Glasgow East By-election

There is nothing like the prospect of a by-election to get the pulses racing in anyone interested in politics.

The Glasgow East by-election likely to be held on the 24th July, has potentially more riding on it than simply returning an MP to Westminster.

Firstly could this be an oportunity for the Solidarity Party to get a foothold at Westminster? The Herald today hinted that Tommy Sheridan may be about to stand.

A more likely, but equally challenging result, is an SNP victory. The SNP have apparently been trying to get people like Elaine C Smith to stand in a bid to secure the 22% swing needed to win the seat.

If the unthinkable does happen, what will happen to Gordon Brown. There are already reports that he will be advised to leave if results don't go Labour's way.

But aren't Labour missing the point (again!).

Sometimes there is just a mood for change. Labour should know it better than anyone after their 1997 result. They are going to lose the next election no matter who is in charge.

Why don't they just see the current term out with Brown in charge and then make the change after the election?

Oh yeah!! Because that would be like common sense!!

Bye Bye Wendy!

Well, Wendy has come to her senses…..at last!

She has finally accepted what most of us have known for some time, that her position was untenable.

However, instead of doing the honourable thing, way back in November, she limped on and allowed the drama to be conducted in the media for a further 7 months, doing the Labour Party irreparable damage.

Salmond and co probably couldn’t believe their luck as each new revelation came along about the expenses for a contest that never was.

Now that she has gone, will the SNP be trembling in their shoes about her successor?

I hardly think so!!

Let’s see who the contenders are likely to be. Andy Kerr? Cathy Jamieson? Margaret Curran? Hardly in the same league as Alex Salmond.

One thing the Labour Party does want this time around though, is an actual contest. This way, at least any dodgy donations will actually be going towards something.

But what will an actual contest do to a Party that already seems to be in decline? Will it launch a civil war that will end in its demise?

As Labour are so out of touch with the voters, perhaps they should be reminded that kind of back-stabbing does not go down too well and with several by-elections coming up, they better watch they don’t suffer a similar kicking to the one they got in Henley.

Get Up, Stand Up

I work in the NHS. I am also a member of Unison.

Now it is the time of year when the annual pay award is being negotiated. The offer we got this year was 2.75%. Unison balloted us to see if we wanted to accept it.

I duly looked to see what the inflation rate was. 3% the Bank of England told me. (oh dear they are way off their 2% target!!). 3% may be the official rate but when you consider the increase in mortgage payments, the 10% increase in petrol prices, food prices have gone up 15% and gas and electricity prices have gone up about 20%, you have to think their 3% is a little light.

Therefore, I had no hesitation in putting my cross in the DO NOT ACCEPT box of the ballot. Who in their right mind would vote for effectively a pay decrease? It would be like turkey’s voting for Christmas.

Other Unions had already voted on the NHS pay proposal. The GMB Union rejected the pay award by a massive 96%.

So I was extremely optimistic that my colleagues in Unison would vote against this ludicrous offer.

However, unbelievably 65% of them voted in favour of the offer!! WTF?

Karen Jennings, Unison head of health, said they would not hesitate to renegotiate if inflation continues to rise. How far does it have to rise? Forgive me for being naive, but I would have thought if inflation rose above the amount of the pay award, it is time to renegotiate?

Forgive me, if anyone actually reads this, but I am getting extremely pissed off at people in government making a mockery of hard working people. I am also getting pissed off at people allowing it to happen.

When are we going to wake up and realise what is happening?

What Goes Around Comes Around

You know when you are on your way down and out when the stuff that used to work in your favour is now working against you. Take Jim Sheridan MP. On Radio Scotland this morning he was bleating about the press’ treatment of Gordon Brown, whilst grossly insulting the intelligence of the electorate at the same time.

He said that because voters vote for whoever the press tell them to, it is extremely unfair how Gordon Brown and his Labour government is being treated.

Oh, my heart bleeds for them!!

Firstly, I can recall, barely a year ago, how one newspaper had Scotland’s head in a noose, indicating if you voted SNP, then you were effectively killing Scotland.

I can’t recall Jim Sheridan or any of his colleagues north or south of the border complaining about that.

Secondly, virtually every single major press outlet was still telling us to vote Labour at the last election, or at the very least not to vote SNP and look how that worked out.

So, Jim Sheridan and your Labour colleagues, unless stop patronising the voting public you will find yourself out of power for a long, long time.