Lest We Forget 11 Nov 2016 2:00 AM (8 years ago)

Merry Christmas 25 Dec 2015 12:04 AM (9 years ago)

My apologies for not posting for the past few months but I’ve had eye problems and being on the computer or iPad for any length of time is nigh impossible. Hopefully they will be sorted once I see a Prof. at Ninewells. (Yes, after lots of tests I’ve now an appointment with the boss!).

Have a lovely day all.

Lest We Forget 8 Nov 2015 1:59 AM (9 years ago)

click to enlarge

A Slight Change 19 Aug 2015 12:56 AM (10 years ago)

The past few days I’ve had problems with the email account which support this blog. A hacker has been sending emails to many on the address list.

Although I’ve undertaken all the advised security changes/precautions, the spamming continues.

Therefore I’ve decided to close the account and have opened another which has a minimal change - a dot between subrosa and blonde. (It has been changed in the contact link over there >>).

May I ask you to change this in your address books please. My apologies for the inconvenience but the matter appears to be beyond Yahoo’s control. It’s certainly beyond mine.

Many thanks.

Gratitude 10 Aug 2015 10:03 AM (10 years ago)

Child Tax Credits 9 Jul 2015 12:12 AM (10 years ago)

George Osbourne’s budget has fairly inflamed the wrath of socialists if social media is a measure of general opinion.

It’s amazing how so many people have an opinion on a part of the budget when it’s obvious they haven’t even read the specifics.

What did we do without tax credits? Initially these were introduced by Labour to help businesses keep wages low and also for governments to keep pensions well below those of Germany, Switzerland, Sweden etc.

These are now seen as an entitlement rather than a temporary help to those suffering financial hardship.

Stupidly, I happen to mention on someone’s Facebook page, that I agreed with the stopping of child tax credits for those who choose to have more than two children. I rather enjoy reading the person’s page because, although she’s of a left-wing persuasion, she has a sense of humour which shows the self-deprecating side of many Scots.

The comments became personal and rude and of course many involved a completely understanding of the issue.

I do believe that those who have more than two children should not expect the taxpayer to support them other than by child benefit. Not so long ago I listened to one woman say she only needed to have one more child to be able to live a very comfortable life. This was said in the presence of her mother, who I know has been a hard working woman all her life. Her daughter has never worked and of her four children, three have different fathers. None has any contact with their fathers.

This latest policy may not make the above mother more responsible, but I do hope it makes some think before they decide to have more family. Having a child is a gift, not an entitlement. Expecting others to pay for the upbringing of your child shows how our society has lost the concept of responsibility.

There are no children in poverty in this country. There are only irresponsible adults. We must stop throwing money at these adults and make them take responsibility for their decisions.

Police Criticise Scottish Government Policy 2 Jul 2015 8:37 AM (10 years ago)

Police Scotland have now contributed to the Scottish Government’s ‘named person’ policy. Their reason is that the new police set-up may not have the capacity or resources to cope with policing the plan which involves all under-18s.

They may have a subtext about their own organisation but their points about this policy are viable.

Police Scotland warned that such a “significant change for all authorities including Police Scotland” could make it harder to identify at risk children.

At what point should police become involved and what will their powers entail?

Here’s a typical family scenario:

Prior to leaving for school child has an argument with his mother about the contents of his/her lunchbox. Mother put banana instead of cake.

Child comments to friends in classroom that his mother is ‘horrible and making me eat things I don’t like’. Teacher overhears the comment and immediately jumps on wee Jimmy as he’s made a comment which could be regarded as child abuse. Wee Jimmy, delighted to be given such individual attention, exaggerates or even lies about his mother’s statement (as children are very prone to do).

Teacher goes to head of school who decides to telephone social work. SW in turn decide the police should become involved and before the family know it, wee Jimmy and his brothers and sisters become wards of court.

This type of scenario takes place is many family homes on a daily basis and the ‘named person’ policy gives the state the power to divide and destroy families.

Please sign the petition and tell as many of your friends about this because it must be stopped, otherwise the consequences will be horrific for all families living in Scotland.

source

Saturday Smile 27 Jun 2015 12:10 AM (10 years ago)

Couldn’t resist this one. Hope it makes you smile .

The Greece Fiasco 24 Jun 2015 12:21 AM (10 years ago)

This could well be a crucial week for Greece. You’ve probably read that sentence somewhere every week since the banking crisis of 2008.

I’ve never been to Greece. In the early 70s I organised a holiday there but it was cancelled for reasons beyond my control. I’ve never had a desire to try again.

How often have we heard about Greece’s financial problems in the last few years? It’s becoming boring and I’ve more or less given up reading about the country’s woes as the same protracted negotiations with the EU rumble on.

It appears the Greeks want to stay in Europe. Little wonder really because if they returned to the drachma they would have to make all purchases in cash.

