SHORTER VERSION

I notice that Jim Lynch in this space last week  produced a shorter version than normal because of computer blips.  Well, this week will be shorter too, not because of computer blips, but because of blips in my back, which have kept me almost horizontal for much of the past few days and mean I can only sit at the computer for about ten minutes before I seize up and have to go walkabout!

See the problems of old age!
 

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

My excellent, persistent and indefatigable friend Andrew Kerr prompts me on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link.  This has been a considerable success over the past two or three years, bringing tourists to Scotland from northern Europe and adding about £150 million to the Scottish tourist trade.

So much so that there is now talk of adding a second ferry link, this time twice a week to Norway.

Interest has come from the Norwegian side and Professor Alf Baird, a ferry expert helping to open up North Sea routes, says that the prospects for the service are excellent.

Superfast, who run the daily ferry to Zeebrugge, and who have been much praised for the excellence of their ferries, have expressed an interest.

Director Yannis Criticos says:  We are in the very early stages of examining an expression of interest from the Norwegian side.
 

KIRSTYGATE

There has been much ado about the links between first minister Jack McConnell and TV and media personality Kirsty Wark.

At least the holiday that Jack and his family shared with the Warks seems to have been open and up front.

What is much more insidious is relationships between powerful politicians and apparently objective political and economics journalists, relationships which are generally unknown to the public at large and are certainly kept well hidden from their readers by the newspapers in question.

For instance, Economist Scottish political journalist Peter Jones is the partner of Labour MSP Rhona Brankyn.

Political journalist Lorraine Davidson has had as partners Labour MSP Tom McCabe and Labour MEP David  Martin.

Daily Record political commentator Paul Sinclair apparently has tried to get on to the Labour party¹s candidate list.

And I understand that the wife of Alf Young of the Herald has very close links to the Labour Party as well.

Now of course there will always be such cases, but surely  articles written by such people should be preceded by a health warning.

They should all take their cue from John Swinney¹s wife Elizabeth Quigley.  Even before Elizabeth and John were married in 2003, she stepped aside from any political reporting on BBC Scotland.

That was the proper thing to do.  Just sad that others do not have the same standards.
 

CATCHING UP

In Flag Issue number 220 dated 20 August 2004  I mentioned an excellent article by  husband and wife team Jim and Margaret Cuthbert about the dangers of devolution for the SNP.  I suggested then that we might discuss it in a following Flag after we had read it.

On 24 August we had an email from Ron Wilson  pointing out that I had failed to tell readers how to access  the article.  Sorry for the delay but you can now read the article for yourselves on the website of the Scottish Left Review, issue number 24 (www.scottishleftreview.org/).  The article is entitled Opposing but not imposing and is well worth studying closely.

I am certainly going to try and draw it to the attention of as many SNP MSPs as possible.
 

EU QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Last month I wrote about a couple of my reservations concerning the EU and its proposed constitution.

Firstly, I was concerned about an independent Scotland being drawn into some kind of military action it disapproved of but had to go along with because under the new Constitution, if approved, we would have to actively and unreservedly support the EU common foreign ands security policy in a spirit of loyalty and solidarity.

Secondly, I was concerned for a Scotland wanting to break away from the UK when I read that The Union shall respect the essential state functions of the member states, including those for ensuring the territorial integrity of the state.

I have had an email from Bob Purdie of Oxford (and late of Loanhead in Midlothian, I understand) who tells me that my worries are misplaced.

Bob accepts that the new Constitution could mean accepting that we take part in operations that we disagree with, when a majority decides on them.  But they will be for European peace and security ,,,

Well, that is where we disagree.  I would find it very hard to take part in operations that we disagree with.  And as for the definition of European peace and security - well definitions are flexible, and I could see many
countries thinking that attacks on, for instance, Belgrade could have been for European peace and security, and others not.

The second point Bob makes refers to territorial integrity.  He says that the duty to respect territorial integrity applies to relations between members, not to national territories within EU states.

Well, the Constitution does not really spell that out in the way that Bob interprets it, and given the boundless creativity of lawyers, I remain cynical about how this could be interpreted when the crunch for Scotland comes.

But this debate will be ongoing, and any contributions to the discussion are welcome.

Incidentally, Bob gives several other interpretations that I disagree with. To mention but two:

He says:  The SNP adopted Independence in Europe because the Party recognised that sharing in the decision making of the EU would give us much greater freedom than the absolute sovereignty of Westminster.

