The General Election campaign is now in full swing , and as is my wont, I try to do some work in key constituencies;  last week I spent a day in Dumfries, so this  week I stayed nearer home, in Ochil and South Perthshire.  Well, I went to the nearer part , because the constituency is enormous, stretching from St Fillans to Kinross to Alva!

        I thought I was going to canvass in Dunning,  but reported in to the rooms at Alloa;  the weather was dreadful, and the canvassers in Dunning had to abandon, and I spent the day putting leaflets into envelopes.  So I never saw a voter at all, but hope to rectify that later in the week.   I said the constituency is enormous, but I do remember that when Jim Fairlie stood in Perth & Kinross in 1987, that constituency went from St Fillans, to Kinross and to Invergowrie, just outside Dundee, and included the city of Perth;  I remember that well, as I was his driver on Polling Day!   Perth is now in Perth and North Perthshire,  and Alloa and the Hillfooots have been added  to South Perthshire.  The reasons for all the changes  is that because of the Scottish Parliament, a lot of functions are no longer dealt with at Westminster (they never were anyway) and the number of Westminster seats has been reduced from 72 to 59. 

          This reduction prompted a massive outbreak of horse trading in the Unionist parties, and rather a lot of skulduggery, with Members of the last Parliament being "encouraged" to seek retirement, as there were not enough seats left on the gravy train for them all.  The workload of Scottish MPs has dropped considerably since the advent of the Scottish Parliament, and if you look at the figures I published last week on the contributions of some Labour members, you will note that they took this to heart, and did very little.   They then complained about all the publicity going to Members of the Scottish Parliament, but never though of increasing their work rate to counteract this.

          Our candidate in Ochil and South Perthshire is Annabelle Ewing, who was MP for Perth in the last Parliament, and she and her team are working like Trojans.   Annabelle was the third most active Scottish MP in Westminster during that Parliament - Angus Robertson, another SNP MP, was first;  in fact the five SNP Members were in the top ten, and the bottom ten were all Labour, including the outgoing MP for Ochil, Martin O'Neil - no- not the one who manages Celtic. Rock bottom was Lewis Moonie, MP for Kirkcaldy, who made 3 contributions;  he was an Armed Forces Minister, but I don't think that was in this Parliament.  He was obviously demob happy, a condition not shared by the number of servicemen his successor is dumping; Annabelle's support from the Save the Regiments' Campaign does not go down well with the Unionists.

       The above sentence has been coined by the indefatigable Andrew J T Kerr, writer of letters to all the newspapers, as an antidote to the current Tory catchphrase.

          I watched the Tory leader, Michael Howard, on the Jonathan Dimbleby "Meet the Leaders" programme this week; it seemed that the audience, and Dimbleby, did not want to let go of the immigration issue, and the hurt look on Howard's face and the sorrowful shaking of his head, was a sight to behold.   How could they be so misunderstanding of his genuine desire to have a debate about immigration, asylum seekers, terrorists, and goodness gracious, I do not have a racist bone in my body, which one might believe, as he obviously has racism on the brain.   The way the media has homed in on the Tories attitudes on immigration has proved that - yes, they are printing what they're thinking, and it is not a nice scenario, and it is the rabid right wing press helping the Tories stir up racial hatred - well it sells more papers, does it not?  Howard seems to have forgotten that William Hague came a cropper punting immigration at the last election.

            He also displayed selective amnesia, a common trait in politicians, when it came to pensions;  he rabbi ted on about the poor pensioners, conveniently omitting that it was the Tories who abolished the link between wages and pensions.  It was also the Tories, Nigel Lawson the Chancellor, who moved against company pension funds, taxing companies who had too much in the pension funds, as if sunny days would always continue;  so the companies cut back their contributions, took pension holidays, and then we had the Tory portable pension programme.  Take your money out of this fuddy duddy company pension scheme, and put it into a private pension, you will be very much better off;  many people believed them, and there were pensions schemes galore, set up by sharp suited insurance salesmen to provide the maximum - commission for the salesmen, and those who invested are now having to work longer as their savings dwindle away. 

