UkPoliBlog: Composite feed : Scottish Blogs

Front Gardens annual awards : Southside & Newington Newsblog

Today's Non-Story : SUBROSA

A new study suggests that, when given a choice older people prefer to read negative news, rather than positive news, about young adults. In fact, older readers who chose to read negative stories about the young actually get a small boost in their self-esteem, according to the results.

Lead author of the study at Ohio State University, Professor Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick (what a mouthful) said younger people, who are less certain about their own identity, prefer to read about other younger people to see how they live their lives. Older people have greater certainty regarding their identity. The Professor conducted the study with Matthias Hastall of Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen in Germany.

Results showed that younger people showed no differences in self-esteem based on what they had read while the more that older people read negative stories about younger individuals, the higher the older person's level of self-esteem tended to be.

What a lot of erm... drivel, although it does make me wonder if a few hip flasks were involved the day the 98 older adults (aged 50 to 65) went to the computer laboratory for the test. You may be interested in 'destination amnesia' though. It often happens to me these days.

source

Music of the week : Holyrood Chronicles

Royal Bank of Scotland Creates Jobs in Scotland : Toque

Good news for Scotland:

The bank has told staff that up to 12 offices could close in England, with some jobs added in Greenock and Edinburgh.

The centres set for closure or downsizing in 2011 are Leeds, Bolton, Enfield and Harrogate.

The following year, Norwich, Bradford, Telford, Plymouth, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Bristol and Borehamwood have been earmarked.

The Leicester, Southampton and Nottingham centres are under review.

The English taxpayer owns the majority stake in Royal Bank of Scotland.

Thank You Mr Haig, Thank You : SUBROSA

Dear Mr Hague

I know you've been under intense pressure in the past 24 hours regarding your personal life but I would like to thank you for saving my sanity during that period. Your timing was perfect.

Yesterday a man published a book about himself and in the past week or so thought he'd spoken to everyone he surmised would be valuable to the success of his book launch. Yet you dominated the headlines. Excellent.

By yesterday evening you were still headlines and Channel 4 News' Labour leaders' debate drifted into oblivion (the only place for it). Again I thank you for saving me from the endless media analysis of the Not Famous Five.

Your sexuality doesn't interest me in the least but your capabilities as the country's Foreign Secretary do. In your position sharing a twin room with a male colleague was rather a silly thing to do, but people like me are forced to do it regularly, even with strangers. Only last year I was enrolled on a training course and arrived to find I was sharing a twin room with a total stranger - female of course. It could have spiced the weekend up a little if it had been some unknown male, but alas, I'll never know.

Now you've given your detailed response the matter should be laid to rest and you get on with the job which we pay you to do. Time to come up with some answers about the transfer of powers to the EU and to give us a vote on these. Time to clarify how the changes in the EU justice system will affect us. Lots of problems for you to resolve.

My sincere thanks once again.

Yours

Subrosa

PS May I suggest you buy a camper van for your personal use during campaigns? I know they're advertised as having room for two, but from experience the space is only enough for one plus a decent sized TV. Don't buy one if you're in the least claustrophobic.

My Song of the Month: August 2010 : Stephen's Liberal Journal

Last month going to my first live gig in what seems likes far too long I decided to do a new monthly feature. I thought I'd do a new feature at the end of each month let you share the song of my month. It may be the song that means something to me, the one I couldn't stop singing (out loud or in my head), the one I kept presses play and repeat on various formats, the one that sums up my month, its moods, its events etc.

Therefore I was going to post this one before a minor hiccup made me reconsider the whole scheme. But I say what the heck. A plan is worth doing if you stick to it warts and all, mixed emotions, feelings the lot.

This was my song for August and it actually ticks all the the boxes above. Enjoy.

So Topical : SUBROSA

Hootsmon Headlines

Conan has his own large following, but for those of my readers who haven't seen any of his work then view the image. Conan's satirical headline 'Hootsmon Headlines' refers to the Scotsman - once upon a time the most powerful media in the east of Scotland and with more than a little influence in the west. He's a master of his art.

click to enlarge

If Music Be the Food of Love Play On : SUBROSA

Not being a fan of Shakespeare - although my father tried hard to convince me of his throughout my childhood - sometimes his words do have resonance.

Fife council has taken the controversial step of cutting its music tuition budget by 25% and they intend to cut it another 25% next year. For those readers outwith Scotland, Fife council is run by the SNP. I'm saddened they are so short-sighted taking what they think is an easy option concerning cuts in their education budget.

A conservative councillor contacted the Courier to complain that targeting music is a bad move where the education of children is concerned. I would agree. Children must be offered subjects which involve interactivity with their peers, teach them team playing and also the responsibility of learning that effort does pay.

Naturally music isn't appropriate for all children to learn such skills, but sport and music are the main subjects in which children can learn so much. I was one who benefitted from Dundee's director of education's decision, back in the 1950s, to offer every child the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

The decision to reduce expenditure on music reduces the value of our education system. Now it will be only for these children whose parents can afford to send their children to private lessons. Unfortunately private lessons do not provide many of the skills which lessons within the school environment provides, so often they alienate the child from their peers because, when education authorities reduce music budgets, the after school music classes are lost and they are vital to those who do take private lessons.

I would ask Fife council to reconsider, but of course it's too late. I would also suggest they spent less money on teaching children subjects which will be of little or no use in their adult lives, but I know I'm whistling in the wind.

It would appear Fife council are following the comprehensive agenda, educate our young for the state examinations and nothing else. What a tragedy for so many of our children. It's my understanding sport has also been cut back in recent years. Aye, Scotland's doing fine complying with an education curriculum which churns out robots.

There was a stooshie at a recent council meeting when the tory councillor wasn't allowed to speak his mind about the cut in music provision. The chair said 'the subject wasn't on the agenda'. Surely any committee agenda has AOB (Any Other Business) on it. If this committee didn't have AOB on their agenda then I find that most unprofessional because that's the opportunity for anyone to bring up matters which concern them. Shame on you Councillor Douglas Chapman. Your excuse has a distinct bad smell about it.

source

What Motivates the English Defence League : Toque

Over at Harry's Place Edmund Standing has collated some quotes from EDL members that shed some light on what motivates the EDL.

