Yesterday's announcement that free car parking is to return to most Scottish hospitals will come as a welcome relieve to most patients, their families and members of staff at affected hospitals who had to pay to get to work. The three exceptions are the PFI initiative funded hospitals the Edinburgh and Glasgow Royal Infirmaries and Ninewalls in Glasgow.
So for West Lothian residents that fact that some of the services removed from St. John's at Livingston in 2004 would now have free parking and local access if not removed to the ERI adds to the discord of services being spread across the Lothian Health Board. The same must also be true of patients who get referred to the GRI or Ninewalls.
Nicola Sturgeon is quite right that "Chief among [the founding principles] is that the NHS should be free at the point of delivery and...this should apply whether one comes to hospital as a patient, visitor or a member of staff." What we need now is to find a way to overcome the disparage in parking regulations dependent on where your treatment is available within a health board. Your fine if you will get treated at St. John's, the Western General or the Royal Hospital for Sick Children but if you have long term care requirements that can only be meet at the ERI, PFI contracts are going to cost you and your visitors.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Room for More Hydro-Electric Generation
I've long held the belief that small scale renewable projects as well as the mass scale ones is the best way forward to help reduce our reliance on carbon based energy generation. Therefore I'm glad to see that the Forum for Renewable Energy Development has reported that an extra 650MW of Hydro power can be produced by hundreds of small scale projects.
That's about 50%, or 600,000 extra homes (equivalent of Edinburgh) of what is currently produced primarily through the big dams up in the Highland Glens, even before the new Glendoe facility comes on line next year. Smaller schemes do not need to flood valleys, they use existing weirs of can use the natural down flow of rivers with minimal effect.
Like wind water is one resource we very rarely run out of here in Scotland and I'm glad to see the Government at least getting encouraged about the scheme to produce more renewable energy.
That's about 50%, or 600,000 extra homes (equivalent of Edinburgh) of what is currently produced primarily through the big dams up in the Highland Glens, even before the new Glendoe facility comes on line next year. Smaller schemes do not need to flood valleys, they use existing weirs of can use the natural down flow of rivers with minimal effect.
Like wind water is one resource we very rarely run out of here in Scotland and I'm glad to see the Government at least getting encouraged about the scheme to produce more renewable energy.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Roy of the Rothes
Ok I'd admit it's a convoluted title but last night Lindsay Roy secured the Labour nomination to be their candidate at the Glenrothes by election.
While Jeff may have speculated yesterday that fellow blogger Kezia Dugdale was in with a shout. However, personally like Scottish Politics pointed out to Jeff yesterday her place on the short list had nowt to do with gender balance and reeked of tokenism to me. No offence to Kez but I think that local councillor Kay Morrison from the long list would have been a far tougher test for Lindsay Roy. However, Kez did pick up 9 first preference votes. Jeff can just chalk that down to his first experience of the inner machinations of party politics not that he is a member of a party.
The thing about Mr Roy's selection is just where does this leave the old New Labour mantra of Education, education, education. He was tasked with restoring the standards of Gordon Brown's own Alma Mater Kirkcaldy High School not that long ago. So where does that leave Labour's education policy now. Sure taking a top educationalist into Westminster, should he win, does no harm to shaping policy once he gets there. But he has hardly been allowed to get to grips with a real task on the front line in turning around an ailing academical institution very close to the PM's heart. We read in today's Times (Scottish Edition) how proud he is that his old school's rugby team have re-entered the Scottish Schools' Cup competition even if he did lose the sight in one eye playing against the staff.
I'm not disputing Mr Roy's experience merely the timing of picking him as a Parliamentary candidate when he has so recently taken on an important task in his chosen field. Leaving a school possibly bereft of a key asset in such a key policy area over the last eleven years for the party he is standing for seems to counter any argument he may have for improving education during the campaign.
Jeff as ever was quick off the mark last night with some comments on Labour's selection procedure this time. I have to disagree with his conclusions to his first two points although as explained above agree with the latter three.
There is no partisan hypocrisy over the timing of the election being called late, it merely has to be called within 3 months of the seat being vacant, Labour have tried the fast approach recently in Crewe and Nantwich and Glasgow East and bobbled the ball completely, this is probably in response to take their time in Livingston, where they were scared entering the count hall and Dunfermline and West Fife where they were bamboozled leaving it. The fact that this time they are giving everyone amble opportunity to get their views across may well work in their favour, but equally can work for other parties as momentum building can happen unlike in Glasgow East recently.
Secondly I don't feel they're botched the selection process by taking longer than the other three main parties to select this time around. Yes in Glasgow East they botched it but in light of the possibly length of the election the party look they may have taken time to ensure no losing face or losing of candidates so publicly happened this time, as for people ruling themselves out that happens all the time especially when the media are trying to get a quick fix on who will stand.