      The mis-selling scandal was followed by a drop in share prices, then the current Chancellor took away tax advantages from the pension funds, compounding the problems, and brought in FRS 17, where company pension schemes had to show the current value of assets and liabilities;  put in at a time when the stock market was low, this created havoc, with the bulk of companies declaring deficits.   Subsequent rises in the stock market have gone some way to redress the problem.  (The trigger for the introduction of FRS 17 was the pillaging of a company pension fund by Robert Maxwell, a former Labour MP. 

          And all the faults and failings are the fault of that other lot, whomsoever you listen to; in fact, as somebody said, you couldn't put a credit card between Labour and Tory;  nice pension fund for MPs, though - no deficits there.

APPRECIATION

         Most weeks we get some reaction, nearly all of it positive, so here's some for this week.   Occasionally, we might get some criticism, which we might publish!

Each week I look forward to reading and learning more about Scotland and the SNP.

Though I live in New Mexico, USA, I have Scottish heritage on both sides.  I want the best for Scotland
and for the Scottish people.  

Scotland forever.

-Jocelyn Macjames
 

You may be interested in the following extract taken from an article in the October 1928 issue of 'The Scots Independent' (page 173) under the heading 'Dwindling Population'. "Why should we be stupid enough to trust England to put our interests equal with her own, especially when our power to enforce our case lessens with every year that passes as our wealth and population declines? In spite of Irish immigration our population fell by 42,000 between 1922 and 1925 while England increased by a million. In another generation or so the dwindling of our numbers will arrest the attention of English statesmen. They will take the necessary action and will - cut down the number of our seats in Parliament."
Almost 80 years ago the future was being forecast by Scottish Nationalists with predictable accuracy.

 Jim Pittendrigh
 

It is a pleasure and comfort to read your weekly 'Flag in the Wind'
 
Your serious remarks mixed with humor and 'tongue in cheek' is a pleasure to read and I am always looking forward to your next issue.
 
I do not know how many replies you get from your readers but be assured there is a large multitude of readers abroad who enjoy your weekly newspaper.
 
Keep writing.
 
My best regards.
 
Harry Flood.
(Oman - Arabia)

        On Friday 15th April 2005, the SNP published their General Election Manifesto.    This is a fairly lengthy document, and can be seen in full at www.snp.org

              Here are some extracts, and candidates' comments on them.

           The manifesto will focus on Independence and measures to improve the lives of people in Scotland as well as campaigning priorities for the SNP in the next Parliament;  the SNP will be delivering for the people of Scotland with measures to:

1.  Create new opportunities for young Scots.

SNP Leader Alex Salmond said:

"Scotland is set to lose over half a million people over the next forty years - including many of our brightest and best. Britain is draining us of our young talent. We need to reverse the flow south and create opportunities for our sons and daughters so young Scots can prosper here at home.

Speaking from Dundee, SNP Candidate for Dundee East, Stewart Hosie added:

"SNP plans will remove many of the barriers to higher education that have been put in place by the Labour Party. We will scrap tuition fees and move away from the current system of loans and debt to a fairer system of student grants so that young Scots are not put off university because of the cost."
                                    _____________________________

2. Provide more support for families.

SNP Leader Alex Salmond said:

"I want a Scotland that does more to support families. That means better education for young Scots, local and faster health care and more free nursery education. Our ambition is to move to a fully comprehensive system of early education and childcare so that parents have access to the level of childcare they need."

Campaign coordinator and candidate for Perth & North Perthshire, Pete Wishart added:

"The SNP wants to lower barriers to home ownership for first time buyers and will introduce a £2000 grant to give young Scots a helping hand on to the property ladder."
                               ________________________________

3.   Income boost for pensioners

SNP Leader Alex Salmond said:

"We want to give older Scots a fairer deal. That means higher pension payments without the means test, the earnings link restored and reform of local taxation so that most pensioners pay nothing.

SNP Pensions spokesperson and candidate for Angus, Mike Weir added:

"Under SNP plans many pensioners would be £2000 better off through higher pension payments and lower council tax bills.
                                  ___________________________________

4.   Generate higher wealth with a focus on economic growth.

SNP Leader Alex Salmond said:

"The SNP wants Scotland to flourish. We have the only economic policy for Scotland at this election. Our aim is to make Scotland more competitive so we can boost jobs, increase wages and grow the economy after years of low growth within the UK.