I recommend that you read that piece in conjunction with BritologyWatch's excellent 'Racist' English nationalism: an alibi for Britain's anglophobia and Islamophobia.

It's all too easy for the commentariat to describe the EDL as 'English nationalists', and looking at the English Defence League, with their profusion of English flags, they could possibly be forgiven for using that label. But it's an incorrect label. It is labelling to compartmentalise and isolate. It's a label, as BritologyWatch argues, that is conveniently used to distance the views held by the EDL from those of mainstream British society. In this way English nationalism can be objectified as 'the other' in a simillar way to how the EDL objectify Islam as 'the other'. But the English Defence League are not really English nationalists (they're not advocates of popular sovereignty, and they're not demonstrating for an English parliament or English independence). No, they're actually very pro-British with a strong sense of Britishness. It will be an inconvenient truth for some but the EDL are as much a British disease as they are an English disease.

Bottom of the barrel : Holyrood Chronicles

Quote of the day : Holyrood Chronicles

SNP Tactical Voting - The End of the Line : SNP Tactical Voting

Today I announce the mothballing of one blog (this one) and the beginning of another (Better Nation).

First, the obligatory but still utterly unnecessary preamble, (mostly just included because I wrote this months ago and then bottled the imminent retirement, can't put those words to waste now):

The Green Party has returned its first MP to the House of Commons which is a tremendous effort given the First Past the Post system it has been fighting against for all of these years. With the 1% of the vote it received it should have returned 6 MPs, the same haul as the SNP, and that's before taking into account all the tactical voting that's been going on, obscuring the Greens' true popularity.

However, despite this good news, we are stuck with the return of a Tory Government, replete with a Cabinet which worryingly somehow contains Climate Change sceptics even in this post-Copenhagen, post-Kyoto, post-Al-Gore and soon to be post-Maldives era. This has effectively scuppered any realistic chance of stabilising global emissions by 2015. Saving the world was a daunting task before the challenge of reversing the increase in carbon emissions in 5 short years, failing is surely a foregone conclusion now unless something remarkable happens.

I noted the weary resignation of the Green candidate in my own constituency during the last election campaign, destined for fourth place but making all the right arguments at the hustings and receiving the strongest and warmest applause. I couldn't help but wonder at the time if Al Gore being robbed of the US Presidency by George Bush was the moment the planet missed its greatest opportunity to alter its tragic direction. That said, despite Ms Lucas' presence on those ironically green benches, GE2010 will have to go down as yet another moment where the greatest threat to life as we know it barely got a word in edgeways.

So what can the Green party do? Circumvent Westminster and seek to educate and mobilise the public to take direct action? It's worth a go I suppose.

For me, after much deliberating, most of it publicly stated on this blog, I've decided that I can't avoid the inconvenient truth of not being able to realistically maintain an SNP blog (as this would always be perceived) when I'm not a member of the party, don't particularly believe in independence, feel my political sympathies being pulled, yanked even, in a different direction and am unlikely to return to Scotland in the near to medium future.

I will say that I remain baffled by the visceral hatred that the SNP attracts from a wide, disparate group of individuals and institutions. The party's objectives and aspirations are valid and well-meaning and, as far I have been able to tell in my relatively short time amateurishly studying the partys progress, it is chock full of thoroughly pleasant, intelligent, motivated people who seem incapable of giving in no matter how down the chips may be. May they live long and prosper.

Alas, there is no SNP candidate on my upcoming ballot slips and for me, with my somewhat 'all or nothing' mentality, there is no sufficiently good reason to get involved with the local Nat branch here. So it is to the Greens that my political community spirit goes, as I already let on a few weeks ago.

Reading Zac Goldsmith's absorbing The Constant Economy got the ball rolling and the conduct and arguments of Westminster Green candidates on Twitter and blogs, the Two Doctors blog which I barely ever disagree with and Patrick Harvie's excellent performances inside (and outside) of Holyrood cemented the rest.

I've been much more of a Green than a Nat for a while now I suppose so it's time to fondly pat down the walls of this blog that has served me so well, switch the lights off (of course) and head off to pastures new.

Those pastures are already up and running as I will be embarking on a blogging experiment with fellow seasoned veterans James MacKenzie (of Two Doctors) and Malc (of Malc in the Burgh) at Better Nation. It won't be business as usual though as I intend to blog considerably less over the next six months or so but what it will be is a reflective, intelligent (hopefully), slightly nerdy and above all optimistic take on Scotland and its potential. Please make sure to stop on by (or better still, update your Bookmarks and links!)

Thanks for everything that this blog has given me; basically an illuminating lifting of the lid behind how politics works and a satisfying but humbling readership including literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of tremendous comments that helped shape my thinking and no doubt others' too. It's been a great ride for someone who didn't feel he had a right to be in the blogosphere when he first stepped into it and, although I won't miss pesky journalists asking me what my employer may think of a certain blog post, I will miss the challenge of maintaining a high posting rate and mixing up the debate.

Not that this is farewell of course, Better Nation will hopefully take off and I daresay an urge to post something rampantly partisan and tactical-related will see me back here sooner rather than later once the 2011 campaign gets going in earnest.

The blogging bug is a bit like flying Ryanair after all - You know it's damaging, dirty and wrong, but you just can't help yourself anyway!

Cheers!

Open Letter to All My Female Friends : Stephen's Liberal Journal

Dear all,

This morning's Today programme on Radio 4 has just said that the Foreign Secretary being in a room with another man was a 'lapse of judgement' for a straight politician. Therefore and henceforth I shall have to make some adjustments to the way I live to avoid making a similar 'lapse' seeing as I am an openly gay politician this will affect my female friends and acquaintances.

To Caron, you had better not get ill again. I know during your recent illness I spent many hours coming to see you and sometimes turning up while you were still in your pyjamas. But if the press were to get hold of such information it would be dynamite and a serious lapse of judgement in their opinion. Therefore in future this will have to stop, even if you are on death's bed all meeting you will he have to be clothed in outdoor wear and you will have to wheeled or trolleyed, if necessary, to a public venue. If other's catch the pubonic plague as a result that is a price that will have to be paid.

Also Caron and Elspeth Finlay I know that you have often driven me into the back and beyonds to dump me on some strange street with loads of leaflets. However, in future I may have to insist on a male driver as the exit of a campaign headquarters in the sole company of a woman and not returning for hours, with the same driver, and then looking exhausted might be similarly misconstrued.