However, we know have the main runners and riders and no doubt a few more may yet get saddled up:
Harry Wills (Lib Dem)
Dr Kris Seunarine (UKIP)
Lindsay Roy (Labour)
Maurice Golden (Conservatives)
Morag Balfour (Scottish Socialists)
Peter Grant (SNP)
While Jeff may have speculated yesterday that fellow blogger Kezia Dugdale was in with a shout. However, personally like Scottish Politics pointed out to Jeff yesterday her place on the short list had nowt to do with gender balance and reeked of tokenism to me. No offence to Kez but I think that local councillor Kay Morrison from the long list would have been a far tougher test for Lindsay Roy. However, Kez did pick up 9 first preference votes. Jeff can just chalk that down to his first experience of the inner machinations of party politics not that he is a member of a party.
The thing about Mr Roy's selection is just where does this leave the old New Labour mantra of Education, education, education. He was tasked with restoring the standards of Gordon Brown's own Alma Mater Kirkcaldy High School not that long ago. So where does that leave Labour's education policy now. Sure taking a top educationalist into Westminster, should he win, does no harm to shaping policy once he gets there. But he has hardly been allowed to get to grips with a real task on the front line in turning around an ailing academical institution very close to the PM's heart. We read in today's Times (Scottish Edition) how proud he is that his old school's rugby team have re-entered the Scottish Schools' Cup competition even if he did lose the sight in one eye playing against the staff.
I'm not disputing Mr Roy's experience merely the timing of picking him as a Parliamentary candidate when he has so recently taken on an important task in his chosen field. Leaving a school possibly bereft of a key asset in such a key policy area over the last eleven years for the party he is standing for seems to counter any argument he may have for improving education during the campaign.
Jeff as ever was quick off the mark last night with some comments on Labour's selection procedure this time. I have to disagree with his conclusions to his first two points although as explained above agree with the latter three.
There is no partisan hypocrisy over the timing of the election being called late, it merely has to be called within 3 months of the seat being vacant, Labour have tried the fast approach recently in Crewe and Nantwich and Glasgow East and bobbled the ball completely, this is probably in response to take their time in Livingston, where they were scared entering the count hall and Dunfermline and West Fife where they were bamboozled leaving it. The fact that this time they are giving everyone amble opportunity to get their views across may well work in their favour, but equally can work for other parties as momentum building can happen unlike in Glasgow East recently.
Secondly I don't feel they're botched the selection process by taking longer than the other three main parties to select this time around. Yes in Glasgow East they botched it but in light of the possibly length of the election the party look they may have taken time to ensure no losing face or losing of candidates so publicly happened this time, as for people ruling themselves out that happens all the time especially when the media are trying to get a quick fix on who will stand.
However, we know have the main runners and riders and no doubt a few more may yet get saddled up:
Harry Wills (Lib Dem)
Dr Kris Seunarine (UKIP)
Lindsay Roy (Labour)
Maurice Golden (Conservatives)
Morag Balfour (Scottish Socialists)
Peter Grant (SNP)
Monday, 1 September 2008
Ros Kickstarts in My Old Stomping Ground
Well having already seen Ros Scott on here recent trip to Scotland I was intrigued to read on her other's half blog why her campaign website is going live at 17:16 this evening and even more excited that the explanation takes her back to my old stomping grounds.
You see on the 17:16 to Chessington South Ros if she looks out the of the right hand side as the train moves will be able to see the last house I occupied in the last ward I lived in with Lib Dem councillors just before she pulls into Malden Manor. Then she's off to Chessingtson South for a mass canvas, which seeing as I spent the majority of my student days living in Chessington almost right beside the A3, means she'll be kick starting her campaign for President while heading not just to a place I know well, but will probably be on at least some streets I have been along.
As the button on the left hand side shows, I've already given my support to Ros in this Presidential election. I know she really is serious about putting the memberships' concerns at the heart of the Presidency. I guess I'll just have to catch up with canvassing in Glenrothes and poppadoms some other time though.
Update: On reading further on her website she was rumping along the streets of Tolworth where I lived in my first year at Kingston. Even more trips down memory lane.
You see on the 17:16 to Chessington South Ros if she looks out the of the right hand side as the train moves will be able to see the last house I occupied in the last ward I lived in with Lib Dem councillors just before she pulls into Malden Manor. Then she's off to Chessingtson South for a mass canvas, which seeing as I spent the majority of my student days living in Chessington almost right beside the A3, means she'll be kick starting her campaign for President while heading not just to a place I know well, but will probably be on at least some streets I have been along.