Without a release of cash before 30 June, Greece would become the only developed country in history to default on the International Monetary Fund.

A family friend has just returned from a week’s holiday in Greece. They were on the mainland but became acquainted with an Athenian couple who own two hotels in the Aegean Islands. During the week the political problems of Greece were discussed and the Athenians were angry at their government’s proposal to increase the VAT on the islands. Profits would be greatly reduced and their intention was to sell their businesses if possible. That didn’t seem to concern them as they seldom kept an island business for more than a few years and when asked why, the answer was ‘It’s good to keep moving around’. The horror of having to pay tax was too much for them to bear it seems.

What could possibly go wrong with the latest proposals for VAT on island businesses? One of the major problems is that the Greeks do not pay tax so the cunning plan to ask them to pay massive new taxes is a non-starter.

Greece has never had a large enough GDP to service the interest on it’s €320bn debt, let alone any of the capital yet the ECB has continue to loan them billions.

I’ve no doubt by 30 June a suitable arrangement will be made with the ECB financiers and the people will once again be lulled into a false sense of security - until the next time their government can’t meet their creditors demands.

It won’t be too long.

The African Continent’s Lost Generation 16 Jun 2015 12:07 AM (10 years ago)

Last week HMS Bulwark was sent to the Mediterranean to rescue migrants from boats which had set sail from the African continent. I use the words ‘set sail’ loosely as many of the photographs show that these vessels aren’t fit to sail around a pond, far less the open seas.

Now those rescued are protesting because they can’t gain entry to France at the Italian-French border. The French have decided enough’s enough and closed the border and the migrants aren’t happy. The picture shows just how aware these migrants are of their rights.

In recent months several articles have stated these migrants are fleeing poverty or life threatening situations, but have a desire to reach Germany, Sweden or the UK. Many have paid people traffickers up to £10,000 to reach the shores of Europe in the hope that the streets of these cities are paved with gold. There must be gold in it somewhere for them because they keep coming.

It’s noticeable that most of the migrants are young, healthy men who will have left behind families in their own countries, therefore depriving their own country of a quickly diminishing male generation.

During a discussion with a German chap the other week about this migrant problem, he said it was a humanitarian one and the EU has to stand up to the plate and help these people. I disagree. What we’re doing is encouraging more and more people traffickers who now know they can herd numerous humans into anything that resembles a boat and point them north to Europe. They’re confident that as soon as the vessels leave the African continent then their clients will be rescued by Europeans and taken to the nearest European country, usually Italy.

If these migrants can afford to pay people traffickers, why can’t they afford to apply for entry via the official channels, instead of discarding their passports and pleading asylum?

We’re a tolerant society but the migration issue is now uncontrollable, yet our political masters ignore it.

Almost one in three of England’s primary school children is from an ethnic minority and one in five speaks English as a second language. When does the quest for diversity become stupidity? It’s impossible for so many people to integrate successfully into live in the UK in a short space of time.

The Calais problem continues and I thank my lucky stars that I wasn’t on that coach. Where were the French police? The answer is nowhere, because France doesn’t want these people and are content to allow them to destroy transport businesses and put the average traveller in fear of their lives.

We need to deploy our army at our borders to show that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. We also need to introduce the Australian system which has discouraged migrants from attempting to enter that country by sea.

Lastly, but by no means least, when these migrants enter Britain illegally they must be held in a secure area until they’re sent back to their country of origin. Currently most are allowed bail if they’re charged with illegal entry. I’m informed that is the most difficult aspect of deportation because many lie and say they’re from war torn zones and checking their statements is an arduous, and sometimes unproductive, task.

The lefties won’t like this suggestion. Then again they give little thought to the countries which are losing a generation of young men.

Charles Kennedy 8 Jun 2015 12:33 AM (10 years ago)

The premature sudden death of Charles Kennedy last week exposed the hypocrisy of many of his colleagues. Some of the most effusive remarks came from the mouths of those ‘colleagues' who were determined to remove him as leader of his party several years ago.

By all accounts Charles Kennedy was a well respected politician who was treated very shabbily by some of his colleagues. Although I’ve always thought the LibDem Lembit Öpik was rather foolish, his article in yesterday’s Mail on Sunday has more than a ring of truth about it.

Rest in Peace Mr Kennedy.

State Mandatory Parenting 2 Jun 2015 12:09 AM (10 years ago)

I’m aware this is yet another post about the SNP’s policy of having a ‘named person’ for every child born in Scotland, but I make no excuses. This policy blatantly ignores the wishes of parents. Whilst there are irresponsible parents in every country in the world, the majority take their responsibilities seriously.