Dear Helen Duffett and Meg and others I do love the direct message conversations that we have on Twitter. But I think we are going to have to stop them which means the juicy stuff like planning the BOTY's, or bloggers at conference or just talking about hot men on TV will just have to be done in the open.

As for my dear cousin Rachel, we are going to have to keep using the Lab/Lib Dem supporting cousin epithet on all our tweets to each other using up some of the valuable 140 characters. If only your mother had been born male and we shared the same surname, that would have made things easier.

So sadly I shall have to make the required changes I cannot afford to have my character besmirched by keeping too close attention and proximity to members of the opposite sex. Guido and the MSM may well think I am slipping or defecting to a heterosexual lifestyle and that can never do.

Yours with regret,

Stephen Glenn

Sickening Republican Slight to Pride : Stephen's Liberal Journal

This post has taken me a good few hours to finish. I've actually toned it down a lot on re-reading, all of which wasn't doing my blood-pressure any good I guess. Trying to be as objective as possible when I'm this close to the subject has been hard. So I decided to screw on my journalistic head (just like Wurzel Gummage if he had one) as much as I could.

I may have only been back in Northern Ireland for only 10 days but I've already learnt a lot in my few short days back here.

First a personal observation, I'm a lot more confident with myself and my sexuality now than when I last lived here. The other day I boldly lifted Attitude off the shelf in Asda between two blokes and strode confidently to the checkout to pay. It was only later that I remembered the looks they both gave me, not hateful, just shock that I was so bold.

The other is that here in Northern Ireland the gay community or at least that which takes part in Pride in more 'christian' and forgiving of the religious bigots than their counterparts over the water. As I read with great joy the attitude that Belfast Pride took to the protest against them, I saw it in action on Saturday at Foyle Pride. The many Christians in the parade shouting back their forgiveness and love at those who were protesting. I know there have been individual incidents down the years, but I like the approach that the Pride committees take here, it's show tolerance to everyone whether they want to be involved or protest. Indeed the approach led to the Parades Commissions saying it had no issues with either the parade or counter protest in Belfast.

Earlier today I was directed towards this comment thread I'll warn you now it does make for pleasant reading. For those of you who don't want to read it and I suggest you don't bother I'll give you a potted version of some of the lowlights. Highlights they are not and the whole threat gets sickening in too many different ways, many based on falsehoods, untruths and narrow mindedness.

Too bad this "Pride Parade" didn't end in the same way as that "Love Parade" did in Germany a few weeks ago.

That was in the death of 19 young music lovers.

It would be lewd if this was a hetrosexual event, it's "family fun" because homosexual militancy fits in with some peculiar liberation narrative fabricated by some deranged quacks a couple of decades ago.

escalating to this:

When I see pork [police] acting the hardmen against peaceful protesters like this I often wonder what it would be like if someone suddenly produced an assault rifle and dropped about ten of them. They'd piss themselves.

or this

[This parade] is just a way of portraying gays as normal, you are not normal. As a matter of fact, many gay people regard themselves as having an alternative lifestyle.

Which ignores the fact that alternative lifestyle is the moniker put on people by narrow minded people not those living the 'alternative' lifestyle themselves often, and it applies to heterosexuals as much as homosexuals.

Or this one which shocked me in a whole new way:

I interpret the homosexual question in the same way as the multiple sclerosis question or someone with permanent or semi-permanent difficulties in walking...et al They shouldn't be subject to abuse, harrassment et al. I'd mandate programs to educate people in that spirit. Additionally they should have optional treatment. Either way they should, if their character is up to scratch, have no barriers to lead full and rich lives and have no doors closed to them.

or this

Very true. These parents [who brought their children to the parade], who probably have more brain fluid then brain matter in their heads, have to be serious deranged to bring their children to something like this. Think about it, a parade is a form of celebration. These parents brought their children to an event that celebrates the idea of two people of the same sex sodomizing, molesting, and urinating on each other and engaging in all kinds of other deprived sex acts. The idea that such things are worthy of being celebrated only shows how criminally deprived and insane the world we live in has become. Everything good and noble is mocked and savagely attacked while all that is sick, deranged, and deprived is upheld as good and normal.

It almost looks like people who store up wrath are looking for a target, any target and the LGBT community in the province will do all too handily.

In the middle of it all is this:

Very disturbing information has emerged of the homosexualist infiltration in Catholic circles.

Before linking to another Catholic Website that has information off Facebook and pictures of an individual who happens to be on the Belfast Pride committee amongst other things. Followed up by this.

man seeks relationship

? this dangerous pervert needs to be stopped.

What person doesn't deserve to find a relationship, the fact that he is looking for one is surely not a sign of perversion but quite the opposite!

This is where I do get really angry, as I know the individual concerned. It lists his occupation, it lists a lot of personal information about him. Just like Chris Myers the individual works for a politician, but Chris gave up under the pressure he was under from falsehoods, the language used here is hateful and grotesque. The attitude of some of those posting is vindictive. The information is extremely personal. It is also on a discussion board that is lacking a complaint button that I can find. There is almost an incitement to hate going on in many of the comments in both locations.

The individual concerned is my good friend MÃcheÃ¡l, so no doubt when some other nutter decides to raid his publicly available pictures in future I'll likely end up in there somewhere too. That will be one that is hard for some of the hardcore to explain a Catholic Scout and a Presbyterian Boys Brigade man walking side by side carrying a rainbow flag or the pink jack.

I know it had an impact on him, but like me I feel that he doesn't care a pair of fetid dingoes kidneys what is going on. If he or anyone else does there are people who are going to be there for them. I'm still going to be the person I've learnt to be over the recent years. That man who proudly picks up the gay mag in public. Is not scared of offering other men hugs, consoling or otherwise, in public places.

I may have returned as a brave new, more confident, out, Northern Irish man. But while one gay campaigner is saying that homophobic sentiment is on the decrease, some of the sentiment that some of the homophobes display here is far once than anything I have witnessed in England or Scotland. There is still some way to go and Foyle Pride's first parade on Saturday is only going some way toward that. I guess I'm part of that work going forward, for however long that is, it's the attitude I've come back here with, I'm not gong to avoid any questions that are asked, see the start of Operation Evacuate.