Speaking from Aberdeen, candidate for Aberdeen North, Kevin Stewart added:

"We have £600 billion left in oil reserves in the Scottish sector of the North Sea. The SNP will invest a proportion of this windfall in a fund for future generations so that the benefit of our oil wealth lasts even when the oil has run out.

"Norway took this sensible step 10 years ago and now has a fund worth close to £90 billion. With half Scotland's oil left, it is not too late for Scotland's parliament to take control."

                                  ______________________________

The SNP will also commit to a nuclear free future for Scotland  - that means no Trident, no new nuclear power stations or nuclear waste dumps - and to saving Scotland's historic regiments. Commenting SNP Leader, Alex Salmond said:

"This is a People's manifesto for a free Scotland. It is the only manifesto made in Scotland for Scotland. It is a manifesto to make Scotland matter in this election, a manifesto focused on a better future for the people of Scotland. Independence is at its core.

"As Scotland's Party the SNP is trusted to put the people of Scotland first. Our policy platform will boost Scotland's national wealth, and allow us to invest in more opportunities for young Scots, deliver more help for Scottish families and boost the incomes of our pensioners.

"I don't think Scotland wants a forced choice between Michael Howard, a Tory who introduced the poll tax, or Tony Blair, a Tory who took us into an illegal war. People want a real choice - a Scottish option. They want a party that will make Scotland matter in May, a party with the vision to create a new Scotland.
               ___________________________________________

Nuclear Free Future

Speaking from the Western Isles, SNP candidate for na h-Eileanan an Iar,
Angus MacNeil added:

"Scotland doesn't want to become Britain's nuclear dustbin. After the election MPs will be deciding on a new nuclear weapons system and the sites for new nuclear waste dumps.

"With most of the potential UK sites in the Highlands and Islands we need SNP success to send a clear message to Westminster - we don't want your nuclear future. A strong SNP is the best protection for the Highlands and Islands.
                   __________________________________________

Save Scotland's Regiments

SNP candidate for Ochil & South Perthshire, Annabelle Ewing said:

"The SNP stands full-square behind Scotland's historic regiments. SNP success can save them from being scrapped by this discredited Labour government."
                          __________________________________

Focus on our fishing industry

Moray candidate Angus Robertson said:

"The SNP stands shoulder to shoulder with Scotland's fishermen and fishing communities. We will act to take Scotland out of the discredited and damaging CFP and believe that quota ownership should be contained within the active fishing community."

For more information contact the SNP Press Office: 0131 525 8928

          Luxury coaches can be seen everywhere on Scotland's roads;  nearly all of them use the expression "Executive Travel."

          I am astounded at how many executives attend football matches.

        Last week I received a communication from Anglia Business Associates Ltd, who describe themselves as "the leading specialist bank charge auditing service in the UK."  The question asked if I banked with Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC , RBS Nat West - or other.

            I suppose the "other" included the Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, Co-operative Bank and the Allied Irish Bank, which do not appear on an Anglocentric radar screen, and no I did not respond.

              
           We don't seem to have heard much more about the Liberals' complaint to try and silence the voice of Sir Sean Connery, except to wonder idly why they contacted the English Information Commissioner?

            On second thoughts, I don't wonder.

.          The Daily Mail published a picture on Thursday last week showing hundreds of asylum seekers in a Calais park, waiting to get into Britain; this was to highlight the perils of uncontrolled immigration, with England (Yes, England) facing being swamped.  The Observer sent a photographer to the same park on Friday, and found it empty and silent.

            Too bad  the Tory "rent a crowd" only pays by the day.

          In a recent trial for fraud in postal voting in Birmingham, six Labour councillors were found guilty;  the High Court judge stated that the conduct "would disgrace a banana republic." 

        I have just discovered that the Tory slogan "Are you thinking what I'm thinking" apparently come from a children's TV programme called "Bananas in Pyjamas."  Definitely a connection there.

            I paraphrase a letter in the Herald from Gordon McNeill of Queensferry; he was commenting on a defence of Tony Blair in a previous edition, when someone had said that Tony Blair was the best Prime Minister since Attlee.  Tam Dalyell thinks Blair is the worst he observed in over 40 years as an MP.

