The Flag in the Wind
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Tony Blair has been under a lot of pressure this week, and rightly. Questions are being asked by politicians, and others, across the political spectrum about the basis on which he and his government took us into war with Iraq. "Weapons of Mass Destruction" was the mantra repeated time and time again. Tony insisted that the weapons were there and we were even led to believe that some could be operational within 45 minutes.

Now the questions that are being posed are not getting satisfactory answers. Why were the weapons not found after 5 months of intensive inspections when every one of the sites in the British "dossier" was inspected and found to be clean? Why have no WMDs been found by US and British troops swarming all over Iraq? And, indeed, if they were such a clear and present danger to the rest of the world as to justify a major war, why were they never used in conflict?

And was this "45 minutes" story true or just made up to make the report more exciting? Could it be that the entire political rationale for this war was transparently false from the start? Should there be a Public Inquiry to find out? Westminster says no.

Of course there is joy at getting rid if Sadaam. Of course there is relief at the ending of the hated Baathist regime and at the lifting of the sanctions. But today Iraq lies in ruins and its people are struggling.

Having brought Iraq to this state the US and Britain now want the international community, which was overwhelmingly opposed to the war, to pay to rebuild it. And, yes, it is prepared to allow a role for the United Nations in this process.

The US and UK are now charged with the rebuilding of Iraq and the establishment of democracy in that country. The story so far is not impressive. Those who are tendering for reconstruction work seem to come from a very similar background – US companies, Republican Party sponsors.

The Iraq watchers amongst us, who are closely watching developments there, fear that it may be a long time before the Iraqi people gain control of their own land and their own resources.

And let’s not forget that the UK has its own Weapons of Mass Destruction based at Faslane, 30 miles from Glasgow. Four nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered Trident submarines each with horrific killing power. And this despite the fact that Britain is part of the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty which calls for all countries to get rid of their nuclear weapons.

We’ve lodged the return of expenses and that means the elections are officially over. We won some and lost some. We’ve lessons to learn and crosses to bear. In my constituency we worked hard and reduced Labour’s majority but we didn’t win the seat. In Glasgow we now have only 2 SNP List members and that was a blow. And I didn’t manage to get elected as a Councillor. Well, I did say it would take a miracle!

The Good, however, is that in Glasgow we had a small miracle and did get a new SNP Councillor elected. We now have Bashir Ahmad, Convener of Scots Asians for Independence, as an SNP Councillor in Pollokshields. And how good that is! A passionate advocate of Independence and a very caring person, Bashir will be an excellent representative for us on Glasgow City Council together with his 2 more experienced colleagues.

The Bad is that we have to bear another 4 years of Labour dictat in Glasgow City Chambers but with the Scottish Executive’s commitment to Proportional Representation for future Local Government Elections there may be light at the end of a very long tunnel.

And that brings me to the Ugly, which is the reaction of Labour politicians as they see their power base melting away. Jim wrote about this last week so I’m not going to go on about it, but it really is ugly. It’s got so bad that 14 Scottish Labour MPs have signed a motion supporting the discredited first-past-the-post system for council elections. I wonder how they’ll react to Jack McConnell’s attempt to force gender balance and have 50% of Labour’s council candidates women.

Pete Wishart, the Member of the Westminster Parliament for North Tayside, has tabled a motion in the House of Commons condemning Scottish Labour MPs for trying to stop the Scots Parliament introducing PR for local government elections in Scotland. He points out that this is not an issue for Westminster and that the Scottish Parliament has every right to legislate on this matter and adds that instead of Westminster interfering with Scotland’s democratic development, it would make more sense for Edinburgh to wrest control of the Scottish Parliament’s voting system away from London.

On Thursday the media ran the story about 17,000 cases never getting as far as court because of delays in their processing. It wasn’t that Procurators Fiscal turned them down because the cases were not strong enough, it was because they took so long to go through the process that they hit a time bar and never got as far the Fiscal’s office. Apparently 17,000 cases is about double the number of cases that fell last year.

In the early reports I heard on the radio, blame for about half the lost cases was being laid at the door of Strathclyde Police and problems with their computer system. It was agreed that this was an unacceptable situation for everyone concerned. However I then read, in the Daily Record, an astonishing allegation that police have been instructed to delay cases being referred to the Procurators Fiscal.

When questioned, First Minister, Jack McConnell MSP, admitted that he had known about the massive increases in the number of cases being lost because of delays. John Swinney MSP, Shadow First Minister, has written to the Chief Inspector of Constabulary asking for a formal investigation into the allegations. He wrote:

"I write to draw your attention to the serious allegation (Daily Record June 5, pg 2) that police have been instructed to delay the reporting of criminal cases to Procurators Fiscal.

"As you will no doubt be aware, this comes in the wake of the Parliamentary Written Answer by Solicitor General Ms Elish Angolini QC, showing a massive rise in the number of cases marked 'No Proceedings' as a result in delays by Police.

"If true, I believe that such an instruction deliberately delaying justice will inevitably lead to justice being denied. In light of the seriousness of the allegation, I write to ask that you launch an immediate formal investigation to determine whether such an instruction was issued and by whom."

SYNOPSIS

At the Scottish National Party / Plaid Cymru Westminster Group "away day" conference in Inverness today in the Eden Court Theatre, SNP Westminster leader Mr Alex Salmond MP and Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Mr Elfyn Llwyd MP said that the UK government couldn't be trusted to protect the interests of Scotland and Wales in Europe, and couldn't be trusted to tell the truth about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Mr Salmond said: "The current debate about the European Constitution shows exactly why the UK government can't be trusted to speak for Scotland and Wales.

"Tony Blair's priorities in the EU are upside down. He is trying to hang on to foreign policy and defence powers because he wants to be able to declare war along with the United States - but he is prepared to sell out the Scottish fishing industry and Welsh agriculture.