During an evening out with friends the other week, the conversation turned to grandchildren and I mentioned this horrendous policy. Nobody believed that the SNP government would overreact to the need to care for vulnerable children in such a draconian manner. They do believe it now as I provided all the information via the wonder of email and are spreading the word. All said they would never have voted SNP at the General Election if they’d known their grandchildren were being treated as ‘wards of the state’ - an apt description I thought.

Sheila is one of our regular readers and provided the above video along with the one below plus this link. I know many of you don’t live in Scotland but do have connections here, so can I ask you to send your friends/family this post because it’s essential every parent knows about this policy. Thanks.

The following video is lengthy but interesting. There are few people who take the trouble to look behind the closed doors in the Scottish Government, so credit to UK Column News for examining Holyrood in detail and to David Scott’s excellent analysis of the ‘Scottish System’ of government.

Should Alistair Carmichael Resign? 27 May 2015 12:08 AM (10 years ago)

It doesn’t come as a surprise to those of us who are politician watchers that Alistair Carmichael lied about his knowledge of the leaking of the memo concerning a meeting with Nicola Sturgeon and the French ambassador.

All politicians use the definition of the truth with a degree of nonchalance and perhaps that’s why they’re low on the list of respected public servants. That, and their seemingly frivolous expenditure of our hard earned money to feather their abodes with luxuries most of us can’t afford, doesn’t endear them to their electorate. Is that why so many people don’t vote?

There has been so much chatter on the airways about whether Mr Carmichael should resign his seat or not. I tend to agree with Michael White of the Guardian, (yes, I do read it occasionally), who says it’s a matter for his electorate. Absolutely.

Yet the SNP - or at least Alex Salmond and Stewart Hosie - are very vocal in calling for his resignation. Strangely Ms Sturgeon has kept rather quiet since she accepted Mr Carmichael’s apology.

We now have parliamentary recall, a bill passed at the end of the last parliament to allow ordinary constituents to trigger a by-election. If Mr Carmichael’s constituents are unhappy they should be able to instigate a by-election, but it’s not that simple.

The bill was promoted by Nick Clegg and allows for a recall petition to be opened only if an MP is sentenced to a prison term or is suspended from the Commons for 21 days or more. If either of these criteria are made a petition will be opened for two months. If 10% of eligible electors sign it, the seat would be declared vacant and a by-election would follow. The incumbent MP could stand in this by-eection, although it’s unlikely that they would have much success.

The ‘Clegg Bill’ is very narrow in its remit although the Committee on Standards may decide to suspend him from the Commons.

Of course the SNP’s calls for his resignation have factored into the equation that Mr Carmichael won his seat by only an 817 majority over them and his would be an excellent scalp for their trophy wall, particularly when the new parliament has hardly warmed the green benches.

Did he try to stitch up Nicola Sturgeon and it backfired because the three parties involved in the discussions all deny she said she would prefer David Cameron in No 10, or was he convinced the record of the meeting was accurate? Maybe a bit of both.

Poor Judgement 21 May 2015 12:28 AM (10 years ago)

Many times I wonder at our justice system. On Tuesday a bakery company, which cites a Christian religious ethic on their website, was convicted of discrimination because they decided not to bake a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan.

Is nobody allowed to decide how they run their business without minorities protesting loudly? The gay community, along with others, has the backing of government funded bodies, yet these days the voice of Christians is usually nullified by those who dictate justice in our courts.

I’m not believer in 'fairies in the sky’ but I do believe that spiritually something goes on in our world. My morals were taught to me by a Christian family and church which, as an adult, I’ve seldom attended. They make no effort to include me and because I’m not a member of the Church of Scotland thankfully I don’t receive these intimidating little envelopes asking for very regular donations. These were part of the reason my grandmother moved to the Scottish Episcopalian Church back in the 50s because it didn’t intimidate her with any numbered envelopes. Aye, they were numbered in those days so any contribution could be traced back to the contributor and a donation record kept. I’ve no idea if that was/is the practice of other churches in an effort to keep data about their members, but it’s not particularly pleasant.

I digress. What does the British justice system have against Christians or folk to hold Christian beliefs?

The Irish are more religious than many Scots these days. Religion has - and still does - play a big part in their lives. Gerry Adams shaking hands with Price Charles doesn’t make relationships better, just more acceptable to the public. “If he’s shaken hands with Price Charles then the past is past.” No it’s not. The past is history and no one ought to forget history. Politicians ignore history when it suits their specific ideals and we now see the results in various disguises.

This Ashers bakery case should never have come to court. It was the strength of the gay rights lobby and the Irish Equality Commission - all funded by taxpayers - which ensured it happened.

As the person who ordered the cake was a gay rights activist it could be assumed he targeted a business with a well known Christian ethic. Who knows.

There seems to be double standards in the gay community. A couple of years ago a Christian couple were fined for not allowing two men to share a double bed in their bed and breakfast, yet if you google ‘gay hotels’ you find pages of links to hotels which only cater for gay people.

