Thursday saw the SNP administration realize further that they have to take responsibility for their actions, particularly the savage cuts in education. Letters, emails, surgery visits, public meetings etc. have reached unprecedented levels all with one purpose, to get the SNP to think again about the harm they are doing to the educational prospects of children in Renfrewshire.
A simple straight forward Labour motion calling on them to stop the education cuts and revisit their budget proposals was even supported by the Tories who supported the budget but can now see the damage being done, this was shamefully voted down by the SNP Lib. Dem. administration. Those people who have children in the education system are being sold out by the SNP they are being betrayed by the party who claim to put Scotland first, they have no shame, they are abandoning Scottish children and damaging their futures.
A contemptible amendment was produced by the SNP which claimed that the unrest was being caused by Labour scaremongering, a calculated insult to those concerned parents involved in this campaign, disgraceful. The spineless Lib. Dems. of course jumped when told by the SNP.
Education convener Cllr. Cameron SNP produced the amendment which started out by praising the rising standards of Renfrewshire's education system and either forgot or deliberately omitted to say that these results were as a result of the previous Labour administration.
This is similar to them posing happily while cutting the ribbons to open new schools which they forget to mention were built by the previous Labour administration, the Scots. word for that is 'sleekit'
Cllr. Hall, (Labour) in a quite devastating intervention pointed out that the amendment referred to £1.1 Million being spent on education and leisure without a single penny going on schools, a lot of angry shouting by now was coming from the direction of the education convener.
I call on everyone who is concerned about the future of Renfrewshire's children to keep the pressure on the SNP/ Lib. Dem. betrayers, they must not be allowed to get away with this.
I have used the term 'Janus faced' before to describe the SNP's underhand ability to look both ways at the same time and we saw it again with the Labour motion on Post Offices moved by me.
The SNP candidate for Paisley North Mags McLaren in the local paper was complaining about Post Office plans and supporting the Royal mail, both according to her were sacrosanct and not to be touched.
The Labour motion called on the SNP/Lib. Dem. council to follow the lead of councils up and down the country by investigating whether councils can save Post Offices by incorporating them into council activities. e.g. Libraries and P.O.'s in same buildings thus saving libraries as well, likewise under threat Housing area offices, also village halls/ community centres etc.
The question put by me was " will you follow other councils and see if we can prevent Post Office closures" ? Their answer was NO ! through an amendment moved by SNP Cllr. Kenny McLaren, yes they are husband and wife, honestly I couldn't make this up, they (the SNP/Lib. Dem's) have also taken the council's mail contract from the Royal Mail and gave it to the private Co. TNT The SNP candidate for Paisley North Ms. McLaren wants your vote ! she really does.
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60 comments:
Mail contracts are different from post offices and your attempt to confuse these issues is just plain lazy. Is the council saving money by moving to TNT?
Don't you feel a smidgin of responsability for the budget cuts that are the last administrations fault.
Let me put it to you bluntly, as you clearly have not even looked at my own blog on this matter, you claimed that the PPP project to renovate Paisley's schools would cost £16 million, and you described this as value for money. This appeared in the PDE before the last council ellections.
The actual capital cost for this project, according to the PPP website, which will be payable over 32 years, is closer to £195 million. Thats is £6 million from Renfrewshires budget which can't be used. I put it to you that you and your New Labour colleagues (not comrades, can't be seen to promote a dead party) are being a little ecconomical about the actualite.
Gordon might not like it, but the sooner you tell the truth, the better it will be for the people of Paisley. Then we can all set about making Paisley a better place to live.
I am stunned and saddened by what this SNP/Lib Dem administration is doing to the education of our kids in Renfrewshire, I thought better of Lorraine Cameron, he kids went to St Peter's & St Andrews High School. How can she can look at the people of Glenburn, Paisley straight in the face, I just don't know, I and many of my neighbours believe that the power and title have gone to her head, last time I say her she was running the quiz in the St Peters men’s club.
