Window on Westminster -October

G20 in Pittsburgh

The G20 was important for a number of reasons. We had the very welcome sight of a US President engaging again with the international community; there was unanimous support for Gordon Brown’s strategy for addressing the global economic recession and a commitment to continue a policy of fiscal stimulus until growth is re-established. The Tories stand quite alone in opposing this approach.

Iran continues to refuse to live up to its international responsibilities. First we had the rigged Presidential Election and now the discovery of a second uranium enrichment plant capable of producing a nuclear bomb. Gordon Brown was right to say that no sanction should be ruled out if Iran does not co-operate with the inspectors or if they report that the plant is not solely for nuclear energy purposes. First preference would however be for tougher sanctions to be applied in relation to banking and energy.

Carrick Angling Club

It's not often you can spend a peaceful morning by the banks of a river and be working at the same time. I did one Saturday last month when I was invited to open the newly constructed walkway to the River Girvan at Old Dailly. Members and friends of the Carrick Angling Club have done a great job in completing this project with the help of a number of sponsors.

The SNP's Broken Promises

We have had the Local Income Tax abandoned; the promise to cancel student debt put to one side; the new Glasgow Airport Rail Link sacrificed for the Forth Road Bridge and of course no sign of a Maybole Bypass. Now they have broken their promise to reduce primary classes to 18 pupils within three years. However, the SNP Government is prepared to have civil servants paid to run around making preparations for what might happen in an independent Scotland. As for a new Scottish Broadcasting Corporation to replace the BBC that is hardly a priority at the moment.

Survey of Village Shops

I have been carrying out a survey of local village shops to see how they are being hit by the new increased charges for off licenses. As well as increased costs there are new rules about trained staff being on the premises at all times. This is intended to stop teenage binge drinking but small village shops often have a low alcohol sales turnover and have sufficient local knowledge to stop under age sales. I want to see if the changes are disproportionate in the case of small village shops.

Fast Broadband

I recently held a meeting with colleagues Cathy Jamieson MSP and Brian Donohoe MP to discuss how we can accelerate progress on fast broadband connections. This is vital to local rural businesses in particular. We plan to put pressure on both Westminster and Scottish Governments to make faster progress and would like to hear from anyone with views on this.

Girvan Pool support thanks to Councillor McDowall

Labour Group Leader, Councillor John McDowall has managed to persuade South Ayrshire Council to commit £4m capital spending over 2 years for the Girvan Pool project. This is dependent on the success of the Council’s resubmitted bid to the Scottish Government for Town Centre Regeneration Funding. Fingers crossed!

The Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning

Cathy Jamieson and I recently held a surgery come coffee morning in the Maybole Age Concern premises. It was part of the Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising event billed as the Biggest Coffee Morning in the World. It was a great success as well as allowing local people to raise problems with their MP and MSP. Cathy and I would like to thank those who helped us organise it.

Keep the Change!

This month sees the introduction of legislation I fought for which ensures that employers cannot use tips to make up employees wages. There has been a lot of huffing and puffing that this will cost a lot of money and put jobs at risk but I do not believe this. In any case it was totally unfair that some low paid employees should have had their wages made up with tips intended as an extra thank you for the service provided. The best employers have never done this and now no employer will be allowed to.