"Scottish and Welsh interests are best served by increasing foreign and defence policy co-operation at European level - and ensuring that we control our own resources, and key industries such as fishing, in Scotland and Wales.

"As we prepare for next year's European election and the next General Election, the need for Scotland and Wales to be at the heart of European decision making will emerge as a dominant issue."

Mr Llwyd said: "Just as he can't be trusted on Europe, Tony Blair can't be trusted to tell the truth about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

"Blair said that Iraq's possession of these weapons, and their ability to mount a strike on British bases within 45 minutes, was the sole justification for the recent illegal war.

"But Parliament and the people of this country were seriously misled by the Prime Minister - the weapons would appear not to exist.

"This is an extremely grave issue, and the SNP/Plaid Cymru MPs will be harrying the Prime Minister in the days ahead to establish the truth."

The European Parliament will vote tomorrow on proposals to enact a sweeping new Statute for MEPs, putting all MEPs on the same footing as regards the exercise of their mandate and their pay and conditions.  This will come into effect as law, provided the Council of Ministers accepts it on behalf of all the member states of the EU.

SNP MEP Neil MacCormick today issued a powerful call to the European Parliament to decisively reform its rules on expenses and pay.

SNP/GREEN EFA members have put down amendments to the Statute to ensure a strict system of expenses, and to ensure that income tax in a MEP's home state remains payable at the same rates as their constituents.  They have also rejected new claims for sweeping immunities for MEPs.

Leading the debate on behalf of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the EP, Prof MacCormick said:

"I want to see a fair system that can be understood and supported by the electorate at home and all over Europe. MEPs should be able to claim the costs they actually incur in carrying out their work.  But only that. And they should get a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. They should pay income tax at the same rates as the constituents they represent.  They should continue to enjoy appropriate immunities from legal attack for the opinions they express and the votes they cast.  They need that so they can act as independent representatives of their constituents, speaking and voting without fear or favour.  

STEVENSON CALLS FOR MORE MONEY FOR PETERHEAD
Tuesday 03 June 2003

SNP MSP for Banff and Buchan Mr Stewart Stevenson MSP has today (Tuesday) called for increased investment for Peterhead Prison to improve standards for prisoners and prison officers. Mr Stevenson said;

"Investment at Peterhead Prison has not taken place in the past and this is a result of prison service management sticking to outdated policies. There must be increased investment so that standards for both prisoners and prison officers can be improved.

"It is astonishing that the capital expenditure was only 40 thousand pounds for Peterhead in the last year and it is time that the prison service improved standards and delivered the promised electric power in cells and night access to toilets for prisoners.

"These are the first modest and essential steps in sustaining Peterhead's viability.  An institution like this cannot be allowed to fall further into decline, I will not let it."

SNP TAKES INITIATIVE ON FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Wednesday 04 June 2003

MOVES FOR WIDER ACCESS TO FREE SCHOOL MEALS

The SNP has today (Wednesday) forced a parliamentary vote on wider free school meal access for children.

SNP Shadow Education Minister Ms Fiona Hyslop MSP said that the problem caused by the loophole created by the tax credits system must be turned into a creative opportunity, and that, as an anti-poverty measure, more children should have access to free school meals. Ms Hyslop said:

"The SNP has forced this vote in parliament today on wider school meals access for children to ensure that the pupils who need the service most can benefit.

"The Child Tax Credit has turned out to be a farce, and we must make sure that the hole created in the benefits safety net is closed.  We must turn this problem into a positive opportunity for Scotland.

"We must make the Child Tax Credit farce and the free school meals fiasco into an opportunity for all of Scotland's children.

"The vote forced by the SNP today will give the Parliament a chance to direct the government to widen access.

"I doubt that there is a majority for universal free school meals.  With the money such a move would cost, there are other anti-poverty measures like childcare for parents returning to work which are more deserving and would deliver greater benefits. 

"I do agree, however, that there is a need to extend provision of free school meals. The SNP is looking today for widespread support for our initiative."

SNP WINS FISHERIES VICTORY IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Wednesday 04th June 2003

SNP Euro-MP Ian Hudghton MEP today expressed his delight after the European Parliament approved a report he had written on key fishing regulations. The report, which won cross-party backing at a full sitting of the Parliament in Strasbourg, calls for measures which will severely restrict industrial fishing in waters around Scotland. It also instructs the European Commission to take full account of the views of fishermen and other stakeholders before implementing any new rules regarding the catching of fish.

Mr Hudghton said:

"The European Parliament sent a clear message to the Commission today - we demand that you listen to fishermen's views. The Parliament also demanded that the practice of industrial fishing boats being allowed to fish for juvenile fish be brought to an end.

"Under current EU rules, industrial boats fishing with the very smallest mesh sizes are allowed to retain juvenile cod and haddock - on the condition that the fish is not sold for human consumption. Meanwhile, the Scottish fleet - fishing with the largest mesh sizes - are told that they have to throw small fish over the side. The idea that small cod can be kept for pig-feed whilst the Scottish quality fish fleet is being destroyed is an obscenity. Parliament today called time on the industrial fishers - and demanded that they observe the same rules as everyone else.

"Parliament also demanded that any new measures regarding such issues as net sizes and minimum fish sizes be approved only after consultation with regional fisheries bodies. The way forward for fisheries management is for decisions to be taken at local levels, and the Commission must listen to the views of fishermen.

"Today's vote was a victory for common sense. It now falls upon Ross Finnie and Elliot Morley to fight for these issues in the Council. We can only hope that Mr Finnie sees his re-appointment as Fisheries Minister as an opportunity to reverse some of the bad decisions he signed up to during the last Scottish Parliament."

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