My sister stays in Gockston in Paisley, I was wondering if Mags McLaren was related to Kenneth McLaren, she has suddenly appeared and is putting out her mans newsletter as the editor, I hope her man is not using Council facilities for his wives news letter. I really really feel that this council is shameless! I will certainly not be voting for them next time, Labour might be unpopular nationally but you can bet your bottom dollar that they are not locally, My sister who stays in Glenburn said recently that the scheme is a blooming mess, her 86 year old neighbour phoned Councillor Cameron and is still waiting two months later for her call back. She then phoned, I think his name is Gill, Patterson SNP MSP/MP/ his secretary said no problem call you back, must be a problem in the SNP, no call back again. My Elderly neighbour then phoned Councillor. Iain or Mark McMillan, sorry I can't remember which one, but the problem was dealt with in a polite professional manner. I just don’t know Lorraine's problem, she used to be such a nice lass. So I never thought I would say this but I will, more power to your elbow Councillor Kelly, this Council has more faces than the town hall clock p.s Does your brother still stay in the scheme.
And tell your daughter, Ellen from Glenburn was asking after her.
Terry:
What do you think of Hugh Trevor-Roper's recently published work? It seems to be causing quite a stir north of Berwick. Alex Salmond has attacked it.
I hear that after allowing many senior & experienced teachers to leave through early retirement, Renfrewshire Council asked for an unprecedented 151 probationary teachers (NQTs) to replacement the shortfall, which is an average of 13 teachers per school.
Depending on the size of the school this would equate to between 15% - 25% of the workforce. Can you imagine any other organisation that has a staff turnover of this magnitude that doesn't even include natural wastage.
What kind of education does this give to our young people. No continuity, no progress and no attainment.
(ShrekBall) 24/05/08
If my post confused you, you are in a minority of one.
“Is the council saving money by moving to TNT”
You are avoiding the issue, The SNP parliamentary candidate and the SNP council are facing different directions on Post Offices, did you not catch that ?
(Allan) 24/05/08
So the cuts are Labour’s fault eh ? A big boy done it and ran away. pathetic.
Your calculations are bizarre and you obviously haven’t read up on the SNP’s replacement proposals for PPP which are an insult to the people’s intelligence as they are the same thing under a different guise, a typical bunch of SNP lies.
Do try harder.
(Anonymous) 25/05/08
Cllr. Cameron represents the SNP in this matter and is carrying out their group policy but it is nevertheless a shameful episode, her conduct at the item on education last Thursday would suggest that she is not very happy with her position.
I’m not interested in Mr. & Mrs. McLaren’s business methods, only in their policies which are contradictory and disingenuous.
It does not surprise me at all that Cllr. Mark McMillan (Labour) was able to show up the deficiencies of Cllr. Cameron SNP and MSP Patterson SNP they are now in power and their attitude suggeste that it has gone to their heads.
(Rumbold) 14:28
I only read a review of it today it’s about £19 so I will wait a bit.
He famously made a fool of himself over ‘The Hitler Diaries’ of course but, any expose of Scottish myths would be pushing at an open door.
The origin of the saltire, Bruce and the spider, Wee Willie Wallace, the bag pipes, St Andrew and much more.
Most countries have similar junk in their histories.
“Alex (the spiv) Salmond has attacked it”
I heard Alex (the spiv) Salmond say once on the radio that Burns was the greatest man of the last millennium ! before going on to say in a false reverential tone “ the best laid plans of mice and men aft gang aglae”
Misquoting the fellow you call the ’man of the millennium’ A spiv and no mistake
(Oakwood) 15:47
“No continuity, no progress and no attainment”
And no argument from me.
(Oakwood) 15:47
“No continuity, no progress and no attainment”
And no argument from me.
"So the cuts are Labour’s fault eh ? A big boy done it and ran away. pathetic."
