CAMPAIGNING

THE FINAL PUSH

This weekend was the final Saturday street stall of the campaign and the parties were out in force, there were a few well kept faces including some of the normal pathetic gimmicks, however the majority of campaigners were working hard to convince the electorate to vote for them. Both of our Labour MSPs candidates were present and Wendy and Hugh received an extremely positive reception, and there was an excellent turn out including a visit from Catherine Stihler MEP for the area.

LABOUR'S PROMISE

MANIFESTO

Today saw the launch of the Labour Party's national manifesto putting Education, Community Safety and Regeneration of Town Centres at the heart of our promises to the electorate.

• Making Scottish Education 'the best in the world by 2020'
• Make leaving school at 16 and 17 conditional on those people staying in education, training or full-time volunteering.
• Expand free education for three to five-year-olds.
• Expand the Project Scotland youth volunteering scheme and create a programme for older people.
• Give children access to language tuition from Primary three onwards.
• Discipline code to set out rights and responsibilities of teachers, parents and pupils and legislate to give head teachers the authority to exclude pupils.
• Double the number of community wardens to more than 1,000 and expand environmental wardens.
• New police powers to tackle serious and organised crime, gangland criminals and take advantage of new technology.
• Establish town centre trusts, with legal powers to initiate compulsory purchase orders.
• Invest an initial £50m into a community fund for turning round town centres and attract further public and private funding.
• National helpline for older people.
• Improve support for victims of crime

The above are simply a sample of the promises that the Labour Party are making to the electorate, if you want to know more click on the title above and it will take you to the full manifesto.

Labour have delivered for our communities and with a Labour Administration in Renfrewshire Council and a Labour controlled Scottish Executive we will continue to deliver.

VOTE KELLY, VOTE SHARKEY, VOTE ALEXANDER

VOTE LABOUR

MAY 3RD

NEWSNIGHT SCOTLAND

ECONOMICS

John Swinney on the TV this evening on Newsnight Scotland, someone obviously upset him, he could not get away from the fact that the SNP's sums are questionable! He couldn't and didn't even try to explain why he didn't agree! He couldn't answer, when it was put to him that the SNP's sums based on the Oil figures have not taken into account the fall in oil price and that since the budget figures last year the oil revenues have dropped £5 Billion, which Wendy Alexander pointed out is half the budget for the Scottish Health service. For the party's economic spokesman this should be very simple, that is if they have the answers?

The question for voters now is... Why don't the SNP have the answers to Labour's questions? The answer because they have not done their sums properly instead of giving the Scottish People the truth they are trying to con them, instead of 'Building Scotland' like the Labour Party the SNP are trying to 'Break Scotland'!

HUSTINGS IN THE WYND

WENDY SHOOTS, SHE SCORES

After reading the Paisley Express a couple of weeks ago and the electronic bulletin from the Renfrewshire Council of Voluntary Services, I decided to book myself a place for the Hustings they were hosting. I must admit when I arrived (about twenty five minutes early) I was wondering about the turnout thinking that they had really rolled the boat out, it turns out that PACE were hosting their annual Theatre School event in the theatre, hope it went as well as the hustings.

Most of the hustings I have been at have been heavily packed by political parties, and although this one was not really that different (quite a few Councillors and Candidates were there) it did start to restore my faith in this type of meeting. All of the candidates outlined their strategy and all tried to stick to the point some better than others, although to be fair to the Tory Mr Begg he had only been drafted in at the last minute! To be honest the best candidates were probably the Green and Wendy. The Green was surprisingly good some of his answers gave you reason to consider his theories, I am obviously going to say I thought Wendy was best (although that does not mean she wasn't).

The night was extremely successful and the candidates were all in agreement that the voluntary sector has an important part to play in the provision of service. Thanks to the organisers including Scott who sold me the Jute bag (trying to hide it from my sister or she will want one too) the RCVS does excellent work and I am glad that I went this evening.

COUNCILLOR RAYLEEN KELLY

BEWARE THE BOGEYMAN

(Jim Sharkey and Cllr Rayleen Kelly at the 'Beware of the Bogeyman event, Paisley Town Hall)

This morning in Paisley Town Hall there is an event organised by the Police on Bogus Callers, arranged for the elderly in the community and vulnerable groups there was an excellent turn out, including Jim Sharkey (my running mate in the May Elections) the Secretary of Ralston Community Council. Also present were Douglas Alexander MP Secretary of State for Scotland and Wendy Alexander MSP for Paisley North, both were warmly received and it was good to see our elected representatives involved in the community.

The title of this article is the title of the campaign, Reid Kerr College students put on an excellent piece of drama showing the dangers and the approaches that the con men and women use.

To often we think of the Bogus Caller as a young male in work gear but they can take all shapes and sizes as the students drama piece pointed out. Unfortunately I had to leave early as I had a Community Health Partnership Development session to attend but, what I did see I was really impressed with, congratulations go to the Police for the organisation and all of the exhibitors and actors involved.

TANNAHILL LIGHTS

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Saturday morning, Tannahill Centre in Ferguslie, in Paisley, my dad is the Local Councillor and was invited to the switching on of the Centre's Christmas lights. Wendy Alexander local Labour MSP was also there, also present were Santa's elves (so cute!) and one local activist dressed as a Christmas Tree (see the photo below). As usual I became my dad's official photographer for the afternoon, and I was glad to do it.

Wendy Alexander kicked off the celebrations by switching on the Christmas lights after the obligatory countdown which the kids loved! After this Santa arrived in a vintage car to everyone's surprise!

The elves helped him distribute presents to the local kids. It was a great day and although I was only able to stick around for an hour or so I really enjoyed the day. Check out my dad's website for the whole story!

SNP AND ECONOMICS

WENDY ALEXANDER

Normally I would write my own post on the SNP's failed attempts to convince the Scottish electorate of their Economic credibility, but, I can't think of much to add to the recent article by Wendy Alexander MSP for Paisley and Renfrewshrie North on the subject, I would urge ANYONE thinking of voting for the SNP at the next election to check it out!

Sunday Express Article

SNP HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY

Having been away for the last week, I have missed a lot of the local and national news, I have seen however the SNP leader Alex Salmond and the SNP have been found out! I noticed an article in the Scotsman which shows what Wendy Alexander MSP said in the Parliament some time ago, that their education policy doesn't add up!

Instead of challenging the assertions Alex Salmond is complaining that the Civil Service neutrality has been compromised as it was the civil servants who wrote the report. There is nothing new here, Wendy Alexander MSP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North already pointed this out in the debate on Student finance last month, which I covered on this web page!

Instead of the whinging at comments at the end of the Scotsman article it would be more appropriate for the SNP to actually address the content! Alas they can't because they don't have an answer they thought that they could get away with incompetence!