LDOS Press statement - and the response (updated!)
Supporters of the traditional Lewis Sunday have given Western Isles SNP parliamentarians Angus MacNeil and Alasdair Allan a day to declare whether they oppose plans by state-owned ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne to impose a Sunday ferry service between Stornoway and Ullapool.
The MP and MSP are asked, too, if they personally believe the absence of a Sunday ferry and Sunday amenities like the Lewis Sports Centre is discriminatory and against the law.
Two weeks ago, Caledonian MacBrayne claimed they had no option but to start a Sunday ferry service after taking legal advice, following a complaint by a pro-Sunday service campaigner to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. CalMac's plans are opposed by the Islands Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
The company have refused to make their legal advice public.
'We're facing a threat to our way of life here on Lewis that many have yet to appreciate,' says local LDOS campaign manager Angus MacKay,'If a Sunday ferry service starts, it'll never be stopped. It'll change the island quickly, it will change it irreversibly and the worst consequences will fall on shopworkers, folk in the service sector and the less well of.
'There wasn't a mention of Sunday ferries in any SNP manifesto - a lot of island Christians voted for Alasdair and Angus. There's no electoral mandate - and CalMac say they'll force it on us whether we want it or not.
'Do Alasdair Allan and Angus MacNeil unequivocally oppose a Sunday ferry service from Stornoway?
'And do they agree with CalMac's interpretation of the law?'
'We're now giving Alasdair and Angus twenty-four hours to answer and, as far as we're concerned, neutrality is not an option. It's time for our politicians to decide.
'And, with an election this Thursday, folk here need to know where they stand from men who're out there right now in the Western Isles campaigning for SNP votes.'
-----
Gazette story (by Donnie MacInnes)
Mr MacNeil stated today (Monday): "My position on Sunday sailings to Lewis is quite nuanced on this complex argument not given to easy slogans or one word answers. At the outset I should say that I have had only one representation to my office on this issue since CalMac announced their consultation and that request was in favour of Sunday sailings to and from Stornoway."
He went on: "During summer 1990, as a 20 year old, I worked 68 hours a week at the Holm Jetty with Edmund Nuttall Ltd with the only day off being Sunday. Thus, each Sunday afternoon I used to be very grateful for Sunday as it was in Lewis.
"However, I have at times on a Sunday used ferries, often because no Saturday or Monday ferry was available - as well as used cars and probably aeroplanes. It would be hypocritical of me to pretend otherwise. I have also been fortunate in not needing, due to illness or death, to use the Sound of Harris ferry on a Sunday and have avoided more casual use out of respect for my many constituents for whom Sunday is a very special day.
"Personally, like many people, I find this a difficult issue as I have constituents, good friends and acquaintances who want to protect the Lord's Day as being the special relaxed family day it actually is for many in Lewis whether or not they are religious who those who want Sunday sailings to Lewis for very practical reasons.
"In short, if there is one issue that is not best served by mega-phone diplomacy or sound bite politics it is surely this one. Nobody has asked, as yet, to meet me on this issue. If they do, I would be happy to meet with the Lord's Day Observance Society or any other group who feels that it might be useful to talk about the CalMac consultation," said Mr MacNeil.
In his response, Mr Allan stated: "CalMac has announced that, following legal advice, they intend to consult with the community over the future of ferry services in Lewis and Harris.
"This is an operational matter for CalMac, not political parties or their representatives. CalMac's view is that, under the UK Equalities Act 2006, they believe they are compelled to open this consultation, a belief which others are challenging.
"Personally, I would have preferred that any discussion of this kind had arisen from within the community, rather than been imposed from outside under a piece of UK legislation. However, both sides will now have an opportunity to make their views known to CalMac, and I would urge them to make use of the consultation process to the full. I would also urge CalMac to make the consultation a genuinely listening exercise.
"Finally, I would also expect CalMac to clarify that, whatever they do, in no circumstances should any of their employees be expected to work on a Sunday against their consciences.
"I have written to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to ask what form they hope their part in the consultation will take," he added.
---
Compare that to a press release from: Thursday 14th May 2009
ALLAN COMMENTS ON CALMAC CONSULTATION ON SEVEN DAY FERRIES
Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, has commented on the announcement by Caledonian MacBrayne that they are to consult on the implications of equalities legislation for ferry services in Lewis and Harris.
Dr Allan said: “I have now seen CalMac’s announcement that, following legal advice, they intend to consult with the community over the future of ferry services in Lewis and Harris.
“Calmac have announced that, under the UK Equalities Act 2006, they believe they are compelled to open this consultation.