Only up to a point, Bob.  Those of us who were there for the memorable Sillars/Fairlie conference debate in the late 80s will remember that another underlying element played an important part.

The UK unionists were portraying the SNP as a party that wanted total separation, as they put it, with Scotland apparently drifting off into the North Atlantic.

By adopting an EU friendly posture, the SNP could challenge this nasty but clever propaganda from the unionists.  So simple perception played a not unimportant part in the EU friendly policy being accepted.

Finally, Bob says that the influence of European ideas of shared sovereignty loosened London¹s grip on Scotland, to the extent of helping a devolved parliament possible.

Well I suppose it helped, but the real reason for the appearance of a devolved parliament in 1999, was the same reason as the devolution debate appeared in the 1970s, namely political pressure from the SNP raised huge fears in the Labour establishment that they might loose their Scottish power base and therefore loose power full stop.
 

SYNOPSIS

Sunday 9 January 2005

SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR SCOTLAND

MACASKILL CALLS FOR SKY NEWS SCOTLAND

Mr Kenny MacAskill SNP MSP has called for James Murdoch, Chief Executive of BSkyB, to replicate the successful Sky News Ireland service for Scottish viewers.

Since May of 2004, Sky News Ireland has broadcast two nightly news bulletins in the Republic consisting of domestic, European and international news from an Irish perspective.  Sky News Ireland has offices in both Dublin and Limerick and employs thirty people.

Scotland, on the other hand, has only three Sky News reporters covering the whole country with no specialist correspondents or fully functioning Scottish office, resulting in limited coverage of Scottish issues on satellite televisions largest news service.

Mr MacAskill said:

Television in the twenty first century is undergoing huge changes. Developments in technology, particularly the onset of digital,  mean satellite television is now as much part of peoples viewing as terrestrial.

For terrestrial viewers BBC and STV both provide half hour long Scottish bulletins, but as yet no such service exists on satellite.  Sky News Ireland, which serves a smaller population than Scotland, has been a great success and offers an ideal blueprint for a satellite news service to be developed here in Scotland.

Given his Scottish roots, not to mention the Scottish newspapers that are part of the Murdoch Empire, it is not too much to ask that James Murdoch develops a Sky News Scotland.  This will allow for in depth coverage of domestic issues as well as being Scotland's window on the world and way into the global news market.

BRIEFING - SKY NEWS IRELAND

Sky News now provides a distinct Irish news service, broadcasting daily, with a mix of domestic news and world affairs from an Irish perspective.

Scotland, however, has no such distinct service. Sky News UK has a minimal presence north of the border and consequently only a small amount of Scottish content on their UK broadcasts.

The difference in service is despite Ireland having a population of only 3.9 million, more than a million less than Scotland.

INTRODUCTION

On May 10th 2004 Sky Television launched Sky News Ireland, a dedicated news service for Ireland.  The service employs thirty people and offers two nightly half hour bulletins covering Irish domestic issues as well as international news from an Irish perspective.

In stark contrast, the news service provided for Scotland by Sky is minimal, consisting of a three person Scotland Bureau' and no Scottish specific news bulletins.  The difference in the service provided for Irish and Scottish Sky customers is especially galling given that the population of Scotland is more than one million people larger than that of Ireland.

SKY NEWS IRELAND

Sky News Ireland has been on air for seven months, providing Sky subscribers in Ireland with one hour's worth of domestic, European and international news to compliment the existing Sky News service.
 

• There are two, half hour bulletins every weekday evening at 7pm and 10pm, as well as a Review of the Week' shown twice a day at the weekend.
   

• Following an expansion in September, Sky News Ireland now employs over 30 people.
   

• Ten of the staff are in front of camera roles, an anchor plus nine reporters.
   

• The staff are based mainly in Dublin, and there is also an office in Limerick to cover news from the West of Ireland.
   

• The service is available to two thirds of all homes in Ireland via cable and satellite.
   

•  The service is also available to almost seven million Sky digital subscribers in the UK.
   

• Sky News Ireland greatly enhances Irelands Window on the world as coverage of world events from an Irish slant has been increased due to a significant input from Sky's international service.
   

Sky News Ireland has already expressed its desire to expand in the coming years, with the long term aim of a continuous Irish news service every evening.


THE SCOTLAND BUREAU

From a Scottish perspective, the level of news output provided for Sky¹s Irish viewers only serves to highlight the paucity of the service provided in this country.

 

• Sky News Scotland Bureau has a mere three reporters - James Matthews, Rona Doughall and Jane Chilton - covering all Scottish news, compared to nine reporters and a presenter for Sky News Ireland.
   

