen’s Speech calling for an end to cuts to the police and the fire service, the end of the 1% public sector pay cap and to give emergency and public services a fair pay rise by 323 to 309 votes.

Northern Ireland’s 10 DUP MP’s despite speaking out against austerity before the election agreed to vote with Conservative MP’s to give Theresa May the majority she needed after she agreed a £1.5billion bung to Northern Ireland to win their votes.

There was much criticism from bodies representing Britain’s 5 million emergency and public services staff of the government’s refusal to rethink public sector cuts after their response to recent terrorist events and the courage of firefighters who risked their lives in the Grenfell Tower blaze.

Especially after Theresa May told a nurse on BBC Question Time that there is “no magic money tree” for a pay rise to stop nurses having to turn to food banks and payday loans in the run-up to her snap election, before agreeing to part with £1.5billion in return for DUP support.

The 13 Scottish MPs should have abstained since the business had no direct impact on Scotland but they voted with the government against the amendment. So much for independent thinking.

Andrew C Bowie (Conservative – West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Colin Clark (Conservative – Gordon)
David Duguid (Conservative – Banff, and Buchan)
Luke Graham (Conservative – Ochil and South Perthshire)
Bill Grant (Conservative – Ayr, Carrick, and Cumnock)
Kirstene Hair (Conservative – Angus)
Mr Alister Jack (Conservative – Dumfries, and Galloway)
Stephen Kerr (Conservative – Stirling)
John Lamont (Conservative – Berwickshire, Roxburgh, and Selkirk)
Paul Masterton (Conservative – East Renfrewshire)
David Mundell (Conservative – Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale, and Tweeddale)
Douglas Ross (Conservative – Moray)
Ross Thomson (Conservative – Aberdeen South)

 

 

 

4 Dec 2017: Gordon MP Colin Clark took time out to volunteer during a collection for the Trussell Trust foodbank.

The Scottish Conservative MP joined local councillor Lesley Berry and others at the Inverurie Tesco on Harlaw Road. Speaking afterward, Mr. Clark said: “Local people from Inverurie and the surrounding area gave very generously.

We collected a lot of tinned and non-perishable food. “The Trussell Trust provides a fantastic service, which is so important at this colder time of year as we approach Christmas.

“Having met with Trussell Trust in the past, foodbanks provide a safety net and often help people engage with the relevant authorities. “We spend a lot of time doing constituency casework helping people who are finding the welfare system complicated. “Trussell Trust provides for many of those people in crisis and emergency situations.”

The Trussell Trust is a poverty charity that relies heavily on volunteers. More than 40,000 people across the UK volunteered with a foodbank over the past year, helping to get food to people in crisis. (Inverurie Herald)

Comment: Bloody cheek. It is Tory Party welfare cuts that have driven many people to despair as without funds they need to seek the assistance of charities.

 

 

 

 

18 Dec 2017: Colin Clark’s voting record in Parliament

Colin Clark, Conservative MP, votes the same way as other Conservative MPs. He has never rebelled against his party in the current parliament.

 

 

 

17 Jan 2018: Debate in the House of Commons – Cancer Treatment Policy

Henry Smith Tory MP for Crawley – Like many people in this room today, I have lost a family member to blood cancer. Five and a half years ago, my mother died from acute myeloid leukemia, also known as AML, an extremely short time after diagnosis. With conditions such as AML, there is an incredibly short time—sometimes just a matter of days—between being diagnosed and this form of blood cancer taking a life.

A report has been published with a focus on the implementation of the cancer strategy for England, but committee members are keen to learn from examples of good practice in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Colin Clark Tory & Unionist MP for Gordon – In 2015 in the Grampian NHS Board area, which includes my constituency of Gordon, there were 265 new diagnoses of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma, forming one in every 12 diagnoses in the area that year.

In the same year, 106 lives in the Grampian area were taken by these cancers. It is crucial that we leave no stone unturned in the fight against blood cancers.

That includes research and development, on which the UK Government has a strong record that I very much hope will continue.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the dedicated staff of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, which serves my constituency.

The work of the staff in its oncology department is second to none and has saved countless lives over the years.

The start of treatment in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s new state-of-the-art radiotherapy department in 2014 was a welcome step forward in the treatment of blood cancers and other cancers in the north-east of Scotland.

The new building will enable the team to deliver new techniques and new forms of therapy to more and more patients—a development that can only be good.

Across Scotland, vacancy rates for consultants and nurses are disappointingly high, However, as with Her Majesty’s Government, budgets are constrained and oncology at the ARI has not been spared, unfortunately, from long-running staff shortages.

For a department that treats cancer patients not just in Gordon but across the north-east of Scotland and even further afield, that is obviously very concerning.

NHS staff and patients must have the security of knowing that their local oncology department is, and always will be, adequately staffed and given the support that it deserves.

Comment: Clark could not resist show-boating. His contribution to the debate was confined to repeating Tory party dogma always critical of the SNP government regardless of truth or a comparison of facts with the NHS in England, on staffing.

 

Philippa Whitford Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Health) – In Scotland, there is the new medicines fund and in England, there is the cancer drugs fund, a slight downside to which is that it is only for cancer.

That might not be a problem for the patients that we are concerned about in this debate, but it is for people with some other diseases.

However, the fund plays a role for drugs that have not yet reached the point of being passed by NICE, but for which some hope is felt.

There was obviously great anxiety when seven key treatments were removed from the cancer drugs fund a few years ago.

Something else that happened a few years ago was that a limit started to be put on the holy grail treatment of bone marrow and stem cell transplant, in those patients with a recurrence were not given the opportunity for a second transplant between the summer of 2016 and the spring of 2017, because that was no longer being commissioned.

Politicians and those high up in organizations such as NHS England need to be conscious that trying to balance the books may pull the rug from underneath people.

The gap of three quarters of a year will have been catastrophic for some people who might have benefited. That must be recognized when decisions are made.

In the Scottish NHS, we do not have mechanisms such as 100-days commissioning, and hearing about it highlights to me how time, energy and people are wasted in trying to knit together a system that has become fragmented.

For the cancer nurse specialists or doctors to have to try to plug a gap, or for patients to fall through the gap because, as was said in one briefing, there are CCGs and commissioning groups that do not even know they are responsible for commissioning that care after the 100 days, is a waste.

I spent more than 30 years working as a breast cancer surgeon and I would not want to have to waste clinical time trying to deal with the gaps between stools.

I think that the friction between what NHS England commissions and what CCGs are responsible for must be looked at.

Data and the auditing of performance are important for driving through the improvement of any service.

I do not mean such things as waiting times, on which we all collect data, but actual clinical standards—how someone is treated and what we would expect.

What would all the clinicians in the area think was good practice?

I do not mean shutting things down, or units being threatened by the Care Quality Commission.

Having developed the breast cancer standards in Scotland in 2000, I can say that sitting in a room with all the breast teams of Scotland and looking at the data in a big PowerPoint on the wall is a dynamic tool for getting people to change practice.

No one goes to work wanting to be the worst team in their country, region or area. Having access to actual clinical data is a great driver of quality.

In England, work is being done on setting up cancer dashboards for the four commonest cancers.

In Scotland, we have them for the 11 commonest cancers.

We have had Scotland-wide breast cancer data since 2003.

I have seen the quality go up simply from our all meeting every year, looking at the data and challenging each other and discussing the data—and sharing solutions.

Whatever problem a unit faces—whatever the reason for their performance going down—someone else in the room will have had that problem before, and solved it.

Such peer review and sharing of practice drives things forward.

One of our big hopes for the cancer alliances is that they will redevelop what existed in cancer networks, which we still use in Scotland: people meet, support each other, and share practice.

The importance of research has been mentioned. As a great believer in the European Union and the things that we have gained from it, I am anxious about our leaving the European Medicines Agency, about the loss of its support mechanism on rare diseases, and about the possibility that we will be outside the clinical trials regulation system, which is designed vastly to reduce the paperwork involved in taking research forward in a clinical trial.

In the end, what we want to come from the research is new treatment—new drugs.

The UK is dynamic in the life sciences and the development of new pharmaceuticals, but the rather bizarre thing is that often our doctors do not get to use them.

For people working in hospitals, that is getting to be a negative feedback loop. We do not get paid extra if we put patients into trials.

There is an enormous amount of paperwork, and people inevitably stay well after time to make sure that things function.

