Grayling Not Fit to be Home Secretary

The Observer is reporting that Chris Grayling has told bed and breakfast owners that are totally within their rights to turn away same sex couples from their establishments. This really is turning the Tories back to the bad old days of the 80s. Also contravening the equality laws that Labour have brought in over the last 13 years.

What next?

Will they stop our schools protecting gay pupils from homophobic bullying? If they want to.

Will they allow employers to sack people purely on the basis of their sexual orientation? If they want to.

What happened to the Conservative party that March Pink Times said was making most impression with first time gay voters?

Maybe that David Cameron slip up with Gay Times (below) was merely the slipping of the mask about the true level of Conservative acceptance of homosexuality.



Updat with Fact Check: Iain Dale says he had to disagree with Grayling but has also gone for the following defence:

Do I believe Chris Grayling is homophobic? No, I do not. Do I believe that his views, as expressed, will be damaging. Yes I do. He has just issued the following statement...

"Any suggestion that I am against gay rights is wholly wrong - it is a matter of record that I voted for civil partnerships. I also voted in favour of the legislation that prohibited bed and breakfast owners from discriminating against gay people. However, this is a difficult area and on Wednesday I made comments which reflected my view that we must be sensitive to the genuinely held principles of faith groups in this country. But the law is now clear on this issue, I am happy with it and would not wish to see it changed."

Which would be well and good only They Work for You tells us that Grayling has voted moderately against equal gay rights. So just how has he voted on those issues.

For that Tory biggy repealling section 28 he was actually absent from the vote. He was actually a teller for vote agaist allowing same-sex couples to adopt. He'd also voted for there being an other sex 'role model' as part of the embryology and fertilisation bill consistently saying that a male and female are required in a family model.

However, in Chris's own words he voted for civil partnerships, that is only part of the story, he did vote for it in 2004 but on the 21 October 2001 he voted against bringing such a bill before the house.

Horrendous Quote of the Day - Richard Thomson SNP PPC

"We all know how the SNP Government picks endless fights with London - it's all the party exists for."

So says Richard Thomson the SNP PPC for Gordon, if that is all the party exists for then they really are not a political party but a prize boxer.

Update Richard then went on to justify that this was not the position of the SNP by looking at The Scottish Affairs Select Committee report on co-operation and communication. The following unchaged is what I wrote to look at the above statement more closely, i.e. is there not some element of truth in that statement. (Bear in mind that from 1999 I was working in a newly devolved Northern Irish Department and therefore experienced communication with Whitehall first hand). End

I entered politics to make a positive change for the people around me. I entered politics to bring fairness to all. I believe in proportional voting systems which means that you cannot fight all the time but you would most often have to work together with others to achieve your goals.

The fact that the SNP candidate against Liberal Democrat Malcolm Bruce has been so candid shows that the SNP just do not get it. They are ignoring the economic hole that we all find ourselves in and instead of looking at how we all need to pull together to get out of it, are refusing to make any concessions.

Malcolm Bruce along with myself and all the Liberal Democrat candidates are standing on a manifesto that does not set aside out principles. It is still putting fairness front and centre, still putting sustainability and our environment at its heart. But we've admitted that some aspirations cannot be met while we are crippled by Labour's debt. Meanwhile in Bute House Alex Salmond is prepared to fiddle while the economy of Scotland burns, as he attempts to hold Westminster to ransom.

That is why the people of Gordon deserve Malcolm Bruce as their MP once again. He has served their best interests for 27 years. He stands up for them when he has to but also know when he needs to work with other parties to get things done. That is the art of politics, it more that just picking endless fights, it's also the way you occasionally win.

Another Government Drug Advisor Quits

There is something to be said about the Labour parties drug policies it sure can empty a room. Eric Carlin is the latest member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to resign over the Government either not waiting or overlooking scientific evidence on which to base its judgement.

 

In his resignation letter he says:

 

"Our decision [on Mephedrone] was unduly based on media and political pressure. The report was tabled to the whole council for the first time on Monday; the chair came to brief you before the whole council had even discussed all of the report. In fact, I still haven't seen the final version."

