Hitting the wrong target
According to Hebrides News:
What is most noticeable about this pathetic little bit of headline grabbing, is the absolute failure to have any suggestions for the future, instead it is entirely based upon destructive, rather than constructive, criticism.
If only Mr Allan represented the constituency rather than the SNP, he would have suggested that the First Minister, Enterprise Minister - or even both - came up with a plan to regenerate the islands. That way the SNP would have been able to claim a success and attack Labour at the same time. Instead we have this infantile brown-nosing uselessness.
Heaven forbid that he come up with anything constructive - another pointless summit anyone? - unless he is told to do so by his party.
Update 18/6: At least Alex Salmond had the good sense to see through the brown-nosing and actually offer (disgracefully unprompted by our MSP!) to deliver some action.
Anyone know why MacNeil was in Edinburgh and not at work in Westminster?
Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament protesting against the move by the MoD to get rid of jobs in Uist.
Mr Allan moved that the Parliament “expresses its grave concern at the impact on the people of Uist of the anticipated job losses at defence contractor QinetiQ’s bases in Uist.
The motion also “notes that the Ministry of Defence and its contractors have for decades been one of the largest employers in those islands and that the cuts planned to take effect between now and 2013 will have a severe impact on a fragile island economy.”
It also “expresses disappointment that the many years of support that the community has given these bases has been so poorly rewarded by HM Government and calls on that government to reconsider its position, taking account of the superb facilities for rocket tracking and other activities that exist in Uist.”
Mr Allan wants the Scottish Government to seek “urgent information from HM Government as to how it intends to recompense this community if it goes ahead with its present plans.”
Perhaps Mr Allan might wish to be reminded of the advice of the late, great, Donald Stewart MP who strongly advised the Uist community never to rely on the Rocket Range, as the Government had imposed it, and could remove it just as quickly. He urged diversity, rather than reliance.
What is most noticeable about this pathetic little bit of headline grabbing, is the absolute failure to have any suggestions for the future, instead it is entirely based upon destructive, rather than constructive, criticism.
If only Mr Allan represented the constituency rather than the SNP, he would have suggested that the First Minister, Enterprise Minister - or even both - came up with a plan to regenerate the islands. That way the SNP would have been able to claim a success and attack Labour at the same time. Instead we have this infantile brown-nosing uselessness.
Heaven forbid that he come up with anything constructive - another pointless summit anyone? - unless he is told to do so by his party.
Update 18/6: At least Alex Salmond had the good sense to see through the brown-nosing and actually offer (disgracefully unprompted by our MSP!) to deliver some action.
Anyone know why MacNeil was in Edinburgh and not at work in Westminster?
12 comments:
Both MP and MSP have totally missed the boat with this one. And indiscriminate Labour bashing on all fronts has made the Westminster administration totally disinclined to do anything for the Western Isles. Both Allan and MacNeil have forgotten that Defense is NOT a devolved issue, and the Cash for Honours saga has sunk the latter parliamentarian for good in the eyes of the Labour govt in London. Rather than bashing Brown in the Commons this pm, he should have asked him what could be done for his constituents. The SNP has done the Western Isles a major disservice.
Are we talking here 'Revenge is sweet' from that mixed bag of crooks, thieves and self serving incompetents known laughingly as the Labour Government? Sounds like it
Hmm lets see - If CI actually watched FMQs today youd have seen Alasdair Allan ask for action. CI would also have seen Labour members heckling during the raising of such a serious point.
New Labour Parliamentarians = lowlifes
Also Angus Macneil could also be in Edinburgh to get action from the Scotish Government, on his way up to the Western Isles? Given that he was all over the TVs yesterday and raised the issue in the strongest of terms in parliament, CI has obviously neglected this fact.
I wonder why.....
Put simply - Id rather 'sell my soul to the devil' than have anything to do with the New Labour Party.....