Why do a small section of the gay community insist upon targeting Christian businesses which openly declare their Christianity? Their behaviour doesn’t do the gay community any favours whatsoever and I know it is an embarrassment to many.

No Bridge? No Problem! 15 May 2015 12:24 AM (10 years ago)

No Health and Safety either!

I Agree - Scrap the Human Rights Act 13 May 2015 12:32 AM (10 years ago)

When the 56 SNP MPs arrived in Westminster on Monday I was delighted and hoped that they would be an effective and sensible opposition.

Today the Guardian's headlines read ‘The SNP will not consent to Tory plans to scrap Human Rights Act’.

I suggest this is very short sighted of them and I do hope they’re not going to turn into a group like Scottish Labour in the Scottish Parliament where Labour oppose most proposals for no good reason.

The 1998 Human Rights Act needs to be replaced as it appears to benefit the criminal rather than the victim. We need a Human Rights Act in which our courts and justice system have the last word. In recent years the Supreme Court was introduced and the word of these justices should be final or our justice system will continue to be puppet theatre whose strings are pulled by Brussels. What is the point in us spending billions on justice if the EU have the final say? Why don’t send all High Court cases to Brussels and save our money to spend on those in need?

The Act is going to be replaced by a British Bill of Rights which, I believe, will be very similar to the Human Rights Act but with amendments such as disallowing criminals going to Brussels to have their case ruling overturned. The current balance of human rights is wrong and has to be corrected. It’s wrong that foreign murderers are allowed to stay in this country because they have children here. It’s wrong that UK taxpayers spend millions of pounds on numerous appeals from criminals resisting deportation. It’s wrong that people in need are being deprived of help when human rights lawyers are laughing all the way to the bank.

I trust the new MPs in Westminster will debate this proposal and use common sense to make a decision. Nobody knows the content of the Tory’s proposal as yet but seem happy to oppose it anyway.

That’s not the type of politics I expect from the SNP. Let’s wait to see what the British Bill of Right contains before more knee jerk reactions are voiced.

A Good Result For Scotland 8 May 2015 7:51 AM (10 years ago)

Yes it was an excellent result for Scotland but - there’s always a but - only from a UK perspective. It would be a dreadful result in a Scottish election although fortunately that would never happen owing to our PR system.

How did the Tories get back into No 10? Aided and abetted by Labour and the SNP. All David Cameron had to do was tell England that a government with the weak Miliband being dictated to by the strong Nicola Sturgeon would bring England to its knees. The English agreed, held their noses and voted Tory.

Ed Miliband was between a rock and a hard place most of the election with his desperate efforts to persuade middle England that he would be fantastic prime minister material. I’m not sorry to see him stand down as party leader, although nobody impresses me as his successor. Let’s not forget, even if Labour had won all the seats in Scotland, the result would have been the same. Labour needed England but England didn’t want a left wing government.

Nicola Sturgeon played a blinder the whole campaign. Never a foot wrong and she deserves congratulations for making her successes.

What about Nick Clegg? Nothing much to say really. I suspect he’s already been on the telephone to his pals in Europe asking them to put his name forward as a commissioner. My one regret is that Charles Kennedy was part of the SNP rout. One of the few politicians who was unaffected by power and I believe looked after his electorate with a passion.

In some ways I’m disappointed Nigel Farage didn’t make it. Although I dislike some of his policies, his presence in the Commons would have been a thorn in David Cameron’s side. It appears he won a larger percentage of the vote than the SNP and LibDems put together but with the FPTP system he couldn’t quite make it.

Three leaders have resigned today and that’s a healthy result of an election. It shows that change is essential. Not ‘tinkering’ change but radical change starting with the FPTP system moving to a PR one.

How will Cameron treat Scotland? I’ve no idea, have you? He can either ignore us or quickly open talks with Nicola Sturgeon. Surely he realises the SNP rout here contains many angry No voters who feel he made promises, on the 19 September last year, that he had no intention of keeping.

How will the new SNP MPs fare? Alex Salmond will ensure the ship is steered steadily but only time will tell the strategy they use. Interesting times ahead.

UK Society Is Less Integrated Than Ever 5 May 2015 9:13 AM (10 years ago)

Image from the Daily Mail

It never ceases to amaze me how politicians and prospective politicians treat voters.

Yesterday Ed Miliband, quite rightly, was ridiculed for his ‘Tablet of Stone’ circus. Who is advising that man? He doesn’t need to be portrayed in such a manner, he does a good enough job of looking rather stupid without props.

Now today we have politicians complaining about the segregation of men and women at a Labour party hustings in Birmingham. Why the faux shock and horror? Most people know that the Muslim community do not permit women to have the same freedoms as men and if there’s any criticism I’d make about the above image is that I’m surprised women were present at all.

