Labour for Independence

Labour for Independence is led by Allan Grogan, and Alex Bell is the Chairman. Paul Paterson has played a tremendous roll in giving Labour Party pro-independence supporters a voice in the Scottish independence referendum. Allan Grogan has stated that the executive of Labour for Independence is made up entirely of card-carrying Labour Party members.

 Labour for Independence at the Rally for Scottish Independence in Edinburgh 21 September 2013.

The Scottish Labour Party has never existed

I publicly congratulate Margaret Curran, as shadow secretary for informing the Labour Party conference that: " If the SNP have their way, their plan will mean the break-up of the British Labour Party after 113 years. I want to send a clear message from this conference that after 113 years, Alex Salmond is not going to bring our movement to an end." Finally after 113 years we all know the TRUTH! according to Margaret Curran, the Scottish Labour Party has never really existed. The name Scottish Labour has for 113 years been used to deceive all the people of Scotland, because they are so ashamed of their true name, " The British Labour Party ", that they deceptively branded the name to the non existent Scottish Labour Party. this revelation brings a whole new meaning to British Liebour. They have deceptively called themselves Scottish Labour for 113 years. NOW WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH it has always been British Labour in Scotland. We now witness in the United KINGDOM in 2013 the RESURRECTION of BRITISH LIEBOUR. 

Tony Kenny No 2

I make this introduction to my website after seeing  Tony Kenny, who is not an elected member, making one of the strongest and outstanding defences, for working class rights not only for the people of Scotland but, for the working class world wide, at the Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, Glasgow, when Victoria Derbyshire hosted a debate on Scotland's Future. I'm used to seeing my Party in the Scottish Parliament with First Minister Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon as Deputy First Minister and all the SNP MSPs making the strongest defences for the " rights of all  the people of Scotland, and Women and Men equally, within the SNP administration are the Champions for the rights of the people of Scotland. Equally their are Women and Men none SNP in the Yes Campaign who in their own right are the champions of the Scottish people. Tony Kenny, although not a member of the SNP, takes a different approach politically, but is still one of the most outstanding political debaters that I have had the honour to see in action.  

Tony Kenny

At the Scottish Referendum Debate hosted by Victoria Derbyshire, on Monday the 16th September 2013, at the Old Fruitmarket Candleriggs Glasgow, I was more than considerably impressed when Tony Kenny started to participate in the debate, I could not help but notice a particular style and technique that I had only seen three times before. Tony Kenny became the political matador, who outmaneuvered all the No campaigns heavy's, by delivering his side of the Argument that " Scotland was stinkin rich "and he continued, " money we won't spend on nuclear weapons, money we won't spend criminalizing people for the crime of being poor, and we won't use the money to invade foreign countries." Tony continued to stress that this was crucial, for so many of us who want to build a better society and he highlighted the irrefutable fact that the child poverty in the East End of Glasgow was actually higher than that of the open prison on the Gaza Strip saying not 1 in 5 but 1in 2 and 1in 3 in the East End. Tony went on to say that he canvassed Barrowfield and Shettleston and that he didn't come across one No voter. Tony again stated strongly that we're currently criminalizing people for being poor and again referred to using Scotland's vast wealth in order to create a more progressive society and stated that " we are on the cusp of doing something fantastic and want to create a progressive beacon " that his friends in England see us as something that's going to change England. Tony said, that Scottish independence would show people in England how the Scottish Government treats its people, and act as a springboard to make a fairer society in England. I really believe that Tony Kenny's contribution to this debate will go down in history as a lot of people in Scotland will digest deeply the statements Tony has made, act on them, and equally important remember them. I'm a pensioner and used to participate in local politics and industrial rally's and in my opinion his contribution is exemplary and of the highest calibre.      