           Mr McNeill says they cannot both be right, so the question to be asked is:  "Who's in the better position to know - the Father of the House of Commons, or the chairman of Largs Labour Party?" 

              A veritable plethora of Press Releases this week, and great difficulty in deciding what to leave out.   One thing I have problems with, not ideological, but practical, is the new name for the Western Isles constituency;  it is now called "na h-Eileanan an Iar".  While I approve of the use of Gaelic, I am also quite sure that every time I type it in I will get it wrong, so with apologies to Angus Brendan McNeil, the SNP Candidate there, I will continue to refer to it as the Western Isles; erudition will eventually catch up with me.

Monday 18 April 2005

SNP Deputy Leader Nicola Sturgeon MSP today hand delivered a letter for Tony Blair to Labour Party Headquarters in London that demands a retraction of the misleading and inaccurate letter that was sent to Scottish voters by John Prescott.

Mr. Prescott's letter states that Labour have set an 18-week target for treatment on the NHS, despite the fact that Scottish Labour revealed last week that their target for treatment is 36 weeks - double that set for England.

The call follows the row this weekend over a misleading letter sent by Michael Howard regarding local MRSA statistics.

Nicola Sturgeon said:

"I am giving Mr. Blair the chance to set the record straight. It is an absolute disgrace that the Labour party is wilfully misleading the Scottish electorate. They should be straight with Scottish voters whom they have let down with their mismanagement of the health service. It is not acceptable and people will not stand for it.

"Labour ought to be ashamed of their record on the NHS. They have pledged that people should have to wait up to 18 weeks in England but 36 weeks in Scotland. The simple fact is that people are waiting longer, despite all Labour's promises. More people are waiting for treatment and far too many are waiting far too long.

"The SNP will focus on treating people faster and closer to home. We will tackle Labour's health failures. The SNP will make Scotland's health service matter at this Election and give Scotland the strongest possible voice at Westminster."
 

Monday 18th April 2005

Campaigning today in na h-Eileanan an Iar, SNP Leader, Alex Salmond has proposed a new measure to protect motorists and road users from the impact at the pumps of higher international oil prices.

The proposal would see the introduction of a Road Fuel Regulator so that higher oil prices trigger lower fuel duties, which make up 60 per cent of the price of petrol and diesel. The Regulator would result in an automatic freeze on fuel duty increases and a reduction in duty to match any increases in VAT.

In the Western Isles fuel prices can be more than 10% higher than the mainland. In Scotland average prices are already higher than the levels when the road fuel protests took place in 2000. Diesel is at 85.4p and super unleaded 86.7p. In 2000 average price reached 85.3p.

Commenting Mr Salmond said:

"Gordon Brown's fuel duty escalator pumped up petrol prices. Now, this fuel duty regulator will help keep them down, with the benefit felt by motorists and road hauliers in na h-Eileanan an Iar and across Scotland.

"Ironically Scotland as one of world's largest oil producers is hit hardest as our haulage industry is most vulnerable to high pump prices.

"They shouldn't have to wait on the whim of the Chancellor for a degree of protection from higher fuel costs. Long suffering motorists and hard-pressed hauliers should have some degree of protection from rising oil prices.

"This proposal would see a double protection for motorists and the road haulage industry. First, higher oil prices would trigger an automatic freeze in fuel duty rates, and second, any extra cash raised from VAT
would go straight back into an equivalent cut in fuel duty. And the penny-pinching Chancellor would be no worse off than he forecast in his pre-budget statement."
 

Monday 18 April 2005

'NO BASIS FOR SHIFTING BORDER TO CARNOUSTIE'

The Scottish National Party today unveiled letters from the Secretary of State for Scotland over the loss of 6,000 square miles of Scottish fishing waters to England in 1999.

The 'Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order' in 1999 moved the maritime border between Scotland and England giving away thousands of square miles of fishing waters and moving the border from Berwick to 60 miles off the coast of Carnoustie.

SNP Shadow Scottish Minister for Fisheries Mr Richard Lochhead MSP wrote to the Secretary of State for Scotland over the loss of 6,000 square miles of Scottish waters in 1999 under the Freedom of Information rules. The Secretary of State responded refusing to hand over the information citing public interest.

