Dubai Crisis as a Spider

I had to say that when I opened the Times today I was impressed by their spider diagram (this is a link to a PDF) showing the interconnectiveness of businesses to the Dubai World difficulties. Unlike the previous map of islands that they showed, when reporting on the venture at the start up, there is less enthusiasm about the state of some of these islands.

Trump Reducing Ownership Rights to Superstition - David Hume

"Rules regulating property are absolutely necessary for the well-being of mankind. But remove the interests of society, and ownership rights would be reduced to forms of superstition."

David Hume from An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: On Justice

So a date has been set for Aberdeenshire Council to decide on Donald's Trump to use Compulsory Purchase Orders for his own commercial gain, that date is October 1. It was one thing that I wasn't able to tell all those interested fellow Liberal Democrats while I was down at Bournemouth as I have only heard about the setting of the date today.

Due to refurbishment of the Council Chamber the actual decision on what is Martin Ford's motion calling on the Council not to allow CPOs is being held elsewhere. It will be in the Gordon Suite, AECC at 10.15am , Thursday 1st Oct.

Today was also the day that a group called the Menie Liberation Front also added masks of Donald Trump and children's golf clubs at some of Scotland's most iconic statues in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Sterling. Of all the possible images I've used the picture of David Hume as it is appropriate.

A spokesman for the protest group said:

"We are dressing up famous Scottish statues as the American tycoon to symbolise the way Trump thinks he can walk over Scotland.

"This development has gone too far. Throwing families from their homes for a private development is outrageous."

Trump's organisation branded the protest, in which no statues were damaged just one American's ego, or superego. Sarah Malone, executive vice president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, said:

"This publicity stunt is perpetrated by a handful of individuals, and can only serve to tarnish our regional and national profile.

"Gimmicks such as this illustrate the lack of credibility of those involved and do a great disservice to local people.

"We are dealing with serious issues that need to be handled in a responsible and mature manner."

If the first bit of that about a tarnished Trump image I'd say good. Although it is already being tarnished by the immature and irresponsible manner that Trump is currently walking over local people, Scottish law, Aberdeenshire Council, aided and abetted by the SNP Government.

I'm sorry Ms. Malone while the protesters may indeed have merely been a handful the threatened erosion of ownership law is something that affects a great many more of us. The use of CPOs for commercial ends is wrong and everyone who stands against your organisation on this issue is right. This is a major issue and if Trump gets his way we truly will as David Hume said be reducing the rights to own the land were we all live to the level of superstition, not a binding contract.

Thane of Buchan's Feudal Ransom

In the past I have called the First Minister the Thane of Banff and Buchan but this isn't about him but the actual 17th Earl of Buchan. The ransom in question is £67,250 of West Lothian Council money for signing over the feudal deed for the former Broxburn Primary School.

In today's West Lothian Courier the story of how the majestic, though now boarded up and vandalised, building on Broxburn Main Street has unfolded since it was last used as a school 10 years ago. The Council who owns the building tried to sell it on to a developer for £140,000 to turn in to a private nursery and leisure facility. However, during the sale negotiations it was unearthed that the original title deed prevented any other land use other than for educational purposes. The feudal deed goes back 150 years and the current Earl of Buchan, Malcolm Erskine lives in Hampshire with no interests in West Lothian at all.

There are a number of feudal deeds still around, as I found out when I first had an offer accepted prior to mortgage arrangement when I first moved here, but generally these are easily dealt with. The spirit of this original deed was obviously that the then Earl wanted to ensure that the children of his tenants were receiving an education. So with the children of Broxburn well served with local primary schools the spirit of that title deed is no longer required. The council faced a similar issue with the deeds of the old Bathgate Academy a few years ago, but that was settled a the site was developed for residential use, whilst maintaining the listed old school building.

The issue that the land has not been of direct use to the Earls of Buchan for 150 years but now the present title holder is demanding £67,250 to basically finally sign away his forefathers clause is maybe a sign that for some the feudal system still exists. In the meantime the building itself remains empty and a growing eyesore on the Main Street.