If suddenly at the end of the trial period, when they might be getting the drug funded, they cannot get access to the drug for several years, until it gets through NICE in England or the Scottish Medicines Consortium, those people feel, “Who is gaining? It is not my patients.”

The full debate can be found here. (https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2018-01-17a.358.4&s=speaker%3A25678#g368.1)

Comment: A marked difference. Philippa provided informed comment explaining the different and more effective cancer treatment policies in place in Scotland.

 

 

10 Jan 2018: Gatwick Airport noise

Thomas Tugendhat Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee – I beg to move, that this House has considered growth and noise reduction in Gatwick Airport. The issue of aircraft noise is incredibly important to me, and I am afraid that many in the Chamber will have heard me speak about it many times. Indeed, I have received more correspondence on this issue than on any other since I was elected.

That is unsurprising for those of us who live under the flightpath in the beautiful villages of west Kent, which are the most beautiful in England, as we all know—I declare an interest because our home is there.

The impact of aviation noise on the economic prosperity and environmental sustainability of our communities has been severe.

Colin Clark Conservative, Gordon – I will just say how important the south-east airports are to the regional airports and how important economically the south-east airports are to Aberdeen.

I know that he will visit the north-east soon, so today I will highlight the heliport at Aberdeen.

During his campaigning on noise, I would also like him to emphasise the issue of helicopters, because, as he is well aware, helicopters dwell, as opposed to just flying in on a flight-line.

The residents of Dyce, near Aberdeen International airport, are blighted by the noise from helicopters.

I would be very grateful if he could remember helicopters as well as fixed-wing aircraft.

Christopher Chope Conservative, Christchurch – Order. This is a debate on a narrow subject—growth and noise reduction at Gatwick airport. Okay?

Comment: Clark just cannot resist broadcasting the negative regardless of the relevance of the content.

 

 

10 Jan 2018: House of Commons Prime minister’s Question Time

Colin Clark Conservative, Gordon – Does the Prime Minister welcome the findings of the Social Research survey

(http://natcen.ac.uk/media/1528078/NatCen-What-Scotland-Makes-Of-Brexit.pdf)

that the majority of Scots believe that the rules on trade and immigration should be the same in Scotland as in the rest of the UK? It looks like they agree that we are better together.

Theresa May The Prime Minister, Leader of the Conservative Party – My hon. Friend has raised a very important point. People across the UK want to see controlled immigration—that is people in Scotland as well as people in the rest of the United Kingdom.

As we leave the European Union, we will be able to introduce our own immigration rules and to control that immigration to Britain from Europe.

The only point of differentiation is that, of course, we do have a Scotland-only shortage occupation list to recognise the particular labour market needs in Scotland.

For the most part, that actually matches the UK-wide shortage occupation list, which shows that this is an issue for the whole of the UK, and that we need the same policy approach.

Comment: A planted question for Theresa May advertising publication of the report, the views and opinions of which contained in the report are those only of Prof John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University.

Clark was selective in deciding the question for the Prime Minister highlighting a comment positive for the Tory government.

He ignored comments on Agriculture and Fishing which indicated over 60% of the Scottish electorate wished both to be devolved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development of Broadband in Scotland

The subject has been heavily politicised by Tory MP’s recently elected to represent Scottish communities, leading to a huge amount of hot air and misinformation.

The purpose of this article is to highlight aspects of a number of debates at Westminster and in the press. References and dates are provided so that readers can access full scripts of meetings so that they will be able to assess the correctness of the extensive paraphrasing of various statements.

 

 

 

26 Oct 2017: Theresa May Attacks Scotland’s Broadband Coverage

There were red faces for the Tories, in the Commons yesterday after Theresa May attacked the Scottish Government over superfast broadband roll-out, an issue that’s wholly reserved to the Westminster Government.

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Tory MP Luke Graham attacked the Scottish Government for not doing enough to get superfast broadband out to householders.

He said: “As of 2016, 17 per cent of the premises of in Scotland were without superfast broadband. This is compared with just 11 per cent for the UK as a whole.”

Graham then asked the Prime Minister to join with him in “calling on the Scottish Government to do more and to constructively engage with departments in Westminster to deliver this crucial service to communities in Scotland”.

The Prime Minister replied: “Can I say to my honourable friend, I think we all recognise the importance of broadband and fast broadband being available to people in our constituencies. It is for the Scottish Government to deliver this. (The National)

Comment: The Scottish Government had to intervene, given the importance of high quality broadband to the economy and the Westminster Government’s “lack of ambition” rolling out broadband access across Scotland’s widespread rural areas.

 

Matthew Hancock

 

 

16 November 2017: Westminster Debates: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Digital Infrastructure Investment

Colin Clark: Does the Minister agree that it is vital that the Westminster Government should invest in digital infrastructure if productivity is to be improved, particularly in rural areas like Gordon in northern Scotland ?

The constituency which I represent is a big part of Aberdeenshire, but is rated 613th for broadband performance in Scotland. That is disappointing for constituents and disastrous for business.

Matthew Hancock The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Absolutely. The Westminster Government is ensuring that we roll out the current generation of technology.

In terms of the next generation of technology the Westminster Government will deal directly with local representatives and authorities in Scotland by-passing the Scottish Government, because the Westminster Government intend to control the agenda for telecoms change ensuring networking upgrading is prioritised in areas suited to the political climate at that time.

Comment: Scots be fore-warned. The Thatcher-like asset stripping “agenda” that will follow Brexit will render a government in Scotland null and void with consequences. (theyworkforyou)

 

Mundell

 

 

22 November 2017: Westminster Debates: Rural Communities in Scotland: Broadband

John Lamont MP: BT and “Openreach” are not without blame.

Following negotiations and demands from Ofcom, “Openreach” is now a legally separate entity, but it is still wholly owned by BT’s parent holding company, BT Group plc.

The situation we find ourselves in, in Scotland, with a massive digital divide between urban and rural, has been entirely created by historical decisions made by the Westminster Government centralised control and direction of BT.

Had BT been instructed to invest in Scotland’s network in the way that it should have, both governments would not be facing these difficult challenges today.

BT has been permitted by the Westminster government to systematically pick off the low-hanging fruit in broadband roll-out, focusing it attention on cities and commercially viable areas to the exclusion of the much harder-to-get residents in Scotland’s rural communities because of the additional costs it would incur and which the Westminster Government would not finance.

By design the Westminster Government has forced many rural communities in Scotland to look at self-help options to find solutions for their poor broadband connections when “Openreach” has refused to help. Scots are innovative and smart, but many have struggled with the bureaucracy of the schemes and the cost involved.

Ofcom’s December 2016 report, “Connected Nations”, which has been referred to, describes the urban-rural divide well, states:

“While 89% of premises in the United Kingdom can receive superfast broadband, there are 1.4 million premises that cannot get download speeds greater than 10 megabits per second. Those are disproportionately in rural areas, and the problem is particularly bad in Scotland.”

Comment: The vast bulk of rural areas are in Scotland and they have suffered greatly from many decades of under investment by the Westminster government. Rural communities in the Scottish Borders and in the Highlands need to be given an increased broadband development priority fully financed by the Westminster controlled “Openreach” corporation. (theyworkforyou)

 

Fergus Ewing

 

 

01 Dec 2017: Setting the record straight on broadband in Scotland – By Fergus Ewing Msp

Scottish Conservative MPs at Westminster have spent the past weeks spreading misinformation on the facts of broadband in Scotland culminating in this letter to the First Minister:

Dear First Minister,

Over the last week, you have made a number of remarks regarding the roll-out of broadband in Scotland. Ultimately, we are all in agreement that the priority is people having the decent broadband connections they need, because we know that broadband is not a luxury; it is crucial for businesses and individuals across Scotland. However, we have serious concerns about the speed of broadband roll-out in Scotland and your Government has questions to answer. To be clear, we are not disputing what you have done. We are criticising what you have not done.

In 2014, the UK Government allocated over £20m for Phase 2 of the superfast broadband roll-out to the Scottish Government, designed to deliver superfast broadband coverage to 95% of UK premises by the end of 2017. Three years later, not only has your Government failed to deliver this roll-out, it has failed to start procurement for it.