 

He says that there is a need to stop harming those who misuse drugs who are in need of help and support adding in relation to the earlier evacuation of the room by many of his colleagues over the sacking of Professor Nutt:

 

"At the end of last year, I decided not to resign over the sacking of David Nutt, preferring instead to see how things panned out and to hope that the ACMD could develop a work programme which would help prevent and reduce harm, particularly to young people.

"I have no confidence that this will now happen, largely though not totally due to the lack of logic of the context within which the council is constrained to operate by the Misuse of Drugs Act."

You have to ask what is the point of this Labour Government appointing experts in their field as advisors if you aren't prepared to listen and then act upon that advise? The baying to the Daily Mail readers that Labour has done has clearly deflated the integrity of ACMD further with another expert stepping down.

This post has been sent via email therefore spacing and fonts may not appear at my usual standard. Also there may be links to other relevant blog entries or other content added later today along with adding the correct tagging.

Good Friday 12 Years Ago

Twelve years ago good Friday was actually the 10th of April but in the wee, small hours an agreement was met and signed in Belfast. Outside on the hill leading up to Stormont one voice objected loudly that of the Rev Ian Kyle Paisley. With the Reverend Ian about to step down from Westminster it is fitting to look at the path he has taken from that Good Friday to this.

In the talks before reaching that agreement Paisley said:

"I will never sit down with Gerry Adams . . . he'd sit with anyone. He'd sit down with the devil. In fact, Adams does sit down with the devil."
Independent 13 February 1997

In the week leading up to the agreement he said:

"Come Friday, the world will see what the Protestant people really think of this so-called peace process, which is really a surrender process."

However, in the end there was large scale rejoicing with only the DUP and their supporters showing what they thought.

On 27 September 2005 when it was confirmed that the IRA had decommissioned it weapons he still said:

"We are not going into government with Sinn Fein."

However, things moved on so that on the 8 May 2007 Ian Paisley was sworn in as First Minister and his deputy was Martin McGuinness. On the eve of that event Paisley said:

"People have come out of a dark tunnel and they can see there is a path out there for us. I think it has put a lot of faith and hope into people."

In his acceptance speech he said:

"Today at long last we are starting upon the road - I emphasise starting - which I believe will take us to lasting peace in our Province …

"Today we salute Ulster's honored and unaging dead - the innocent victims, that gallant band, members of both religions, Protestant and Roman Catholic, strong in their allegiance to their differing political beliefs, Unionist and Nationalist, male and female, children and adults, all innocent victims of the terrible conflict …

"I have sensed a great sigh of relief amongst all our people who want the hostility to be replaced with neighborliness …

"I believe that Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace, a time when hate will no longer rule. How good it will be to be part of a wonderful healing in our Province."

The most fitting tribute to the path that Paisley, his party and Northern Ireland have taken in my lifetime comes from the Prime Minister in response to the colossus of Northern Irish Unionism's last question in PMQs.

"I think the whole House will want to pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman for a long and distinguished career, not just in this House but in a number of forums. That includes his position as First Minister of Northern Ireland. I believe that the part he played in bringing the Unionist community together-indeed, bringing the whole community together in Northern Ireland-to ensure that we had devolution of power, and to ensure that the process of devolution of power was completed, will adorn the history books in many decades and centuries to come. On this day and on this occasion, I want the whole House to thank him for his service to the House and to the whole community."

It has been an interesting path but a fruitful one. I'm glad that Paisley has taken it even if I was shocked at various parts along its course. Enjoy your retirement big Ian.

In Which I Disagree With Nick Clegg (and Jeff)

It probably isn't good for a PPC to disagree with their leader this close to an election, but as Jeff brought it up I thought I'd better put the record straight.

As Jeff pointed out Nick Clegg said on his trip to Scotland today:

"The truth is the SNP is as irrelevant in London as the Conservatives are in Edinburgh."