As the button on the left hand side shows, I've already given my support to Ros in this Presidential election. I know she really is serious about putting the memberships' concerns at the heart of the Presidency. I guess I'll just have to catch up with canvassing in Glenrothes and poppadoms some other time though.
Update: On reading further on her website she was rumping along the streets of Tolworth where I lived in my first year at Kingston. Even more trips down memory lane.
Facebook Seeking Experience
Well it hasn't taken long there is a Facebook group started for those who have more experience than Sarah Palin, John McCains running mate for Vice President. Whether that is being 6 years a counillors, one of which Mayor of a poulation that at the time had less than 6,000 people and 18 months as governor of the only US state with two international borders (one of them maritime with Russia) population less than 700,000 i'm not quite sure.
Though as someone who's had an used a passport for over 20 years I certainly have more foreign policy experience than Mrs Palin who acquired hers in 2007 to visit troops overseas. Heck I've even been behind the Iron current once before it rusted away and once after the holes appears but before it was totally torn down. More people also voted for me in 2005 than she governed as Mayor of Wallisa, where she was once pagaent Queen of, but I'll give her credit more people must have voted for her in the 2006 Alaskan Gubernatorial contest that have done for me at any stage.
Well Team McCain are certainly losing the opening rounds over Mrs Palin on the internet find out mre on LibDem Voice.
Though as someone who's had an used a passport for over 20 years I certainly have more foreign policy experience than Mrs Palin who acquired hers in 2007 to visit troops overseas. Heck I've even been behind the Iron current once before it rusted away and once after the holes appears but before it was totally torn down. More people also voted for me in 2005 than she governed as Mayor of Wallisa, where she was once pagaent Queen of, but I'll give her credit more people must have voted for her in the 2006 Alaskan Gubernatorial contest that have done for me at any stage.
Well Team McCain are certainly losing the opening rounds over Mrs Palin on the internet find out mre on LibDem Voice.
We Are Top of the League...Eek!
The last time Livingston were top of Scottish Division 1 we lost the game but had paraded the Division 1 trophy on the same day. Saturday saw the team once more on top following a 2-1 win away at Dunfermline with an absolutely suplime solo second goal from Mister Leigh. this together with defeats for Partick Thistle at home to Ross County courtesy of ex-Livi striker Mister Steven Craig, and defeat for the Dee on their trip to Dumfries and Queen of the South.
dizzying heights being at the top, everyone will be gunning for us, but apart from the opening day of tyhe league campaign defeat away to St. Johnston the Livi Lions have be unbeaten in all three competitions so far. Admittedly being taken to extra time by East Stirling was possibly the most heart in mouth occasion that record was almost broken. but the Italian job to reinstate Livi to the top flight seems well on course so far even the media are using phrases like 'in form" and "impressive" when talking about Livi words that have rarely been used since entering adminstration in 2004.
See the video highlights of the game here courtesy of DAFC website.
dizzying heights being at the top, everyone will be gunning for us, but apart from the opening day of tyhe league campaign defeat away to St. Johnston the Livi Lions have be unbeaten in all three competitions so far. Admittedly being taken to extra time by East Stirling was possibly the most heart in mouth occasion that record was almost broken. but the Italian job to reinstate Livi to the top flight seems well on course so far even the media are using phrases like 'in form" and "impressive" when talking about Livi words that have rarely been used since entering adminstration in 2004.
See the video highlights of the game here courtesy of DAFC website.
Just What Does it Take...?
...to get thrown out of the SNP.
As obviously firing off a Kalashnikov rifle in a politically sensitive area of the world is not enough. Whatever may be the practice of Pakistani citizens in the summer of 2005 when Jahangir Hanif, not yet a councillor but already seeking to be elected in Scotland having stood in that May's General Election, was filmed firing the rifle at a training base in the country. Surely he would have known then just what sort of image of a politician of Pakistani descent that would convey to voters, for most people seeking public office that would be enough to put them off doing, and especially being filmed doing such an activity.
As it he is only to be suspended for 2 months from the party which includes having his page wiped clean on the Nat's website.
As obviously firing off a Kalashnikov rifle in a politically sensitive area of the world is not enough. Whatever may be the practice of Pakistani citizens in the summer of 2005 when Jahangir Hanif, not yet a councillor but already seeking to be elected in Scotland having stood in that May's General Election, was filmed firing the rifle at a training base in the country. Surely he would have known then just what sort of image of a politician of Pakistani descent that would convey to voters, for most people seeking public office that would be enough to put them off doing, and especially being filmed doing such an activity.
As it he is only to be suspended for 2 months from the party which includes having his page wiped clean on the Nat's website.
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