Blair Jenkins, Yes Scotland

                                           Blair Jenkins

Blair Jenkins is the chief executive of Yes Scotland. Although not a member of any political party, Blair Jenkins as chief executive is running the official campaign to gain independence for Scotland. Blair was made an OBE in the Queens Birthday Honours List in 2012, for his services to broadcasting, he has been a Director of Broadcasting at STV, and Head of News and Current Affairs at both STV and BBC, I've been told that he also chaired the Broadcasting Commission 2007-2008. Blair Jenkins is running a remarkable and highly professional campaign for Scottish Independence, presenting the case for independence with complete integrity and irrefutable facts, which prove beyond all doubt that the people of Scotland would all be considerably better off with independence. The Yes Scotland campaign, run by Blair Jenkins has for some time now, been capturing the imaginations of the people of Scotland, especially where its proven that the benefits of independence far outweigh the alternative, of being shackled to Westminster.

The Scottish Sun September 2, 2013 front page again made history by highlighting the fact that "Indy vote leads for Nats" with the Yes on 44% and No on 43%. I'd say this result proves conclusively that Blair Jenkins has been right all along and that not only has he found the No Campaign's " Achilles Heel ", he's effectively speared it: their perpetual scaremongering based on nothing, their  Project Fear based on nothing, and their, continual personal insults on people they disagree with based on nothing. Blair Jenkins has effectively and conclusively proven: That the No in the No Campaign, really means NOTHING.  

If anybody wishes to look at the Yes Scotland website You can click on the Yes Scotland website address on the bar at the right hand side, of my website,     

 

The need for Scottish Independence

The need for Scottish Independence has never been greater, the irrefutable fact that an independent Scotland would be considerably more beneficial than the present setup and affordable, is now beyond doubt. The major facts have been proven despite the continual scaremongering by the Better together? campaign, and United with Labour? campaign. Devolution while a step in the right direction, is not a state of permanency, as it can be removed by Westminster at anytime. The Peoples of Scotland should have the right to be able to make the decisions required by them without continual interference by Westminster. They should have control over their own Scottish Government finances and make the decisions here in Scotland, as the Peoples of Scotland must be able to make the relevant decisions regarding their own Government finances and control their own Welfare State, and control their own Resources, to suit their needs here in Scotland, and have a Government which is in a state of permanence. Only with Independence can the Scottish Government, abolish the bedroom tax, which was introduced by " New Labour " and continued by the Conservative Coalition, and bring security back into the life's of the disabled, sick, unemployed and pensioners, and honour their legal entitlements. It must be mentioned that while One Nation " Conservative " Labour make continual press statements against the bedroom tax, their official stance is, in their own words, if returned to office " they will retain the bedroom tax as a way of making a fairer society ," if elected to the Westminster Government. Ed Miliband, Ed Balls, Frank Field, Margaret Hodge Margaret Curran,  have clarified this position. Only Johann Lamont and her Labour Team at the Scottish Parliament go further they want to abolish Universal Benefits as they see them as  " a something for nothing culture. " Perhaps that's why Johann is affectionately called " Scotland's Margaret Thatcher."

Westminster's Project Fear and a smacking of " Totalitarianism ".

The media this week reported that Ministry of Defence officials were starting to examine plans to designate the Faslane base as a Sovereign Base Area along the lines of its military bases in Cyprus, if Scotland votes YES next year. A defence source said the idea of designating Faslane as sovereign UK territory in the event of an SNP victory was being taken seriously. The source is reported to have said: " It would cost a high amount of money, running into tens of billions of pounds to decommission Faslane.  After the warnings by Westminster , using the false figure of tens of billions, the real cost appears to be £150 million.  Reference was also made that those costs would be factored into negotiations on an independence settlement. The sovereign base area is an option. Even Alistair Darling, " the Darling of the Tory party," said it was a ridiculous proposition as he try's to play it down. This is one of the more sinister and insidious threats to come out of the " No " campaigns and United with Labour project: " Project Fear ". This threat must be taken extremely seriously, as Labour's record of total disregard for international law which is proven irrefutably when they were in office for " 13 Years " This threat really is not worthy of any democratic Government, and should be examined seriously by the European Parliament with regards to the Both the UN Conventions that: All peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. The threat to the Scottish peoples rights, by Westminster, if they achieve independence is smacking of totalitarianism and " must " not be tolerated by the European community, the Commonwealth, and the rest of the democratic world. Its not sufficient just to sweep it under the carpet, Labour has shown what its capable of with their disregard to international law. Even a smacking of totalitarianism cannot be tolerated. Liberal Democrat Sir Nick Harvey, a former armed forces minister, is said to have told the Guardian, that, re-designating Faslane on a " Cyprus type arrangement " was the most practical and likely outcome should Scotland leave the UK. The " No " Campaigners of        " Better together ?, and United with Labour were running about like headless chickens, pleading to their Puppet Masters at No 10 Downing Street, to " Kill the Story ", as making public their provisions to make Faslane and Dounreay*  re-designated as sovereign UK territory in the event of an SNP victory in 2014, was a gift to the SNP.   * Professor William Walker from the School of International Relations, is reported to have said: the sovereign base idea would involve not just Faslane and Coulport but also Dounreay, which is used for testing submarine reactors. Professor William Walker, apparently made those statements to the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee, All of the " No " campaign are saying: No such meetings ever took place. And that no reference should ever have been made public " as it was a gift on a plate to the SNP " Even Henry McLeish a former Labour First Minister has told the Labour Party, that they should leave the official " No " campaign as: the Official No Campaign, as the anti-independence campaign was " treating Scots like idiots, and that there was " too much venom and hatred aimed at the SNP from the anti-independence Labour, Tories and LibDem Pact. He also made reference to them facing an identity crisis, that would seriously damage them at future elections.       