Also Angus Macneil could also be in Edinburgh to get action from the Scotish Government, on his way up to the Western Isles? Given that he was all over the TVs yesterday and raised the issue in the strongest of terms in parliament
What? He flew down on Monday and coming home on Wednesday night/Thursday morning? Hell of a working week, and hardly giving himself enough time to complete his vast expenses claims.
His Rule 24 intervention was not "in the strongest of terms", and was utterly useless as it was not the correct rule to raise the issue under.
WHY DIDN'T MACNEIL STAY IN LONDON AND MEET WITH THE MoD AND QINETIQ TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE AND TO RAISE IT WITH OTHER MEMBERS?
Anonymous 3.31pm
How gullible can you be??? Public posturing is no substitute for action. Parliamentary motions, questions in the House, outraged press releases, being "all over the TV" etc are more about self-importance and self-preservation than anything else.
What are MP/MSP/Comhairle/HIE actually doing? I have faith that they'll all work their socks off. I'm certain the MP will because he will know personally many of those directly affected.
Meet with the MoD? On less than a week's notice?? Dream on.
But what has our MP and MSP done to:
a) protect jobs in the islands
b) encourage investment and new jobs in the islands
c) stop job losses in the islands
d) promote the islands as a viable place to do business
e) remove the barriers to doing business in the islands
Starter for 10 SNP supporters please, because on my radar the answer is bugger all.
Oh I suppose that at least Angus MacNeil bunged a few quid in AJ Martin's direction, according to his expenses claims released today. Nothing to do with his daughter's role within the SNP office eh?
I am sure that Angus Macneil will be very happy to release the paperwork that shows that the work was properly awarded to A J Martin, of Vatisker, Back, after consideration of three tenders.
Because it would be just awful if our MP and MSP, of Vatisker, Back, gained reputations as being worth associating with only for the kickbacks.
Because you know how it is beginning to look ......
4.14
well i hear that the commons threw out an emergency debate....
I also see new labour MSPs heckling in parliament when the issue was raised.
new labour obviously arent wanting the seat back...
It is well seen our MP and MSP did not have their finger on the pulse. This did not just happen. I am almost certain our MP would have been briefed about this long before this news came out. It just goes to show what a useless arse he is.
I reached for the sick bucket and wretched when i saw that the beach bouy and Barra Trough MacNeil endorsing the creation of a task force to combat the rocket range closure.
Of course they wouldn;t have had anything to do with the bungled and attempt by Cllr's Manford, Julian Clary and the Bloody Clot Macleod to have MacSween removed from the Task Force. Macneil simppering on Radio saying we must "all work together" and before the day is done, his Nat Troops are in the Comhairle chamber trying to do a number on MacSween.
Result: 27 votes for MacSween 3 for the SNP. More importnalty the task force has a few people on it who know how to campaign for the good of people.
PS Cllr Annie Macdonald is proving to be a woman of substance and have a mind of her own - she broke the Party Whip and support DJ........what will the dyed hair nonentity who is given taking strolls on beaches say to her?.... he'll reprimand her - in Gaelic of course. Annie, go and tell us what he said to you......
"Cllr Annie Macdonald is proving to be a woman of substance and have a mind of her own - she broke the Party Whip"
Oh please. Annie did you write this yourself?
I think you'll find that Annie likes to stick with a majority and preferably when it can be seen to be taking a stand - sort of the "safe but interesting" position, which she no doubt has been told is what a politician with stars in her eyes needs to do. She's the consummate flipflopper: with the party, agin the party, with the people, misrepresenting them, supporting this organisation at a meeting, selling them down the river in council... and it's not clever manipulation, it's emptiness of head and a great desire to play the politician. Sorry Annie, you may think you're doing the right thing but you are categorically the worst kind of politicking fluffhead, and neither a leader of men nor an interesting rebel.
(Though McLean's little challenge was disgraceful too, as AB's attempting to score party points on the Uist issue.)
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