The New Statesman

ELECTION 2007

I keep meaning to put this link on the blog but have been a little busy finding a job lately so here goes...

If you click on 'The New Statesman' above you will be taken (as if by magic) to the Election 2007 blog, among the entries is one from yours truly!! Check it out I stand by everything that I have written.

JODI PICOULT

NINETEEN MINUTES

(photo courtesy of Jodi Picoult official website)

I have just finished reading this book and I am always pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns in the plot and how it never turns out the way you think it will, I will not spoil it for all those who have yet to read it but it is definitely worth a look.

I must admit to being a bit of a fan since buying one of Ms Picoult's books in ASDA one afternoon thinking my mum might like it, I never thought that I would be the one looking forward to the next one coming out. If you haven't read any of her books I would advise that you start from the beginning of the list on the inside cover, a lot of the characters are recurring and it makes more sense if you follow the script, definitely worth the read.

Click on the link above for more information on Ms Picoult and her work.

PR FAIRER GOVERNMENT?

SNP & LIB DEM COALITION

The best argument against Proportional Representation has been played out in Renfrewshire Council over the last week. Despite the Labour Party getting more votes than the SNP (I say this to cover the moral authority argument) the Liberal Democrats (who had less than 10% of the vote) have decided that they would sell their souls to the SNP for the chance of a disproportionate say in the running of Renfrewshire Council.

Ms McCartin is a hypocrite of the highest order ( I can say this now cause I don't have to be nice to her or stay within the boundaries set down by the Standards Commission) she suggested at previous full council meetings that PR was a fairer system of government, sorry it is not. When smaller parties (who don't even field enough candidates to win control) get to say who will be the controlling party, how is that fairer? More to the point how is this democracy? Answers on a post card but you better believe that the Liberals will have a major influence in the positions on offer, the reason? Derek is easy fodder for the likes of Eileen, she knows that he has nothing to lose and everything to gain and will milk him for all it is worth, the worst bit is that he is too scared not to let her.

Sad day for the voting public of Renfrewshire, and before anyone says this is sour grapes, it couldn't be further from my mind, with this shower in power I am kind of glad I didn't get back in I will have to spend enough of my time in four years along with the rest of the Labour group fixing their massive mistakes.

THANK YOU

ELECTION FEVER

Most of you will know by now that I was not re elected last Thursday and I would be lying if I said that I was not really upset about it, however, I noticed from the results that we VERY close to getting two Labour members elected and this will be our goal the next time round whether or not I am the other candidate time will tell!

I wanted to take this time to thank all of you have sent messages of good luck and best wishes including some of my opposition who have been extremely kind. I have been honoured to be the last Councillor for the Seedhill ward on the Council and I hope that I have made a difference to the people that matter, my ex constituents, don't worry though I will be keeping in touch and I hope that you will all too.

Thanks must also go to my Labour colleagues who have been fantastic, Cllr Tommy Williams, Wendy Alexander MSP and Irene Adams to name but a few have been very supportive and I am honoured to call them my colleagues and friends.

ALEX SALMOND SENT HOME

SNP DODGE INDEPENDENCE

This just in Salmond dodges the question, when asked if the SNP lost the referendum on independence would they continue to ask until the Scottish people were sick of listening to it? He ruled it out by saying that the constitutional question was a once in a generation thing, then said well you know I can't commit the SNP to a long term strategy? Is he thinking he won't be here after Thursday anyway? Is he thinking he will be sent back to Westminster to think again? I do!

The problem is that he can't answer this question honestly because he knows that the people of Scotland by a majority want to stay a part of the UK.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

THE UNION

Today is the official birthday of the Union with England and Blair's 10th Anniversary as the PM. Today is the day when Blair announced that he would within the next week announce his date of departure, and hinted at support for Brown to become the next Labour Prime Minister.

