Thursday, March 31, 2005
Calum MacDonald's record in Parliament ...
...is terrible. Thanks to www.theyworkforyou.com
Performance data
- Spoke in 11 debates in the last year — 503rd out of 659 MPs.
- Asked 9 written questions in the last year — 451st out of 659 MPs.
- Has attended 69% of votes in parliament — 332nd out of 657 MPs. (From Public Whip)
- This MP hardly ever rebels against their party — 264th out of 649 MPs. (From Public Whip)
Calum MacDonald voted to kill children in Iraq
A shocking UNHCR report today advises that Iraq - one of the oil-richest coutnries in the world - has suffered a doubling in child mortality rates since the war.
Despite numerous predictions to this effect, and despite the opposition of the WI CLP, Calum towed the party line, and has allowed the Americans to loot and destroy the Iraqi infrastructure to such an extend that it has been pushed into the Third World.
However bad Saddam was, the Americans - ably assisted by Tony - are driving the arab countries into the open arms of the militants.
This is just not bad planning, it is criminal behaviour.
Despite numerous predictions to this effect, and despite the opposition of the WI CLP, Calum towed the party line, and has allowed the Americans to loot and destroy the Iraqi infrastructure to such an extend that it has been pushed into the Third World.
However bad Saddam was, the Americans - ably assisted by Tony - are driving the arab countries into the open arms of the militants.
This is just not bad planning, it is criminal behaviour.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Calum MacDonald voted for this nonsense
We all knew the system of Control Orders was stupid (for the benefit of Labour MPs reading this without a party minder to vet it, this means "It's a Good Idea, because Tony said so, and he's *a pretty trustworthy guy*").
They you read about how it operates in practice according to The Guardian and The Register, and you realise the sheer stupidity of it all.
It is a pity that the backbench sheep scrutinise only their pagers and not the legislation.
They you read about how it operates in practice according to The Guardian and The Register, and you realise the sheer stupidity of it all.
It is a pity that the backbench sheep scrutinise only their pagers and not the legislation.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Iraqi war
Calum was told by the local party to vote against the war. He voted for it, and it is coming back to haunt the Labour Party.
Today we see that the legal advice from the Attorney General was leant on, and persuaded to change his view to allow Dubya and Tony to murder innocent civillians.
Remember Calum told us that he "trust Tony Blair's judgement" about finding WMDs. Not a good judgement by Calum, as he has alienated his executive committee by his stupidity.
Today we see that the legal advice from the Attorney General was leant on, and persuaded to change his view to allow Dubya and Tony to murder innocent civillians.
Remember Calum told us that he "trust Tony Blair's judgement" about finding WMDs. Not a good judgement by Calum, as he has alienated his executive committee by his stupidity.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Calum's retirement home
How did Calum get the Crofters Commission to give him permission to get land and build houses in Brenish?
As a non-crofter, he shouldn't have been allowed to do this, but somehow it was waived through.
If a bad, evil landord had done this, Calum and Brian would have been up in arms. However, crofting reform to preserve the crofting communities seems drafted to only apply to the English and non-Labour voters, and exempt MPs and their hangers-on.
As a non-crofter, he shouldn't have been allowed to do this, but somehow it was waived through.
If a bad, evil landord had done this, Calum and Brian would have been up in arms. However, crofting reform to preserve the crofting communities seems drafted to only apply to the English and non-Labour voters, and exempt MPs and their hangers-on.Windfarms or .....
If you are a Labour voter, then their energy policy is clear.
Calum is all in favour of windfarms, telling everyone just how good they will be for the Western Isles. Everyone outside the Western Isles that is, as his profile here is so low as to be underwater. However, having made his position clear he has suck by it. Mostly. Without backtracking. Much.
If you are a Labour voter, then their energy policy is clear.
Labour MP and former Energy Minister Brian Wilson is all in favour of nuclear. "I think the more we move this debate into the context of global warming and carbon reduction then the less sense it makes to get rid of the one source of electricity in this country which produces large volumes of carbon-free electricity."
Not however, when the windpower is being produced by the Virtual Power, that anonymous company based in the British Virgin Isles. How much of that company does he own? And why is he and the muppet for Uig trying to stop the community development of windpower in that area?
Isn't the underemployed muppet supposedly in charge (sic, ad infinitim) of community developments for WIE?