Scotland's Greatest

                                   Scotland's Greatest

In the last two months, there has been a consistent number of people who are now saying they are  going to vote " Yes " in Scottish Independence Referendum, as they are all going to be worse off  because of Westminster's Policies. They now believe that First Minister Alex Salmond and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon are their only hope as Westminster Policies are destroying their life's and their families. They now see the real reasons for the constant scaremongering by the " No " campaign, as a mere distraction for their despicable Welfare Cuts, they now see that what the Better Together and United with Labour ( The Standard Bearers for  the Conservative Party ) are really saying, that the most vulnerable in our society must suffer, in some cases several Welfare cuts;  in housing benefits; in disability benefits; in unemployment benefits; resulting in vulnerable people having to go to food banks in order to feed themselves and their families or being given food stamps; being placed at the back of the housing list if they become unemployed  ( if One Nation Labour gets into Government ) then One Nation Labour has stated last week, pensioners must share the pain if the country is to recover, the same One Nation Labour were only saying three days earlier that they would protect the so called triple lock which guarantees that state pensions go up every year. One Nation Labour and their Conservative Puppeteers in the No Campaign are really saying this is how we are Better Together and United with Labour say all this hardship makes a fairer society. I saw an article in the newspaper which said that Gordon Brown Leader of the Conservatives United with Labour declared payments of £1.37million from other jobs  in the  parliamentary session which ended in the month of May, the article went on to say the payments were 20 times higher than the £65,738 salary which he collects as an MP. The article also stated the Alistair Darling Leader of the Conservative Better Together campaign received £263,000 from other jobs and Jack Straw received £183,000 from other jobs. One could almost say They are definitely better together! BUT WE THE PUBLIC ARE CERTAINLY NOT,   I think a lot of people are going to            " VOTE YES ". Maybe that's why all the pointless scaremongering from the No campaign as they realise this as well, and see themselves as extinct as the dinosaurs when the  Yes vote wins. Alex Salmond should be congratulated, first for being able to establish Scotland as a world leader in the crusade against global warming, then for having the courage to put the Independence Referendum for Scotland on the political agenda, and at the same time, he has given the electorate the irrefutable facts that Scotland would perform better as an independent state, which would have the freedom to make our own decisions, and get rid of Westminster's deplorable Bedroom Tax and other equally deplorable Welfare Cuts. Irrefutable proof that Alex Salmond is one of the Greatest Politician of our time, was evident only last year, when Alex was voted the " Best Politician Of The Year " 3 times in a single week, 3 in a row, a hat trick, and only the year before Alex Salmond did the impossible by winning an overall Majority in the Scottish Parliamentary elections, with the political system rigged OH terrible sorry designed by Westminster to prevent an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, and the majority of the press said he had no chance and wrote him off. All I can say to those obsequious sycophantic obstructionists, You really did  underestimate one of Scotland's Greatest Politicians. Alex Salmond's ' Greatness ' grows from his endless campaigning to better the life's of all in Scotland, Alex has become a beacon of hope for the peoples of Scotland, by his adherence to democracy, equality, and compassion in order to meet the aspirations of the peoples of Scotland. The People of Scotland now witness the fragmentation and collapse of a dysfunctional parliament at Westminster a creation by New Labour and now the Conservative/LibDem coalition, and now promised to be continued by Ed Miliband's One Nation Labour if they ever get elected. After all it was Labour that started the Bedroom Tax, said they would abolish Disability Allowance, yet went into several wars two of which, have been highly controversial, now after nearly bankrupting the UK, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling, now ask the Scottish people to trust them. As they would rather have a permanent Conservative government at Westminster, with permanent austerity, than a democratically elected Independent Scottish Parliament under which Scotland would prosper.    