“Personally I would have preferred that any discussion of this kind had arisen from within the community, rather than been imposed from outside under a piece of legislation.
However, both sides will now have an opportunity to make their views known to Calmac, and I would urge them to make use of the consultation process to the full. I would also urge Calmac to make the consultation a genuinely listening exercise.
“I would also expect Calmac to clarify that, whatever they do, in no circumstances should any of their employees be expected to work on a Sunday against their consciences.
“I have today written to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to ask what form they hope their part in the consultation will take, and whether they intend to try to measure public opinion in the islands on this issue.”
The MP and MSP are asked, too, if they personally believe the absence of a Sunday ferry and Sunday amenities like the Lewis Sports Centre is discriminatory and against the law.
Two weeks ago, Caledonian MacBrayne claimed they had no option but to start a Sunday ferry service after taking legal advice, following a complaint by a pro-Sunday service campaigner to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. CalMac's plans are opposed by the Islands Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
The company have refused to make their legal advice public.
'We're facing a threat to our way of life here on Lewis that many have yet to appreciate,' says local LDOS campaign manager Angus MacKay,'If a Sunday ferry service starts, it'll never be stopped. It'll change the island quickly, it will change it irreversibly and the worst consequences will fall on shopworkers, folk in the service sector and the less well of.
'There wasn't a mention of Sunday ferries in any SNP manifesto - a lot of island Christians voted for Alasdair and Angus. There's no electoral mandate - and CalMac say they'll force it on us whether we want it or not.
'Do Alasdair Allan and Angus MacNeil unequivocally oppose a Sunday ferry service from Stornoway?
'And do they agree with CalMac's interpretation of the law?'
'We're now giving Alasdair and Angus twenty-four hours to answer and, as far as we're concerned, neutrality is not an option. It's time for our politicians to decide.
'And, with an election this Thursday, folk here need to know where they stand from men who're out there right now in the Western Isles campaigning for SNP votes.'
-----
Gazette story (by Donnie MacInnes)
Mr MacNeil stated today (Monday): "My position on Sunday sailings to Lewis is quite nuanced on this complex argument not given to easy slogans or one word answers. At the outset I should say that I have had only one representation to my office on this issue since CalMac announced their consultation and that request was in favour of Sunday sailings to and from Stornoway."
He went on: "During summer 1990, as a 20 year old, I worked 68 hours a week at the Holm Jetty with Edmund Nuttall Ltd with the only day off being Sunday. Thus, each Sunday afternoon I used to be very grateful for Sunday as it was in Lewis.
"However, I have at times on a Sunday used ferries, often because no Saturday or Monday ferry was available - as well as used cars and probably aeroplanes. It would be hypocritical of me to pretend otherwise. I have also been fortunate in not needing, due to illness or death, to use the Sound of Harris ferry on a Sunday and have avoided more casual use out of respect for my many constituents for whom Sunday is a very special day.
"Personally, like many people, I find this a difficult issue as I have constituents, good friends and acquaintances who want to protect the Lord's Day as being the special relaxed family day it actually is for many in Lewis whether or not they are religious who those who want Sunday sailings to Lewis for very practical reasons.
"In short, if there is one issue that is not best served by mega-phone diplomacy or sound bite politics it is surely this one. Nobody has asked, as yet, to meet me on this issue. If they do, I would be happy to meet with the Lord's Day Observance Society or any other group who feels that it might be useful to talk about the CalMac consultation," said Mr MacNeil.
In his response, Mr Allan stated: "CalMac has announced that, following legal advice, they intend to consult with the community over the future of ferry services in Lewis and Harris.
"This is an operational matter for CalMac, not political parties or their representatives. CalMac's view is that, under the UK Equalities Act 2006, they believe they are compelled to open this consultation, a belief which others are challenging.
"Personally, I would have preferred that any discussion of this kind had arisen from within the community, rather than been imposed from outside under a piece of UK legislation. However, both sides will now have an opportunity to make their views known to CalMac, and I would urge them to make use of the consultation process to the full. I would also urge CalMac to make the consultation a genuinely listening exercise.
"Finally, I would also expect CalMac to clarify that, whatever they do, in no circumstances should any of their employees be expected to work on a Sunday against their consciences.
"I have written to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to ask what form they hope their part in the consultation will take," he added.
---
Compare that to a press release from: Thursday 14th May 2009
ALLAN COMMENTS ON CALMAC CONSULTATION ON SEVEN DAY FERRIES
Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, has commented on the announcement by Caledonian MacBrayne that they are to consult on the implications of equalities legislation for ferry services in Lewis and Harris.