Calum is all in favour of windfarms, telling everyone just how good they will be for the Western Isles. Everyone outside the Western Isles that is, as his profile here is so low as to be underwater. However, having made his position clear he has suck by it. Mostly. Without backtracking. Much.
If you are a Labour voter, then their energy policy is clear.
Labour MP and former Energy Minister Brian Wilson is all in favour of nuclear. "I think the more we move this debate into the context of global warming and carbon reduction then the less sense it makes to get rid of the one source of electricity in this country which produces large volumes of carbon-free electricity."
Not however, when the windpower is being produced by the Virtual Power, that anonymous company based in the British Virgin Isles. How much of that company does he own? And why is he and the muppet for Uig trying to stop the community development of windpower in that area?
Isn't the underemployed muppet supposedly in charge (sic, ad infinitim) of community developments for WIE?
CalMac stike latest
Wasn't it a pathetic sight to see Calum defending the prviatisation of CalMac; the offshoring of jobs and employment; and, the removal of employment rights. All perpetrated by the Labour Party in the name of Thatcherism.
Is there any truth in the rumour that his former election agent, George Lonie has refused to work for or vote for Calum at the next election? My spies tell me Calum has no election committee.
Is there any truth in the rumour that his former election agent, George Lonie has refused to work for or vote for Calum at the next election? My spies tell me Calum has no election committee.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Calum's profile
Writing about the former Yugoslavia, Oliver Kamm says:
Almost all the others were - with due respect to them, for they were noble souls - obscure, such as the Tory Sir Patrick Cormack and the Labour MP for the Western Isles, Calum MacDonald.
I sense that Calum will be even more obscure after 5 May.
Almost all the others were - with due respect to them, for they were noble souls - obscure, such as the Tory Sir Patrick Cormack and the Labour MP for the Western Isles, Calum MacDonald.
I sense that Calum will be even more obscure after 5 May.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Calum's plans
Rumours persist that Calum intends to stand down as an MP at the last moment. According to well-placed Labour sources over a pint (or two) at the weekend he has lost the confidence of the activists, and is preferring to look for a sinecure as an Assoc Professor in Cambridge (or is it Oxford).
Of course, this would entitle him to a huge payoff, bonus pension contributions (4 years?) into the best and most padded pension scheme in the world.
This would create a vacancy for a suitably qualified and under-employed Councillor.
Of course, this would entitle him to a huge payoff, bonus pension contributions (4 years?) into the best and most padded pension scheme in the world.
This would create a vacancy for a suitably qualified and under-employed Councillor.
Friends of Calum (2)
Why is Labour Councillor who is also a WIE employee still not listed on the contacts page of WIE?
It's been almost 6 months since he got a non-job, at a location outside WIE HQ, and he still doesn't have a phone number or email address.
Wouldn't we all like a job like that.
It's been almost 6 months since he got a non-job, at a location outside WIE HQ, and he still doesn't have a phone number or email address.
Wouldn't we all like a job like that.
WTF
Due to the low level of activity coming from Calum, you sometimes have to dig a bit deeper. Then you find a shocker...
This sought to extend the rights granted to homosexual couples to be treated the same as married couples, to cover siblings who live together!?!
Calum, if you don't do something soon, I'll keep digging and embarass you even further.
As the BBC say, "He has a low profile in Westminster, particularly since 1999"
This sought to extend the rights granted to homosexual couples to be treated the same as married couples, to cover siblings who live together!?!
Calum, if you don't do something soon, I'll keep digging and embarass you even further.
As the BBC say, "He has a low profile in Westminster, particularly since 1999"
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Mixed message on imigration
As Tony claims to be very strict on immigrants, Calum undermines him:
Thank you for your recent email. I believe your are referring to the recent case of the Ay family. My understanding is that the courts have supported the Government view the that Ay family was not eligible for asylum. The decision to challenge this view through protracted legal proceedings was the decision of the Ay family itself.
The present Government has the most generous legal immigration policy in Europe. More immigrants enter the UK each year than at any previous time in UK history. In concert with this policy, however, I believe the Government is right to distinguish clearly between legal immigrants and justified asylum seekers on the one hand, and illegal immigrants by unjustified asylum seekers on the other, and to apply the law firmly and fairly in the case of the latter.