There is an anger for the things and way that people posted the things on that thread boiling up inside me. However, the good politician within me is going to use that to make things better. I don't want Northern Ireland's young gay men to have to spend 17 of the first 22 years of their adult lives outside the province to gain the confidence I have. I want them to be able to do that right here.

I guess that is the third lesson that I've learnt since coming back here. Has it really only been ten days?

Book Festival - the final days : Freedom and Whisky

The Righteous Won't Like This : SUBROSA

This is the chest X-ray of a person with bronchial cancer. According to Cancer Research 86% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. One in three people develop cancer during their lives.

graph from cancer research

Note the number of breast and prostate cancers yet it's commonly thought that smokers, as Cancer Research publicise, are by far the largest group of lung cancer patients; thus putting excessive pressure on the NHS, not least through cost.

I'm sure those who think that smokers are the new lepers in society won't have been pleased with the front page of this week's Sunday Times. The newspaper has been passed on to me as I wouldn't give the Murdoch empire the time of day far less a penny.

As I can't provide a link I will type the article in full. It won't be good news for the anti-smoking Righteous who have the intense desire for smokers to be burnt at the stake but, at the same time, take their children to school in vehicles which have emissions which can cause serious bronchial problems in children. The same anti-smokers possibly use chemical sprays in their home which cause far worse problems that the occasional puff of smoke from someone smoking outside their home. After all, most smokers now smoke outside. I do. Not because I feel my smoking is a danger to anyone who visits me, but I am aware the smell of stale tobacco is unpleasant and also I've no wish to keep painting my home. We all know nicotine stains. So does bleach, Brasso, various kitchen and bathrooms cleaners, various car cleaners, yet smokers are the equivalent of the 'great unwashed'.

Here is the article:

New drug 'blocks' lung cancer

Smokers could be protected from lung cancer by taking a drug commonly used by diabetics, according to new scientific research.

The drug, metformin, appears to block the development of tumours. If proven, it would be the first drug capable of halting a smoking-related cancer before it takes hold, rather than treating it afterwards.

In theory, smokers could take it to cut their cancer risk - although it would not prevent smoking's many other health impacts.

Metformin's ability to block lung tuours has so far only been shown in animals and will have to be confirmed in humans. However, scientists say there is good evidence to suggest it could work.

In particular, there are already indications that smokers who take metformin for diabetes have a lower incidence of cancers.

"This wee-tolerated diabetes drug was able to prevent tobacco-carcinogen induced lung tumours," said Phillip Dennis, senior investigator in the medical oncology branch of the National Cancer Institute in America, at a recent conference.

His research will be formally published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research this week.

In Britain, which has 9.5m smokers, cigarettes are estimated to kill about 114,000 a year. About 43,000 of these die from smoking related cancers of which 25,000 are lung cancers.

In the research, Dennis treated mice with metformin for 13 weeks following exposure to the cancer causing agents found in tobacco smoke. They found the number of tumours in mice that had been given metformin by mouth fell by up to 50% and by injection 72%.

Such findings do not imply that smokers can escape ill health simply by taking a drug. Smoking also causes illnesses such as emphysema and cardiovascular problems. Metformin would not prevent these.

The Righteous will be so upset that money is being spent on research which has any connection to smoking. They never mention liver and kidney cancer of course because they're not yet on the agenda - that's for later when anyone who imbibes in a glass of two of anything alcoholic will become the new smokers. That, of course, will happen once all smokers have died from their habit.

How dare researchers spend good money on lung cancer tumours when most are self-inflicted? I can hear the indignation way up here in the north.

I'm In Seventh Heaven : Stephen's Liberal Journal

It is indeed that time of year again. Total politics are currently in the middle of announcing the list of the Top Political Blogs for 2010.

Today it was the turn of one of the categories for which I am eligible that of the Top Scottish blog. For the past two years I have actually finished in eleventh place in Scotland on both occasions. This year however I am into the top ten at number 7, the spot held last year by my dear friend Caron, she has climbed to number 4. My spot for the last 2 years was so nearly taken by another Lib Dem Andrew Reeves is however only at number 12, journalist Alex Massie assumes the Stephen Glenn position.

Other Lib Dems in the list include Cllr Fraser Macpherson climbing 10 to 18 and Liberal Youth Scotland a new entry at 34. Another blog from Linlithgow and East Falkirk is that of Love & Garbage in at number 44.

Here is the top 10 political blogs in Scotland for 2010 (last year's position in brackets):

1 (1) Tom Harris MP
2 (3) Underdogs Bite Upwards
3 (2) SNP Tactical Voting
4 (7) Caron's Musings
5 (4) Mr Eugenides
6 Bright Green Scotland
7 (11) Stephen's Liberal Journal
8 (5) Two Doctors
9 Subrosa
10 (6) Malc in the Burgh

You can view the top 50 at the Total Politics site.

Cheaper travel for ferry users extended : Stewart Stevenson MSP - Working for You

Today's Non-Story : SUBROSA

I am not arachnophobic but it would seem the wife of an Essex man may have a problem with spiders.

She noticed one behind the lavatory in their home on Monday and called her husband. Not being able to reach it, the husband decided to kill it by spraying it with the can.

However, he was unable to see whether it was dead because the bulb in the bathroom light had blown, so he used a cigarette lighter to illuminate the room. The result? Auch surely you can guess. You're right. He ignited the gas fumes from the aerosol and caused an explosion. The blast was so strong it blew him off his feet and lifted the loft door off its hinges.

He suffered flash burns to his head, legs and torso and was rushed by ambulance to hospital after dousing himself with cold water by jumping in the shower.

A firefighter spokesman added, " We're not entirely sure whether the spider got away or not but there was no sign of it at the scene." (I like his style).

You'll be pleased to know the spider-catcher was released from hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning after treatment. What I'd like to know is how did his wife see the creature if there was no light in the bathroom?

source

UPDATED Human Trafficking: Labour, Lib Dems and the EU Directive : Stephen's Liberal Journal

Originally posted at 04:18. Now updated with new information which in my humble opinion makes this vitally important and potentially a coalition deal breaker.