Dr Allan said: “I have now seen CalMac’s announcement that, following legal advice, they intend to consult with the community over the future of ferry services in Lewis and Harris.
“Calmac have announced that, under the UK Equalities Act 2006, they believe they are compelled to open this consultation.
“Personally I would have preferred that any discussion of this kind had arisen from within the community, rather than been imposed from outside under a piece of legislation.
However, both sides will now have an opportunity to make their views known to Calmac, and I would urge them to make use of the consultation process to the full. I would also urge Calmac to make the consultation a genuinely listening exercise.
“I would also expect Calmac to clarify that, whatever they do, in no circumstances should any of their employees be expected to work on a Sunday against their consciences.
“I have today written to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to ask what form they hope their part in the consultation will take, and whether they intend to try to measure public opinion in the islands on this issue.”
15 comments:
"We're now giving Alasdair and Angus twenty-four hours to answer"
The LDOS, or at least the wayward Lewis branch of it, is now dictating not only how we all should live our lives on what they call the Lord's Day, but also giving politicians timed ultimatums.
Interesting how silent they were during the fiasco of AMEC trying to blitz Lewis with 25 miles of wind turbines - which would have been operated from overseas on Sundays too of course - while so vehemently opposed to something as innocuous as a Sunday ferry to run with the planes that have been flying on Sundays for years (for the more well-heeled).
Could it have had something to do with where the money would have been going in the former case? Hmmm.
"Supporters of the traditional Lewis Sunday..."
I am both a supporter of the traditional Lewis Sunday and a supporter of Sunday ferries being introduced asap. The two are not incompatible. There are plenty of people here who will have no problem working on a Sunday, who will want or even need to work on a Sunday because they maybe have only part-time work through the 6-day week. Fair enough.
What exactly has changed in Lewis since the planes started flying on a Sunday, that wouldn't have changed otherwise? What traditions have come crashing down since then?
"It's time for our politicians to decide." So now LDOS are telling us that if our politicians say yes then Sunday sailing is OK with them. Fantastic, get of the fence AA and AM and this will be all done and dusted.
10:51
Spot on the greedy little grunts that support LDOS always clam up when the possibility of cash arises.
I'm sure the silence from our MP and MSP will be deafening on this one, because they will know that it doesn't matter what they say they will be WRONG.
24 Hours to make a decision, you have to be joking. They are Politicians for God’s sake, they will have to ask permission from their leaders what their view is on this, then undertake some research into the pro's and con's of the problem, then put it to a constituency members committee before they can utter anything in public. If LDOS are lucky should take 24 months!!
Our two bouys have sat on the fence on various other issues (apart from gaelic cheque books) so the LDOS or Day One as they are now known(?) won't get much change from them on the SS issue.
Anyway what are LDOS going to do once the 24 hours are up? Shoot a hostage...or give them another 24 hours?
What an evasive and pathetic response from these two.
The combined backbone of a jellyfish and the combined principles of a whore.
Written by Donnie Gazette - we might have guessed that he had written the response over the weekend.
Of course, their expenses claims show that they totally disregard the Sunday and are happy to work that day, when they think that no-one is watching.
Shoot a hostage... very funny :-)
So a reply appears
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb are so tightly sat on the fence they must be spitting splinters
Just for once offend some one, break some ones heart, ruin their day but for Gods sake make a committment one way or the other.
And I voted for this pair - not again I can assure them.
Its not for the Council or the Bible bashers to decide, it is to be based upon a point of LAW which as being part of the UK the island shall follow
On a more general point, the reason the island is so backward, in some respects, is because of the culture we have had here for decades, that nobody can really speak up or say anything about what happens here unless you're a councillor or local bigknob, or maybe someone with a funny handshake.
Only recently have ordinary residents begun to complain to the more competent bodies outside the islands about the situation and only now are we seeing the results beginning to come through. About time too.
It'll change the island quickly, it will change it irreversibly and the worst consequences will fall on shopworkers, folk in the service sector and the less well of.
Could they please expand on this?
During summer 1990, as a 20 year old, I worked 68 hours a week at the Holm Jetty with Edmund Nuttall LtdSo MacNeil helped build the NATO fuel pier at the time that the SNP nationally and in the islands were vociferously opposing the physical expansion of NATO interests.
Oops, forgot, at that time MacNeil was a Conservative voter.
Maybe the churches are not setting such a good example when they are apparently so divisive themselves.
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