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CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November 1926)
"Promoting all that is best in Scottish Nationalism and all that is best in Scotland."

Compiled by Jim Lynch
[Issue 83 - 4th January 2002]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Many in this country found it extremely odd that thousands of people would turn out to cheer a Member of Parliament, even one as eccentric as Mr Galloway.

Claims Direct, the no win no fee personal injury claims group ( referred to in these columns a week or two ago) lost £11.5 million in the six months to 30 September; this compared with a profit of £10.3 million in the same six month period the previous year.

Looks like they didn’t win much this year.

In July 2001, lawyers acting for Dame Shirley Porter ( daughter of Tesco’s founder) asked for an apology saying that two Court of Appeal judges disagreed with the judgement that she had lied while giving evidence under oath in the "Homes for Votes" affair.

In December 2001, five Law Lords (a leaping?) unanimously found Dame Shirley guilty of a "history of pretence, obfuscation and prevarication"; they said she was responsible for a "deliberate, blatant and dishonest misuse of power. She has been ordered to pay £26.5 million to Westminster City Council; as Dame Shirley now lives in Israel, to where she has transferred her £70 million fortune, can she still remain a Member of the House of Lords? (Westminster City Council has nae chance.)

The new chief executive of Railtrack is John Armitt, an engineer who designed and started the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project, and who is credited with turning round the fortunes of Costain.

He is seen as having a strong track record.

One of the former editors of the Scotsman (who are appearing as regularly as First Ministers), Martyn Clarke, is now the editor of the Irish newspaper, Ireland on Sunday.

Mr Clarke is an Englishman, and has been instrumental in uniting every stream of Irish political opinion, against him; in Dublin the paper is referred to as England on Sunday. Maybe they should send him to Belfast.

The Westminster Government has abandoned its benefits swipecard system, one of its flagship PFI policies, at a cost to the taxpayer of £1 billion; the report from the Public Accounts Committee said it was one of the biggest IT failures in the public sector. There had been 25 such projects in the past ten years.

The cost of the Scottish Parliament building, (due to Labour’s fear of the SNP) will only amount to about one third of this sum; however at least there will still be something tangible at the end.

SYNOPSIS

McCONNELL BRANDED "PATRON SAINT OF CRONYISM" (30th November)
SNP leader John Swinney today launched a savage attack on Jack McConnell in which he denounced Scotland's new First Minister as "the patron saint of cronyism". The SNP chief made the attack in a St Andrew's Day speech in which he also pledged three main priorities "children, children and children" between now and the next Holyrood election. Much of the speech, at Strathclyde University union in Glasgow, was devoted to a fierce attack on what Mr Swinney claimed was a Labour culture of cronyism and jobs-for-the-boys. "The new First Minister, Jack McConnell, is not only a product of this system, he helped to shape it," said Mr Swinney. "Today we are celebrating the patron saint of Scotland. But this week a new patron saint has been created - Jack McConnell, the patron saint of cronyism." Mr McConnell had picked his Cabinet by rewarding friends and punishing enemies, claimed Mr Swinney, who declared: "This was not about putting together a government for Scotland. It was about settling scores in the Labour Party. Sacked for not being friends of Jack that was the fate of five cabinet ministers." Mr Swinney went on: "He said he would put an end to factionalism, but then showed he was the high priest of factionalism. Team McLeish has gone Faction Jack is in its place." The SNP leader said that at the next Holyrood elections in 2003, voters would face a choice between Mr McConnell or himself "the old nightmare or a fresh start". He called for Holyrood to be given powers to raise money to pay for health and education, and went on put children at the heart of the SNP's agenda. "For the next 16 months I will have three main priorities: children, children, children," said Mr Swinney. "If policies to improve the life-chances of Scotland's children are to be the test of who should form the next government in Edinburgh, it is a contest I look forward to with relish." He claimed that after four years of a Labour government nearly one in three Scottish children are still living in poverty. "Anyone who meets communities across Scotland as I have done over the past year cannot fail to be touched by the plight of so many of this country's children," said Mr Swinney. "Labour is failing to give thousands of Scots children the opportunities in life that a country of our vast wealth should be offering. Jack McConnell says he is angry about that lack of opportunity. So am I. But the difference is the First Minister refuses to take on the powers that would enable him to do something about it."