As MPs in Westminster, broadband is one of the issues raised most consistently by our constituents, especially for those of us representing rural seats. So we would be grateful if you could provide us with answers to these straightforward questions:

First, why have some English local authorities not only contracted the second phase. but have moved onto the third, before the Scottish Government have even got started procuring Phase 2

Second, do you accept that Scotland is behind every single English local authority, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland in its approach to Phase 2

Third, can you confirm that every local authority region in Scotland will see new broadband delivery in both 2018 and 2019? We look forward to a Swift response.

You have spoken of the Scottish Governments ambition on broadband. This is to be welcomed and targets such as R100 are laudable. But the time of promises is over – we need to see delivery so that the people of Scotland get the broadband they need. We are copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister for Digital, and your Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity.

Letter signed by Tory MP’s: Alistair Jack, Andrew Bowie, Colin Clark, Stephen Kerr, John Lamont, David Duguid, Paul Masterton, Bill Grant, Kirstene Hair and Ross Thomson.

 

 

The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary responsible for digital connectivity, Fergus Ewing MSP, responded to their comments and set the record straight: Superfast broadband availability in Scotland has increased at a faster rate than other UK nations. He wrote.

Dear Members of Parliament:

There has been a great deal of misinformation from the UK Government on broadband delivery in Scotland in recent weeks. I am delighted, therefore, to take this opportunity to set the record straight, by answering the three questions outlined in your letter.

 

 

1. Why have some English local authorities not only contracted the second phase but have moved onto the third, before the Scottish Government have even got started procuring Phase 2?

The short answer is we didn’t choose to do DSSB in phases. English local authority projects were of a far smaller scale than our Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme and required additional phases.

Rather than taking forward 32 individual local authority-led procurements, we took the joint decision with local government partners, and the UK Government, that we would aggregate public investment across two regional projects in Scotland. This created a scale that has dwarfed any other project in the UK, extending broadband access to over 800,000 premises across Scotland so far, with further deployment to follow throughout 2018.

The success of this approach, and the resultant scale of our ‘Phase 1’ project, removed the need to progress a Scottish ‘Phase 2’ project in a similar timescale to other parts of the UK. In effect, the DSSB programme is Phases 1, 2 and 3 rolled into one.

The idea that Scotland is behind the rest of the UK simply because we haven’t yet launched a second procurement is laughable. The DSSB programme was constructed to avoid the need for successive small-scale procurements.

The success of this approach is demonstrated by the coverage figures. The most recent Ofcom data shows that Scotland has made the fastest progress of any of the UK nations in extending superfast access.

Now that the coverage footprint of DSSB is known, it makes sense to launch a new procurement, which we will do in the coming weeks. Crucially, we are doing this to deliver our commitment to 100% superfast broadband access by 2021 – a commitment that does not exist anywhere else in the UK.

 

 

2. Do you accept that Scotland is behind every single English local authority, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland in its approach to Phase 2?

I completely reject this claim. As outlined above, the DSSB programme has delivered more than any other Phase 1 project anywhere in the UK. It will continue deployment throughout 2018, at which point the new Reaching 100% (R100) programme will kick in.

Prior to our intervention, broadband coverage in Scotland had lagged behind the rest of the UK for a variety of reasons, including the challenging nature of our geography, low population density and the regulatory environment. The scale of investment delivered through DSSB, and the speed at which it has deployed, has seen Scotland close the gap on catch the rest of the UK in coverage terms.

As noted above, the latest Ofcom figures demonstrate this: superfast broadband coverage in Scotland increased by 14% over the previous 12 months – the largest increase of any of the UK nations; and that percentage coverage in Scotland is now higher than in many English local authorities.

We are now ready to launch the R100 programme; but it is important to understand that the R100 programme is not equivalent to the Phase 2 projects progressed elsewhere in the UK. It will deliver superfast access to every premise in Scotland. No other part of the UK has made such a commitment.

The UK Government appears happy to stop at 95% superfast coverage across the UK and consign those in the most rural areas to the slow-lane in terms of speeds, either through a 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation or by seeking a hastily constructed deal with BT to deliver something similar.

I wholeheartedly agree with John Lamont, who argued in the recent Westminster Hall debate on broadband, that the UK Government should have set the broadband USO at a higher speed than 10Mbps.

The Scottish Government does not believe that 10Mbps is acceptable for rural Scotland; which is why we will invest to ensure that 30Mbps is available to every home and business.

It is deeply unfortunate that the UK Government, which has the power to set a superfast USO or to invest directly in high-speed infrastructure across all of the UK, have chosen to do neither.

I would hope that the leadership shown by the Scottish Government would be welcomed by all Scottish MPs and, indeed, that you will urge the UK Government to match the ambition that we are showing in what is, of course, a reserved area.

 

The three amigo’s

 

3. Can you confirm that every local authority region in Scotland will see new broadband delivery in both 2018 and 2019?

The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme will continue to deliver throughout 2018, utilising Gainshare and other residual funds within both contracts, and this will extend into every local authority area.

We will formally launch the R100 procurement process in the coming weeks. This procurement will take place in parallel with continuing DSSB delivery through Gainshare, and we expect that R100 deployment will be underway across all of Scotland in 2019.

The truth is that the Scottish Government, and our local authority partners, have developed an enviable delivery track record on broadband in recent years. The DSSB programme has delivered broadband access at a scale unmatched anywhere else in the UK.

800,000 premises and counting now have broadband available as a result of our investment. Audit Scotland has recognised the success of the programme and Ofcom figures demonstrate that the coverage gap has been closed.

It is hugely unfortunate that a new intake of Scottish MPs appear intent on overlooking the facts, and underplaying what has been a success story for Scotland. This should be an opportunity for us to celebrate the success of the DSSB programme – a joint investment between our two Governments – and to collectively turn our attention to finishing the job through the R100 programme.

Instead, the UK Government has committed just £20.99 million to the programme – less than the amount allocated to Devon and Somerset for a less ambitious programme, and substantially less than the Scottish Government’s planned investment. Persuading UK Ministers to address this disparity in funding would seem to me to be a far more fruitful use of your time at Westminster than parroting baseless and false claims about broadband delivery in Scotland. I trust this response sets the record straight. (Fergus Ewing)

 

 

 

21 Dec 2017: Full Fibre & 5G Broadband – Questions Answered in the Commons 

The Minister for Digital (Matt Hancock): The Westminster Government will control the implementation of the new full fibre and the 5G programme directly through local representatives and authorities to ensure efficient delivery.

Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): Scottish Tory Back Bencher’s are agreed that clause 11 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is flawed and amounts to a power grab. Is the Westminster Government’s ill-judged proposals for broadband not the same, and is it not time that the Minister worked with the Scottish Government instead of trying to bypass them?

Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (Con): My constituency of North Northumberland is on the southern side of the border, (just a line on a map as far as my constituents are concerned). The entire community (despite implementation of broadband being devolved to local authorities) is still struggling to get the broadband it needs and many of my small villages are cut off. Will the Minister commit that, in 2018, we will see progress in the rural communities in England?

Matt Hancock: The Westminster Government controls all aspects of telecommunications in the UK and is increasingly mindful of the need to ensure delivery of acceptable levels of broadband to the rural communities of Northern England and in the Borders of Scotland.

Brendan O’Hara (Argyll and Bute) (SNP): In this the season of good will, will the Minister join me in congratulating the Scottish Government following last week’s announcement that, despite it being a reserved ​matter, they are to invest £600 million in rolling out 30 megabit superfast broadband across Scotland, with priority given to rural Scotland, thereby making Scotland a truly world-class digital nation by 2021?

Matt Hancock: I will certainly join the hon. Gentleman in wishing a merry Christmas to everybody in the Scottish National Party and the SNP Government in Scotland. (Hansard)

Comment:

Matt Hancock MP, UK Minister for Digital evidently needs to justify the Westminster Government’s ill judged decision to deny the Scottish Government any input to the development of 5G networking. On 23 Oct 2017 he was quoted saying:

“I’m delighted that more than 800,000 Scottish homes and businesses have now had their internet speeds boosted as part of our UK wide rollout of superfast broadband. By the end of this year 95 per cent of UK properties will have access to superfast speeds, but more needs to be done to make sure no-one is left behind. We know just how important broadband is in the digital age, and we’ll continue to support Digital Scotland delivering on the ground so that by 2020 everyone in Scotland will have access to a fast, reliable and affordable internet connection.” (ispreview)

The contribution of Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (Con) was significant since it revealed the duplicity of the Westminster Government’s claims to be more efficient at rolling out broadband to rural communities than the Scottish Government

 

 

23 Sep 2015: Clark Integrated Computers – Turrif and Fyvie

Austen and Graham Clark are brother’s of the recently elected MP for the Gordon constituency Colin.