Er, no. The mess that the council finances were left in are New Labours fault, what the SNP/Lib Dums do with it is their fault. But you cannot attack an administration for taking drastic measures, when drastic measures are the only option.
My calculations come from the Partnerships UK site, which lists the capital sum and the length of the contract. There is a link on my Dispaches From Paisley blog.
Your assertion that there is nothing else other than PPP/PFI is a wrong one, there are flaws in the SNP proposal, i would hope that their proposal is a "green paper" proposal, but there must be a better way to fund capital progects other than the expensive second mortgage that is PPP/PFI.
(Allan) 25/05/08
“Er, no. The mess that the council finances were left in are New Labours fault”
This is a lie. The council’s finances were not left in any mess.
The SNP vilified PPP and are now pushing the same thing under another name. ‘spivs’
£16m black hole in council finances ---come on terry did Harkins not explain that to you!
(Anonymous) 12:05
£16 Million is a big black hole for external Govt. appointed auditors to miss and you are a cack handed liar.
Terry:
"I only read a review of it today it’s about £19 so I will wait a bit."
Why not just claim it on expenses? An MP would.
"He famously made a fool of himself over ‘The Hitler Diaries’"
Not his finest hour. Nor was he a great fan of the Scots.
"Any expose of Scottish myths would be pushing at an open door."
You mean like the myth of Gordon Brown's successful chancellorship?
(Rumbold) 13:43
“You mean like the myth of Gordon Brown's successful chancellorship”
Gordon Brown, our greatest ever Chancellor, was at No. 11 only a year ago. It’s easier therefore to prove that his career as Chancellor was a success and not a myth, what’s happened to you ? This is rubbish.
"This is a lie. The council’s finances were not left in any mess."
Oh really, appart from the fact that you think that the current administration is stuffed full of evil closet tories, why exactly do you think that the cuts were made, if it wasn't that there is a large black hole in Renfrewshire councils finances (which there is)
Answers on a postcard, and please no mention of spivs or tartan tories in your answers. Us council tax payers are getting fed up of the same tired old spin from the New Labour/tory lite group!
(Allan) 18:36
Perhaps you would like to provide proof of this black financial hole.
Do you think the external Govt. auditors are liars ? You can get their report under FOI if you want.
Put up or shut up, if you think they are liars then say so and, even better ID yourself and we will all applaud you, perhaps the auditors won’t though, talk is cheap isn’t it ‘brave heart’
'Brown, our greatest ever Chancellor.'
Kelly, you've finally lost it.
This is the Chancellor who incompetently forced through a tax change without realising it's implications for the poorest amongst us. This is the Chancellor who stole my pension. This is the Chancellor who financed a dishonest war but let Blair take the flak and this is a Chancellor who is proving the most ineffective Prime Minister ever.
And you, God help Labour, want to keep in power this man who has a problem deciding whether he wants a s***, shave or a haircut.
He'll be gone before Conference.
(Macnasty) 26/05/08
“This is the Chancellor who stole my pension”
That says it all.
Terry:
So when the British economy was doing well, it was thanks to Gordon. Now it is doing badly, it is because of global factors.
Hmmm...
Kelly @ 10.09
This chancellor stole my pension "says it all."
Oh no it doesn't - he stole MY pension while keeping those of politicians, perhaps including yours, intact, you arrogant little man.
And does the lack of comment on the other points I raised - incompetence, inneffectiveness, cowardice, indecision - indicate you agree with them?
(Rumbold) 11:23
If only politics was that easy - he is the best chancellor in our history.
(Macnasty) 13:25
I might sound arrogant but that’s because you are out of your depth.
The lack of comment is because it’s been done ‘ad nauseam’ can’t you think of something new ? You’re boring me.
If only it were that easy...
