PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION POLL

THIS WEEKS POLL

I realised recently that I did not introduce the new poll on the left hand side of the page, it seems to be getting a bit of interest anyway, but the question is an important one, so have your say,

Do you think that proportional representation gives a disproportionate amount of power to the smaller parties?

Go on results will be released towards the end of the month leaving this one up a little longer as it is really important.

READING LIST

JOURNEY'S AND BREAKS

Because I take the bus to work , I picked up the first book I could find in the flat this morning to read to and from work and while I was on my breaks, and it just happened to be 'Don't Ever Tell' by Kathy O'Beirne. I think a friend loaned me it a while back (don't worry Pauline you will get it back) and I never got round to reading it, so glad I picked it up today it is fab, depressing but fab, there were a few times where it made my skin crawl and I am only a quarter of the way through it.

Simply put it is an excellently written piece and well worth the read, I would recommend it to Cardinal Keith O'Brien who has been talking a lot lately about the Catholic Church's role in child protection (whether they be born or unborn) yet another reason why he should not get involved in the political debate your past always comes back to bite you. Before the zealots attack me I am being a little flippant but that is because I am angered by the Cardinal's statements last week and his inability to take other people's feelings into account.

FIRST DAYS

NERVOUS? ME?

I have chaired public meetings with over 100 people at them, I have dealt with angry constituents baying for blood, but when it comes to starting a new job I must admit I did feel a little nervous.

As it turns out there was no need they are all lovely (and I am not just saying this because someone threatened to google me) and a really good laugh, looking forward to going back tomorrow.

JOB HUNT

I HAVE A JOB

This is because I know you are all really worried about me being unemployed and all, I was offered a job yesterday, don't want to say too much about it till I start and get settled in but I am delighted.

Will try and get back into the swing of blogging in the next couple of weeks, have been a bit lazy about it all lately.

EAST END PARKING SCHEME

PAISLEY TOWN HALL

At the Paisley East End Parking Scheme Public Hearing many local people got the opportunity to object to the current proposals for changing parking in the East End of Paisley.

The reporter, Patrick Hetherington, will weigh the evidence and make his report to the council in the near future.

Local councillor Jim Sharkey called for 2 permits for those households and businesses that require them. He said...

"Having listened to all the evidence I am convinced that working families will be penalised unless the council is prepared to move on the issue of 2 free permits to each of the residents and I feel a powerful case was made by the local businesses to have the same. I am especially pleased that the council is going to make the disabled parking spaces mandatory. That upgrades the provision for disabled people in the area and I welcome that."

Local activist Rayleen Kelly said...

"I’m glad that the Labour councillors are agreeing with my campaign to have more than one permit and that the permit must be free and I hope that the issue of visitors’ parking will be similarly considered. I am more worried about the former transport spokesperson of the SNP’s involvement in case he revives his 1997 plan to charge £10 for the residents’ permits."

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

MOLLY AND BESSIE THE WONDER DOGS

At a meeting last week a few of my ex constituents mentioned that they read my blog and asked how Molly and Bessie were getting on, so I decided to take a few more photos of the girls and post them.

The above is Molly on the couch taking up as much room as possible, she has been known to kick you off the couch if you start to get into her space.

Below is Bessie, she sits on the top of the couch watching everything going on and leaping off the chair to bark at anything and everything, that and nothing! She is having a running fight with a Magpie in the back garden who sits on the porch roof to annoy her!

MINIMUM WAGE

CHECK THIS OUT

Saw this today in the Guardian and thought that it was interesting the main point is that the minimum wage introduced by the Labour Government has made a major impact on the lives of low paid workers, a lot done and a lot more to do, check it out if you get a chance.

SSP SURVIVAL

FINANCIAL REALITY

Given that the SSP now no longer have ANY MSPs and therefore do not have the money from these MSPs I am wondering if they will survive for very long? They will have lost at least £140,000 a year (at least according to their own admission, half of the MSPs salary went towards the parties coffers). So it will be interesting to see if they are able to survive without it, don't get me wrong I am not suggesting that I want them to fail but given the likes of Ms Kane and others previously spouting the nonsense that they didn't take the whole allowance it will certainly be interesting to see if they can continue without it.

SNP LOST IT'S LEAD

MATERNITY LEAVE

OK quick post, but how many other people think it is rich of the SNP to go on about how other parties should not take advantage of the fact that one of their members will shortly be on maternity leave given that they were the ones to pull out of the pairing arrangement?

For those that don't know the pairing arrangement is where opposition members are paired off and if there is an illness or maternity leave the corresponding member does not vote, the SNP pulled out of this arrangement in Holyrood, now it seems they may come to regret it.

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.