Category Archives: Holyrood Message

Sweet and Sour

7TH November 2011

At worst it has been disappointing at best it has been inconsistent.
I warned at the outset of this financial crisis that communities like Inverclyde would be impacted harder than anywhere else.
It meant we had to be afforded greater protection from the Scottish Government and would have to push to the front of the queue when jobs plans were being put together.
So I was delighted that Fergusons will once again be in the shipbuilding business, fighting off six other shipyards from across the globe to win an important contract making hybrid ferry vessels.
It will allow them to retain the skilled workforce that has kept the yard going over the last few lean years and allow them to bring in apprentices for future contracts.
On the back of Waterloo Road announcement last week, it was a welcome and much-needed jobs boost.
But as ever with this government, with the sweet comes the sour.
Our long-term ambitions to regenerate our community by building new homes and attracting jobs and business to the area have been taken forward by the Riverside Inverclyde project.
We quickly learned that the Scottish Government didn’t share those ambitions when they brutally cut our regeneration budget by 70 per cent last year.
And if it was any doubt, they admitted this week they are pulling the plug on the successful initiative altogether, leaving an uncertain future for the regeneration Inverclyde.
I feared the worst when I saw enterprise money being directed to Dundee and Nigg recently, and confirming Inverclyde is not a priority.
With this government, they give with one hand, take with the other.

 

 

Poverty Gap

August 13th, 2011

Anybody leafing through the Sunday papers a few weekends ago would have been forgiven for coughing up their cornflakes.

The Sunday Times Rich List gives us an annual insight into the how the other half live, detailing the mind-boggling figures that fund the lavish-lifestyles of the super-rich.

With their mansions all over the world, yachts the size of football pitches and billions in the bank, it is easy to envy the lives of the Lakshmi Mittals and the Roman Abramovichs.

Yet a recent report detailing the lives of the people at the other end of the spectrum was published to considerably less fanfare.

The Poverty Alliance has revealed that more than 200,000 children are still living in poverty across the country.

And last year, the proportion of working age adults in relative poverty actually increased.

As we all know, Scotland is bracing itself for severe benefit cuts that will impact pensioners and the low-paid, pay freezes in the public sector and considerable increases in the cost of living through rising petrol, VAT and food prices.

That would indicate that the gap between those at the top and those at the bottom is set to drift even further apart unless action is taken

But there is a better way and I want the SNP Government to support the Poverty Alliance’s 100 Day Challenge.

Scotland has the powers to provide work for the unemployment, a living wage for the low-paid, educational and training opportunities for young people and relief for hard-working families.

The traditional inequalities between the rich and poor are nothing new to an area like Inverclyde, and we have worked hard to bridge the gap.

Only by setting and achieving these priorities can we can achieve our ambition for a fairer Scotland.

www.duncanmcneil.com

 

 

 

No Christmas Cards from Inverclyde

NO CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM INVERCYDE

12th January 2011

The tills are ringing in the stores and in the supermarkets now the Christmas countdown is on.

Credit cards and store cards will be getting a bashing as shoppers make sure they have the perfect gift for each of their friends and family, and can all enjoy their festive break.

Well, in the Scottish Parliament, it was also spend, spend, spend for the SNP Government, even in these straightened times.

And for those of us trying to manage our budgets in the run up to Christmas, the figures are mind-boggling.

More than £60 billion pledged by the Scottish Government to be spent on infrastructure projects over the next 25 years.

And in the short-term, an additional £433 million from the UK Government is to be spent here in Scotland in the current financial year.

Inverclyde’s share? A paltry £1.5 million.

That is what Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil handed back to this community, just a fraction of the missing millions he cut from our budget earlier this year.

Crucially, where we once had certainty over future funding so they we could implement long-term plans, we now have uncertainty and vague promises about lottery
funding.

I met with the minister this week, making the case for regeneration investment in Inverclyde, so we can attract jobs, build new homes and create new leisure facilities.

I illustrated our long-term vision for the area and argued why he should invest in a community like ours, which is being disproportionately impacted by the cuts.

His response was less than adequate given the windfall his government received from Westminster, and their grand plans for the rest of the country.

Given his betrayal of our ambitious regeneration plans, the Cabinet Secretary shouldn’t anticipate too many Christmas cards from Inverclyde this year.

 

 

 

 

Election Year

December 27th, 2010

ELECTION YEAR 

The New Year tends to bring out plenty of enthusiasm amongst us.

Whether it be resolving to give up chocolate, plans to go to the gym more often or a commitment to getting a new job, the turn of the year always marks an opportunity to make some positive changes in our lives.

For others, it’s a chance to draw a line under any negative experiences from last year and look forward to 2011.

Who knows what this year will hold – will it be the year that Andy Murray wins Wimbledon or X Factor’s Matt Cardle becomes a big star?

Admittedly, the Scottish Parliamentary elections are unlikely to feature highly on people’s list of things to look forward to in 2011.