SNP candidate in Angus Mike Weir said:

"The fishing industry is one of the most important to the Scottish economy. It is worth billions to the Scottish economy and is responsible for tens of thousands of jobs. The axing of thousands of square miles of fishing waters at the stroke of a Whitehall pen caused a great deal of anger in 1999 and people deserve answers.

"The fishing boundary between Scotland and England has been recognised for hundreds of years. This move showed up Labour's contempt for our fishing industry. Their attempts to cover up their shameful actions will not wash."

SNP candidate in Dundee East Stewart Hosie said:

"Moving Scotland's border with England to just off the coast of Carnoustie is an utterly illogical and absolutely disgraceful move. This latest cover up underlines the fact that the Government had no right to move Scotland's border and was rightly criticised at the time by international experts.

"This was clearly a political move to undermine the new Scottish Parliament that would even have embarrassed even the anti-Scottish Tories and shows that they cannot be trusted to put Scotland's interests first. Only the SNP can be trusted to stand up for Scotland at Westminster and give Scots a strong voice."

North East of Scotland MSP Richard Lochhead said:

"The Government's latest attempts to cover up its actions in shifting Scotland's border to Carnoustie is shameful. They should be ashamed of the way that they have treated Scotland's fishermen".
 

Monday 18th April 2005

The Scottish National Party general election campaign will focus this week on the unravelling of the Labour campaign on health and the economy - using English figures to try to hide the reality of low growth in the Scottish economy and Labour failure on the NHS.

Commenting, Mr Salmond said:

"On the economy and health Labour has been caught red handed focusing on English success and pretending it applies to Scotland. They can talk up success south of the border, but can't hide their failure in Scotland.

"The only way to fix Scotland's economy and to make Scotland matter is SNP votes to get real power for Scotland.

"Only the SNP has a policy to address the Scottish growth gap, reverse our dangerous population decline and put public services back on track.

"The SNP is determined to see Scotland flourish and our blueprint for success is the only economic policy designed in Scotland and for Scotland.

"Over these past ten years Scotland's economy has fallen behind other similar countries and yet we have a Chancellor from a Scottish constituency who still boasts of British success, claiming 50 quarters of
growth, when back home in Scotland we have actually had 3 economic downturns since 1997.

"Because of his personal ambition to be Prime Minister of Britain, Brown will do nothing to give Scotland a vital economic edge. Neither Labour nor Tories care enough about Scotland to make Scottish success their top priority. Only the SNP has a plan to give Scotland an economic boost.

"Corporation tax at 20% would be pitched substantially below UK levels, giving us a crucial advantage and bringing new income, company headquarters and economic opportunity for young Scots. Other independent countries employ this policy because it works.

"If over the next ten years Scotland matches the success of similar European nations, instead of slipping behind as a neglected corner of the UK, it will mean 200,000 more jobs, £8bn more to spend on public services and a boost to the economy worth £4000 per person.

"This is the independence bonus and is what we can start to achieve with SNP victories in May."
 

Sunday 17th April 2005

DEPUTY PM'S LETTER "MORE INACCURATE" THAN TORIES' MSRA CLAIMS

The Scottish National Party has released a letter from the Deputy Prime Minister being distributed in Scotland, which uses the Labour Party's English health pledge.

The letter states:  "Your family deserves to be treated better and faster in the NHS. That is why we have pledged that no-one will wait more than 18 weeks, guaranteed, for hospital treatment."

In a passing reference later in the letter, it adds:

"Scottish pledges are similar to the pledges everywhere else in the UK"

Commenting SNP candidate for the key Labour - SNP marginal seat of Ochil and South Perthshire, Annabelle Ewing said:

"Scottish families do deserve to be treated better and faster - but that has not been happening under Labour. Scottish Labour is letting down patients and the hard working health service staff.

"This is another example of Labour's second class treatment of Scots.

"This letter exposes the sheer hypocrisy of Labour's election campaign. Only yesterday (Saturday) Tony Blair said of the Tories' deception with regards to MRSA: 'It is a nasty and unscrupulous campaign and it is descending into increasing desperation as time goes on.'

