Archive for the ‘Highlands’ Category
A very big thank you and a new arrival !
Hi folks
I wanted to say a great big thankyou to the Campaign team and the loyal and hard working Conservative activists across the region.
We managed to achieve a fantastic result with a 3% increase in the vote over last time. In fact we managed to get a significantly better result than many of the Target seats across Scotland who benefitted from extra funding and resources.
The dedication and support that I have received has been enormous and it has been an honour and a privilage to serve as the Candidate for Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey for this Westminster election.
I also wish to thank all of the people who voted for me and who can now see that progress is once again being made with the Conservative party in this area.
With continued hard work and an emphasis on assisting local people with the issues and concerns I am certain that we will continue to see the share of the vote increase in forthcoming elections.
I am also delighted to let everyone know that my wife Jodie and I have just had our fourth child Nathan who was born at 5.29am on Sunday.
Both are doing very well.
So once again to everyone from Nairn and Granton, Avimore and Inverness and Drumnadrochit and to all who assisted me my sincere thanks.
Its been a pleasure and a privilege to represent you as a Candidate and to fight for the Conservative party in this region.
Jim Ferguson
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Labour United with Tories on Plans for Scotland to be used as “Guinea Pig”
Labour United with the Tories last night to accuse the Liberal Democrats of planning to use Scotland “as a guinea pig” for an unenforceable and “ridiculous” Immigration Policy.
Their joint attack on the idea that immigrants would only be allowed into the UK if they promise to work in regions where there is a need for them, followed a promise from LibDem home Affairs spokesman Tom Brake to “Seek to Trial this in Scotland”.
Glasgow South West Labour Candidate Ian Davidson said the proposals would end up with different immigration schems north and south of the border.
And Scottish Tory Campaign Manager said: “The Liberal Democrats want to use Scotland as a guinea pig for their irresponsible policies without giving thought for the pressure this will put on our public services. Perhaps “Nick Clegg would care to tell us how many thousands he would direct to Scotland and on what basis we have been singled out from the rest of the UK for this treatment”.
Taken from Press and Journal
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Racist Accusation If Immigration Spoken Of!
Any talk of immigration risks the dreaded R word
By NICOLA BARRY
Published: 05/05/2010
JUST when you think Gordon Brown cannot sink any lower in the opinion of the voters, he does exactly that, in spectacular fashion.
Every time he opens his big mouth, he forgets his microphone is still on.
However, bear in mind that his comment about Gillian Duffy could have been so much worse, especially if it has been made by a woman.
We really know how to bitch. Our prime minister, on the other hand, does not. Men call women bitches when they don’t get what they want from them. So, if a woman turns a man down for a date, she’s a bitch. If she races up the career ladder faster than he does, she’s a big, fat bitch and so on.
Women are far more likely to go for the jugular and drop some interesting bombshell about the target of their gossip.
Bitching is fine, provided you are with people you know and trust. In the case of the PM, the voters are not in that category.
As a result of all the fuss, Gillian Duffy is heading for mega stardom. She might even be the Susan Boyle of politics. An ordinary wee wifie, a widowed granny from Rochdale, suddenly thrust into the media spotlight from nowhere just like SuBo.
Suddenly, Gillian D has been revealed as a major player in the general election campaign, with the prime minister wanting to shake her hand for the TV cameras. Her name is now known nationally – possibly internationally. She is, if you like, notorious.
All because Gordon Brown, in a toe-curlingly embarrassing moment, dared to describe her as “a bigoted woman” after the poor soul raised the taboo subject of mass immigration.
Brown, who is also a poor soul these days, managed to forget for a moment that he is our servant and we are not his.
Mrs Duffy’s concerns are not difficult to comprehend. There are those who say she is not a racist; that she was just questioning Westminster’s immigration policy. Of course, there are thousands of Eastern Europeans here in Scotland and in the rest of the UK; people who have come here to find work. But Mrs Duffy’s choice of words was plain unfortunate. She talked about “flocking eastern Europeans” and it isn’t hard to see why Gordon Brown took this as a slur.
Many of these immigrants work far harder than Scots. They pay taxes. They have a right to our respect. However, whatever you think of what she said, you will probably admit that her sentiments are shared by a lot of other people who are too scared to say the words out loud. And, to question government policy on this matter is to leave yourself wide open to accusations of the R word.
No one can dispute the fact that parts of this country – and the north-east is no exception – have been all but swamped by incomers from abroad. Whether skilled white-collar workers or students seeking higher education, Eastern Europeans have been abandoning their homes in their thousands, in search of a mythical promised land. And to say so does not constitute racism.