Many years ago now a young Muslim student befriended me at the college in which I worked. We both lived quite a way out of town and someone had said I may be able to give her a lift home one evening as her brother was unable to do so. She explained in the car that she wouldn’t have been able to accept a lift from a man, although there was a male student who had offered. This was the start of my education about Islam.

Her family weren’t keen on her being an acquaintance of mine but I think they saw my uses and tolerated it. Never once was I invited into the home when I collected or dropped her off on the odd occasion no family member was able to provide transport. She was 18 but her father openly told me she would never learn to drive. He had an older daughter who had learned to drive and now ‘she was beyond my control’.

I was invited to the student’s arranged marriage which took place in a local town hall. That was the only time I met the student’s ‘driving’ sister and we had a pleasant hour or so talking about what life in general. That room was very much divided - similar to the above photograph - and we sat for 4 hours waiting for the final guests to appear. Their coach had broken down en route from Blackburn which was the groom’s home town.

Having arrived at 1.30pm for a 2pm wedding, I was beginning to feel rather hungry around 5pm but filled myself with water while giant bottles of coke were passed around other guests. By this time I was aware I was the only white person present in a congregation of around 150.

The ceremony didn’t appear to take long once it started and by 6.30pm there was an announcement in a language I didn’t understand. ‘Food is ready’ said the prettily dressed woman to my left. ‘Thank goodness’ I thought, at least I can move from this seat on which I’d been perched for well over 4 hours. I stood in anticipation of having an interesting supper and felt a tug on my coat. ‘Men go first’ I was told. This was expanded with the information that the women had to wait until the men had eaten.

My reaction? I hurriedly left and was home within 20 minutes, still reeling from the culture shock.

It was some months later I had a telephone call from the student who asked if I would provide a character reference for a job application. She had moved to Blackburn immediately after her marriage and found the constraints suffocating and wanted to apply for a job. I sent the reference and didn’t hear more. It was the following year when my doorbell rang and there stood the student with a baby in her arms. She was visiting her parents for the first time since her marriage. We chatted for quite a while but I was conscious she kept looking at her watch.

The job? Her husband and his family refused to allow her to attend the interview and told her there was no need for her to work as she had enough to do looking after the older members of the family and having children. She wasn’t allowed out without a male member of the family or one of the senior women accompanying her.

Whilst I have no problem with people’s religious beliefs, I’ve often though what a waste of a bright, attractive young woman. Last time I saw her she was deeply unhappy.

So the critics of the above image shouldn’t be surprised at such segregation. What they should be criticising is the fact that a special hustings for Muslims was held, when the same critics are the first to say we are an ‘inclusive society’. Some sections of society will never integrate with the majority.

This hustings, a public meeting, should have been open to all regardless of colour or religion. That would have been more in keeping with my desire for an open and integrated UK. Will it happen? I firmly believe the answer is never.

Something’s Missing In This Election Campaign 30 Apr 2015 12:11 AM (10 years ago)

The campaigning of the ‘big three’ hasn’t exactly set the heather alight has it?

The American styled hustings have been a complete turn off for me. How can any politician be taken seriously when they so blatantly falsify major announcements. The photograph above was headlined ‘Cameron at election rally in Cornwall’. Looks impressive doesn’t it? But fortunately one journalist, Niall Paterson from Sky News, decided the public shouldn’t be duped and published the reality of the ‘event’.

If the Tory leader can’t muster more than a handful of local supporters it doesn’t say much for the Tory party.

Ed Miliband continues to stumble from one disaster to the next. It seems he’s rather fond of a particular lectern because it makes him feel ‘ministerial’. This particular piece of equipment is being hauled round the country to assist Ed in his campaigning. No event is spared the ‘lectern touch’, not even your own back garden it seems.

Even if I was a staunch Labour supporter I’d cringe at seeing my beloved leader looking so foolish.

However, there’s one subject which has hardly been mentioned during this campaign. Climate change. Is it not being mentioned because of the passing of the joint pledge in February? Are they too afraid past errors will reflect on their decisions? The NIPCC think it’s been grossly overstated but I’ve read nothing about their latest findings in the media.

Maybe our politicians think the science is settled. I think there’s a lot more proof required and I’m uncomfortable being forced to pay a tax on my utility bills.

Sometimes it’s the grass root voters who put sensible efforts into politics. I was sent this link the other day. It’s a neat piece of work made by a home furnishing business and obviously is aimed at English voters because there’s no mention of the SNP, but I was asked to include it on the blog in order to encourage people to vote and I’m happy to oblige.

The Numbers Game 27 Apr 2015 12:26 AM (10 years ago)

Over the years I’ve complained about the lack of media interest in the SNP. As a party they’ve struggled long and hard for air time and any recognition in the printed press, but this time round it feels as if the UK’s immediate future will certainly involve the SNP to some degree.