MINISTER MUST "GET A GRIP" OF SCOTLAND'S RAILWAYS (6th December)
SNP Shadow Transport Minister Andrew Wilson MSP said Wendy Alexander had "to get a grip to halt the managed decline of Scotland's railways". This followed Railtrack Scotland's announcement that they had withdrawn from four large projects worth £72 million including the proposed Larkhall-Milngavie project (£25 million), the reopening of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine link (£23 million), the new interchange at Gourock (£12 million), and the Aberdeen crossrail (£12 million). The status of these projects is now unknown, at best they will face a long delay and at worst are danger of being cancelled. Mr Wilson said, "This latest blow to Scotland's railways is an inevitable result of Scottish Ministers' complete lack of control of railway policy and funding in Scotland. Scotland is losing out yet again as a direct result of the investment focus of all UK rail bodies on the south of England". Railtrack Scotland, blamed a UK-wide scarcity of signalling resources for their withdrawal and industry sources said that signalling resources in Scotland were being directed south. Andrew Wilson said Scotland's transport system was utterly inadequate and that "Without control of railway funding and a fair share of the investment that is planned for the UK we will be forced to watch the managed decline of our transport infrastructure". Outlining the SNP's proposals independent Scottish control of railway policy and investment he said "We want Scottish Ministers to have the same power over railways as they have over roads. As London Ministers stumble from fiasco to fiasco over Railtrack, Scottish Ministers need to get a grip of the problem here."

SALMOND CALLS FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE IN BARNETT FORMULA DEBATE (18th December)
Alex Salmond MP today called for financial independence for the Scottish Parliament. Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on the Barnett Formula, the Westminster Group Leader said, "There is no guarantee that the Government will not move to cut Scotland's share of spending even further and faster - as indicated in the Guardian newspaper today." Describing the Government's GERS figures which show that Scotland is in budget surplus this year as "an own goal by New Labour" Mr Salmond said, "There is now no argument against financial independence for Scotland - the alternative is seeing our public spending being eroded year on year, and our public services being further undermined. The Barnett Formula is already set to cut Scotland's spending share by £2 billion over the next three years. Rather than having our resources raided by Westminster, the Scottish Parliament needs to win financial independence, so that we can invest properly in our public services."

CRAWFORD WELCOMES ROSYTH TO ZEEBRUGGE FERRY(20/21 December)
SNP MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife has expressed his delight at the go-ahead for a ferry link between Fife and the European Continent. He applauded 'Superfast' for their determination to make the Ferry Links succeed and said "There can be no doubt that without their determined professionalism this project would have floundered long ago. They ensured that the Government was shaken from their stupor which has led to this eleventh hour announcement." It has now come to light that the Scottish Executive will, however, have to pay the 11 million pounds Freight Grant, despite this being a matter reserved to Westminster. The Government in London have withheld the power to legislate over the issue, but when it comes to the associated costs, the Scottish Parliament is being forced to stump up. Mr Crawford told us "If the UK want to retain the powers at Westminster then they should be prepared to accept the financial responsibility. This whole sorry mess proves that it is time for the Scottish Parliament to have responsibility for all transport matters affecting Scotland."

ROBISON ATTACKS FIFE HEALTH BOARD FOR WITHDRAWAL OF BETA INTERFERON (20/21 December)
Multiple Sclerosis sufferers in Fife faced a bitter blow just before Christmas as their local health board decided to refuse Beat Interferon to new cases. The SNP have been campaigning for some time to end the post code lottery by which drugs are made available, and have medicines like Beta Interferon available to all MS sufferers. The Shadow Deputy Health Minister, Shona Robison MSP, told Daily News "This news is a slap in the face to MS sufferers. The Executive must coordinate with drug manufacturers on a way of making this necessary treatment available throughout Scotland."