Whilst wealthy Colin remained in farming and other business, including politics, in his spare time, his brothers established their own computer support company based in the former Towie Tavern between Turrif and Fyvie.

A very real success story the award winning firm delivers a wide range of information and communications technology products and services to clients throughout Scotland and beyond through strategic partnerships with vendors such as Cisco, Microsoft, HP, Dell and Apple.

Asked why the brothers built an IT company in the middle of the Aberdeenshire countryside the response from Austen was:

“A rural location was not without its challenges but a 100 megabit per second fibre optical cable running past the front door, easier access to routes north and the very nature of the business meant that Towie Tavern was as good as any other location. It is also easier to get to for most of our staff who must be glad they don’t have to commute to and from traffic congested Aberdeen every day.”

The company aims to double the size of its business over the next 3 to 5 years as technological advances continue to be developed at a rapid pace.

The full article can be found here: http://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-press-and-journal-aberdeen/20150923/282351153575701

Comment: Well, well. Over 2 years ago Colin Clark’s brothers were so enamoured with the 100 megabit per second high speed connection available, out in the sticks in Turrif and Fyvie that they started their computer business in that rural part of the Gordon constituency. But brother Colin is so besotted with Tory Party dogma and following the party line that he sees fit to stand up in Westminster and blaming the Scottish Government for failing to roll-out broadband in Scotland’s rural communities well realising that he is talking absolute twaddle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21 November 2007: Top Scottish civil servant ‘knew of VAT bill for the newly formed Scottish Police Services Authority early 2005

The top civil servant at the Scottish Government’s Justice Department was warned in 2005 that the new Scottish Police Services Authority would incur VAT.

The revelation came just a day after the news media revealed a major blunder by the previous Labour administration and civil servants and means the authority, which was set up to create cost savings and centralise procurement, will have to pay VAT.

Civil servants only contacted Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) with their full case for exemption in September 2007 despite the fact the planning for the body started under the Labour Party administration, more than two years ago and the authority became active under the Labour Party administration in April 2007 this year.

Andrew Keddie, former convener of Fife’s police board and a member of the Common Police Services Committee, which preceded the authority, warned Robert Gordon, head of the Justice Department, in late 2005 that the creation of the SPSA would be too costly because it would not be VAT exempt. … (The Herald)

Comment: Amazing what turns up in the archives. It was Labour that committed the Scottish police force to the VAT bill not the SNP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Graham’s of Swindon

Paul Sean Graham was born in the USA in 1958 USA. He married an English girl, Suzanne Elizabeth Graham (nee Wheeler) in 1984. At the time of the marriage he apparently had a son Daniel Aaron Graham b 1975.

15 Dec 1998: The Graham family formed, Amplecom Limited. 50 Fairlawn, Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, SN3 6EU (Change of address notified: 5 September 2016. Dorcan Business Village, Murdock Road, Swindon, United Kingdom, SN3 5HY:)

Paul Sean Graham and Daniel Aaron Graham were the company’s directors. Additionally, director’s assignments were supported by a secretary – Suzanne Elizabeth Graham.

Luke Patrick Graham worked as a director from 19 January 2016 until his resignation date, 30 June 2017. Murdock Road, Dorcan, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 5HY, England. The company is still operating.

 

 

 

 

Luke Patrick Graham was born in 1985, in Eldene, Swindon and attended Dorcan Comprehensive School in Swindon where he excelled in drama and art, joining the Dorcan Performing Arts Group. Once asked to comment he said: “Drama got a lot of people engaged at school – many may not have been before and that is why the performing arts group was set up. There was a big gap for extra curriculum clubs at Dorcan at the time and it slowly grew in popularity. It is still going today and it is great to see that it is still strong with lots of people as members.”

Graduating from the University of Sheffield in 2006, with a BA in Economics and Social Policy he remained in Sheffield and took up employment with the University union from July 2006-2007.

He relocated to London late 2007 and took up employment with Tesco PLC where he was initially tasked to finance duties, including production of performance reports. Tesco were expanding into Asia and in 2008 Luke volunteered to move to China to assist with the ill-fated challenge of developing new shopping centres in Beijing before moving on to Thailand where he completed similar duties.

In 2012, he left Tesco and joined a recently formed “Tough Mudder” venture in the USA where he remained for just under 2 years

In 2014, he returned to the UK and took up a short term contract of employment with Marks and Spencer PLC, employed in Marketing & Strategy. Whilst there he was seconded to the, HRH Princes’ Accounting for Sustainability Project.

 

 

 

 

May 2015 General Election: Ochil & South Perthshire

A guddle of a constituency, grouping traditional labour voters in the old mining communities, farmers in the farmlands around Crieff and the rich people of Auchterarder. The seat throws up weird and wonderful results from time to time. But opinion polls suggest that the SNP could win a staggering 55 of Scotland’s 59 Westminster seats and the prize will fall to Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, an ex-Tory, ex-Labour ‘political butterfly’ who is now one of the SNP’s biggest hopes.

The Tory’s recruited a young Englishman, from Swindon, Luke Graham, to fight for the seat. He had no previous links to the constituency or indeed Scotland and his selection confirmed the lack of talent available to Ruth Davidson and her revitalized party.

He had no place of permanent residence in the constituency making use of an accommodation address satisfying candidacy qualification rules (Clearly no intention of hanging around if defeated).

It was hoped Graham would spring a surprise but this would be dependent on the bulk of the anticipated collapse in the labour vote transferring to his cause, which is not what the forecasting pundits were thinking.

The Tory’s encouraged constituents to vote tactically to defeat the SNP but this was a forlorn hope. There was an 18% + swing to the SNP. But the Tory candidate’s vote held up well.

Party        2010          2015           Change
SNP         27.63%     46.00%       +18.37%
Lab          37.91%     28.43%        -09.48%
Cons       20.49%     20.71%        +00.22%
Lib Dem  11.40%     02.56%         -08.84%

Summary

The Tory polling strategy was to conduct a high visibility public campaign concentrated on blanket canvassing of areas of the constituency where the Tory vote is traditionally strong.

The subsequent gathering of a Tory support figure more than matching that of previous elections proved this political judgement to be sound.

In contrast the SNP stuck to the old ways maintaining a high public profile in towns and larger villages with a higher population density, contacting rural voters by telephone and or promotion leafleting which is impersonal and less effective that doorstepping potential voters.

A campaigning policy weakness that went unnoticed by the SNP in the wake of the landslide victory gained from the collapse of Labour and Lib/Dems.

 

 

 

 

23 Jun 2016: EU Referendum – Britain Stronger In Europe Campaign

Luke Graham, an avid supporter of Britain’s membership of the EU took on the duties of finance director of, Britain Stronger In Europe, dubbed “Project Fear” by sections of the media.

The group unsuccessfully campaigned in favour of the United Kingdom continuing membership of the European Union in the 2016 British referendum. It was launched in London on 12 October 2015 and declared as the official “Remain” campaign for the referendum by the Electoral Commission .

In the referendum, 51.9% voted in favour of leaving the EU, which meant that the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign failed to achieve its goal.

In August 2016 the Electoral Reform Society published a highly critical report on the referendum and called for a review of how future events are run. Contrasting it very unfavourably with the ‘well-informed grassroots’ campaign for Scottish independence, It was described as “dire” with “glaring democratic deficiencies” which left voters bewildered.

The report noted a generally negative response to establishment figures with 29% of voters saying David Cameron (a Remain supporter) made them more likely to vote leave whilst only 14% said he made them want to vote remain.

Looking ahead, the society called for an official organization to highlight misleading claims and for Ofcom to define the role of broadcasters are expected to play in any future referendum.

 

 

 

 

05 Sep 2016: Tech and the Beancounters

Following his failure in Scotland and in the EU Referendum he made his way home to the more hospitable surroundings of Swindon with the purpose of getting back to work in finance and IT.

Thus motivated he first re-joined his parent’s company in January 2016 then formed a new company (with his father and brother), “Tech & the Beancounters”. Company Address: 50 Fairlawn, Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, SN3 6EU. Provision of financial management services. Directors and Main Shareholders: Luke Graham, Paul Sean Graham, (father) and Daniel Aaron Graham, brother?