Since joining the European Union in 2004, well over 1million Eastern Europeans have come to the UK, thought to be the largest single migration movement in history.
They have good reason to come here. Times are tough at home, with unemployment reaching an all-time high. Yes, membership of the EU has brought economic benefits but not fast enough for the country’s disconsolate army of jobless.
True to their reputation, most immigrants from Eastern Europe work extremely hard and are prepared to do anything in order to earn a living. Their output is, by all accounts, prolific, their work ethic admirable. Those who have not been able to find jobs have been prepared to fill the most menial job vacancies around just to earn a crust. The jobs no one else seems to want. Others have converted derelict buildings into delicatessens or similar businesses.
Whatever anyone says in Mrs Duffy’s defence, to dismiss all these honest folk as a “flock”, implying they resemble sheep, following each other and baa baa-ing, is an insult to their integrity.
As political parties continue to debate the way forward for immigration, many politicians and would-be politicians cash in on our worst fears, on the insecurities of many white, working-class people who say they feel under siege.
But, in 2010, look around you and listen to your friends and neighbours and you will soon hear someone moaning about the invasion of foreigners. They do sound hostile, aggressive and, I’m afraid, racist.
Politicians tell us that unfettered immigration from the extended EU and beyond has stretched this country to breaking point, turning even the most liberal of citizens into something approaching rabid fascists. The popular argument is that people feel like strangers in their own country – an exaggeration, of course – but, it would take a twisted individual not to have some sympathy for their logic. Hence Mrs Duffy’s comments.
You can almost hear the BNP chortling with glee every time a court case comes up involving illegal immigrants and every time you see pictures of foreigners gathering at Calais, trying to reach the UK and its unquestioning benefits system.
I am beginning to sound racist, but, believe me, I’m not. This is what Labour has reduced us to.
Perhaps we are over-reacting to Gordon Brown’s gaffe. After all, if you lined up the number of people in this country who had muttered something about somebody else – the queue would stretch from here to China and back again.
Yet, even here, in Scotland, this simple, straightforward woman has touched us deeply. Could it be that Gillian Duffy, widow and lifelong socialist, is the psychological boost we all need to help us ride out the recession, at a time when we are all worried about our jobs and lifestyle? Or, is it simply the fact that an underdog has finally come up trumps and shown our scandal-ridden politicians where to get off?
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Liberal Democrats use fake nurse and policeman in their election literature
First the Fib Dem’s had a fake nurse in their election literature, now a fake policeman
Lib Dems stage ‘fake PC’ photo
 The Lib Dems’ Welsh manifesto shows leader Kirsty Williams apparently speaking to a police officer – but he is not one
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Welsh Liberal Democrats have defended using a “model” dressed as a police officer in a photo with leader Kirsty Williams in their manifesto.
It is the second time in a week that the Welsh Lib Dems have admitted using stand-ins in photographs.
The party said the photo was “illustrative” and that it would not be detailing the identity of the stand-in.
Last week Cardiff North candidate John Dixon used a Lib Dem researcher dressed as a nurse in an election leaflet.
The leaflet showed him talking to a woman in nurse’s uniform who was actually a researcher for Lib Dem Assembly Member Mick Bates.
This leaflet picture showed a Lib Dem candidate speaking to a researcher dressed as a nurse
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The photograph with Ms Williams appeared on page 35 of their general election manifesto in a section promising more officers on the beat.
Explaining the rationale for using such photographs, a Lib Dem spokesperson said: “Photos like these are used for illustrative purposes as it is obviously difficult for some serving members of the police force or the health service to appear in general election literature.”
The party said that the use of such “illustrative photographs” was strictly limited to the policy areas of health and policing.
The spokesperson said: “In our election communication, we only used illustrative photographs to highlight our commitment to improving the NHS and increasing the number of police on our streets.”
The party stressed that Ms Williams was not “complicit in the impersonation of a police officer”.
‘No impersonation’
The spokesperson said: “There has been no such impersonation. Being photographed dressed in a way that illustrates the police service, does not in any way represent impersonating a police officer, so there is nothing to be complicit in.”
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 We don’t intend to divulge the identity of the model for obvious reasons as it would potentially cause a lot of media intrusion for the individual concerned  Welsh Liberal Democrats
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However, a Welsh Conservative Party spokesperson said: “We were under the impression impersonating a police officer is a criminal offence.”
He added: “It would seem the Lib Dems’ support for law and order is purely ‘illustrative’ – just as it was last week when they used a fake nurse to promote their claims of support for the NHS.