Polls have them flying high and Westminster is running scared, very scared. Quite a delight to watch at times.

But with Nicola Sturgeon having such a prominent presence, both on our screens and in our newspapers, there are bound to be articles which she hoped wouldn’t achieve the light of day. The Daily Express runs this one. If this is true then I’m concerned about Scotland’s future. It’s well known large businesses do recruit personnel overseas when they can’t attract British workers, but in this situation, it appears actions were taken purely on financial grounds. Where are the unions I wonder.

All regular readers know that I support an independent Scotland but I’m not a member of the SNP or any other political party. My choices are limited because of my lifelong belief that Scotland could and should be independent. It’s the SNP or the Greens and I really shiver when I hear the leader of the Green Party mention some of their policies. They want to raise the living wages rate to £10 an hour and fund it by a wealth tax on the top 1%. I vaguely recall this policy has been proposed by every political party over the years without any result.

Enough about the Greens. They’re not in the running for any landslide. If the media are to be believed then the SNP is the party which will experience a landslide, although I think the projections are exaggerated. Nevertheless, it would seem gains will be made all over Scotland and the numbers of SNP MPs will be increased in Westminster. A hatchet job was done on the SNP by the Backbencher recently but I doubt if it will make much difference to Scottish voters.

More concerning is Nicola Sturgeon’s determination to prop up the Labour party, thereby putting Ed Miliband in No 10. Ed Miliband is weak, very weak. He is not Prime Minister material. Ms Sturgeon will be very aware that he is inadequate.

Thus we - or perhaps I should say I - have a conundrum. The Tories and Labour are currently running a close race. The LibDems are running backwards and UKIP’s ratings have taken a sharp fall. Some suggest the Tories will win and run a minority government. A well-run minority government is possible and as some highly experienced Tory MPs will surely be re-elected, it could work.

Labour may few experienced MPs, particularly from Scottish constituencies. The ‘big hitters’ are all jumping ship and the remainder look like their leader - weak.

Politics isn’t a ‘care for the people’ game it’s a numbers game. The SNP, like all other parties, wants a greater presence and recognition in Westminster and in order to make their presence felt need to join with either the Tories or Labour. The SNP has consistently ruled the Tories out and has no other option than Labour.

I don’t think Ed Miliband would be good for the UK or for Scotland. At least the coalition in the last UK government left us alone most of the time and David Cameron was ‘kind’ enough to permit the referendum.

My vote will go to the SNP but not because I agree with any joint formal or informal agreement with Labour. I doubt propping up Labour will bring independence closer.

However, it’s all about numbers. Nick Clegg would sell his granny for another stint in power and the LibDem leader says he’ll talk with any party. Power over principles indeed.

Time For Stringent Immigration Laws 21 Apr 2015 2:42 PM (10 years ago)

Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon announced the SNP’s general election manifesto. Most of the media were negative including the Daily Mail’s headline ‘A Match Made in Hell’.

I’ve skimmed through the manifesto and thought many points were appropriate to Scotland but was so disappointed at the lack of detail concerning immigration. Considering the late horrific tragedy which has taken place in Italian waters perhaps the SNP think Italy’s too distant to be of any concern to Scotland.

Last week I had an interesting conversation with a Syrian. Let me say he instigated the issue of illegal immigrants. He was an illegal immigrant until 6 years ago having arrived in the UK back in 2004 by jumping a lorry in Calais. After spending a couple of years in the south east he moved to Glasgow where he found work on the back market selling ‘stuff’ (he didn’t detail the ‘stuff’). Once his application for asylum had been approved he found work with a charity which helps immigrants and enjoys the work to this day.

When we were chatting about the influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, the UK has half-heartedly dealt with in the past few years, he mentioned how easy it is for anyone to enter the UK. ‘There’s a 75% chance that, if you know someone who has been granted asylum in the UK that you’ll get entry’. He spoke for some time about this and said he was regularly contacted by fellow Syrians in the UK who asked him to say a certain person was a relative. ‘The immigration authorities will give the green light in most cases if the illegal immigrant can say they have family here. In most cases the immigrant can’t even prove their nationality as they destroy their passport prior to entering’.

All this was an eye-opener to me. How many people arrive in the UK by such means? ‘Thousands,’ I was told, ‘I could be a rich man with the amount of money I’ve been offered to sponsor someone I don’t know but I’m not prepared to put my UK residency in jeopardy.’

Now we have the serious problem of these people arriving by boats from the African continent. Yes we’re partly to blame for interfering with the political structure there but should we (I mean the Europeans) be responsible for each and every one who arrives on European soil? I think not. All of these people ‘fleeing’ have paid traffickers up to £10,000 for a space on a dilapidated boat just to reach Europe. None is poor. How many of us could find that amount of money?