 

Liz Smith Landlady

 

 

 

6 Apr 2017: General Election – Ochil & South Perthshire

The UK Prime Minister called a surprise General Election, to be completed on 6 June 2017. The decision to go to the country seeking a new mandate to govern was prompted by opinion polls indicating the Tory Party would command a majority following the election.

The Tory’s in Scotland were also on a high following a good showing (overtaking labour) in the Scottish local elections.

Ruth Davidson was spotted riding a water buffalo across Scotland beating the drum for her party, promoting for all she was worth that the battle for the hearts and minds of Scots would be between the SNP and the Tory’s, the other party’s reduced to fringe voting status.

Key constituencies would be those previously commanding large numbers of Labour voters. Tactical voting would dictate the daily discourse of the media by party’s opposed to the SNP that the Labour vote was up for grabs. But to which political party would Scot’s Labour voters turn.

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh MP, would be defending the seat against a Tory candidate who at 6 May 2017 had not yet been chosen by Ruth Davidson. The SNP majority of around 9,000 votes was thought to be insurmountable and the seat unwinnable. Excepting that a scandal of significant proportion would engulf the SNP candidate which was unlikely. But!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

03 May 2017: Luke Graham Nominated Candidate for Ochil & South Perthshire General Election 8 Jun 2017.

Sponsored by: Alexander Stirling Fraser Mair, 82yo Perthshire, multi-millionaire landowner and entrepreneur, who leases, Stables Cottage, Madderty, Woodend, Crieff PH7 3PA to Elizabeth Smith, MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education.

Luke Graham, the Tory carpetbagger from Swindon notified the Electoral Commission that his place of residence was Stables Cottage. It is assumed therefore that he was temporarily residing with Miss Smith when in the constituency whilst retaining his home address in Swindon.

 

 

 

 

12 May 2017: SNP General Election candidate, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh embroiled in misconduct probe by legal watchdog related to former career as lawyer

The spoiler

The revelation sparked calls from rivals for her immediate suspension and for Nicola Sturgeon to say when she found out about the matter. But in a statement, the SNP said the probe was over “administrative matters” and Ms Ahmed-Sheikh would be “continuing her campaign to be a strong voice for the people of Ochil and South Perthshire”.

Before her election in 2015, she worked with Glasgow law firm Hamilton Burns. The Law Society of Scotland does not comment on whether it is carrying out misconduct probes and would only confirm Ms Ahmed-Sheikh did not renew her annual practicing certificate last October.

In a statement released through SNP HQ, Ms Ahmed-Sheikh said: “I’m proud of my 17-year career in the legal profession. I am aware that issues have been raised with the Law Society in relation to administrative matters during my time at my former firm. The Law Society has a duty to uphold professional standards and they must be allowed to do so without prejudice. In the meantime, I’m getting on with fighting this election campaign and seeking re-election to stand up for the people of Ochil and South Perthshire.”

 

 

 

 

8 Jun 2017: Ochil & South Perthshire General Election Campaign

The Labour Party and Lib/Dems tried hard early on but then sunk without trace leaving it a two horse race between the SNP and the Tory’s for the seat.

Graham was all over the constituency like a rash, in his battle bus (land rover) greatly assisted by a strong, brash Tory team of activists, not that many of whom spoke with a local dialect.

His daily schedule was always full of engagements and he milked the media for attention with great success getting them to repeat often and loudly his party dogma slogan, “no indy ref2”.

The Tory’s also constantly encouraged constituents to vote tactically to defeat the SNP

Tasmin’s campaign was rather muted although quietly effective by comparison but she appeared to be pre-occupied dealing with the unwelcome and intrusive media attention given over to her private life. but this was a forlorn hope.

There was a 21.00% swing to the Tory’s. The SNP candidate’s core vote held up well. But Labour and Lib/dem voters transferred their loyalty to the Tory’s.

Party          2010        2015            Change         2017           Change
SNP           27.63%   46.00%        +18.37%        35.30%       -10.70%
Lab            37.91%    28.43%       -09.48%         20.00%       -08.40%
Cons         20.49%    20.71%       +00.22%         41.50%      +20.80%
Lib Dem    11.40%    02.56%       -08.84%          03.20%      +00.60%

Summary: Graham deserved his win. He outclassed all other candidates, conducting doorstepping and canvassing in all weathers. The next election might well bring about a different result since Graham was elected due to the miserable performance of Labour and the Lib/Dems and any improvement next time would see the end of the Tory Party.

 

 

 

 

28 Jun 2017: Westminster: Queen’s Speech — Emergency Service Staffing and Pay

Opposition party’s called on the Government to end the public sector pay cap and give the emergency and public services a fair pay rise. The motion was denied by the Tory government. Scottish Tory MP’s including Graham, voted in support of the Westminster government.

Comment: The SNP Scottish government has lifted the pay cap awarding staff at least a 3% pay increase.

 

 

 

29 Jun 2017: Queen’s Speech — Energy Prices — Europe — Tuition Fees — Public Sector Pay — Minimum Wage — Student Grants — 29 Jun 2017

Tory MPs, including Luke Graham, other Scottish MP’s and the DUP voted:

Against an energy price cap.
Against a properly resourced industrial strategy.
Against maintaining the benefits of the European Single Market and Customs Union.
Against maintaining the existing rights of EU nationals living in the UK and EU nationals living in the EU.
Against increased funding of public services.
Against scrapping university tuition fees.
Against restoring Education Maintenance Allowance, maintenance grants and nurses’ bursaries.
Against ending the public sector pay cap.
Against increasing the minimum wage.

Comment: Brutal measures from a government determined to continue with the imposition of harsh austerity measures, rewarding the rich minority of society whilst destroying the will to live amongst the many.

 

 

 

 

7 Jul 2017: Westminster Parliamentary Session: Register of Members’ Financial Interests – Luke Graham, (Ochil and South Perthshire)

Graham declared his financial interests indicating he would be in receipt of occasional travel and associated expenses from the companies with which he retained an interest.

1. Shareholdings: over 15% of issued share capital Tech & the Beancounters Ltd; accounting and finance (a subsidiary of Amplecom Ltd). (Registered 04 July 2017)

2. Miscellaneous Unpaid director of Tech & the Beancounters Ltd. I will receive occasional travel and associated expenses. (Registered 04 July 2017)

3. Unpaid adviser to the Finance and Resource Committee of Sheffield Union. (Registered 04 July 2017)

4. Until 30 June 2017, Director of Amplecom Ltd, 16 Dorcan Business Village, Murdock Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 5HY. No payments since my Election. (Registered 06 July 2017)

 

 

 

10 Jul 2017: Telecom’s Bill (England) Luke Graham Contributes to the Debate

My hon. Friend will agree that the age disparity between young and old can be bridged through the internet and through proper broadband and mobile connections, particularly in rural constituencies and especially those in Scotland.

Although some powers have been devolved—unfortunately no SNP Members are here tonight to speak on such an important issue—I hope that my hon. Friend and the Minister will recognize the important role that Westminster can play in all the nations of the UK by giving funding and offering direction for broadband and mobile.

Intervention by Lindsay Hoyle Chairman of Ways and Means, Chair, Panel of Chairs. Order!!

Mr Graham. This Bill is for England and Wales, not for Scotland. So we need to deal with England and Wales and not drift too far

Comment: Dear! Dear! Luke. That is the reason no SNP members were present at the debate.

 

 

 

19 Jul 2017: Westminster Speech by Luke Graham – Armed Forces (19 Jul 2017)

On the positives, does the hon. Gentleman recognize the contribution of our cadet training forces across the United Kingdom, such as the 383 Alloa Air Training Corps in my constituency, and that we are investing in youth, which will help supply the manpower for our forces in the future?

Comment; Well then now we know the agenda. More young men and women to be recruited to be led by Donkey’s. Enough already I say!!!

 

 

 

31 Jul 2017: Luke Graham MP’s Office Opening in Alloa

Luke Graham opened a constituency office at 32 Primrose Street Alloa.

 

 

 

11 Sep 2017: Westminster Debates – European Union Integration

There have been votes in Parliament on the degree of the UK’s integration with the European Union. Specific matters voted on include the UK’s opt out from the European Union Police and Criminal Justice Measures and the establishment of a European Union External Action Service. Luke Graham consistently voted against more EU integration.