Yesterday on my way to Liberal Drinks in Belfast I read a story that really got me seething, sadly I couldn't get signal on the train or it would already have been written up.

Apparently the coalition government has used its European opt-out not to sign up to a directive that includes a common definition of trafficking which makes it easier to convict people across the 27 member states. Dennis McShane is up in arms about the Government failing to sign up to this directive.

In the European campaign before it got scuppered by the expenses scandal the Lib Dems were quite correction pointing out some of the errors in the EU and some of its strengths including cross-border policing. We especially aimed our attack at the Conservatives who were wanting to scrap many of the protections that the EU gave our citizens under co-operative policing. Therefore if a directive was being ignored, or opted out on by the new Government Lib Dems would rightly be pointing that Dennis McShane has a right to be angry.

However, when I googled to find said directive the only result that came back that matched the remit of the story is this one. It has been open to signature since the 16th of May, so you suggest a new government would be keen to act on it. Unfortunately that particular 16th May is in 2005. Therefore does that mean that the directive has been around for five years? Does that mean the Labour Government, under which Dennis McShane was Europe Minister, failed to sign the directive in a full term of parliament?

Now of course there may well be another directive in 2010 that I have been unable to find. If there is and someone would like to post a link to it in my comments please do and I'll amend the post accordingly. However, it does on the surface, after my initial anger, to be yet another case of the Labour opposition trying to punch holes in the Government ship and ending up merely exposing their own shortcomings.

Update As I asked above any update on a new directive would be welcomed. Well Olga Ivannikova has provided just that. There was a new directive on 29 March 2010.

Therefore I would echo Olga's that we as Liberal Democrats should stand up so that nobody is enslaved in this or any other way. Not kowtow to Eurosceptic Tories who want nothing to do with Europe even when it is for the betterment of humanity.

This for me is a line in the sand which the Lib Dems should not step over. We should sign up to this EU directive. If not we as Liberal Democrats should walk away from the coalition.

Ahem : Toque

"The EDP places considerable distance between itself and the EFP, emphasising that it has links with the SNP and none with the EFP or BNP." - Dr Colin Copus, English national parties in post-devolution UK, British Politics (2009) 4, 363-385. doi:10.1057/bp.2009.12

Quite. And my old man's a dustman, he wears a dustman's hat, he wears cor-blimey trousers and he lives in a council flat.

The EFP's Les Andrews and Mark Cotterill at the EDP launch party.

The EFP's Peter Rushton addresses the EDP

Marketing films to 8Â½ yr olds in Newington : Southside & Newington Newsblog

Dare Devils or Fools? : SUBROSA

Greenpeace, on their website, have a picture of the Cairn exploration rig based off Greenland and 'shut down' written across it. Lots more propaganda about just how daring they were by evading the Danish navy and scaling the oil rig legs. 'Blimey this is exciting,' writes someone called Leila on board their ship.

It may be exciting to you Leila but your friends have committed a criminal act. There's nothing clever about hanging off the legs of an oil rig in your dry suits and safety gear, much of which will probably contain by-products of the very substance you detest- oil. I'm perfectly happy for you and your colleagues to put your lives on the line for your beliefs, indeed it's very noble of you, but as you bash out your propaganda on your laptop, in your expensive nylon kit and quite possibly cooking in Teflon coated pans, while cruising around in your fossil fueled luxury sailing craft, have you given one moment's thought to your hypocrisy?

Greenland's police spokesman, Morten Nielsen, said the activists are still on the rig and will be arrested. "When someone breaks the law - and it has happened here - the person or persons will be prosecuted," he stated from Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The Greenland Premier Kuupik Kliest called Greenpeace's stunt an "openly illegal act" and a "gross violation" of safety rules.

"It is really worrying that Greenpeace uses all means to break the safety rules made to protect human lives and the environment in its quest for media coverage," said Kliest.

Throw the book at them Mr Neilsen. Dare devils or fools? Hypocritical fools.

source

Spain Breaks Up Male Prostitution Ring : Stephen's Liberal Journal

Following on from the last blog post it isn't just women and children who are the victims of sex-trafficking. In Spain they have broken a male sex prostitution ring.

Apparently 60 - 80 Brazilian men were given a travel bag and airline ticket to Europe (often flying into Schengen, Luxembourg before being moved to Spain. Once there they were under threat to pay back their flight expenses and kept in brothels and given cocaine, poppers and viagra and put to work as male prostitutes. To pay back their fees of over â¬4000 on top of daily expenses of up to â¬200 the men were paying back half of what they earned.

A total of 14 people have been arrested eight in Palma de Mallorca, three in Leon, and one each in Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante.

Human Trafficking: Labour and the EU Directive : Stephen's Liberal Journal

Yesterday on my way to Liberal Drinks in Belfast I read a story that really got me seething, sadly I couldn't get signal on the train or it would already have been written up.

Apparently the coalition government has used its European opt-out not to sign up to a directive that includes a common definition of trafficking which makes it easier to convict people across the 27 member states. Dennis McShane is up in arms about the Government failing to sign up to this directive.

In the European campaign before it got scuppered by the expenses scandal the Lib Dems were quite correction pointing out some of the errors in the EU and some of its strengths including cross-border policing. We especially aimed our attack at the Conservatives who were wanting to scrap many of the protections that the EU gave our citizens under co-operative policing. Therefore if a directive was being ignored, or opted out on by the new Government Lib Dems would rightly be pointing that Dennis McShane has a right to be angry.

However, when I googled to find said directive the only result that came back that matched the remit of the story is this one. It has been open to signature since the 16th of May, so you suggest a new government would be keen to act on it. Unfortunately that particular 16th May is in 2005. Therefore does that mean that the directive has been around for five years? Does that mean the Labour Government, under which Dennis McShane was Europe Minister, failed to sign the directive in a full term of parliament?

Now of course there may well be another directive in 2010 that I have been unable to find. If there is and someone would like to post a link to it in my comments please do and I'll amend the post accordingly. However, it does on the surface, after my initial anger, to be yet another case of the Labour opposition trying to punch holes in the Government ship and ending up merely exposing their own shortcomings.