“The Liberals talk about being an ‘honest partner’ at this election. Yet twice in three days they’ve been caught out trying to mislead the public.”
Tories said they were not aware of any such examples in their own election literature, and that each election publication was the responsibility of each election agent.
‘Fireman Sam’
A spokesman for Plaid Cymru said: “We can confirm that we don’t dress up members of staff or supporters in uniforms to pretend that we’re talking to real policemen or nurses – we prefer to talk to the real thing.”
Plaid also told BBC Wales: “It’s pretty worrying that the Lib Dems leader appears to be getting advice on law and order from and actor or member of staff dressed up as a policeman, however we’re not surprised by this latest leaflet – everyone knows that the Lib Dems are a party willing to do just about anything to get votes.”
“They have also tried to dress Nick Clegg up as someone who cares about Wales – and clearly that’s not true.”
A spokesperson for Welsh Labour said: “First a fake nurse, then a fake policeman – what’s next, a picture with Fireman Sam?
‘Media intrusion’
“Everyone knows that the Lib Dems will do absolutely anything for a vote, from their dodgy graphs to make-believe photos, they have always been the shameless chancers of Welsh politics.”
Lib Dems said they would not reveal the identity of the stand-in police officer.
“We don’t intend to divulge the identity of the model for obvious reasons as it would potentially cause a lot of media intrusion for the individual concerned and is not material to the issue,” the party spokesperson said.
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Jim Ferguson’s concern over housing in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
“Liberal Democrats have announced they will add VAT to new build houses. Home building industry body Homes for Scotland, whose membership provides 95% of all homes built for sale in Scotland as well as an increasingly significant proportion of affordable housing, today unsurprisingly slammed Liberal Democrat proposals to add VAT to new build homes if elected to Government and so do I.
We are in desperate need of social and “truly affordable” housing for rental with 10,000 people on the Highland Council Housing Waiting List.
Those on local average earnings have little chance of accessing mortgages since the Banking crisis.
Most work locally and need housing in the areas where they work. Spiralling petrol and diesel costs make it even more difficult for those on lower incomes who live in rural areas, hence my concern on this issue.
Members of the public have made clear their dismay over Labour Government’s failure to control immigration.
Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrat comments, recently broadcast, have incensed the electorate when stating Inverness and other areas need more migrants! Gordon Brown’s Labour “open borders” policy has been a complete failure. Massive increases in migration have resulted in overstretched Public Services. The increased cost of the Benefits System underpinning the policy could have major economic consequences.
If migrants are to be welcomed, we must ensure crucial infrastructure is in place, including jobs, education, health and housing and naturally the ability to cope with the diversity of languages involved which is particularly difficult in rural areas.
We need to develop Tourism further as it is a principal Highlands industry and vital for local economy creating crucial meaningful jobs and provide the necessary homes for these people.
We need a common sense approach to address Highlands problems.
Jim Ferguson
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Press Release 21st April 2010
Lib Dem proposal increasing cost of new homes sheer madness
Home building industry body Homes for Scotland, whose membership provides 95% of all homes built for sale in Scotland as well as an increasingly significant proportion of affordable housing, today slammed Liberal Democrat proposals to add VAT to new build homes if elected to Government.
On the day that Tavish Scott launched the party’s manifesto in Scotland, the organisation’s Chief Executive Jonathan Fair said:
“Somehow, the Liberal Democrats seem to be unaware that Scotland, not to mention the UK as a whole, is facing its worst housing crisis since the Second World War. Not only has our industry lost up to half its workforce, development is touching an all-time low and vital First Time Buyers are struggling to find deposits of up to 25%. Any measure increasing the cost of new homes, whether in the public or private sector, is sheer madness and will simply exacerbate the problems we as a country already face.”
Ends
Enquiries to:
Jennifer Kennedy, Homes for Scotland – 0131 455 8350
Notes to Editors:
Homes for Scotland (www.homesforscotland.com) represents the country’s home building industry which, prior to the onset of the credit crunch,:
- was the largest source of private investment in Scotland and the largest user of the planning system
- built 20,000 new homes, contributed £6bn to the economy and directly impacted the employment of 100,000 people (2007 figures)
Half the industry’s directly employed jobs have already been lost and Scottish new build housing output has plummeted, presenting far-reaching and long-term social and economic consequences.
Click here to read Homes for Scotland’s “building for their future” appeal to MPs as they prepare to enter the election season.
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Support for Nairn Swimming Pool
Support for Nairn Swimming Pool
I was saddened to hear that Highland Council were contemplating closure of Nairn Swimming Pool due to budget cuts.