Personally, I think we should be letting many more people into the UK, as their skills andabilities are need to keepthis country going. The petty racism shown by New Labour (sic) panders to the jack booted racists, and no-one else.
Thank you for your recent email. I believe your are referring to the recent case of the Ay family. My understanding is that the courts have supported the Government view the that Ay family was not eligible for asylum. The decision to challenge this view through protracted legal proceedings was the decision of the Ay family itself.
The present Government has the most generous legal immigration policy in Europe. More immigrants enter the UK each year than at any previous time in UK history. In concert with this policy, however, I believe the Government is right to distinguish clearly between legal immigrants and justified asylum seekers on the one hand, and illegal immigrants by unjustified asylum seekers on the other, and to apply the law firmly and fairly in the case of the latter.
Personally, I think we should be letting many more people into the UK, as their skills andabilities are need to keepthis country going. The petty racism shown by New Labour (sic) panders to the jack booted racists, and no-one else.
Partners
Thanks for all the suggestions as to who the 'partner' is. The suggestions are entertaining, if obviously inaccurate. I can confirm it is not - and never has been - Sister Wendy Alexander.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Google news alerts
As a user of Google news alerts, I get a daily report of any new items relating to "Calum MacDonald" so I can share his wit and wisdom with the world.
Google has produced only one hit in the past three weeks, with the bassist in Runrig having three.
C'mon Calum, do something interesting in your life.
Google has produced only one hit in the past three weeks, with the bassist in Runrig having three.
C'mon Calum, do something interesting in your life.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Reversing backwards into tomorrow
According to Jack the Lad, a 79 retired grandmother is the biggest threat to Scottish political life this side of the election.
Ok, her son subsidises coups, but what kind of rallying call is this?
Ok, her son subsidises coups, but what kind of rallying call is this?
Friday, March 04, 2005
Cal Mac debate
Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute) secured a debate about Cal Mac privatisation last night, and very good he was too. It is worth repeating some of the key points he made.
In order to compete with the private companies, CalMac will be forced to transfer the employment of its crews offshore to avoid paying United Kingdom employers' national insurance contributions, which will cost the Treasury £1 million a year. Under the EU rules, the Scottish Executive cannot insist on the vessels remaining under a UK flag; they can sail under the flag of any EU country. But other EU countries have lower standards for training and expertise of the crews than Britain, so standards will inevitably fall.
In order to enforce a contract it clearly needs penalty clauses for lateness or failure to complete a sailing. However, that also leads to problems. Already, because of the penalty clauses in rail contracts, connecting trains will not wait at the station if the boat is late. We will now be faced with the same situation with the ferries. The boats will not wait for the late trains for fear of the penalty clause
Inevitably, we will get into a situation when passengers from the train at Oban, say, could even be sprinting along the pier, only to see the captain order the gangway up in order to avoid the penalty clause. To some small islands, the next sailing could be three days later. That is clearly a farcical situation, but it is what we will be faced with under a penalty clause system. A huge majority of my constituents want CalMac to continue to operate these lifeline services. CalMac has its faults—nobody would say that it is perfect—and it certainly has plenty, but a public body can be lobbied and pressurised into making changes, whereas a private sector body will be interested only in conforming to the timetable, avoiding penalty clauses and making a profit.
Crews often live on the islands and are part of the local community. In the small islands, a large proportion of the work force work for CalMac. The crews have a commitment to those islands, whereas a private operator, with crews possibly from the far side of Europe, will not have same commitment to the island communities.
The legislation has already wasted a great deal of taxpayers' money. CalMac has spent considerable sums engaging consultants and has devoted a great deal of time and energy to preparing for the tendering process that would have been better spent improving ferry services.
Spot on, say I.
Alasdair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland) said:
The European Commission is supposed to operate according to the treaty of Amsterdam, subject to the special treatment of peripherality, as it is called. Island and remote communities can be treated differently, and it is an immense source of frustration to me that that never seems to apply in practice.
Too true.
Bringing up the rear, Calum asked:
It would be helpful if the Minister could give a reassurance that nothing in the tendering process will diminish the continuing commitment of CalMac—and the Government—to the health and safety record that it has established on the west coast, as well as to the employees' terms and conditions.
And answer came there none; which I think tells us all we need to know.
