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In: Margaret Hamilton

Thank goodness that this week has seen the last of Prime Minister’s Questions, for the next few weeks at least. I heard William Hague being asked what it was like each Wednesday before going into the chamber. What got me (apart from all the stupid public school nonsense they insist on) was the amount of time that government employees spent preparing for a half hour slanging match in which virtually nothing is achieved. All time that I am sure could be put to much better use doing something constructive for the people of the United Kingdom’s of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.   AllRead More →

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Is politics a complicated business? I was listening with my usual scepticism to the revamped Call Kaye/Morning Call/phone-in-your-rant show on Radio Scotland. Kaye Adams was doing her utmost to sound the very model of the “patronising Better Together lady”, confused by all this talk of coalitions and back room deals. Oh, but it’s so difficult for the ordinary voter to get their head around. Really? Not for the vast majority of the voters I’ve been speaking to on the doorsteps. The referendum’s gift has been the most well informed electorate Scotland has ever had. People know there’s an election on. They want to make sureRead More →

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In: Margaret Hamilton

Absolutely loving the social media response to the offensive, personal comments made about Nicola Sturgeon at the one day Scottish Labour conference in Edinburgh last Saturday. Our women, men and children dug out the colanders and tin pots from the kitchen cupboards, took pictures and posted them all over the social media sites. I even saw one by a new facebook friend where she made a tin hat for her cat from tin foil. This is what the unionists are missing. HUMOUR! The type of comments made about Scotland, SNP members and voters, and our politicians are perhaps one of the reasons why many peopleRead More →

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CARERS CONTINUE TO BE PRIORITY FOR SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT The SNP is today welcoming the publication of the new Carers Bill – making clear that carers will always be a top priority for the SNP in government. The Bill launched by Jamie Hepburn today will entitle all adult carers to their own support plan and all young carers to a young carer statement, setting out the help and support each carer is entitled to. The Bill will also lead to the establishment of local carer advice and information centres and mandate all councils to publish local carer strategies. The Scottish Government has always made carers aRead More →

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SNP BACK CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AMONGST DISABLED PEOPLE The SNP has today signed up to the ‘One in Five’ campaign to encourage political participation amongst people with disabilities in Scotland – and has welcomed moves to make Scottish politics more reflective of Scottish society at large. The campaign calls on political parties and organisations to sign up to a charter which pledges to ensure that meetings are held in accessible venues, material is available in a variety of formats and to increase awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with disabilities.Read More →

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The SNP is today accusing the UK Government of abandoning the Smith Commission – after it was revealed that the UK Crown Estate will be able to build up a new portfolio in Scotland after the devolution of the existing portfolio to Scotland.   During questioning at a session of the Scottish Parliament’s Devolution Committee today, it emerged that following an agreement with the UK Government, the UK Crown Estate would still be able to make new investments and build up a new portfolio of land in Scotland – the surplus revenue of which would flow to the Treasury rather than to the Scottish Government.Read More →

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The publication of a new strategy for supporting veterans in Scotland has been welcomed today as a positive step forwards. The post of Scottish Veterans Commissioner was established in 2014 to deliver improved support for veterans in Scotland and the publication of today’s strategy sets out the work that the Commissioner will undertake. The answer to the Parliamentary Question setting out the strategy also makes clear that housing and employability issues will be prioritised by the Commissioner in 2015. Commenting, SNP MSP Gil Paterson said: “The publication of this strategy is a positive step towards improving the support that is offered to veterans in Scotland.Read More →

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The journalist Kevin McKenna wrote recently about his take on Jim Murphy’s pitch to regain the votes of “Glasgow Man”. I’ve been thinking about that a wee bit this past week as I’ve been chapping doors in various neighbourhoods in Glasgow. I always enjoy having conversations with the voters I meet, finding out what’s led them to their political views. Often, it’s through their own experiences as much as what’s featured in the media. I’ve spoken to both men and women in the past week who have shifted in their views, some over a short period of time, some over the past ten years. The vastRead More →

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Thursday 29 January 2015   SNP MOVE TO SCRAP POLL TAX CLEARS MAJOR HURDLE   The SNP’s move to abolish outstanding Poll Tax debts cleared a major hurdle today as the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of the move at stage one.   Following a surge in voter registration during the referendum, several councils began to indicate that they would use the new data to pursue ancient unpaid poll tax debts. The Scottish Government has acted to prevent this move which would act as a barrier to democratic participation by introducing the Community Charge Debt (Scotland) Bill.   Commenting, SNP MSP Mark McDonald said:  Read More →

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In: Margaret Hamilton, Uncategorized

The pre election silly season is upon us. The main parties are too scared to offer policies that you might want them to actually keep if they get elected, so let’s aim for the lowest common denominator………………DRINK. Are they really being serious? Our government is being bombarded by campaign groups to somehow make the people look after themselves. Over indulgence in all food groups, “healthy drinks”, snacks and alcohol are all having a detrimental effect on the public purse via increased use of A&E facilities, social care in the communities, mobility allowances and other payments made to people who struggle with normal day to dayRead More →