I could get the council finances under FOI, but it wouldn't be the whole story. PFI/PPP finances are kept "off sheet", and have been since Norman Lamont introduced them. This has suited "the greatest chancellor in our history" because it has meant that public borrowing, rather than looking as if it has spiraled out of control, looks under control. Chancellor Darling has said that PFI/PPP finances will be put "on sheet", but not untill 2009/10 at the earliest.
Kelly @ 7.30
C'mon Terry - if I dont get bored with your refusal to answer questions, why should you be bored by my asking them?
And please tell us, DO you have a gold plated Local Govt pension to look forward to?
"That says it all"
Are you saying that this person is simply bitter because Brown screwed up the pensions so their opinion does not count? He did screw up the pensions - it is a matter of public record.
He also sold Gold at rock bottom prices - a price he created by announcing months in advance he would be doing it thereby depressing the price. Simple supply and demand issues that "our greatest ever chancellor" did not grasp. He then bought Dollars with what little proceeds he made and watched the dollar collapse while Gold prices rebounded.
The National Minimum Wage? While keeping the tax free allowance unchanged ensuring that overnight the very poorest in society paid a lot more of their earnings as tax to the government?
Tax credits? A system so complex that not only is it not being fully claimed but if it were it would be too expensive for the govnernment. And that is before you take into account the fact that a lot of HMRC employees still struggle to understand it.
Taking 85% of the price of fuel and continuing to raise fuel duty for "green" reasons without catching the fact that this cost will be reflected in rising food prices making those poor people on NMW (paying more tax) unable to afford to eat?
Keeping the tax free allowance unchanged for many years ensuring that inflation ate away at peoples incomes. A tax free day now celebrated at the beginning of June. Every day we have worked so far since the beginning of the year has to pay nothing but tax. Yet for all this taxation he has been so irresponsibile that Darling has had to borrow £2.7bn to pay for the one off tax relief for the 10p debacle that everyone but Brown seen coming.
Why do we not have enough reserves in our public finances for emergency tax rebates like this after 11 years of such glory?
Terry
Want to bet there'll be another climb down from MacBroon over car tax?
The fragrant Thatcher said 'The lady's not for turning' and meant it.
This incompetent ex Iron Chancellor is making more U-turns than the Belgrano.
(Macnasty) 27/05/08
I will decide whether I answer the same questions over and over again, it’s hardly my fault if you find yourself in a rut, try thinking.
You don't get bored with me because I'm not boring.
Govt. pension ? I haven’t a clue, I’m well off enough not to have to worry about things like that.
(ShrekBall) 09:33
“Are you saying that this person is simply bitter because Brown screwed up the pensions so their opinion does not count”
Sounds like it to me.
“Brown did screw up the pensions - it is a matter of public record”
I don’t remember Brown saying “ OK I admit it I screwed up public pensions “ but obviously if a great economist like you says it we must all pause for thought.
Still far too long, it’s like corresponding with a primary school child.
(ShrekBall) 09:33
“Are you saying that this person is simply bitter because Brown screwed up the pensions so their opinion does not count”
Sounds like it to me.
“Brown did screw up the pensions - it is a matter of public record”
I don’t remember Brown saying “ OK I admit it I screwed up public pensions “ but obviously if a great economist like you says it we must all pause for thought.
Still far too long, it’s like corresponding with a primary school child.
(Anonymous) 14:13
I would rather have a PM who listened and acted than one who was prepared to send young men to their death for no other reason than to save her own political skin.
An amoral war criminal.
Terry
It's not only Shrekball saying The Thief of Fife nicked our pensions -it was/is on TV, radio and in all the papers, the Mail, Telegraph, Scotsman, Herald, everwhere, you must know about it.
Now go have a nice lie down, and when you wake up, I'll send my wee Westie round to the yacht explain the facts of ordinary life.
If he cocks his leg on the gangplank, accept it in the spirit in which it was offered.
Yes, you're right,Margaret sent young men to war.
So did Blair
Now the difference, Councillor, Thatcher won her war, won an election and had public support because the war was just.