So Happy Birthday to the union, let Scotland make it a happy one with a vote for a positive and healthy future within the UK. Lets make Scotland within the UK a stronger and more vibrant place by working together instead of trying to break it apart. I am sick of the SNP telling me that because I think Scotland is stronger in the Union I am somehow talking Scotland down, this is absolute nonsense, just because I believe that we are stronger together than we are apart does not mean that I am unpatriotic otherwise every union member in Scotland would be unpatriotic the motto of the Trade Union movement is 'together we stand divided we fall'.

I urge the Scottish people to prove this to the SNP on Thursday by ...

VOTING LABOUR,

VOTING KELLY, VOTING SHARKEY

ON THURSDAY

SUCCESS

GRAFFITI NO MORE

You will see from the photos below that the Scottish Power people have been out and repainted the Sub Station at the East End Park, they had advised me (as you will see from previous posts) that it can take up to three weeks for the work to be carried out but I am delighted to advise that the work is now finished.

A huge thanks to the gentleman at Scottish Power who helped do this and I have sent photos of the graffiti free sub station to the local community police to ask that they log this.

I have been informed that there have been two people charged with vandalism for graffiti offenses in the last couple of months in Seedhill so we are winning.

ELECTION FEVER

HOW TO VOTE

The BBC website has a really good explanation of how to vote in the elections on Thursday, if you are still even slightly confused go and check it out, just click on the title 'ELECTION FEVER' above and it will take you straight to the article.

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.

COUNCILLOR RAYLEEN KELLY

FINAL MEETING

The last meeting of Renfrewshire Council for the term 2003 to 2007 has just finished, the meeting was actually very well behaved and the tributes to those members who are leaving were obviously from the heart. Cllr McDowell reminded the members of previous elections where apparently Cllr Mitchell of the SNP walked up and down the town centre with a TV above his head, don't ask because I have no idea why.

The main item on the agenda was the motion from Cllr Mark McMillan regarding the custody centre proposed for the Castle Gardens area in Renfrewshire, two other Labour Councillors Cllr Terry Kelly and Cllr Tommy Williams amended the motion to include a condemnation of the Police Board for not recognising the concerns of the local representatives on the board over the lack of consultation.

SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY BROADCAST

PARTY POLITICAL BROADCAST

As they say on TV there now follows a party political broadcast from the Scottish Labour Party....

PLEASE NOTE NO COMMENTS WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THIS POST

JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY!

CREDIT UNION POLL

RESULTS

OK so I left this poll up a bit longer than a week, I think I will rename the section this months poll as it is more accurate. Anyway of those that answered over 50% of respondents said they would definitely use a credit union if it was situated close to them. Although there was a sizable number of respondents who advised they would not use the service (around 40% between definitely not and probably not) the majority have voiced a positive opinion, so get yourselves along to the Renfrewshire Wide Credit Union on Paisley High Street and join up!

Check out the latest poll on the right hand side of the page, to what extent do you agree with the following statement... 'I know who I will vote for in the elections on May 3rd'

WE ARE TAKING OVER

ANOTHER MILESTONE

(Photo from BBC Five Live website)

My sister alerted me to this at the weekend and I must admit I was sceptical, and by this I mean I was thinking it is 2007, SURELY Ms Oatley is not the first woman to commentate on Match of the day? or TV as a whole on a football game? However it seems I was wrong and although there are some dinosaurs out there saying they will never watch the BBC football programme ever again because she is commentating most of the comments I have read/heard have been positive, so good on you Jacqui Oatley I will certainly be more likely to listen now, just to make up for the idiots who say that women can't possibly know as much as men when it comes to football!

PRO SCOTLAND, PRO UNION

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE

The SNP would have us all believe that the Labour Party only want to talk Scotland down, that there is something wrong with you if you are pro Scotland and pro Union, but don't worry this is clearly not the case.

You can't get more pro Scotland than the Scottish Football Manager and he has recently (along with other top managers and ex players) signed an advert advising the Scottish public to vote for the Union in the elections on May 3rd.

The SNP's assertion that you have to be pro independence to be patriotic is laughable, I am proud to be from Paisley, proud to be Scottish and proud to part of the Union,

ON MAY 3RD

A VOTE FOR SCOTLAND

IS A VOTE FOR LABOUR