Now I know Nick studied Archaeology and Anthropology at University so unlike myself or Jeff may not be as conversant in the numerate arts. But Jeff uses the mathematical argument to point out that at 16 seats to the Tories, the Lib Dems must be a bigger irrelevance at Holyrood. There are however a couple of ways to look at the above statement.

As Jeff saw it purely in terms of numbers I'll take the mathematical argument first. The SNP with 7 currently have 1.1% of MPs even with Alex's target of 20 MPs they would have 3.08% of MPs. That is opposed to the Conservative parties 13.2% and Lib Dems 12.4% of MSPs. So if Jeff is arguing from a mathematical stand point he is unto a loser as Nick is wrong and the SNP are actually more irrelevant in London than the Tories are in Edinburgh.

The second thing that needs to be looked at is political influence rather than just sheer numbers. Again here Nick is actually wrong the Conservatives have been propping up numerous SNP policies in Edinburgh while the SNP have not been doing the same in Westminster. So once again the Tories are having more influence than the SNP, sorry Nick you've got that wrong again.

Jeff then argues that the Conservatives must have more influence than the Lib Dems have in Edinburgh. Maybe at present but over the last 11 years while the Tories have eaten the odd crumb off the SNP table, because neither are willing to formalise their arrangement, the Lib Dems did over eight years of coalition manage to make a more liberal, fairer Scotland than the rest of the UK. As the old adage goes it isn't so much size that matters put knowing what to do with it.

Looking at what the SNP are looking for along with their Plaid colleagues in the event of a hung Parliament they are looking for a fairness that ends at Hadrian's Wall and Offa's dyke. As I blogged yesterday they wanted assurances that all the areas of devolved responsibility are either protected or invested in. For a UK wide election that is not a fair way to deal people, the electorate and I suspect that whoever forms the Government will bring in some reform that will allow Sinn Féin to take their seats without swearing to the Queen if they will support them rather than kow tow to the fiscally blinded and irresponsible nationalists. We need to be as fair as we can be whilst building our way out of the mess that Labour have got us into.

Nick Clegg actually bigged up the SNP by saying they were as influential in London as the Conservatives in Edinburgh.

Voters of Linlithgow and East Falkirk Are You Registered to Vote?

As the time has now drifted past 12:00 and I'm looking to see if various news stories are actually revealed as being April Fools I'd like to turn to a serious matter.

 

Let us assume that Gordon Brown next week calls an election for the 6th May. I'm not the only person making such an assumption the West Lothian and Falkirk election teams used just such an assumption last Thursday at the candidates and agents briefing. What that mean about registration?

 

Well you have until 20 April to register to vote. If you have moved house recently you may want to check that you have registered at your current address to vote in the constituency you currently live.

 

The 20th April will also be the last day for registration for a postal vote, so if you wish to take up that option get an application and send it off. The problem about postal ballots with this short time scale in that from close of nominations to the election there is a short time scale. If you are planning to be on holiday between the 24th April and the 6th of May you may actually want to register for a proxy vote whereby somebody you trust will cast your vote in your stead. If you are away between the dates mentioned you may not have received your postal ballot and may not have time to ask for a replacement before you go away.

 

Obviously the earlier you get this done the better in case there are any issues with you form that may need to be checked leaving it to the last minute is not advisable, but the time scale is there.

 

If you live in West Lothian council area you can visit their website here for more information. If you live in Falkirk council area you will want to visit here.

 

For postal/proxy votes:

 

• Falkirk
• West Lothian 

 

 

 

This post has been sent via email therefore spacing and fonts may not appear at my usual standard. Also there may be links to other relevant blog entries or other content added later today along with adding the correct tagging.

I knew things were tight....

What with an election pending I knew things were tight money wise but Lib Dem Voice have gone too far with their pay wall.So much for the voice of liberalism on the net. What's good enough for Murdoch shouldn't be just followed so gliberally.

 

Apparently it was the doing of the new party internet geek De-dwass van April from Rotterdam as Stephen Tall editor at large explains all here.