For some, it might seem as if we have only just one election out of the way and already we are facing up to another daily diet of leaflets, baby-kissing and election pledges.

Yet the general election last year whetted people’s appetite for politics in a way we haven’t seen for years.

In these tough economic times, people understood that their decision at the ballot box really matters, that the political parties weren’t all the same and they had to make a choice about who best represented their priorities and values.

And people know that in May, Scotland will hold its most important election since devolution.

So whether it be the Royal wedding, the rugby World Cup or the last Harry Potter film you are looking forward to this year, it may just be that the election day is the most significant event of 2011.

The Big Society

December 20th, 2010

THE BIG SOCIETY 

It brings out the best in people and not just because it’s Christmas.

The recent weather has been a challenge for us all as we tackle the worst snow in decades.

Whether it’s getting to work, taking the children to school or even just making it along to the shops for the essentials, the snow and the cold weather present a significant challenge.

While it created a logistical nightmare for most of us, some people were impacted more than others.

Pensioners become virtual prisoners in their home as the streets iced over and made walking even the short distance to the shops or a friend’s house impossible.

At times like this, we really learn to value our family, friends and neighbours who I am sure we have all had to rely on over the last couple of weeks.

Picking up the children from a closed school if mum and dad are at work, clearing snow-covered pathways to make them useable again and dropping in a loaf, milk and a paper to an elderly neighbour have all become part of people’s daily routine.

This year, we have heard a lot about the ‘big society’ from the Tory Government in Westminster.

Well, I am pleased to report it is alive and well in Inverclyde and happens every day whether the Prime Minister claims it as his flagship policy or not.

I see the big society on a daily basis in my community and it is more than just a sound bite for politicians – it’s a way of life for people.

Have a great festive holiday everyone and remember to be a good neighbour this Christmas.

Sorry not good enough

December 13th, 2010

SORRY NOT GOOD ENOUGH

It has been a week to forget for most people with snow and ice bringing the country to a standstill.

Schools closed, major roads shut off, trains cancelled and fuel and food shortages have created havoc.

Like many of you, I have my own tale of woe, having being stuck in the car for two hours in Greenock last Monday and then having to abort my journey to Edinburgh on Tuesday night when the M8 was closed.

I fared only slightly better when I switched to the train, leaving Greenock West station shortly after 6am on Wednesday and finally arriving in Edinburgh six hours later.

It has been the worst winter weather conditions for decades and it has raised serious questions over how prepared we are for the worst.

While we are grateful to the council staff, health workers and police officers who have did their level best in difficult circumstances, people have been left angry at Scotland’s reaction to the heavy snow.

The focal point of people’s frustrations has been the hapless Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson, who turned incompetence into an art form this week.

He spectacularly failed to take heed of the dire weather forecasts, was inert in responding to the escalating crisis and then refused to apologise on TV while hundreds of angry motorists slept in their car.

Not for the first time this year, the Scottish Government eventually got round to an embarrassing climb down and a grudging apology.

With Alex Salmond’s mishandling of the Clan Gathering, John Swinney’s gaffe over tax-raising powers and Nicola Sturgeon’s misguided defence of a convicted fraudster, sorry really does seem to be the hardest word.

As the Scottish Government lurch from crisis to crisis, Alex Salmond has yet to receive a resignation letter or issue a P45 to any of his blundering ministers.

This time he needs to take action against the Transport Minister who let Scotland’s main artery grind to a halt for two days or apologise for his sorry excuse for a government.

Winter wonderland

December 6th, 2010

WINTER WONDERLAND

Scotland has been engulfed in a winter wonderland for the last week that has turned our streets into a playground for children.

While they are out sledging, throwing snowballs and building snowmen, it hasn’t been much fun to the rest of us.

Trains cancelled, airports closed and parts of the country unreachable, the country has been turned upside down by the white fluffy stuff.

The only thing that has preventing the country grinding to a halt has been those workers who have braved the elements, mending our bumps and bruises in our hospitals, clearing the roads so we can get to work and providing care to the most vulnerable and the elderly who become isolated by the weather.

Their heroic efforts have been so well appreciated that even the First Minister at question time was moved to recognise them.

For once, it was obvious to everyone the value of our public servants at a time when everyone seems to be discussing the cost of them.

The sincerity of the First Minister’s words would be beyond question if only his actions had expressed the same level of commitment to them.

This is the same First Minister who has imposing redundancies, pay freezes and pension reductions on some of the lowest paid yet hardest working public servants through his budget.

His blanket approach to cuts and wages has met those on the lower end of the pay scale suffer a disproportionate impact when the difficult times hit home.

Even where provisions have been built in to protect the lowest paid, many of those who have kept the country going over the last few days will not benefit because their salary falls just above the threshold.

Anyone can stand up in front of an audience and play the good guy with effusive praise about our winter heroes.

