More Labour Party Conference

A couple of weeks ago, I asked how long Wendy Alexander had left as Scottish Labour Leader. Judging by Gordon Brown’s address at the Labour Party Conference in Aviemore earlier in the week, perhaps my question was a bit premature.

For Brown said

"And I believe that Wendy Alexander is not only the leader of our party here in Scotland but she will be the next first minister of Scotland whenever an election is declared."

As stated in my last post, I think I have about as much chance of getting elected First Minister as Alexander has. Although I can tell Brown exactly when the next election will be declared. It’ll be four years after the previous one!

Will it be four long years of learning for Labour? Perhaps a time to reflect on what went wrong in the previous election and learn the lessons? Maybe a time to stop being obsessed by the SNP and offer their own vision of how they see Scotland’s future?

I say we should stand up for the people of Scotland and for the young children of Scotland and we will be the front line of defence for them against those SNP cuts.

– Gordon Brown

I will lead by exposing the dishonesty of the SNP.

- Wendy Alexander

SNP is taking Scotland back to the days of Margaret Thatcher through local government cuts

– Andy Kerr

Yeah. Right!!

Who is advising the Labour Party? Have they learned anything from their fall from grace last May?

Alexander claimed:

"Here at Aviemore, the fightback has begun. It's time to go to work."

What the hell have they being doing for the last ten and a bit months?

Oh that is right! Firstly they were denying that they lost the election. Then they were saying a long protracted goodbye to their UK leader. Then their Scottish leader decided to give someone else a chance. Step forward Wendy Alexander! Elected unopposed. A fresh start for the Labour Party. But wait a minute, what is this? A dodgy donation?

No wonder they haven’t had time to consider the rest of us!

So how do you think Alexander rates her performance in the months since she took over? This was the very question she was asked during a webcast at the Labour Conference.

We all know most politicians love themselves, so given the donation debacle, you might think she would give herself a 7 or 8 out of 10. But, oh no!! Alexander thinks her performance has been a top notch, can’t be faulted, aspirational 10 out of 10.

The long and short of it is that Labour has learnt nothing from the last election and if they continue in the same vein, they will be a lot longer than four years on the opposition benches.

Labour Party Conference

Gordon Brown PM today addressed the party conference in Aviemore and claimed that Wendy Alexander would be the next First Minister of Scotland.

Personally, I think I have more chance of becoming the next first minister, than she does. However, if the unthinkable were to happen, then I would seriously consider leaving the country.

The thought is that unbearable!

Iraq - 5 Years On

According to Pressy Bush, the world is a safer place because the US went to "war" in Iraq.

According to me, that is complete crap.

In the 5 years since the invasion, there have been 82,249 civilian deaths from violence in Iraq alone.

Not to mention, armed forces deaths, terrorist attacks in Australasia, Spain and London, restrictions on air travel etc etc etc.

The Lib Dems, today called for an enquiry into the fiasco. One day they may get one.

And one day, Bush and Blair may get tried for war crimes.

Can’t Take It Anymore?

Just like everyone, I was shocked by recent events in the Welsh County of Bridgend. 17 young people seeing no other option, than to take their own life.

The police and some of the affected parents are trying to pin some of the blame on the media and internet chat rooms. As much as I despise the red-tops and the way 24 hour news is going generally, trying to push the blame onto them is utter bollocks.

Some of the areas they really should be looking at, particularly in young people are schooling, peer pressure, relationships and puberty. All these often come to the fore all at the same time and it is simply sometimes too much for young people to deal with.

The Samaritans were on the streets of Bridgend last Saturday night reminding people of the service they provide. Schools have also been urged to train teachers in suicide awareness. All this is very commendable, but would money not be better spent on tackling the biggest causes of suicide?

But Wales has only a fraction of the problem Scotland has. Suicide rates in Wales, England and Northern Ireland are 8 per 100,000 population. In Scotland it is 14.7. It is particularly a problem for males, aged 15-44 from lower socio-economic groups.