 

 

Linda OUR MSP

     Linda Fabiani as our MSP here in East Kilbride, has been an outspoken critic of  Westminster's Welfare Cuts, and has continually expressed her concerns, especially with regards to the undesirable consequences, which result in so much unnecessary hardship and distress, being forced upon the most vulnerable in our society, by consecutive Labour and Tory Westminster Governments, who's utter lack of compassion and endless inhumanity towards their fellow man, knows no bounds. Linda and the rest of the Scottish National Party team in the Scottish Parliament have been able to mitigate against some of the measures forced upon the most vulnerable in our society, by Westminster. I accept that too many decisions are out of our hands, and the only responsible way in which to resolve the permanent discrimination of the most vulnerable here in Scotland, is to have self-government. I recommend that You look up Linda's website, in order to get her own personal views on the entire range of Westminster's Welfare cuts. Finally, I thought it would be worthwhile, exposing a little bit more of One Nation Conservative Labour project hypocrisy, regarding the morally repugnant " Bedroom Tax " . I saw an article which said that Labour's shadow housing minister , said the case showed the " sheer inhumanity of the iniquitous bedroom tax. " He should know it was his  ' New Labour ' that introduced the Bedroom Tax, to the private rented sector. Then I saw another article which indicated that, Ed Miliband, Ed Balls, Margaret Hodge if elected to government One Nation Labour would keep the obscenity of the bedroom tax, and Ed Balls wants to go further he said,  pensioners also had to share the pain as Britain struggled to get its economy back on track. The Scottish National Party will end the Bedroom Tax if Scotland becomes Independent.   



The Provost

                                           The Provost

Jim Marshall was the absolute patriot, and remarkable and charismatic leader, and a remarkable human being. Jim was a man of very strong principles and integrity, and all of us in the Scottish National Party, locally and nationally owe him an immense debt of gratitude. It was Jim Marshall, who's leadership and dedication, led the Scottish National Party to victory in the East Kilbride District Council elections in 1974, where Jim's leadership quality's excelled. Jim's determination led the Scottish National Party to a " Landslide Victory " in 1977, this time to overall control of the East Kilbride District Council, where Jim was democratically selected  Provost. Jim was so impressed by the work records of Linda Fabiani MSP for East Kilbride and Councillor Archie Buchanan South Lanarkshire Council, East Kilbride South, that he intended to address the East Kilbride Branch of the Scottish National Party, but it was not to be. 

                                    

Scotland's Independence Referendum Campaign No 4

I look forward to the 18th of September 2014, when I can exercise my legal and democratic rights under the United Nations Charter, Chapter 1, Article 1, Part 2, and look forward to the possibility of Scotland becoming an independent sovereign state once again. Although Devolution is a step in the right direction it has been designed deliberately with several limitations, which could prove problematic, here's just a few examples: 

1: George Foulkes added an unsuccessful amendment which would have required the Scottish Parliament to obtain consent from Westminster counterparts before being allowed to speak to foreign government officials.

2: Another glaring limitation is the fact that the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, which has been continually accused of " routinely interfering in the Scottish system of law ", because of the lack of the system of certification, which is granted to England and Wales but continually denied to Scotland,  Why.