Blair went to an unwinnable war on the back of a lie that alienated the country and your party forced him out of office because of it.
And that one act, Councillor, is the only thing your party have got right since they've been in power, not least because the current PM is leading thewm to disaster.
"than one who was prepared to send young men to their death for no other reason than to save her own political skin.
An amoral war criminal."
Does this not sound more like Tony Blair.
I don’t remember Brown saying “ OK I admit it I screwed up public pensions “ but obviously if a great economist like you says it we must all pause for thought.
You really are not all there are you? Many great economists from the OECD to the UN have said he has turned the worlds best pensions system into the worst and caused untold damage to jobs and companies for the foreseeable future.
Still far too long, it’s like corresponding with a primary school child.
No it isn't you moron, speaking to you is. A contributor puts up a good and detailed post but you are incapable of answering or absorbing, the mark of the mentally challenged.
Try regaining some composure you silly man.
"I would rather have a PM who listened and acted than one who was prepared to send young men to their death for no other reason than to save her own political skin."
Compared to a PM who sent young men to their death in pursuit of vanity and because his American mate told him to, at least the sainted Margaret went to war in response to an invasion of British territory and not chasing after mythical weapons of mass destruction.
No - Gordon Brown has never admitted that he has done anything wrong. a deep issue he has there.
What is on public record is the tax grab on the stock market (biggest investors being the working person's pension funds). After a number of years the shortfall in pensions was exactly the same as the special tax relief he removed. When the market fell the pension funds inability to move quickly contributed to a sluggish recovery.
EVERY major economist now directly links Brown's tax grab with the state of private pension funds. Indeed they also point out that this grab was to help fund public secotd pensions.
The only people who claim otherwise are "in denial" Labour party hacks.
And I am sorry I go on but given that this was a summary of his worst crimes against the british public then surely your critisism must be directed to Brown himself who has given me so much to write about?
Shrekball,
Our Terry clearly holds you in high regard when it comes to matters financial.'A great economist' is what he called you.
Can you therefore hold yourself ready to help him explain how and why Blair finagled himself a £90,000 mortgage on a property Cherie says they bought for £30,000?
I wonder if the morgage was with Northern Rock?
Breaking News.
Another SNP "U" turn.
Cllr Kenny B McLaren says one thing about the Postal Service!
Mags J McLaren, ( yes there are married, you couldn't write this stuff) says another! Could this be me thinks that she is the Nat's Westminster Candadate in 2010!!!!
What do I hears Mags saying to Kenny of an evening " that's another fine mess you got me into".
Enjoy.
(Macnasty) 28/05/08
He stole nothing, he introduced a tax on pension investment profits which he was entitled to do, he also stands by it and would do the same again, that’s good enough for me.
The Tory chancellor Lamont did the same thing.
(Anonymous) 28/05/08
The Falklands War was fought to save her skin and restored her popularity nothing more, history will record her as an evil character.
If Blair had wanted like her to pursue popularity he would not have gone to war, two different reasons, the first evil and wrong the second mistaken and wrong, quite a difference.
(Anonymous) 28/05/08
It’s really quite simple.
She was wrong and knew it. He was wrong and didn’t know it.
(Janice Brae) 28/05/08
Talk like this suggests to me that you don’t have a great deal of confidence in your argument.
If you read a lot of the comment at the time you will find that much of the anti Brown stuff is partisan and there are some reputable people who don’t agree with your analysis.
It comes down to trust, and I trust Brown.
If you want to write back please drop the ‘moron, mentally challenged’ etc. I would be tempted to describe those who agree with me as ‘great’ as well but it’s not always the case.
(Bob Flowers) 29/05/08
We have done all this, you sound like another ‘mark’ afraid to think outside the propaganda.
She was wrong and knew it. He was wrong and didn’t know it, that places them a good distance apart and she is evil.