Many people are calling for more help from the EU to avoid the tragedy of people drowning on the seas. The Italians have done their best in recent years to cope with the numbers but now they’ve become so excessive they’re beyond controlling.

The EU are useless in this case. What needs to happen is an arrangement by each EU country to implement the Australian principle. Yes, I know this is another Daily Mail article but other newspapers are ignoring the elephant in the room and that elephant is the traffickers. Their interest is money not lives.

First and foremost the traffickers must be stopped and the only way to do that is by the tried and tested system Australia has adopted. There’s plenty hot air spoken about tightening up our immigration rules but nothing has been done for years.

The reason for this post? My Syrian acquaintance was very honest when he told me that Britain is known the world over for being an ‘easy touch’. ‘I was housed within 3 days of arriving here as an illegal immigrant yet there are people, including soldiers, sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow. You don’t care for your own as much as those you do for those from other countries who come here for financial reasons and by that I don’t mean to better themselves by working - I mean to be given benefits which surpass their expectations. If I had been working all my life here I’d be furious about how my taxes are spent, but then my job involves getting benefits for immigrants and it’s simpler than buying a pint in a Glasgow pub on a Saturday night’.

Here in Scotland immigration is currently not a problem, in fact immigrants have been welcomed. But if people continue to arrive in Europe in such volumes then more and more will move north when they arrive in the UK. As my acquaintance said, ‘In another 20 years time Glasgow will be unrecognisable because of an uncontrolled immigration policy. There are thousands of immigrants like me who are making a very healthy living from declaring strangers are family.’

The African continent is a mess and the UK must take its fair share of responsibility as our actions were wrong when we decided to team up with France and assist in the toppling of Gaddafi. He was a tyrant but had an understanding of his country and others surrounding it. People trafficking was minimal when he was in power. Now hundreds are dying in an attempt to reach Europe and paying extortionate sums of money to crooks for the privilege. Australia has greatly reduced the deaths at sea of those attempting to reach it and thereby reduced the horrific trade of people trafficking in Indonesia. Europe needs to resolve the current problem by having more stringent border controls. More policing will cost more money but will save lives and also diminish the detestable trade of people trafficking.

Jim Murphy, Saviour of The Union 14 Apr 2015 12:18 AM (10 years ago)

And there’s more ...

It’s not looking good for Jim is it?

Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should 10 Apr 2015 12:26 AM (10 years ago)

The definition of family, as I was taught in primary school, is ‘ a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit’ or ‘all descendants of a common ancestor’.

These are the definitions I’ve lived with most of my life. In recent years there has been a distinct change or should I say two distinct changes. Firstly, there is a strong feminist movement which thinks two parents are not necessary; in fact many in this group think men are no longer required in the modern world now that we have IVF. A test tube doesn’t require any emotional input does it.

There are thousands of women who, for medical reasons, are unable to conceive naturally and I sympathise with their predicament. Many of these women, and their husbands, want children desperately so go down the IVF route and it can cost them dearly, financially and emotionally. In certain circumstances some can be financed by the NHS and according to the baby centre website, in 2009 nearly 2% of babies born in the UK were conceived as a result of IVF treatment. All these babies were desperately wanted and I have no doubt are being brought up in loving homes.

However, we now have surrogates too and surrogacy is becoming more popular than ever. The HFEA (Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority) does not regulate surrogacy.

Surrogacy does not require the use or the eggs and sperm of the intended parents. A donated egg fertilised with sperm from the intended father can be used or an embryo created using donor eggs and sperm. If the latter is used then the resulting child will have no genetic relationship with its parents so therefore the current definition of ‘all descendants of a common ancestor’ will not be applicable.

Does this matter? I think so. ‘A Mother who gave birth to her own brother and sister’. How confused will these babies be when they begin to look at their ancestors? I shudder to think. Last month a mother gave birth to a child for her 22 year old gay son. She didn’t use her own eggs but acted as a surrogate for a donor egg fertilised by Kyle’s sperm.

I’ve witnessed the pain of couples being unable to conceive naturally and have complete sympathy with what some undergo in order to achieve a child, but surely there must be some regulation on ‘babies to order’. The HFEA or another body should intervene now because these latest developments may well cause serious problems for the future generations involved.

Winners and Losers 3 Apr 2015 12:30 AM (10 years ago)

Did you watch the TV debate last night? I still can’t decide if it was the over-rehearsed performances or the tightly scripted words from most participants that annoyed me. Farage and the Salesman were the only two who didn’t appear to refer to notes, but they have the advantage of more years of public speaking.

The media this morning all have differing poll results with the Scotsman favouring Nicola Sturgeon, RTE reporting there were no winners, The Telegraph’s 'experts’ say Ms Sturgeon left the others well behind and the Daily Mail’s headline is ‘Cameron dodges a bullet’.