3: On welfare Westminster can force on the Scottish people,  former, New Labour policies such as the current " Bedroom Tax " and the equally repugnant New Labour policy regarding Welfare cuts to those suffering long-term illnesses and profound disabilities in order to force them back into employment. New Labour had the Work Capability Assessment carried out by French company ATOS which at the time was heavily criticised for being deeply flawed. Yes in 2008 Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling introduced the Employment and Support Allowance E.S.A. for that purpose.  Ed Milibands crony and shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne suggested the jobless should go to the back of the queue for council housing, there's certainly no limit to their inhumanity, they are heartless and hopeless. When last in government New Labour published a green paper in which, they appear to suggest they wanted to abolish all Disability Benefits which included DLA and AA, they even bragged publicly that they had virtually abolished Income Support, and in their Green Paper talked openly about abolishing Attendance Allowance, as part of their " aspiration " to building a fairer Britain, in the eyes of Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, and possibly in the eyes of New Labour's Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper. Anybody that thinks Labour is an alternative to the Conservatives is living in an alternative world. Independence for Scotland would give the peoples of Scotland, a Parliament which would produce policies, set to their own values which include compassion and humanity. With Independence, Scotland will be a BETTER NATION, it certainly can't be worse than Westminster where even Ed Miliband has said " Are our problems so deep nobody can actually make a difference to them? My emphatic answer to that is yes ", and in January 2010, Alistair Darling when Chancellor has already said " If  Labour is re-elected spending cuts will be tougher  and deeper ", and he warned that Britain faces its toughest spending cuts for 20 years if Labour continued in office, at the time Darling bragged about cuts in residential care for the elderly, legal aid and prisons, saving £5 billion and it was said at the time, he was intent on sending a signal to the markets that a fourth term Labour government could be brutal.

Scotland's Independence Referendum Campaign No 3

 The Relentless and Insidious Devastation on the finances of the Peoples of Scotland, with the Cruellest of Consequences, have been continually imposed by Consecutive Westminster Governments, Conservative Labour and Conservative Tory with the help of the LibDems. This undoubtedly will be one of the biggest issues raised and considered in the Historic Independence Referendum Campaign, as the Devastation of finances by Consecutive Westminster Governments pose serious repercussions for mortgages, financial services and pensions, and the unemployed, disabled, sick, single parent and pensioners have all been singled out for Special Treatment by the " United Conservative Alliance " ( Conservative, LibDems, and One Nation Conservative Labour. Its completely ironic that they have the Audacity to Highjack in their case the Ludicrously named Better Together campaign ?. Being dictated by Westminster and Supported by Scotland's Own Mrs Thatcher, " Johann Lamont " and her One Nation Conservative Labour Project, and the other Westminster Puppets at Holyrood, Ruth Davidson and her small band of Conservative MSPs and Willie Rennie  what can I say? Willie and the Rest of the Westminster Puppets Support the Bedroom Tax despite their Rhetoric., They have no Compassion and certainly No Shame, just like the rest in the NO Campaign, and the newly formed Conservative " United with Labour " campaign against Scotland and its People Mr Tom Berney, from East Kilbride exposed the Failure of the Better Together campaign, by their failure to supply a single argument for being better together during their entire meeting. The Bedroom Tax is NEW LABOURS BABY which I'm told was Born in 2002 and used as a pilot, then implemented over the UK by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling in 2008, to those on benefits with an extra room in the Private Rented Sector, and its been said, that, it was going to be introduced into the Council Housing Stock for Tenants on Benefits with an extra room, in 2010. They should hang their heads in Shame at the Hardship and Misery they are responsible for then and now, along with the Other Tories. Fortunately the Peoples of Scotland have an Opportunity to get rid of the Bedroom Tax and other Destructive Westminster Policies by Exercising their Legal and Democratic Right to Self Determination, by Voting YES in the Scottish Independence Referendum, and at the same time Have Our Own Democratically Run Parliament, run in a Social Democratic and Compassionate Way, by the People Who Live and Care most about Scotland the Peoples of Scotland.   