Remember, Graham is the chappie who took on the role of Finance Director of the “Britain Stronger In Europe Campaign.” He claimed to be a “die hard” Europhile. He speaks with forked tongue methinks

11 Sep 2017: Luke Graham voted to end the supremacy of EU law in UK law; to convert EU law into domestic law on the UK’s exit from the European Union and to give ministers the power to correct deficiencies in retained EU law.

11 Sep 2017: Luke Graham voted to end the supremacy of EU law in UK law; to convert EU law into domestic law on the UK’s exit from the European Union and to give ministers the power to correct deficiencies in retained EU law.

14 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted not to require courts or tribunals to have regard to anything done on or after exit day by the European Court, another EU entity or the EU.

21 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted against requiring the UK Government to report on changes to EU legislation which form part of UK law, and against requiring the Government to consider adopting such changes to ensure that the rights of workers and employees in the UK are no less favourable than they would have been had the UK remained a member of the EU or EEA.

21 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted against the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights remaining part of UK law on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

21 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted against retaining general principles of EU law derived from EU treaties, direct EU legislation and EU directives, as part of UK law after the UK leaves the EU, and voted to only retain those general principles deriving from European Court [of justice] case law.

 

 

 

25 October 2017: Prime Ministers Questions – Luke Graham asks a Loaded Question

“As of 2016, 17% of premises in Scotland are without super-fast broadband, compared with just 11% for the UK as a whole. Will my right hon. Friend join me in calling on the Scottish Government to do more and to engage constructively with Departments here in Westminster to deliver this crucial service to communities in Scotland?”

Mrs May: “I say to my hon. Friend that we all recognize the importance of broadband and of fast broadband being available to people in our constituencies. He is absolutely right—the Members of the Scottish National Party come down here and spend a lot of time talking about powers for the Scottish Government, but actually it is time that the Scottish Government got on with using their powers for the benefit of the people in Scotland.”

Comment: Telecom’s and broadband roll-out is not a delegated matter. It is for the Westminster government to decide and implement policy.

 

 

 

 

14 Sep 2017: Point of contact with Ochil and South Perthshire MP unveiled

Recently elected MP Luke Graham has opened a constituency office in Crieff. Located at 2 Comrie Street, the new office will give residents and business owners direct contact with their Conservative MP.

 

 

 

15 Nov 2017: Luke Graham and his Tory MP Colleagues Claim credit for sorting out the VAT charge on the Scottish Police Force

The Scottish government, with the support of the Tory Party merged its eight forces into a single body. HMRC indicated that the change would necessitate a change in VAT qualification since the new body would report direct to the Scottish Government which was not registered for VAT.

The SNP made representations over nearly 3 years, to the appropriate persons within HMRC and Tory government ministers at Westminster asking that a minor change be made to the legislation so that the Scottish Police force would not be disadvantaged over all other police bodies in other parts of the UK. Scotland’s plea for justice was rejected out of hand time and time again.

Then, late 2017 the Chancellor finally agreed the ruling was unfair and it was withdrawn, (but not backdated). The Westminster government broadcast the news through the usual media outlets praising the lobbying skills of the new group of Scottish Tory MP’s who had been sent to Westminster at the 2017 General Election. Needless to say Scot’s were outraged that their elected government requests had been studiously ignored over years, by the Tory government in Westminster. The matter also raised questions about the poor negotiating skills of David Mundell, the Scottish Tory Secretary of State for Scotland who had apparently done nothing to pursue the matter before the intervention of the little group of new blood Tory MP’s that had recently joined him at Westminster. An uninspiring lot of opportunists !!!

Luke Graham tweeted: “Great to hear PM recognize it is Scot Tory MPs representing Scot Police & Fire on VAT, not SNP who caused charge first place!”

Comment: But the 2011 Tory Manifesto Committed the party to reforming the police forces in Scotland thereby incurring the Vat Charge. An extract:

“Scottish Conservatives are committed to maintaining Police numbers over the next Parliament and in order to ensure we can achieve this at a time when the public sector has to make savings, we will merge Scotland’s eight police forces into one.”

 

 

 

12 Dec 2017: Westminster – The “Meaningful Vote” amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill

The Tory Government was defeated after the House of Commons voted in favour of former Attorney General Dominic Grieve’s Amendment 7 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – to amend Clause 9 of the Bill to require the final Brexit deal with the EU to be approved by statute passed by Parliament – by a majority of just 4.

309 MPs voted for the Amendment,  247 Labour MPs, 34 SNP MPs, 12 Lib Dem MPs, along with 4 MPs from Plaid Cymru, the Green MP and one Independent.

305 MPs voted against the Amendment. All Conservatives, 2 Labour MPs (disobeying their whip to back the Amendment) and all 10 DUP MPs.

 

 

 

 

13 Dec 2017: Luke Graham’s Performance in the commons at Westminster

He has spoken in debates on 126 occasions which is very high.
He has voted 65 times after debates. Never once against the Tory government

 

 

 

Assessment

A very capable young man who has adapted to politics well. He is always ready to promote himself in the media. Interested in acquiring a good working knowledge of constituency matters and in this respect he has ensured his profile is always to the fore through his twitter and Facebook pages.

His stay in the constituency long term is not assured and so far as can be ascertained he simply lodges at the home of Liz Smith Tory MSP on some  weekends when he returns to Scotland from Westminster to complete constituency surgeries etc.

His permanent address is still listed as being in Swindon, with his Dad and Mum and near to his business interests, declared to Parliament.

Getting inside his mind is impossible in normal circumstances but here is a short glimpse:

Swindon is never too far away in his mind and he often reminisces about his time in the town and at Dorcan.

Reflecting on his short time in Scotland he said:

  “I’m proud of Swindon. It is where I come from and I think people see that. I have always felt very strongly about being British and my parents still live in Swindon so when I go to see them, I feel like I’m going home.”

Videos of interest: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PdgBswuYGk) and (https://ieondemand.com/presentations/rolling-forecasting-for-the-future)

 

 

2017/18 update

4 Sep 2018: Graham promoted to PPS for the Cabinet Office

Brown nosing has its rewards. His unqualified support of Theresa May and her government has been recognized by his very early promotion to the Cabinet Office as parliamentary private secretary.

His remit includes responsibility for the constitution, civil service and he is to lead on communication and relations between Westminster and Holyrood.  The latter role will require his focus on Brexit, as it evolves, concentrating on constitutional issues.

His new duties will require a greatly extended presence in Westminster but Graham assured his constituents he would still give Ochil and South Perthshire his support.

 

 

 

21 Jun 2017: Graham’s Place of Residence Questioned by Voters

Ian McCubbin (Wings over Scotland)

I have been researching Luke Graham MP. He is not resident in Scotland. Never has been. He apparently lives with Liz Smith MSP, in her rented accommodation at Madderty, Perthshire, at an address owned by Alistair Mair former director of Caithness Glass and STV.  A well known Tory activist and benefactor. Graham’s home is in Swindon. Wonder how many other new Scots Tory MPs are not Scottish by residence?

Ken500 (Wings)

Luke Graham is committing electoral crime. He should be reported to the electoral authorities and the Police. He has made false declaration. Candidates have to be resident in the constituency. To stand for election. Liz Smith (Alistair Mair) has committed electoral fraud as well by aiding and abetting him to make false declaration. Gerrymandering. Punishable by prison.

Ken500 (Wings)

Candidates do not have to be resident in the constituency they are contesting (though I think they should).

Two of the four candidates on my ballot paper 2 weeks ago had addresses outwith the constituency, described only as “an address in Edinburgh West/Glasgow North East”.

It is necessary for ten people on the electoral roll in the constituency to nominate the candidate. That seems to be all, provided the candidate meets other criteria – UK/Irish/Commonwealth citizen with leave to remain, etc. I’ve read the Electoral Commission guidelines – if anyone else can find statements about residency qualifications, that would be interesting.

Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales have to be ordinarily resident in the area they seek to represent; one of them was accused of not doing so in 2012. The issue was whether or not he had lied on his nomination form (no, apparently).

Also, Paul Nuttall was criticized during the Stoke by-election because he claimed to be already living there, when he had not moved into the address he gave. Again, the issue was whether or not he lied. But it didn’t disqualify him.

If there is no is no need for residential requirement for election. Why was the Swindon address not given. Or is Luke Graham decamping in Liz Smith accommodation owner by the Tory donor guy. It is obviously not Luke Graham’s abode. Is he in temporary accommodation. Is there not a requirement for permanent residence. Voter need residential qualification. Often conforming with council tax information and confirmed declaration of residency. Does Luke Graham not pay council tax? Or have council tax record. A tax dodger?