6:15am: Nicolson Street robbery : Southside & Newington Newsblog

New Online Newspapers featuring SSP Campsie : East Dunbartonshire Scottish Socialist Party

Cuts Daily

SSP Daily

Comrade Daily

Rowling gives Â£10m to MS centre : Southside & Newington Newsblog

Near Neighbours by Gordon Legge (Jonathan Cape 1998) : Inveresk Street Ingrate

Adam switched off the motor.

'Oh,' said Geordie, 'you're back again.'

'Back to listen to you and your blethers, aye.'

'By God, see if I was a younger man - I'd take my hand off your face before you could say Gazza. I've battered bigger than you, mind. Plenty bigger.'

Aye, I think I mind you telling me - hundreds of times.'

Geordie was the type as would probably be quite happy if Adam were to headbutt. He'd live off it for years. 'Aye,' he'd tell folk, 'just right in front of my face. What a mess it was and all. Blood and brains all over the shop. Never get that cleaned. That's what the polis said. Said to me, "Geordie," they said, "long as you live, and as hard as you try, you'll never get that cleaned."'

Adam replaced the seat. 'Well, want to give it a go, auld yin?'

Geordie made to get up. He adjusted his legs. He adjusted his legs like they were artificial. To all intents and purposes, they were.

(From the short story, 'Past Masters'.)

A Wee Bit of History Before We Become It : SUBROSA

A guest post from Apogee.

There is one God looking down on us all,

We are all the children of one God

The sun, the darkness, the winds,

are all listening

to what we have to say.

- Geronimo

A Wee Bit of History Before We Become It

Since the 1500s America has been colonised (invaded) by the white man, and all the colours of the rainbow, since. The original owners of the country at first were relatively friendly until the incomers started throwing their weight about. The mistake the Amerindians made was that by the time they realised what was happening, they were a minority in their own land, militarily inferior, their religion and beliefs and way of life ridiculed and trashed by the incomers who knew and would allow no way but their own. And as there were more incomers, there were more and more children, so the Amerindian was suddenly a minority and no longer able to fight for what was stolen from him.

The Australian Aborigine had very similar treatment. Again, no chance of winning against heavy fire power, he, like the Amerindian at the start, didn't have any and by the time he did, all of a sudden he is perceived to be a threat and given no mercy. His way of life, religion and beliefs were also stolen from him.

So now we see a similar thing happening in Britain and it seems to be well on the way in the U.S.A.

Here it appears to be an invasion of people from Islamic countries. Parts of England are turning into Islamic no-go areas and these people bring in customs that are anathema to the natives. The numbers of them who seem not to understand the concept of rule of law is astounding, how many now coming here do so because the countries they are leaving would have given them swift severe punishment if they had stayed. And when they transgress out laws we cannot send them back because, basically, they might be punished, some of them deservedly so, for crimes/actions taken before they hastily departed.

We cannot send them back because of a diktat from a foreign administration.

We already no longer control our own country.

Our elected leaders gave control of our country to an Unelected Self Appointed Administration.

An administration that makes laws that allow extradition of native born Britons to other countries in the EU, for minor crimes or things which are not crimes in Britain and without any evidence of crime presented. How long before other administrations will be coming here to arrest citizens directly? It is suggested less than ten years.

But we cannot send back criminals and illegal immigrants to their own countries because they could be ill treated.

Does the indigenous natives of these Island have no human rights?

Notice how many of these immigrants are in the governing of this country as a ratio of their numbers here. It seems quite high?

Notice how much the Main Stream Media promotes so-called minorities against the indigenous peoples.

Notice how many councils give help to incomers to this country before they help the native Britons and note how often it is abused.

We can take back our country but it will require a complete change of attitude by this government, or a complete change of government. It will also require the people to waken up to what is happening around them, and very quickly, otherwise we will be in the situation of the Amerindians and it will be too late. Curry will be the national dish, not roast beef.

If we do not learn from history we will be doomed to relive it.

Apogee

Today's Non-Story : SUBROSA

Let today's story be a warning to all who use mobile phones in toilets.

The photograph was taken in Xi'an, China and the young woman - who looks as if she's resting - is anything but. After dropping her mobile phone down the pan, she decided to recover it, only to find her arm firmly stuck. At first she was too embarrassed to cry for help but after eight hours trying to get free she began to scream. It looks, from the photograph, that it was a squat toilet she was using.

Rescuers had to remove the entire cubicle and demolish concrete surrounding the toilet.

She had been texting a pal when her mobile slipped out of her hand. How anyone manages to text while squatting beats me. Be warned!

Rowling give Â£10m to MS centre : Southside & Newington Newsblog

Giving people their say on planning : Stewart Stevenson MSP - Working for You

In praise of ... : Holyrood Chronicles

Calling All Dundonians : SUBROSA

I was sent this link yesterday and really have to share it with fellow Dundonians. Some of the photographs brought back happy childhood memories but there are far too many (and videos) to view in one day, so I'll be a regular visitor for some weeks to come.

The site has been compiled by the efforts of one man who deserves great credit, not least for his humour. One tip: when viewing the photographs use full screen for a better effect.

Below is the site owner, in one of his guises, out and about in Dundee with his video camera. He's decided to 'invade' one of Dundee's top hair styling salons...

Ok, I know it's childish, but it made me laugh.

Stevenson Call For Cross Party Support As New Figures Show Scots Drink 25% More Than Rest Of UK : Stewart Stevenson MSP - Working for You

Farewell Professor - Laurent Fignon 1960 - 2010 : Stephen's Liberal Journal

There are very few top class sportsmen who wear their glasses while participating in their sport. But the bespectacled face and flowing mane of blond hair tied back in a ponytail were what earned Laurent Fignon his nickname as the Professor on the professional cycling circuit.

We and he knew this day was coming when we would bid farewell to a two-time winner of the Tour de France and the man last man to ride unto the Champs-ÃlysÃ©es in the maillot jaune to lose it by the narrowest margin ever, only 8 seconds to American Greg Lamond. Last year he had announced to the world that he was undergoing chemotherapy for metastatic cancer. He had in his retirement become a commentator on the sport, something he was doing again this July and there was an interview with him during the ITV converage when his familar voice was struggling but he current one was determined to carry on.

