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Dear Constituent

Welcome to my website and the regular update on my work.


First of all, let me wish you all a Happy New Year from all of the Kelvin team.


The tragic events taking place in Gaza since 27th December 2008 have dominated the news since the turn of the year and were the subject of the motion I lodged on the Parliament’s return from recess. The motion refers to an immediate ceasefire and I welcome the steps that appear to be being taken towards a ceasefire.


The crisis was the subject of an emergency debate in the Scottish Parliament and I opened and closed the debate for Labour, as well as appearing on BBC Scotland’s Holyrood Live television programme. I am delighted that the motion joining the international community in calling for a ceasefire and welcoming the role being played by charities and NGOs in Scotland in responding to the humanitarian crisis was agreed to by the Parliament.


I also raised the issue with the First Minister at First Minister’s Question Time and I welcome his constructive engagement with this issue. I asked the First Minister to consider backing an appeal for emergency medicines that are desperately needed.

The Scotland to Gaza Convoy organised by Edinburgh Direct Aid had been planned prior to the Air strikes on the 27th December 2008 as a gesture of humanitarian support and it seems appropriate to continue with it when it is safe to do so.

Further details of the appeal are available on the right-hand side of this page.

My week finished with me addressing the 'End the Siege of Gaza' rally in Edinburgh on Saturday 10th January.

The issue raised by Iain Gray at First Minister’s Question Time was the SNP’s incompetence regarding the new Forth Crossing. This is the single most important transport project in Scotland yet the SNP do not have a financial package in place. As Iain Gray pointed, Alex Salmond is hiding behind excuses over the failure of the Futures Trust. The SNP wasted two years on the Futures Trust fantasy and when it fell apart they gave the UK Treasury less than two weeks to consider their alternative, which entailed giving money back from the future to give to the First Minister now.

Even the most basic rules of integrity in government tell you that you do not announce how you will spend money you do not have. As Iain Gray went on to point out, the First Minister has a poor track record on iconic national transport projects, such as cancelling the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link to the tune of £650 million. He certainly hasn’t built new schools or hospitals with that money and it would be a start for the crossing but what has the First Minister done with that money? The First Minster always has excuses but we want to hear how he will deliver what Scotland needs with the powers he has and the £30 billion budget he has at his disposal.

That is the business of a serious government, not penning fan-mail to Sean Connery. Scotland needs a Forth crossing; the First Minister instead picks a fight with Westminster. When will he start putting the interests of Scotland first ahead of those of the SNP?

Thanks for stopping by.


Pauline McNeill MSP
for Glasgow Kelvin

 

Updated 12 January 2009

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