• Scottish news is directed and edited from Isleworth, Middlesex and broadcast from London while Irish news is collected, edited and broadcast from Ireland.
   

• Scotland lacks a fully functional Sky News office, with a little used office in the west of Edinburgh while Ireland has one large Dublin office and another in Limerick employing thirty people.
  
   

While Irish Sky subscribers are guaranteed an hours worth of Irish news every day, Scottish viewers receive no distinct service and must make do with a London led news agenda.  In terms of international coverage, an Irish slant on world affairs is provided nightly while a similar Scottish perspective is missing.

CONCLUSION

This simple comparison of Sky News services in Scotland and Ireland emphasises the gaping chasm in news provision Sky provide to these two areas.  Despite Scotland having a larger population than its neighbour across the Irish Sea, its inhabitants get a poorer service.

An improved news service for Scotland can be achieved without great upheaval or constitutional change.  Reporting Scotland and Scotland Today/North Tonight already provide similar services on terrestrial TV for BBC and ITV viewers.  A Sky News Scotland would offer a satellite Scottish news programme to compliment the existing terrestrial channels and provide an opportunity to market Scottish news on a global basis.

Sunday 9 January 2005

FIRST MINISTER FAILS TO DRAW LINE UNDER HOLIDAY CONTROVERSY

McCONNELL SHOULD SEE SENSE AND STOP DIGGING

Following newspaper coverage of the McConnell holiday controversy and the First Minister's interview on STV's Seven Days programme, SNP Holyrood Leader, Nicola Sturgeon MSP has called on the  First Minister to see sense and stop digging.

She said that in order to draw a line under matters and prevent the controversy spilling over into the new session of Parliament, he should admit that his failure to register a holiday at Kirsty Wark's villa in January 2003 was a mistake.

Ms Sturgeon said:

It is time for the First Minister to see sense and stop digging. This story has already dragged on for a week and now threatens to dominate the first week of the new Parliamentary session - and all because the First Minister refuses to admit a mistake.

There is no question that he should have registered his 2003 holiday at Kirsty Wark's villa. The Code of Conduct makes it clear that all overseas trips, regardless of value, should be registered if the costs are not met wholly by the MSP concerned.

Ms Wark's position in all of this is entirely a matter for the BBC, but given her involvement in the Holyrood Project, the First Minister should have made doubly sure that any personal dealings with her were totally transparent.

The First Minister should now simply admit that he made a mistake and set the record straight.

This week, on its return from the Christmas recess, Parliament should be concentrating on far more important international and domestic issues.

But only the First Minister can draw a line under this mushrooming saga and he should do so now.

NEIL CALLS FOR ANSWERS ON WARK £9,000

Alex Neil MSP, who is the convener of the Scottish Parliament's Enterprise and Culture Committee, has written to Jack Perry, chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, to ask why Kirsty Wark was paid £9,000 for chairing a conference.

In his letter Mr Neil has asked the following questions:
 

1. Is the Sunday Times story that Kirsty Wark was paid £9,000 by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow last year for chairing a Conference true?
    

2. If so what was the Conference, when and where was it held, how long did it last, who was in attendance and what was its subject matter?
    

3. What was Miss Wark's remit and what expertise did she bring to bear?
    

4. Was the contract to chair the Conference the subject of a competitive tender?
    

5. If so how many people and companies were invited to tender and was Miss Wark's fee the lowest on offer?
    

6. If the contract was not put out to tender, if not, why not?
    

7. Was the contract with Miss Wark personally or with her company?
    

8. What involvement, if any, did the Board, of which Miss Wark's husband is a member, of SEG have in approving or awarding the contract?
    

9. Who else was involved in taking the decision to award the contract to Miss Wark?
    

10. How many companies or individuals have been refused assistance to the value of £9,000 or less by SEG in each of the last two years?
     

Mr Neil commented:

If Scottish Enterprise Glasgow has wasted £9,000 of taxpayers money on paying someone, let alone Kirsty Wark, to chair a Conference then this is a gross waste of money and I intend to ask the Auditor General to investigate the extent to which Scottish Enterprise and its local companies have been involved in this type of spurious nonsense. Public money is tight enough for essential services without it being squandered in this manner.

I will also be very interested in the answers to the above questions, which will help establish the extent to which Scottish Enterprise Glasgow has stuck to the rules for the awarding of contracts. Any breach would be a very serious matter indeed.