In order to compete with the private companies, CalMac will be forced to transfer the employment of its crews offshore to avoid paying United Kingdom employers' national insurance contributions, which will cost the Treasury £1 million a year. Under the EU rules, the Scottish Executive cannot insist on the vessels remaining under a UK flag; they can sail under the flag of any EU country. But other EU countries have lower standards for training and expertise of the crews than Britain, so standards will inevitably fall.
In order to enforce a contract it clearly needs penalty clauses for lateness or failure to complete a sailing. However, that also leads to problems. Already, because of the penalty clauses in rail contracts, connecting trains will not wait at the station if the boat is late. We will now be faced with the same situation with the ferries. The boats will not wait for the late trains for fear of the penalty clause
Inevitably, we will get into a situation when passengers from the train at Oban, say, could even be sprinting along the pier, only to see the captain order the gangway up in order to avoid the penalty clause. To some small islands, the next sailing could be three days later. That is clearly a farcical situation, but it is what we will be faced with under a penalty clause system. A huge majority of my constituents want CalMac to continue to operate these lifeline services. CalMac has its faults—nobody would say that it is perfect—and it certainly has plenty, but a public body can be lobbied and pressurised into making changes, whereas a private sector body will be interested only in conforming to the timetable, avoiding penalty clauses and making a profit.
Crews often live on the islands and are part of the local community. In the small islands, a large proportion of the work force work for CalMac. The crews have a commitment to those islands, whereas a private operator, with crews possibly from the far side of Europe, will not have same commitment to the island communities.
The legislation has already wasted a great deal of taxpayers' money. CalMac has spent considerable sums engaging consultants and has devoted a great deal of time and energy to preparing for the tendering process that would have been better spent improving ferry services.
Spot on, say I.
Alasdair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland) said:
The European Commission is supposed to operate according to the treaty of Amsterdam, subject to the special treatment of peripherality, as it is called. Island and remote communities can be treated differently, and it is an immense source of frustration to me that that never seems to apply in practice.
Too true.
Bringing up the rear, Calum asked:
It would be helpful if the Minister could give a reassurance that nothing in the tendering process will diminish the continuing commitment of CalMac—and the Government—to the health and safety record that it has established on the west coast, as well as to the employees' terms and conditions.
And answer came there none; which I think tells us all we need to know.
Brian Wilson talks sense.
Spekaing about the Labour grass roots membership ahead of this weeks conference, Brian said:
"They feel largely ignored by the leadership and their spin doctors, listing among their complaints the ban on conference delegates influencing policy and even commenting on matters reserved to Westminster," he said.
Mr Wilson argued that healthy differences of opinion have to be aired to form good party policy and said that politics needed the stimulus of debate.
He agrees that Labour had to gag the fringe extremists in the 1980s, but now feels that Scottish and UK conferences are reduced to rallies of the faithful.
No comment is necessary, as the TV pictures will prove.Wednesday, March 02, 2005
The thin end of the wedge
According to the BBC, "UK Muslims should accept that people of Islamic appearance are more likely to be stopped and searched by police, a Home Office minister has said."
Who is next? Jews, Catholics, strikers, Free Presbyterian, punks, single mothers, truanting teenagers, or should just everyone expect to be detained on 'sus'.
This is utterly outrageous, and this is what Calum MacDonald has voted for.
My good friends in the Labour Party didn't join oppose become socialists to impose backdoor fascism on their colleagues.
Who is next? Jews, Catholics, strikers, Free Presbyterian, punks, single mothers, truanting teenagers, or should just everyone expect to be detained on 'sus'.
This is utterly outrageous, and this is what Calum MacDonald has voted for.
My good friends in the Labour Party didn't join oppose become socialists to impose backdoor fascism on their colleagues.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Baaa! Baaa! Humbug
Like the good little backbench sheep he is, Calum did as he was told and voted detention without trial; imprisonment of political detainees without the right to trial; and, removing the right of the defendant to see the evidence against them.
As a supporter of the Palestinian cause, doesn't he lambast the Israelis for using these very tactics?
But it's ok, he's been told that Charles Clarke will use the powers 'wisely'.
As a supporter of the Palestinian cause, doesn't he lambast the Israelis for using these very tactics?
But it's ok, he's been told that Charles Clarke will use the powers 'wisely'.