In 2002, the Scottish Executive launched a ten year strategy to try to tackle the issue called Choose Life. A pretty patronising and ill-thought out title, if you ask me, but nevermind. One of its aims was to cut suicide rates by 20% in Scotland by 2013.

894 people claimed their lives in Scotland in 2002, making us third in the European suicide rates per 100,000 people, just behind Finland and Poland. However, there is some reason for optimism. The latest figures reported today in the Herald show in 2006 the number of suicides had dropped to 755. Perhaps vindication of the “Choose Life” strategy.

Nevertheless, there is no room for complacency. Indeed researchers have warned that the drop in figures may be due to different, less successful suicide methods are being used. The actual suicidal behaviour may not have altered.

The key for me in tackling Scotland’s problem with suicide is suicide survivors. And I am not talking about cry-for-help suicide attempts because the person had too much to drink last night, but feels alright now attempts. I am talking about people who have deep rooted feelings, but have somehow managed to pull through. These are the people we need to listen to. What are their issues? What made them “Choose Life”?

This may help drive down suicide numbers, but tackling the underlying mental health issues, is a whole different ball game.

If you are feeling suicidal, please phone one of these numbers before you do anything else.

Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87 (6pm to 2am)
Childline 0800 11 11
Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samartians.org

More Power

Nicol Stephen has appeared on the radar for the first time since……, well the elections come to think of it. Ahead of the Lib Dems conference in Aivemore this week he has been talking about more powers for the Scottish Parliament. Apparently, the world is moving his way!!

I just couldn’t believe it when I read that. What have the Lib Dems done in the last 9 months to shape thinking around more powers for the Scottish Parliament? Aye, exactly – NOTHING!

The debate has been around the SNP wanting independence and Wendy Alexander’s Commission being hijacked by Gordon Brown.

The fact is that the Lib Dems were offered the opportunity on a plate to shape the landscape of Scotland when the SNP asked them to enter into coalition talks, but they flatly refused even to enter into negotiations.

So how they can credibly claim that the debate is moving their way when they have all but been forgotten in Scottish politics is beyond me!

And another thing that pisses me off is this quote from Stephen:

"We must take this chance, we must seize this opportunity. We want powers for a purpose. We still have single ministers in Whitehall who expect to control the lives of tens of millions of people from their desks."

So why does he not support independence? If he is that concerned about having more powers, then why not have the ultimate power of how Scotland is governed – INDEPENDENCE

Another By-election

Another election, another SNP victory. This time in the in the Highland ward of the Perth and Kinross Council. Is this the way it is going to be from now until independence? SNP victories?

The sister of the previous councillor won an emphatic victory. Kate Howie gained more than double the votes of her nearest rival. Is this a sign of how well the SNP are running the country, or is it just a decision based on local politics?

Result
Kate Howie, SNP, 1,891
Graham Rees, Tory, 940
Andrew Kenton, Lib Dem, 229
Anne Chatt, Labour, a paltry 97

Turnout 43.6%

Rock 'n' Bankroll

Share prices can go up or down. That is the advice that is always given when shares are being sold. So why do shareholders start complaining when the shares they are holding become virtually worthless?

I know, shares influence your pension, your mortgage etc so it is in your best interests for them to complain blah, blah, blah, but why should the taxpayer bail out shareholders who cannot read the warning signs?

The Chancellor became the Darling of all the opposition political parties when he gave them plenty of Rocks for them to throw at him by announcing that Northern Rock would be nationalised.

However, the shareholders were unbelievably not happy with this. What would they rather the bank be sold to another private company where they would have probably received a fraction of the amount the government will offer in compensation. Or would they have preferred the business went down the pan, where they would not receive any money at all?

Roger Lawson, chairman of the Northern Rock Shareholders' Action Group said he thought there were "good grounds" for legal action.

Why?

The same thing happened a few years ago when Railtrack shareholders were up in arms.

An old adage springs to mind – live by the sword – die by the sword.