Ed Miliband thought this was his chance to show he is No 10 material. He failed. Between some rather amusing efforts to stare into the camera, in the hope we would believe his every word, and looking like a startled rabbit caught in headlights on many other occasions, I cringed when his summing up involved the words ‘If I’m Prime Minister’. Heaven help us if that happens.

Nicola Sturgeon was well received by the English audience it seems. Her performance was slick but it concerns me that she believes we need to increase benefits. Her proposal to increase the capping allowance of £26,500 is frightening. Where will she find the money to do this other than raise taxes on people who earn more than the national average. If Scotland did become independent this type of policy would discourage the brightest from staying here or coming here. Many people who earn more than the average have worked very hard to achieve their goals, why punish them?

What can I say about Nick Clegg? Nothing really.

The Green Woman’s policies are fairytales. ‘Vote for change’ she pleaded. Anytime she spoke she sounded pleading. Poor soul.

Miss Wood, the leader of Plaid Cymru, wasn’t at all bad. Although she stuck very firmly to her script, she did fight her corner for Wales.

Nigel Farage was ‘naughty’ to have mentioned health tourism. How left-wingers detest the truth. Health tourism isn’t a problem in Scotland as far as I know, but in various parts of England it is a serious problem. I have several friends who work in the English NHS. The stories they tell of relatives of British citizens coming here for cancer and other very expensive treatments are not just one or two examples. I’m informed that quite a few of these ‘tourists’ could well afford to pay for their treatment but they know they won’t be charged in the UK. If they travelled to the US, Canada or many other countries they would have to pay upfront. It’s well know throughout the civilised world that the UK will provide free health care to anyone who manages to get into this country.

How did the Salesman do? As our current Prime Minister he performed as expected, but I lost interest when he insisted we care for our military veterans. That’s nonsense and he knows it. Far too many of our veterans are homeless.

Apart from Nigel Farage, the other leaders support the EU. The question ‘Why?’ didn’t arise. If it had then we may have learned a little.

On a lighter note, wasn’t the make-up dreadful?

Time To Close Religious Schools 30 Mar 2015 12:31 AM (10 years ago)

Facebook inspired this post. The other day I noticed a question being asked - ‘Did you go to Sunday school?’ and was amazed at the number of responses such a simple question received. People detailed the names of their Sunday schools and I calculated, very roughly, that the responses were split quite evenly in favour of Sunday schools. There were several exceptions when commentators said they were a ‘waste of time’, ‘free parking for parents’ etc. Here in rural Perthshire, Sunday schools still exist. I’ve no idea of the attendance numbers but I have attended several Harvest Festivals and plenty children contribute to these occasions.

During a brief discussion about this with an online friend, he made clear he had no religious beliefs and apologised if anything he had said offended me. I replied I was not offended in the least and consider myself more in the ‘spiritual’ than the ‘religious’ box if boxes had to be ticked. Perhaps there is a fine line between religious and spiritual, because I would like to think deeply religious people do have an association with their spiritual side, although recent happenings in the middle east imposes doubt.

However, away from Sunday schools, more concerning is the numbers of British Muslim young people who are attracted to fight with the terrorist organisation IS. Court orders show a total of eight pupils from the same Academy in Tower Hamlets have shown an interest in Islamic fanaticism. How many more faith schools, funded by the state, are there in the UK which follow their own religious itineraries?

In the past 20 odd years politicians have gradually introduced us as a ‘secular society’. All well and good and I approve of tolerance is all religions to aid peace and enable us all to live together in harmony. This isn’t happening. Recently one father of a child who has absconded to Syria blamed the police for his child’s choice to join IS. Let’s not forget, 15 year olds today are much more mature than a 15 year old in the 50s and 60s. This same father was invited to Parliament to give evidence at a home affairs select committee and denied even knowing what Islamic radicalisation was. Obviously no official investigation was made into the father’s background prior to his invitation and subsequent apology from the police, until the Daily Mail uncovered the father’s beliefs.

Our society has changed radically in the past 20 years and it’s time all state funded religious schools were closed. Every child should be taught in schools which have the same curriculum and rules. That includes all Christian faith schools which are paid for by taxpayers. Each child will then have an equal opportunity within the state education system.

Keep religion out of our state schools. In 2009 there were 6,867 faith schools in England, with 395 in Scotland and 263 in Wales. Until 1959, the state paid for only half the capital costs of religious schools, but in the past 50 years the cost borne by the government has soared, finally rising from 85 to 90 per cent under Tony Blair in 2001. Increasingly, the 10% of capital costs that religious foundations are supposed to pay has slipped. Schools are claiming ‘exceptional circumstances; so often that the average contribution made by foundations behind faith schools is just 7.4%, and this results in additional costs of millions to the taxpayer.

For parents who what their children to be taught the family religion then let it happen outwith their state education. Every child must have the same chance.

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