Tuesday 11 January 2005

ADVOCATE GENERAL CHALLENGED OVER REGISTER OF INTERESTS DECLARATIONS

SNP MP for Perth and parliamentary candidate for Ochil and South Perthshire, Annabelle Ewing, today challenged the Advocate General over entries in the Register of Interests by the Prime Minister at Westminster and the First Minister in the Scottish Parliament.

The Prime Minister has declared a stay with the pop star, Sir Cliff Richard, whereas the First Minister did not declare his stay with Kirsty Wark, the broadcast journalist with business interests in public contracts in Scotland.

Annabelle Ewing challenged the Advocate General in the Chamber saying:

Is the Advocate General aware of any discrepancy in the Scotland Act which results in it being essential for the Prime Minister to declare his stay with a pop star but not for the First Minister to declare his stay with a political pundit.

The Advocate General replied No to the question.

Speaking afterwards Annabelle Ewing MP said:

It is mystifying that the First Minister should see fit to declare a mug and a potato peeler but not a stay with one of Scotland¹s foremost media journalists and political pundits with business interests in public contracts in Scotland.

It is also clear from the Advocate General¹s response that there is no reason why the Prime Minister should declare a stay with Cliff Richard but the First Minister does not think it appropriate to declare a stay with Kirsty Wark.

The First Minister has to clear up the mess that he has created for himself. He must make a full statement to the Scottish Parliament so that we can get to the bottom of this issue once and for all. It is time for the First Minister to set the record straight and to stop digging.

11th January 2005

BROWN CAMPAIGN POSTER BLUNDER - MAJOR GAFFE ON SCOTTISH GROWTH


SNP Leader, Alex Salmond MP, has accused the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, of committing a major campaign blunder by unveiling a poster which presents a false picture of economic growth in Scotland.

The Chancellor has launched Labour¹s election campaign with a poster which claims we have enjoyed the longest period of economic growth for 200 years. But it is a boast that does not hold true for his own country.

Official Scottish Executive growth figures show that Scotland was in negative growth on three occasions in just four years under Labour ­ in Q3 of 1998, Q2 of 1999 and Q1 of 2002.

Mr. Salmond said:

It is little surprise the London focused Labour party doesn¹t know what is going on in Scotland but by launching this poster, Gordon Brown has shown that he is either out of the loop with no input into Labour¹s campaign messages or he has neglected his roots and is out of touch with the situation in Scotland.

Overall Scotland is slipping behind the rest of the UK in terms of economic growth. We are getting relatively poorer, while nations like Ireland outstrip the UK. Since 1998 GDP growth in Scotland at 1.78% has been significantly lower than the UK¹s 2.38% ­ at a cost of billions to the Scottish economy.

Either Gordon Brown doesn¹t know what is going on in Scotland or he has been sidelined in Labour¹s election planning. Either way, this gaffe doesn¹t look good for Gordon.

11 January 2005

SNP MEPS SAY NO TO CONSTITUTION CALL FOR AMENDMENTS ON FISHING POLICY AND GREATER SAY FOR SCOTLAND

OTHER PARTIES STAY SILENT

SNP MEPs have today spoken up for Scottish interests at the European Parliament. SNP MEPs Ian Hudghton and Alyn Smith were the only Scottish MEPs to speak in the debate and challenged the other Scots MEPs to vote with them and support Scotland's case in Europe.

Putting forward amendments to the Constitution SNP European Leader Ian Hudghton MEP challenged MEPs to back Scotland's fishing communities by voting against moves to give the EU exclusive control over fisheries policy.

Speaking after the debate Mr Hudghton said:

This amendment would remove fisheries management as an exclusive EU competence from the draft EU constitution. The London-led parties who've stayed silent today now need to decide where they stand on this. Will they blithely follow the London line or will they back Scotland's fishing communities?

SNP MEP Alyn Smith called for Scotland to be given a greater say in European affairs and again challenged the Lib Dem, Labour and Tory Scots MEPs to back Scotland's case, saying:

The Scottish Parliament is the only body responsible for Justice, the Environment, Education, Health and many other areas of Scottish life, yet the provisions in the treaty to bring it into the EU law making process are wholly inadequate.

This constitution will not sufficiently improve EU law making for Scotland. More to the point this constitution does not take account of the dignity of my country and we will therefore vote against.

It is shameful that Scotland's other MEPs are simply toeing the London line. They say they represent Scotland put they have all passed up a vital opportunity to promote Scotland's needs in Europe.