Scotland's Independence Referendum Campaign No 2

 

I believe that Independence for Scotland is OUR Democratic Right to Self Determination, and an Inalienable Right for All the Peoples of Scotland, to be able to run their own Parliament as they decide, and not by unelected representatives imposing their personal desires, with not even the slightest interest in the people of Scotland other than, how they can milk Scotland of its More than Considerable Wealth, for the sole interest of Westminster and to Scotland's Perpetual Neglect. The Peoples of Scotland are Legally and Morally Entitled to their Democratic and Inalienable Rights to be able to Control their Own Destiny. We have seen the possibility of what can be achieved with Independence  by looking at the Record of One of Scotland's Greatest Politicians Alex Salmond and his Team in the Scottish Parliament, Fighting for the Interests for every Individual and their Rights. This has been proven conclusively over their terms in office, that even with Westminster's, Inhuman, Immoral and Brutal cutbacks, The Scottish National Party are still able to Run very successfully the Scottish Parliaments Reserved Matters despite Westminster's horrendous cutbacks, because of the unbelievable damage done to the British Economy, resulting in nearly Bankrupting Britain by the British Labour Party, and at the same time the Scottish National Party, The Party of Scotland are still able to mitigate against some of damage done by the Westminster Cuts and at the same time they have Protected our Essential Services and Protected Universal Benefits. Red, Blue, One Nation Conservative Labour Leader Red Ed Miliband has publicly admitted that Labours Destruction of the UK Economy is in his own words " SO BAD NO ONE CAN SOLVE THEM" I'd really like to find out from Red Ed one question, What School of Conservative Marxism did You learn from, was it Karl Marx or Groucho Marx. One month Ed was saying, " I'm a socialist and I'm not ashamed to say it ", then the following month Red Ed is said to have said " Margaret Thatcher is the Greatest Political Leader that Britain ever had" I think the guy had a BAD DREAM. Now he saying he's taking his Labour Party on, WAIT FOR IT, On to a One Nation Conservative Project and that his New Tory Labour Project that is, WAIT FOR IT,  Big Conservative, Small Labour, Big Marxism possibly from the Goucho School of Marxism. At the same time This Man is trying hard to convince us that we should Let OUR Scottish Parliament be RUN BY WESTMINSTER, and that the unemployed, the sick and disabled need to be Punished but within the LAW. This is the Alternative to a Democratic Independent Scottish Parliament.  

Scotland's Independence Referendum Campaign No 1

Scotland's independence referendum as we all know will be held on 18th September 2014. The Conservatives, No campaign Standard Bearer Alistair Darling, was the same Chancellor in Gordon Brown's New Labour Government, who it is claimed took the UK debt from £36 billion to £156 billion in two years, and they say he supports weapons of mass destruction. The media said, that he got tax payers money flipping his second home 4 times. Some say he was caught sleepwalking, during the banking and economic collapse. Its said in the media that he supported 2 illegal wars and its said, that he abstained on the Conservatives indefensible Bedroom Tax. It is further claimed that, Over One Trillion Pounds was being wasted when Alistair Darling was the New Labour Chancellor.  Alistair Darling admitted-if Labour is re-elected spending cuts would be " tougher and deeper ". BLATANT HYPOCRISY, in 2008 LABOUR BROUGHT IN THE BEDROOM TAX TO THE PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR ON A NATIONAL BASIS,         GUESS WHO THE CHANCELLOR WAS?   Could you really trust this politician with Your Families future. We in Scotland have an opportunity to vote in Scotland's independence referendum, a Yes Vote would mean that the Scottish Parliament would be able to raise all of its own taxes and run its own welfare system, for the benefit of the Scottish People. We get the Government we vote for, and the decisions about Scotland are taken by the people who care most about Scotland "The People of Scotland ".

Linda MSP

                                    
                                                                      

                                         Linda Fabiani

Linda Fabiani at her Victory Celebrations in May 2011 with some of her many Supporters. Linda is also a Member on the Scottish Governments Welfare Reform Committee, and can be followed in her website, the website address is in the right sidebar'.

Photograph Copyright belongs to Mr James Clare, Photographer

e-mail: jamesclarephoto@blueyonder.co.uk

The Bedroom Tax 2

                                   The Bedroom Tax 2

Vulnerable Families and Individuals are now expected to find money they no longer have as Westminster took it from them, now face increased poverty, increased debt, increased evictions, and increased homelessness. Martin Sime Chief Executive for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, is reported to have said, that the UK Governments welfare reform programme " was the biggest assault on the poor in living memory". As a result of this despicable Bedroom Tax Vulnerable Families and Individuals are forced to go to the Banks, or Money Lending Establishments in order to survive from day to day, and in the process run up more debt, some are able to buy the cheapest food, and others unable to do this rely on Food Banks and Clothes Banks. Equally abhorrent is the Multiple Welfare Cuts to the Disabled, who are more likely to get into debt, and have to rely on charities for crisis help and face isolation and mental illness.

