11 May 2008

After reading through correspondence and emails, (the largest number on any one issue relate to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill), it was time to catch up with the Sunday papers and a few jobs about the house. The saga of Wendy Alexander's referendum stance is dominating the Scottish political press but the big issue of the day is the lack of aid being delivered to the people of Burma and the lack of action by their military government. Three countries: Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burma are now witnessing different forms of genocide, because of the actions of their own governments. The rest of the world looks on as the death toll mounts in all three. Back to the Scottish referendum issue on lunchtime TV - what a shambles. Time to tackle the garden and time for the first barbeque of the year. I would not say my cooking skills are highly regarded by anyone. Everything was "well done" - hope I have not given the family food poisoning.

10 May 2008

Out with Carol and the Saturday delivery team early on, to get out some literature. Stopped off by the fundraising book stall at the TSB in Corstorphine, to confirm that I would be on duty in the afternoon. After the deliveries, we went to the summer fair at St. Ninians Church and met up with loads of people. Lots of good feedback from the night in the public hall when we had organised a fundraiser with illustrated talks and a visit from some exotic animals. People were amazed that we had scorpions, snakes, giant rats and spiders overnight in our house - luckily none escaped. Many people also mentioned that they had seen the Evening News article about Simpsons Neonatal Unit featuring Sarah and family. It took ages just to get past the front door. Sun still shining. It was while I was staffing the bookstall that the rumbling of thunder and streaks of lightning lit up the sky. Could summer be over or had Boris's honeymoon ended ?

9 May 2008

Veterans

Flight north in the morning then off to meet a student who was working on an environmental project as part of her final year presentation. After that, Friday surgeries. I have met up with quite a few veterans over the years. In a homeless shelter some years ago in the USA and in Edinburgh in recent years. Veterans sound like they should be old men, but dealing with veterans in their forties and younger is another matter. Meeting another young man today, whose life has been badly affected by his time in the military makes me more determined then ever to make sure all veterans, young and old, get a fair deal.

8 May 2008

Another scorching day in London. I have noticed that it has been perfect weather every day since Boris was elected Mayor. It can't last. Had to stay  in London for an evening event which was later cancelled so went out with Alistair Carmichael for a pizza. Talked about travelling to Ray Michie's funeral, which will be on Saturday in Oban. Alistair is going, I have decided not to.

7 May 2008

It's all going pear shaped for the Labour party on the Scottish referendum issue. Wendy Alexander in Holyrood has managed to get Gordon Brown into a real fix over her "bring it on " comment about the SNP's referendum pledge. Between the 10p tax issue, the opinion polls, the local election result, Boris becoming Mayor of London and potentially disasterous by-elections looming. This could be the beginning of the worst period for Labour I can remember in recent years.

Edinburgh International Film Festival launches its programme for its first ever June event in its long history. London launch tomorrow. Contacted Ginnie Atkinson (Director) and the team to wish them well. As a member of the Film Festival advisory board, am keeping my fingers crossed. Monthly meeting of the all party film group at the BFI in the evening. Watched "manufactured landscapes", a documentary about industrial China.  Not a fun night out. Got back to see the unfolding disaster in Burma with the dead now reaching the tens of thousands and the military government still not letting in aid agencies in on the ground. Every natural disaster in recent years has hit the poorest hardest.

6 May 2008

Royal High School

Normally I do not cover what goes on in Westminster on this blog, as votes, speeches and everything else said or done is covered elsewhere, but as these visits are not, and I would like to see more schools doing the same, it gets a mention here. Westminster is open for any constituent to visit and I am happy to arrange a tour or meet up with constituents whenever parliamentary business allows. School visits take some more advance planning, because of the size of the groups and I usually book a committee room to give a short talk about the work of an MP before answering questions. The Royal High school group were spending part of the week in London and are regular visitors to Westminster - all other schools in Edinburgh West are welcome.

5 May 2008

Monday ‘holiday’

In theory a Monday holiday. In practice an opportunity to get out and about delivering some newsletters and meeting constituents in the morning. Everyone is much more positive when the sun is shining - maybe summer has arrived at last. The best part of the day was a visit from my daughter and her children who are 3yrs old and 3 months old. Had to fly south in the evening as 90 pupils from the Royal High school are visiting Westminster first thing on Tuesday morning. With flights unpredictable it would be too risky flying down early in the morning.

4 May 2008

Knowing that tomorrow is a Monday holiday I had planned to have a relaxing day. This plan vanished when I had to spend part of the day under the floorboards of the house searching for a leak in the heating system. Dirty and dark with no room to move. It reminded me of the time I spent working on the documentary, "This Mine is Ours" in Monktonhall colliery, which later went on to win a Scottish BAFTA for best documentary. Working over 3,000ft underground, breathing air contaminated by coal dust and working in hot, and dangerous conditions, with blasting and the risk of a roof collapse was all part of the daily routine for the miners and the three man crew making the documentary.  Experiencing this over a period of weeks is a memory I will never forget and puts issues about difficult working conditions in perspective.

3 May 2008

Cramond Heritage Centre

Busy morning. Radio interview on the possible introduction of Local Income Tax, down to the Cramond Heritage Centre to meet lots of locals, advice surgeries at Muirhouse and then to my wife Carol's exhibition of paintings, previewing today at the Di Rollo gallery. They looked really good and despite being hung near the floor, most of them sold. Fortunately the sun was shining and I spent the rest of the afternoon cutting the grass, before going out to see "Elephant" in the Festival Theatre. Felt that there had been to time to wind down and relax before going out - did not really get into the show until the second half. 

2 May 2008

Child Support Agency

Another normal Friday with advice surgeries, including yet another case of the CSA failing to deliver. There are now so many cases of self employed ex husbands not paying the due amount to their ex-partners, that I am planning to have a meeting again with the Minister to see how action can be taken to get a fair deal for these women. Home at 5.30pm - back out at 7pm to introduce the Queensferry Lecture. An excellent talk by Willis Pickard on the subject of the role of the serious press. He hit the nail on the head on so many issues. Waited up at the end of the night to hear that Boris had become the new Mayor of London. Good speech from him and Ken on the night.