It is a well run pool with a long history of serving the people of Nairn and I was saddened to see this news in the press.
Nairn swimming pool is a well loved, popular, social venue and brings great enjoyment to not only the people of the town, but the surrounding area too.I learned to swim in Nairn Swimming pool and so did my children and I would be bitterly disappointed if it closed.
The area has popular beaches which are used during the summer by local children and it is a vital service to ensure youngsters learn to swim in a safe environment before swimming in the sea.
Unfortunately it is front line services which are going to suffer in the proposed cutbacks. There are many other areas where the budget could be addressed.
Our Swimming Pools and Community centres are a priority for all age groups and even more so for youth workers who run diversionary activities for youngsters keeping them off street corners and encouraging them to take up sport. The pool is also used by the elderly and to travel to Inverness would be difficult if not impossible.
You can be certain that I am willing do all I can in the campaign to help keep keep this important facility for Nairn open.
Jim Ferguson
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Conservative Party – An invitation to older people
David Cameron has launched the Older People Manifesto - an important addition to the Big Society agenda.
The Manifesto unveils policies designed to appeal to the older community in Britain, placing them at the centre of the political narrative and continuing David Cameron’s pledge to champion the great ignored.
“I want to bring older generations right into the mainstream of our national life”, Cameron said in a speech today. “Yes, to treat them with respect and kindness, and to give them the dignity and security they deserve - but also to call on their wisdom and values”.
Click here to download the Older People Manifesto
The Manifesto highlights:
1. Work and equality.
Work to stop discrimination against older people and introduce better support for older workers who lose their jobs, by:
- Looking at how to end the retirement age to promote fairness in the workplace.
- Scrapping the effective obligation to buy an annuity by age 75, to give people greater control over their finances.
- Providing specialist back-to-work support for the over 50s.
2. Greater financial security.
Protect pensioners’ benefits and create new forms of help to promote more independence and security, by:
- Protecting key benefits: the Winter Fuel Allowance, free bus passes, free TV licences and the pension credit. And unlike Labour, we will not scrap Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance for the over 65s.
- Providing a better basic state pension by linking it to earnings in 2012.
- Freezing council tax for two years in partnership with local councils, saving a typical Band D pensioner household over £200 a year.
- Giving more help to lower fuel bills through a ‘green deal’, helping to tackle fuel poverty.
3. Health and independence.
Health and social care that is fairer and more flexible, reducing the increasing isolation and vulnerability of elderly people, by:
- Health and social care that is fairer and more flexible, reducing the increasing isolation and vulnerability of elderly people, by:
- Protecting NHS spending so it has the resources it needs to meet people’s rising expectations about the quality of care they should receive.
- Providing single budgets, combining social and health funding, to give older people direct control over the care they receive.
- Scrapping Labour’s jobs tax, and using the £200 million a year this will save the NHS to create a Cancer Drugs Fund – making sure that everyone has access to the cancer drugs their doctors think will help them.
- Devolving public health budgets, so communities can spend money to prevent older people getting ill in the first place.
- Making sure that no-one is forced to sell their own home to pay their care home fees.
- Delivering better palliative care to people at the end of their lives.
4. Family and community.
Greater recognition of the important role that older people and grandparents play in their communities, and more opportunities for older people to take a more active part in building a stronger, more family-friendly society, by:
- Greater recognition of the important role that older people and grandparents play in their communities, and more opportunities for older people to take a more active part in building a stronger, more family-friendly society, by:
- Getting older people involved in new programmes of civic action and volunteering, at the vanguard of a new army of activists who will help build the Big Society.
- Creating new powers for local communities to save community assets, like post offices, that are of great value to older people.
- Giving greater rights to grandparents after parental break-up or in cases where a child needs to be taken into care.
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Scottish Conservatives launch campaign for fairer fuel prices
Speaking at the launch of a fair fuel price campaign, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader says:
“Labour and the SNP are both responsible for the high fuel prices. The Labour Government at Westminster has taxed so much that we have record fuel prices when oil is half the price it was two years ago.
“The SNP Government in Scotland has increased rates for local garage owners by up to 50% and is forcing many of them out of business. The new rates valuation brought in under the SNP penalises independent rural petrol stations because they are charged the same rates as supermarkets, but can’t get the same deals on fuel prices from wholesalers.
“The SNP may not be able to do anything at Westminster because they are irrelevant, but they are in Government in Scotland so can’t pass the buck on this issue.
“Conservatives want to ensure fairer fuel prices and increase the number of petrol stations eligible for rates relief to bring pump prices down.”
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