EXECUTIVE & LIB DEM CRONIES TRY TO UNDERMINE LOCAL DEMOCRACY (20/21 December)
As the Local Government Bill made its way through the Scottish Parliament, the SNP's Shadow Local Government Minister attacked the Executive over what the Bill does and does not contain. Despite having many strong points, the Bill also seeks to move the scheduled date of the Local Government Elections from May 2002 to May 2003, and makes no attempt to reform the Local Government Electoral System. With the local elections taking place on the same day as those to the Scottish Parliament it is inevitable that both elections will be fought on National Issues. Tricia Marwick MSP told us, "It appears however that this Executive along with their Lib Dem cronies are willing to diminish the local agenda and undermine local democracy in their haste to push this Bill through Parliament." If approved without amendment, Labour will attempt to cover up the cronyism at the heart of their Councils by concentrating purely on National Issues, denying the electorate the chance to make an informed decision about their local representatives.

"SQA FACE A REAL THREAT OF BANKRUPTCY" SAYS RUSSELL (20/21 December)
Michael Russell MSP has sought assurances from the Scottish Executive that the Scottish Qualifications Authority is on a firm financial footing, following the report from the Auditor General which reveals the Authority faced a debt exposure of 2.5 million pounds in March this year, a situation which would leave most public organizations facing bankruptcy. Mr Russell has also demanded to know when the Scottish Executive knew about the financial crisis in the SQA, and how promptly they responded to it.

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SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
(if you have any suggestions on what you'd like us to include email peter@scotsindependent.org)

For most people in Scotland it will be a case of  ' auld claes an parritch ', as routine activity follows the Yuletide break. But, if we had lived in older times however, we would be looking forward to our only holiday in the year - Handsel Monday - the first Monday following the New Year. It received it's name from the custom, from time immemorial, for servants and others to ask or receive handsel ( gift ) on that day. Indeed the traditional toast at ' the clappin o the Twal ' was ' A Guid New Year to ane an aw, an a Merry Handsel Monday.' This weeks recipe is inspired by the news that Scotland's 96 distilleries expect to have sold in excess of 7,500 cases of Scotch over the Yuletide period. Good news indeed for the Scottish economy and for those dependent on the Whisky trade. Bake a Honey and Whisky Cake as your own delicious handsel as we enter 2002.

 

Honey and Whisky Cake

 

Ingredients

Cake : 6 oz self-raising flour; 6 oz butter; 6 oz soft brown sugar; 3 eggs beaten; 4 tablespoons whisky; grated rind of a small orange

Butter Icing : 6 oz icing sugar; 2 oz butter; 2 tablespoons clear honey; juice from the small orange

Toasted flaked almonds to decorate

 

Grease two 7 inch sandwich tins. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl. Add the orange rind. Beat in the eggs one at a time and whisk until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Sift in about half the flour and add the whisky. Fold into the mixture . Sift in the remaining flour and fold in. Divide the mixture equally between the two tins and smooth the tops. Set oven to 375 deg F/ Mark 5 and bake for 20-25 minutes until light golden. Turn out on to a wire rack to cool. To make the icing, put the butter into a mixing bowl. Add the honey and one tablespoon of the orange juice. Sift in the icing sugar slowly and work the mixture gradually until the ingredients are combined. Sandwich the cakes together with half of the buttercream. Smooth the remainder over the top of the cake and decorate with toasted almonds.

See our Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section

DATES IN HISTORY

6 January 1957
Five members of crew lost when fishery cruiser Vaila sank off Lewis.

 

8 January 1107
Death of Edgar, King of Scots, fourth son of Malcolm III and Margaret. He was established on the Scottish throne by an English army in 1097. He gave endowments to churches of Durham, Coldingham, Dunfermline and St Andrews.

 

9 January 1492
The Diocese of Glasgow was elevated to an Archdiocese by Pope Innocent VIII.

See Dates in History in our Features Section

SING A SANG AT LEAST
(compiled by Peter D Wright)

"That I for poor auld Scotland's sake
Some useful plan or book could make
Or sing a sang at least ........"

- Robert Burns

SI Prize Crossword No. 25 JANUARY  2002
[Click here to bring up the crosswords]