He was brought into the Renault-Elf-Gitane team in 1982 to support the four time winner of le Tour Bernard Hinault. But the team leader failed to make the start line in 1983, Pascal Simon assumed that role, but midway through the race had effectively lost that position to Fignon losing 3 minutes over a 15.6km on the individual time trial up the Puy-de-DÃ´me. A couple of days later on Alpe d'Huez Simon also lost the lead of the race to the young pretender to the crown France's next big thing. However, at just 22 he became the youngest winner of the tour since 1933 when they rolled into Paris.

He repeated the feat the following year, after winning the King of the Mountains in the Giro d'Italia while coming 2nd. In 1989 having won the Giro for his only time the order was reversed by that new aerodynamic bike and riding position adopted by Lemond on the Champs-ÃlysÃ©es.

His best finish in the third Grand Tour the Vuelta a EspaÃ±a which is currently in progress was third in 1987.

Here is the day in 1989 that he attacked Lemond and keeps tabs on Pedro Delgado to take the maillot jaune, in honour of the Professor

Laurent Fignon 1960-2010

Waste water spillage problem : Cllr Fraser Macpherson - LibDem Councillor for Dundee's West End - www.dundeewestend.com

At the start of last month, I raised with Scottish Water the mess around the Riverside Drive/Riverside Avenue junction (pictured right) where waste water has blown through the manhole cover.

At the time, Scottish Water responded, but this has since happened again, and I have again raised this recurring problem with Scottish Water.

Edinburgh appeal for Pakistan floods : Southside & Newington Newsblog

Compassion Fatigue : SNP Tactical Voting

From Kenny MacAskill, circa Aug 2009:

"In Scotland, we are a people who pride ourselves on our humanity.
"It is viewed as a defining characteristic of Scotland and the Scottish people.
"The perpetration of an atrocity and outrage cannot and should not be a basis for losing sight of who we are, the values we seek to uphold, and the faith and beliefs by which we seek to live.

From William Hague in a Conservative press release today:

"We must harness Britain's generosity and compassion to help the rest of the world"

Kenny was vilified by many, including Tories, for the former and his supposed claim that Scotland has a monopoly on compassion.

I look forward to William receiving the same derision.

The Big Blowdown by George P. Pelecanos (St Martin's Press 1996) : Inveresk Street Ingrate

"How much do you want us to collect?" said Recevo

"Forty ought to do it for now. We had a little communication problem in the past. Maybe he was kidding me, but I couldn't understand much of what the old guy said. Typical, with these immigrants - they don't even bother to learn the language."

That's because they've been too busy workin', tryin' to feed their families. Workin' like dogs, as if a dog could ever work that hard. Not that any of you snow-white bastards would understand the meaning of the word-

" . . . That's why I thought it might be a good idea for Karras here to go along. That sound good to you, Karras?"

Karras smiled and nodded. He thought he'd mix things up this time.

"Yeah," said Reed. "Karras and this Georgakos bird, they speak the same language. The two of them can sit around together all night and grunt."

Gearhart snorted, issued a gassy grin. Karra heard Reed strike a match to the Fatima behind his back. The smoke from it crawled across the room.

"Forty dollars," said Recevo, trying to cut the chill. "That should be a walk in the park, right, Pete?"

"Not a problem," said Karras.

"Hey, Karras," said Reed. "Be a good little coloured girl and fetch me that ashtray offa Mr. Burke's desk."

"I'll get it," said Recevo, but Karras held him back with his arm.

"I asked Karras to get it for me," said Reed.

Karras pointed his chin in the direction of Gearhart. "Ask Laird Cregar over there to get it for you, Reed. He's a little closer."

Gearhart's grin turned down. He didn't make a move for the ashtray, and neither did Reed.

Recevo drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. He shifted in his seat. "Mr. Burke, what should we do if this Georgakos gives us an argument?"

"He won't give you an argument," said Burke, keeping his eyes locked on Karras. "He wouldn't give an argument to a couple of boys who've seen the action you've seen. Would he?"

Burke himself had seen no "action", as he was on the brown side of thirty. But he had a brother who had fought in the European theatre, and being a veteran meant something to Burke. There were points to be had there, Karras figured, and some degree of slack.

"We'll take care of it", said Recevo, and he and Karras rose from their seats.

"Hey," said Reed. "I've got an idea. Maybe you ought to wear your uniforms over to the Greek's place. Wear your medals, too. Maybe that would help.

"Maybe you'd like to go with them," said Burke, with a touch of acid in his voice.

"Reed might have a little problem there," said Karras. He'd need a uniform, too. And the last time I checked, they weren't handin' out uniforms to Section Eights."

Reed stood from his chair, blood coloring his face.

"Hold it," said Burke. "You two can play if you want, but not in here."

"Guy kills a few Japs," muttered Reed, "thinks his asshole squirts perfume."

Burke raised his voice. "Shut your mouth, Reed, and sit down. You can thank me later."

Endorsement of the Day : Stephen's Liberal Journal

This morning I had a debate with John Prescott on Twitter regarding NHS Direct. I reckon we both fought our respective corners and fought them hard. Figurative punches were being thrown much to my relief. Me pointing out the lack of money to do everything and the rational for looking at what was essential and therefore needed to keep being funded was what was important.

The fact that nurses currently on the NHS Direct lines will be returned to front line duties and actually treating people. At one point John seemed to suggest that NHS Direct nurses in their current number were essential as "It's about the quality of service - the reassurance and knowledge that saves lives." But NHS Direct isn't where lives are saved that is through the diagnosis and treatment by Doctors and Nurse Practitioners in our surgeries and hospital.

Anyway we got to a point where the entrenchment was shifting, John said, "In case you hadn't noticed, YOU'RE the Government now. Enjoy!"

To which I replied "Sadly John I didn't get elected. But yeah I know that. At least this Government has realised there is a fiscal hole unlike you"

That led to this:

While I'd obviously welcome such a ringing endorsement for my debating skills from an ex-Deputy Prime Minister from a former Government. I'm sure I can could on the endorsement of the current Deputy Prime Minister in the current Government and leader of my party Nick Clegg.

Fringe ticket sales up 5+% : Southside & Newington Newsblog

Independence for Scotland : SUBROSA

There have been several posts here about independence for Scotland but I would like to draw your attention to a few blogs which are currently holding interesting debates - NewsnetScotland, BellaCaledonia and Scotland Unspun.