 

 

 

 

23 May 2018: Graham Fully Supports “Made in Britain” Branding of Whisky and other Scottish Products

Theresa May condemned the Scottish Government’s “appalling” behaviour after MPs were told it did not want the Union flag and the word British on food and drink labelling.

SNP ministers were accused by Graham of leaning on Marks and Spencer after documents showed that officials telephoned the high street giant “to seek clarity on the situation” after Scotch whisky was listed on its website as being from the UK.

A separate briefing marked “urgent” was sent to Nicola Sturgeon over Tesco’s decision to change the branding on Scottish strawberries from the Saltire to a Union Flag.

Luke Graham, the Scottish Tory MP, and a former M&S employee, asked Mrs May at Prime Minister’s Questions if she would stand with him “against this petty bullying and support companies that are proud of Scottish and British produce”.

The Prime Minister said she “absolutely agreed”, adding: “We should all be proud of Scottish and British produce, of produce from any part of our United Kingdom.

“And I think it is frankly appalling that the Scottish government did not want to see the Union Flag and the word British on produce.

“It’s not only appalling, it fails to reflect the vote that took place in Scotland, which showed that people in Scotland want to stay part of the United Kingdom.”

It emerged last week that in a briefing to Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Rural Affairs Minister, a civil servant said that M&S had promised to “urgently investigate” the categorization of Scotch and reported back that there had been an error.

Although the company confirmed that the website had been changed, officials then suggested that it issue a public message to “clarify” that the mistake had been rectified. They also promised that Mr Ewing “would respond positively” if M&S did so.

A separate briefing on Tesco strawberries recommended that “no formal action is taken at Cabinet Secretary level at present”, but asked whether Mr Ewing wanted a meeting “in the near future” with the supermarket.

Both cases prompted a series of SNP supporters to write to Scottish ministers, with one questioning whether it was “an attempt by Westminster at a spot of brainwashing or is there something more sinister going on.”

The Scottish Government said the documents showed it had raised public concerns “in a constructive manner”. (Telegraph)

 

 

The Bonded Warehouse Association (Whisky Trade)

The BWA has over 80 companies as members throughout the UK and has established very close links to Government, regulatory bodies and other Associations. The BWA will engage on a strategic and partnership level to ensure that its members have a powerful voice which is acknowledged and listened to along with a consistent approach and vehicle to influence future policy.

And Graham sponsored this lot to a free dinner party at  Westminster. https://www.thebwa.com/about-us

 

 

 

 

18 Mar 2018:  Graham to lead Young Conservatives Campaign to Win Over Millennial Voters

The campaign follows yet another relaunch of the much maligned Young Conservatives, then called Conservative Future, following nearly three years in mothballs after a bullying scandal, (Mark Clarke, who ran the infamous Road Trip 2015 was accused of bullying a young activist, Elliot Johnson, shortly before he committed suicide).

The campaign, led by Scottish Conservative Luke Graham, (who, shocking political pundits unseated an opponent with a massive majority) is being being developed with the activist the recently formed and well funded “rust-belt Tory” group with seats in Scotland and the north of England and is aimed at appealing to a generation of young voters who the Tories claim are not as left-wing as portrayed.

Tory Party chairman Brandon Lewis said the youth arm of the party would seek to engage with “thousands of young people who keep being told they must be Corbynistas, but aren’t.”

Leading the Young Conservatives and discharging the duties  of PPS in Theresa May’s cabinet office begs the question. Where does he find the time for constituency matters? The constituents of Ochil and South Perthshire are being short changed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 Oct 2018: Luke Graham (MP) Fully Supports Westminster Proposals For Farming in Scotland

The Scottish Conservative group submitted their own plans for farming, in Scotland, to Westminster, to be included in an amended bill, allowing amendments to be made to the draft Agriculture Bill so that it will have the same effect in Scotland as it does in Wales and Northern Ireland. The legislation outlining post-Brexit policy in Scotland subsequently had its second reading at Westminster.

Commenting on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, Luke Graham MP said:

 

“Scottish Conservatives are doing what the Scottish Government failed to do, offering Scottish farmers a brighter future. Farmers need time and support to adapt to changes in agriculture policy. We have known since 23rd June 2016, that farming policy is going to change once we leave the European Union. The Scottish Government have had over 2 years to prepare and come up with a plan, but they have utterly failed to do so. They have continually let farmers down through playing grievance politics instead of doing their job of governing for Scotland. We are urging the Scottish Government to endorse these amendments so they can deliver for Scottish farmers. The U.K. Government offered to make provisions for the devolved administrations, creating a mirror framework to what is planned in England. Both the Welsh Government and Department for Environment in Northern Ireland have asked the U.K. Government to legislate on their behalf, but the SNP have rejected the proposals.”

What a perversion of the truth this chappie spouts. Agricultural policy was devolved from Westminster to Holyrood nearly twenty years ago. The Tory government is intent, (against the expressed wishes of Scots and their government)  on centralizing farming policy on Westminster post-brexit.

The Westminster Tory agenda is now exposed. It will concentrate all decision making on Westminster over time, leading to the closure of Holyrood

 

 

 

Graham at Westminster Votes to remove all aspects of EU Integration from Statute

Avid supporter of Britain’s membership of the EU, Luke Graham, was the finance director of, Britain Stronger In Europe”.

The group was launched in London on 12 October 2015 and declared as the official “Remain” campaign by the Electoral Commission and unsuccessfully campaigned in the 2016 British referendum in favour of the United Kingdom retaining membership of the European Union.

Luke’ epiphany: His moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.

“But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Westminster, a very bright light suddenly flashed through my rail carriage, and I covered my eyes then heard a voice saying Luke, Luke, why are you not supporting the Brexit? And I answered, who the hell are you? and the voice replied, I am a “silly billy” Tory who needs you to support Brexit, and those who were with me were also blinded by the light, but did not understand why the “silly billy” Tory was speaking only to me. And I said what do you want me to do? and the “silly billy” Tory said proceed to Westminster and follow the words and deeds of Saint Michael Gove. and I did.” and I have been well rewarded.”

Talk about a somersault:Ochil and South Perthshire voters were conned.

• On 11 Sep 2017: Luke Graham voted to end the supremacy of EU law in UK law; to convert EU law into domestic law on the UK’s exit from the European Union and to give ministers the power to correct deficiencies in retained EU law.
• On 11 Sep 2017: Luke Graham voted to end the supremacy of EU law in UK law; to convert EU law into domestic law on the UK’s exit from the European Union and to give ministers the power to correct deficiencies in retained EU law.
• On 14 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted to end the supremacy of EU law in domestic law and to remove the mechanism which enables the flow of new EU law into UK law.
• On 14 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted not to require courts or tribunals to have regard to anything done on or after exit day by the European Court, another EU entity or the EU.
• On 21 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted against requiring the UK Government to report on changes to EU legislation which form part of UK law, and against requiring the Government to consider adopting such changes to ensure that the rights of workers and employees in the UK are no less favourable than they would have been had the UK remained a member of the EU or EEA.
• On 21 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted against the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights remaining part of UK law on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
• On 21 Nov 2017: Luke Graham voted against retaining general principles of EU law derived from EU treaties, direct EU legislation and EU directives, as part of UK law after the UK leaves the EU, and voted to only retain those general principles deriving from European Court [of justice] case law.
• On 12 Dec 2017: Luke Graham voted to allow laws which were required by the UK’s membership of the European single market to be weakened, removed or replaced by Ministers after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. 
• On 13 Dec 2017: Luke Graham voted to allow ministers to withdraw the UK from the European Economic Area, the European single market.
• On 20 Dec 2017: Luke Graham voted against the UK retaining the EU’s common customs tariff and common commercial policy.
• On 17 Jan 2018: Luke Graham voted for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.
• On 17 Jan 2018: Luke Graham voted for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.
• On 13 Jun 2018: Luke Graham voted against making the UK’s withdrawal from the EU conditional on seeking, as an objective for the UK’s negotiation of the withdrawal agreement, full access to the internal market of the EU rather than merely European Economic Area membership.
• On 13 Jun 2018: Luke Graham voted against making the UK’s withdrawal from the EU conditional on seeking, as an objective for the UK’s negotiation of the withdrawal agreement, an international agreement which enables the United Kingdom to continue to participate in the European Economic Area.
• On 13 Jun 2018: Luke Graham voted against largely retaining the EU “Charter of Fundamental Rights” as part of UK law following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
• On 13 Jun 2018: Luke Graham voted not to make incompatibility with the general principles of EU law actionable in the UK courts following the UK’s withdrawal from the union.
• On 13 Jun 2018: Luke Graham voted against steps designed to ensure that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU does not result in the removal or diminution of any rights, powers, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, remedies and procedures that contribute to the protection and improvement of the environment.
• On 17 Jul 2018: Luke Graham voted against making retaining membership of the European medicines regulatory network a government objective.