As we all know, action speak louder than words.

HUMBLE PIE

29th November 2010

HUMBLE PIE

Humble pie was the dish of the day in the Scottish Parliament canteen in a dramatic week.

Both the First Minister and his Finance Secretary grudgingly had to wolf it down after it emerged they had let Scotland’s economic powers lapse three years ago without telling anyone.

As someone who campaigned for devolution, I remember well the Yes-Yes verdict the people of Scotland returned in the 1997 referendum, an emphatic yes to the creation of a Scottish Parliament and yes to tax-raising powers.

So for John Swinney to secretly let these powers slide, like a phone line being cut off for an outstanding bill, was extraordinary display of arrogance.

This week, the Scottish Government tried to maintain the cover-up with its usual diet of excuses.

But the fundamental point, that a decision was taken on Scotland’s constitution, contrary to will of the people, with the stroke of a government minister’s pen in an office far away from the public eye, fell squarely on them.

It should have been a decision for the elected members of the Scottish Parliament and the burden of such a momentous decision to be shared out by the 129 MSPs.

In the end, the excuses ran hollow, the lies were transparent and, once he realised his career was on the line, only a grudging apology kept the minister in a job.

For once, this wasn’t party politics; this was a parliament taking on an errant government and found them guilty as charged.

This issue cuts to the heart of our democracy, that the parliament exists to scrutinise and hold to account the government of the day.

And that work can’t be done if key decisions are being taken by officials in back rooms and covered up so neither the parliament nor the public could find out.

For a government which has consistently argued the answer to all our woes is to for them to have greater economic powers, the decision to fritter away the ones the Scottish people already gave them has damaged their credibility beyond repair.

Respect agenda

November 22nd, 2010

RESPECT AGENDA

Since the Tory Government took office, we have heard plenty about the so-called respect agenda.

Most people took this to mean respect between the two parliaments, in London and Edinburgh, and two governments, led by Alex Salmond and David Cameron.

Those of us sceptical about the respect agenda had our fears confirmed when it was announced the AV referendum would be held on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections.

Ignoring the lessons learned from the 2007 debacle, where an overly-complex voting system led to thousands of wasted ballots, this decision was taken without the consultation of the Scottish people and their representatives in the Scottish Parliament.

In parliament this week, I called for an end to the pretence of a respect agenda and for our elections to stand-alone, free from diversions.

It wasn’t the only decision made at Westminster with implications for Scotland this week – the cuts imposed too fast and too deep by the Tories arrived on Wednesday in the shape of the Scottish Government’s budget.

The task fell to Finance Secretary John Swinney to outline how young people, hard-working families, the elderly and the vulnerable would be protected while he balanced the books.

By all accounts, he fudged it and delivered a budget that stored up most of our problems until after the election next May.

There was still plenty of bad news in the budget – huge cuts to housing and regeneration funds will have an impact on the progress made on these fronts in Inverclyde.

And the cuts to higher education and prisons will limit opportunities for young people and compromise safety in our streets.

But the big decisions on public services, such as higher education funding, on council tax versus charges, on elderly care, remain shrouded in mystery.

It will be no surprise that a respect agenda between politicians turned out to be little more than a soundbite.

But in their approach to these two fundamental issues, both governments have shown the real respect agenda that has failed is the one between politicians and the pu

JOBS FOR THE FUTURE

November 8th, 2010

JOBS FOR THE FUTURE 

Many readers will have grown up in a time when their working life would have been mapped out for them the day they left school.

Whether it be in the shipbuilding, engineering or electronics industry, young people had opportunities to get into work and enjoy job security.

Times have changed though and things aren’t so straightforward for young people as many of the big employers moved on.

The Thatcher years consigned a generation of young people to the employment scrapheap and our communities have paid the price.

While tremendous progress has been made to recover those lost years, challenges remain in creating opportunities for young people.

Given the cuts in higher education, the slump in the construction industry, the contraction of the public sector and cuts to nursing and teacher posts, that challenge is set to get even tougher.

To stop young people falling into the unemployment trap, Inverclyde has led the way in creating these opportunities with the country’s best performing Future Jobs Fund.

This takes 18-24 year olds who have been stuck on Jobseeker’s Allowance and creates six-month job placements for them.

Jim Bristow and the team at the Community Development Team have taken 272 youngsters in the space of a year and handed them the experience, skills and confidence boost to help them find longer-term employment.

Despite this resounding success, the Future Jobs Fund did not survive the Chancellor’s axe as the Tory-led coalition announced its emergency budget in the summer.

This was typical of a government who famously uttered the phrase unemployment is a price worth paying.

But in Scotland, we do not have to accept those decisions, that is why people voted for a Scottish Parliament – Scottish solutions to Scottish problems.

Andy Kerr, the Labour finance spokesman, has pledged to re-instate this valuable scheme next year if it is in his power. The challenge to the Scottish Government is what are you waiting for?