The Bedroom Tax

                                     The Bedroom Tax

I sincerely believe that there can be no justification whatsoever, for the Westminster Coalition Government to impose this callous and indiscriminate policy, solely designed to force vulnerable people out of their homes. The Morally Repugnant Bedroom Tax is one of the worst policies introduced in Scotland since the Conservative Poll Tax. The Bedroom Tax came into effect on April 1st 2013, and will hit about 105,000 working age tenants in Scotland who live in social housing. Its so very sad that the Westminster Coalition Government who imposed the Bedroom Tax are so out of touch,that they collectively lack the normal human compassion, or even have the slightest desire to examine or even consider, the catastrophic consequences of this dispicable policy. If they had they would have discovered, that the results of their disastrous Bedroom Tax is creating perpetual misery, hardship and poverty on an unprecedented scale.

Nation's New Dawn

                                   Nation's New Dawn

On the 6th of May 2011, Scotland woke up to a New Dawn for our Nation as the People of Scotland put their faith in the Scottish National Party, and gave Alex Salmond and his Team their second electoral victory, this time it was a landslide victory on a monumental scale. I was fortunate to be at the John Wright Sports Centre when Linda Fabiani, deservedly won the First seat of the election, leading to an SNP hat trick: Linda Fabiani, Christina McKelvie, and Aileen Campbell. Alex Salmond and his team will undoubtedly go down in political history, as the leader who broke d'Hondt-the Scottish electoral system which was designed to prevent any political party gaining an overall majority in Holyrood. Alex Salmond secured first-ever majority, with the SNP sweeping to victory after winning a massive 69 of Holyrood,s 129 seats, Alex Salmond and his team of MSPs are continually rising to meet Scotlands Challenges, especially the past and present neglect of Scotland by consecutive governments at Westminster. The Scottish National Party at Holyrood, have taken their stand against a whole raft of Morally Bankrupt policies being implemented by the Westminster Government, The bedroom tax is one of the most abhorrent which we are unable to scrap without Independence, but the SNP have said we can mitegate, and we have made a commitment that SNP Councils across Scotland will not evict those hit by the bedroom tax. 

 

Scotland's Stone of Destiny

                             Scotland's Stone of Destiny         

The Lia Fail, also known as the Stone of Destiny is said to have originated in Palastine and was transported through Syria, Egypt, Sicily, Spain and on to Tara in Ireland, before arriving in Scotland where it was used when Scottish Monarchs were crowned. In 1296 Edward the first, did take a block, cut from Perthshire sandstone, to Westminster. However it is said that Bishop Robert Wishart of Glasgow had hidden the original Black Basalt Stone of Destiny marked with hieroglyphics, and replaced it with a block of Perthshire sandstone. Its been said, that on  25th March 1306 and 26th March 1306, Robert the Bruce, went through his first and second Coronation ceremony sitting on the Black Basalt Lia Fail, with the vestments being placed around his shoulders and on the second Coronation ceremony a simple circlet of gold was placed on his head by Isabel Countess of Buchan. Bishop William de Lamberton anointed him with oil, and it was said, Isabel Countess of Buchan lifted the golden circlet and placed it on his brow, and he was truly King of Scots according to every tradition. It was said that Robert the Bruce sat on "the kingis  stole " ( stool ), nor were any kings in wont to reign anywhere in Scotland, unless they had on receiving the name of the king, first sat upon this Royal Stone of Scone. I include this part of the  exercise regarding the Lia Fail in order, to highlight two of the major players Bishop Robert Wishart and Bishop William de Lamberton who were Loyal to Bruce and Scotland, and who made a major contribution to Scotlands History, by enabling Robert the Bruce to become King and guaranteeing that Scotland be an Independent Nation,in its own right.