(ShrekBall) 29/05/08
Brown was entitled to do what he did, Tory Chancellor Lamont did the same thing.
He taxed the profits on pension investment funds and the capitalist God of the stock market let you all down.
It says when you dabble in the market ‘remember you can lose as well as win’ but that doesn’t always stop those blinded by greed.
She was wrong and knew it. He was wrong and didn’t know it, that places them a good distance apart and she is evil.
Just because you make silly pronouncements does not mean it has all been done.
The evidence is indisputable, even if you dispute it, and was it not Brown, your leader and PM, who had Thatcher to dinner recently?
Bliar knew what he was doing but you don't care because he is your sort of Tory. Pitiful.
Falklands War - Yes she was wrong, the words War criminal spring readily to mind, as it does with Mr Poodle and the Iraq war.
Browns pensions tax grab - If memory serves, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studdies, whoever got in after the '97 election had to put up taxes. I think that he made the wrong choice in his decision to tax peoples pension funds. But Brown obviously felt that he couldn't alienate Middle England with Income Tax rises so early in a New Labour government.
10 years later, and he has no compunction whatsoever about the removal of the 10p starter rate. Not the actions of a socialist.
(Anonymous) 30/05/08
Thatcher deliberately caused the war for her own ends, all those lives for her career, an evil woman.
(Allan) 30/05/08
I believe that Gordon Brown is the most Socialist PM we have ever had.
(Anonymous) 30/05/08
Thatcher deliberately caused the war for her own ends, all those lives for her career, an evil woman.
You are saying that Thatcher conspired with the Argie fascist junta to save her political career?
You would say anything wouldn't you as long as it fits in with your twisted ideology? YOU are the evil one pal. People are dead and dying because of YOU and your support of Labour.
YOU are evil.
(Anonymous) 01/06/08
What I am saying, and I’m certainly not alone is that she deliberately chose to escalate the war at a time when negotiations would have prevented bloodshed i.e. the Belgrano, she is an evil war criminal.
I know full well that it is hard for badge kissers and flag wavers like you to admit that those deaths could have been avoided but it’s the truth, how do you celebrate a victory when you know that the casualties could and should have been avoided ?
What I am saying, and I’m certainly not alone is that she deliberately chose to escalate the war at a time when negotiations would have prevented bloodshed i.e. the Belgrano, she is an evil war criminal.
This has been gone over here time and again, and time and again you've been shown as a partisan liar who will say anything as an excuse to call Thatcher evil. You are evil for that reason.
Jeez, even the captain of the Belgrano said the ship was a legitimate target, but who is he to argue against the wisdom and experience of the great Terry Kelly eh?
Re: Annonymous, 30/5/08
"You are saying that Thatcher conspired with the Argie fascist junta to save her political career?"
Its on record that the Conservitive Government cut back on patrols around the Falkland Islands in 1980, this was interprated by the Argentine dictatorship as a signal that the Brittish were giving up the islands altogether.
(Allan) 03/06/08
This will be the Fascist Junta that Thatcher was happy to sell arms to ?
It was an unnecessary conflict, she seized on it for her own ends - did you know that Clyde shipyard workers refused to handle military cargo destined for Argentina (during the war) and were threatened with dismissal by the Thatcher Govt. An evil, evil woman.
This will be the Fascist Junta that Thatcher was happy to sell arms to ?
It was an unnecessary conflict, she seized on it for her own ends - did you know that Clyde shipyard workers refused to handle military cargo destined for Argentina (during the war) and were threatened with dismissal by the Thatcher Govt. An evil, evil woman.
You are a liar and this never happened. This alone shows the contempt you hold people in and how unfit you are to be in public office with spouting such lies.
(Anonymous) 04/06/08
Is it any wonder you remain anonymous, is this what you call an argument ?
would you still be on the council if you not get paid for it. I doubt it
There’s no fooling you is there? You’re right, it was a career move, I’m now filthy rich because I’m a councillor.
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