 

Graham launches new look young conservatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US – UK – Mutual Defence Agreement – (MDA) – Year Zero – 1958

1958: the US and the UK signed the Agreement For Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes – also known as the Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA).

The implications of the agreement were shrouded in mystery until 2004 when the UK public, fed up to the back teeth with the warmongering governments of the UK and USA forced a more open discussion of the implications of signing a new 10 year MDA) agreement.

Private reports surfaced and revealed some, but not all of the extent of the abuses of the 1968 Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This included the formalised exchange of classified nuclear information, weaponry, shared facilities, advanced technology and a range of materials including plutonium, enriched and highly enriched uranium and tritium.

 

 

 

21 Apr 2004: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs was asked if he planned to lay before the House any amendments to the renewal of the 1958 Agreement for Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes between Her Majesty’s Government and the United States of America.

The Government obliged, but not until 21 June 2004:

“The amendment to Article III bis of the 1958 Agreement will extend that provision to 31 December 2014.

The 1958 Agreement underpins all nuclear defence co-operation between the US and the UK; without it the US Government cannot share nuclear technology or transfer materials to the UK.

Cooperation under the MDA has been of considerable mutual benefit and it is in the national interest of both the US and the UK to continue.”

No mention of the 1968 (NPT) which superseded the 1958 treaty

 

 

 

22 Jun 2004: The government was asked if the negotiations with the United States for the renewal of the MDA had been concluded and whether there would be an opportunity for Parliament to debate its terms.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, replied that the amendments and an explanatory memorandum to the (MDA) were signed on 14 June by US and UK representatives and laid before Parliament on 21 June under the Ponsonby Rule (established in 1924, based on practices going back to 1892, enabling the Crown to formally ratify treaties 21 days later).

He added that he could not undertake to find Government time for a debate but would give due consideration to any request from the House of Commons Defence Committee and the Liaison Committee for a debate.

In response to a follow-up question about why the confidential intelligence contents of the MDA have never been disclosed to Parliament, He said that “the practice should continue because of the necessity for great confidentiality and because of the use that such information would be to other would-be nuclear states. In other words, it might well assist proliferation”.

 

 

24 Jun 2004: Early Day Motion – Calling for a Sponsored debate in Government time in advance of possible ratification of the treaty

Supported by 51 Labour, SNP and Lib Dem MP’s – US-UK 1958, Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA) (10 Year Renewal) & the 1968 Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

“That this House notes the proposed 10-year extension to the 1958 United Kingdom-United States Agreement for Cooperation on the uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence purposes and  believes that the extension of this bilateral treaty undermines United Kingdom and United States’ commitments under Article 1 of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), for which they are depository states, which states each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly.”

The request for a debate was ignored and quite disgracefully, the Labour Government extended the treaty for 10 more years, without any parliamentary scrutiny, only a few days before the 2004 Summer Recess.

 

 

legal or Illegal?

The New Labour government justified the secrecy surrounding the 2004 (MDA) renewal, and the questionable use of the Crown Prerogative as a substitute for parliamentary democracy, on the basis that “such information might well assist proliferation”.

Well, there is no doubt that the provisions of the (MDA) have assisted the vertical proliferation of nuclear capability in the United States and the United Kingdom for over half a century. Indeed, that is explicitly what it stands for.

Legal experts found that it was “strongly arguable that the renewal of the Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA) is in breach of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty” (NPT) and outlined the justification for such a finding under applicable treaty law and successive treaties.

“The breach’ referred to is covered by Article I of the (NPT) which states that each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty [China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA] “undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly or indirectly.”

 

 

 

2014: Renewal of the US – UK – (MDA)

20 Jan 2014: Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP asked of the Secretary of State for Defence:

“What the timetable is for his planned renewal in 2014 of the 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement and what steps have been taken to facilitate renewal of that agreement to date?”

The answer was delegated to the junior Defence Minister Philip Dunne, who could manage no more than: “Work is under way in the UK and US to amend the treaty by the end of 2014.”

 

 

 

29 Jul 2014:

No surprise then: Cameron and the Tory government ignore the UK public and Westminster by tracing the footsteps of the Blair/Brown New Labour Government

A new agreement critical to Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons system, was signed the other day by British and US officials. Whitehall was silent. And the UK public had to rely on the White House, and a message from Barack Obama to the US Congress, to tell us that the 1958 UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA) had been updated.

A new amendment to the treaty will last for 10 years. Obama told Congress it will “permit the transfer between the United States and the United Kingdom of classified information concerning atomic weapons; nuclear technology and controlled nuclear information; material and equipment for the development of defence plans; training of personnel; evaluation of potential enemy capability; development of delivery systems; and the research, development, and design of military reactors.”

The UK, Obama added, “intends to continue to maintain viable nuclear forces into the foreseeable future.” It was in America’s interest, to continue to help Britain “in maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent”.

There was no word from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Whitehall department responsible updating the UK – US treaty. Parliament, a spokesperson said in response to questions, would be informed “at an appropriate time”. MPs would have a 21 day window before the end of the year in which they could debate the issues involved.

However, the content of the new agreement will remain secret. To reveal them, Whitehall officials say, could “assist proliferation” of nuclear weapons.

That is a curious comment given that both the US and UK insist the agreement does not in any way breach their obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

The updated agreement, means that Britain is stepping up its cooperation with the US over the design of nuclear warheads, raising new questions about the independence of the UK deterrent. Increased cooperation with the US on warhead design and the exchange of material crucial in the manufacture and stockpiling of nuclear weapon is vital to the Trident system.

 

 

 

Legal or Illegal?

Though the agreement is incorporated in US law, it has no legal status in Britain.

The executive director of the British American Information Security Council (BASIC) said that though the agreement is an international treaty that requires regular ratification, it had never been debated in the Commons. Adding: “With the deepening of technical collaboration that shapes the procurement decisions here in London over nuclear weapons programmes, in a manner that stretches or breaks Article 1 of the (NPT), it is high time we took this relationship and its consequences for international security seriously.”

Article 1 of the (NPT) states: “Each nuclear-weapon state party to the treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly…”

A briefing paper drawn up for ministers and Ministry of Defence officials argues that actual physical “movements under the (MDA) do not involve nuclear weapons or devices”. Therefore, the agreement does not contravene the letter of the (NPT.)

There is another, even broader, issue which the government does not want to open up for debate.

The joint Commons/Lords committee on the National Security Strategy has chided the government for not taking such an important issue seriously enough.

“I am afraid that there is little sign that the government has really taken on board the need to put some serious effort into planning for the next National Security Strategy” said former Labour foreign secretary, and chair of the committee, Margaret Beckett. She added: “I fear that — just as in 2010 — the next NSS will be cobbled together at the last minute after the election, as an adjunct to the spending review, rather than guiding the incoming government’s decisions on spending priorities.

“In the run up to the election it is inevitable that the political parties will be focusing on their different policy priorities, but — when it comes to national security — there are strong arguments for identifying where there is common cause.”

Referring to government claims, the committee described as “wholly unrealistic” the assumption that there will be “no shrinkage in the UK’s influence” despite the rise of Asian powers and Britain’s relative economic decline. “Any national security strategy based on this is wishful thinking rather than credible strategy,” the committee said earlier this year.

 

 

Full details here:
https://www.nuclearinfo.org/sites/default/files/House%20of%20Commons%20Standard%20Note%20UK-USA%20Mutual%20Defence%20Agreement%202004.pdf
http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2003-04/1407
http://www.basicint.org/blogs/2014/02/us-uk-mutual-defence-agreement-renewal-2014-foregone-conclusion
https://www.theguardian.com/world/defence-and-security-blog/2014/jul/29/nuclear-weapons-us-uk-cooperation