"John Reid claimed the Tories were engaged in a "systematic deception of the public" but it is Scottish Labour who are trying to deceive.

"They have been caught out once again with their own false claim on health. They will not get away with a campaign, which is based on trying to hide Scottish failure by promoting an English health pledge."
 

Saturday 16 April 2005

SNP UNVEIL SITES UNDER THREAT FROM NUCLEAR DUMPING

The Scottish National Party's Westminster spokesman on the environment and candidate in Angus Mr Mike Weir has today unveiled a number of sites that have been earmarked as potential nuclear waste dumps.

According to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), 470,000 cubic meters of radioactive waste need to be dumped in the United Kingdom. The UK government has also agreed to bury waste from other countries such as Japan, Germany and Italy as a money making exercise.

There are already six sites in Scotland where nuclear waste has been dumped in Scotland:

Rosyth,
Dounreay
Clyde
Hunterston
Torness
Chapelcross

Of the 33 sites that have been considered for dumping waste 22 of them are located in Scotland. The new sites will be at:

Altnabreac, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Ben Armnie Area, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Corrour, Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Deeside, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Glen Etive, Argyll and Bute
Bennachie, Gordon
Isle of Rhum, Argyll and Bute
Jura, Argyll and Bute
Loch Laxford to Enard Bay, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Mullwarcher Hill, North Ayrshire and Arran
North Harris, Na-h-Eileanan an lar
Pabby, Na-h-Eileanan an lar
Peterhead, Banff and Buchan
River Strathey, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Rougart, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
St Kilda islands, Na-h-Eileanan an lar
Scarp, Na-h-Eileanan an lar
Scourie, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Shin Forest, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
South Rona Island, Ross Skye and Lochaner
Southwest Lewis, Na-h-Eileanan an lar
Taransay, Na-h-Eileanan an lar

Alex Salmond said

"The Government should rule out these sites. Scotland should not have to pay for Labour's nuclear madness. They are obsessed with creating a nuclear future for Scotland looking to spend a further £2.5 billion on a new nuclear power station that we don't need as well as spending billions on nuclear
weapons on the Clyde.

"There is no need for more nuclear power. Scotland has the potential to be the renewable energy powerhouse of Europe with exceptional off shore energy potential. The SNP has campaigned against the Government's attempts to penalise generators in Scotland and sneaking in a nuclear future by the back
door."

Mike Weir said:

"There is no public benefit in taking a nuclear waste site. There are concerns in communities across Scotland that have been earmarked by the Government as a potential waste sites as well as those that are indirectly affected by transportation of nuclear waste through their towns and villages."
 

Tuesday 19 April

ONLY 3.6 MILLION SCOTS LEFT BY 2073 UNDER LONDON RULE

SNP Economics Spokesman Jim Mather MSP has obtained new figures of official population projections for Scotland up to 2073 - which show Jack McConnell's claim last week that population decline has been reversed to be completely misleading.

According to the forecasts from the Government Actuary Department, Scotland's population will fall from 5 million in 2004 to just 3.6 million in 2073 - a drop of 27%. Over the same period, the UK's population will increase by 11% - while according to EU figures, independent Ireland's population will have already risen 36% by 2050.

Jim Mather said:

"Jack McConnell has tried to mislead the people of Scotland over Labour's dismal record on health and the economy. He is now also exposed as trying to hide the true facts on Scotland's population time bomb.

"If you contrast the forecasts for Scotland with other small European nations it becomes obvious that only if the Scottish Parliament has full independent powers can the trend be reversed.

"These figures are a frightening prospect and must be properly tackled. Scotland is losing a town the size of Alloa - that's 20,000 people - every year. Only the SNP puts reversing our population decline through Scottish economic success at the top of our agenda."

SNP Depute Leader Nicola Sturgeon MSP pointed out that the forecast decline in Scotland's working population was even worse - down to just 2 million by 2073, a staggering drop of 36%.

"Unless Scotland gets an independent powerhouse Parliament, it will be a case of, 'will the last Scot to leave turn off the lights?'", she warned.

"Under Labour, Scotland has the lowest long-term growth in Europe and the highest unemployment in the UK. Wages are lower than in the UK and it is little wonder young Scots are leaving to find opportunity elsewhere."