At last it seems the SNP are awaking to the fact that an election is only 9 months away and Alex Salmond has decided to put independence top of the SNP campaign agenda. Not before time. They need to get ahead instead of allowing Labour to set the course. Often in the past Alex Salmond's party has been caught trying to deny Labour's accusations but to little effect. They've allowed Labour to 'get in first' and spent campaigns attempting to play catch up.

One lie churned out by unionists won't be heard during the next months - "We can't rely on North Sea gas much longer". How often has that been said in the past years by those who want to enhance the myth that England subsidises us? Although this is the second giant find in just a week there is talk, in oil circles, that more are expected. Surely Scotland isn't going to let our oil go to London without insisting we get our share of the spoils. As Alex Porter writes, we need to emulate Norway, not Australia.

I have hopes of an election campaign focused upon independence, oil and the fact the Westminster coalition has no mandate to govern in Scotland. The 'respect' agenda lasted all of around 48 hours so we've nothing to lose. Let's go for it.

Disgraceful : Holyrood Chronicles

Scottish power road closures : Southside & Newington Newsblog

Steve Uncles: "England is the gratest kingdom in the worled" : Toque

You can read through the Wikipedia edits of Steve Uncles here. I particularly enjoyed this one (Steve's contribution in red):

But this effort to type "We win by the way" must surely take the prize.

The same IP address was also responsible for a malicious posting against an opposing English nationalist party, in which Richard Aitkins is accused of being a white nationalist (the irony being that Steve Uncles himself cooperated with the England First Party).

The same IP address was also responsible for foul comments posted to Steve Shark's blog.

And for this slanderous and untrue comment about me on the Socialist Unity blog (the slur about my marriage repeated here recently by Steve Uncles).

Good work English Democrats. Are you proud of yourselves?

Tories, Liberal Democrats, SNP and Labour Unite to attack Scottish Education Again... : East Dunbartonshire Scottish Socialist Party

Teachers, after suffering the blows of last years cuts in education, are being asked to work an extra half an hour a week in front of classes. In a cynical move, Labour run Glasgow City Council has proposed this as a reduction of "marking time" and called for a re-negotiation of McCrone - the agreement that was supposed to ensure they worked a 35 hour week.

Teachers in Scotland already work an average of 10 hours unpaid overtime and have borne the brunt of cuts that have meant class sizes on the rise and fewer adults in the class. Glasgow has already cut support workers and assistants jobs that help with children needing extra educational input.

Glasgow has also quietly shed 500 teachers in the past two years, and the Labour council also presided over closures of 22 schools last year under the previous scandal riven Labour provost, Steven Purcell. All of this has impacted on teaching and learning. Children are being made to suffer because of the neo-liberalist ideology of the combined forces of the Tories, Liberal Democrats and Labour and the apparent capitulation of the SNP.

Locally, this has been a complete capitulation to the Tories and Liberal Democrats by a so called Labour Glasgow Council. Not only have they quietly cut education provision through staffing, but now they are essentially asking teachers to take a pay cut.

Labour along with the Tories and Liberal Democrats are peddling the lie that cuts are necessary. The SNP are keeping a cynical silence and after Salmond and Cameron met shortly after the election of the most reactionary Government since Thatcher (and actually becoming more reactionary by the hour), the SNP seem powerless to criticise the ideological cuts they are telling us are necessary. This is not true. There are huge amounts of money around - but in the hands of the bankers and billionaires who caused this crisis (including the RBS who recently have launched an incredible campaign saying they are giving thousands of pounds to Scottish Education, when in fact they were one of the major factors that have led to the crisis in Education over the past two years!)

SSP members in EIS wish to unite with other trade unionists in decisive campaigns - including coordinated industrial action - to defend jobs, pay, educational expenditure, and national action to enforce maximum class sizes of 20 across the board, as a pre-requisite to improved education and better conditions of work.

How will this be paid for?

The SSP have long been campaigning for a Scottish Service Tax in place of the Council Tax. This would mean the poorest families would pay nothing, but the highest earners would pay more - a fair tax in other words. The richest would pay a modest extra 10% in tax - which when you realise their income grew by 30% last year alone - is a drop in the ocean. The revenue generated by this tax alone would save our Scottish Education System, save jobs in the Public Sector and ensure the Tories and Liberal Democrats do not return us to the eighties when Thatcher and Major had public education on it's knees. See also our alternative budget

The SSP support the ballot for strike action the EIS are calling in March - but urge the union to unite with other unions and stand together in solidarity against these attacks on the working class.

Upcoming events at which teachers and the EIS can unite with others against the Tory and Liberal Democrat cuts:

Sat 4th Sept UNISON-convened anti-cuts strategy conference - aimed at all public sector unions and community groups. More HERE

Weds 29th Sept European TUC anti-cuts day of action.

Sat 2nd October Street Rally against cutsâ¦ as a Scottish contribution to the European TUC action, AND as a stepping up of efforts to bring members from across different unions and community groups together - as a means of building towards the STUC demo (see below), AND to begin to crank up unity in action BEFORE either the Tories and Liberal Democrats OR SNP govts set their spending cuts in concrete.

Sat 23rd Oct STUC Scottish Demo (more details soon)

Nothing in Life is Free : SUBROSA

There's no such thing as a free lunch, or in this case a free train or bus ride.

Veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan will soon be able to travel free on rail and road public transport. The plan is part of a package being drawn up by the government to help retired military personnel settle back into Civvy Street.

Up to 70,000 ex-soldiers who served on the front line since 1990 will get free travel for at least 5 years. Other perks cover housing, education and mental health.

There will be:

Help to buy homes

Grants for university tuition fees

Opportunities to retrain as teachers

Extra help for families of serving soldiers

Free university scholarships for children of soldiers killed in action.

David Cameron is expected to announce the Veterans Package in October as part of the Strategic Defence Review. Many men and women who have been invalided out of the armed forces are already entitled to free transport.

The catch? In return for this former soldiers will be expected to stay longer on the Service Register - the list of personnel who can be recalled for service.

Quite a cunning political move. The MoD increases the size of the Service Register and will possibly decrease the numbers of those currently serving. The perks will last only up to 5 years; any longer and the personnel would require full retraining. The only problem I have is with the 'perks' not associated with free travel. Shouldn't we be providing these already?

source