!

Further to my last blog, the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council faced a motion of no confidence today at Full Council over The Gathering, holding on by only 29 votes to 26! The QUALITY and CREDIBILITY of their oral evidence to a Parliamentary Committee had been called into question and a large number of councillors remained unsatisifed with the responses provided and lack of fulsome apology today by Dawe and Cardownie. More revelations in the press this morning, before this afternoon's vote:- http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Council-leaders-under-fire-over.6731459.jp This won't be the end of the matter no doubt and I was pleased to discover that even ward colleagues read my blog to see what is happening on this issue!

City SNP & LieB Dem - not credible!

CAUGHT OUT

evidence given to the Scottish Parliament - Public Audit committee,, showed SNP Cardownie and Lieb Dem Dawe caught out - and no one can remember what was said?!?!?

full story here

full scottish parliament report here

Well done to the many local people who are standing up to save the North Edinburgh News...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwMVMtOXGTQ&feature=player_embedded

Sadly the SNP & LIB DEM COUNCIL - supported by your local tories,,, voted to cease funding the NEN!!

the fight continues!

are LiB Dems STUPID, MAD OR MALICIOUS

Clegg told he's 'sold out' by students

Last week Nick Clegg gave an audience to a group of students who are angry at his about-turn on tuition fees. It may have been overlooked at the time - not least because Danny Alexander was busy sacking a spokesperson live on air - but it's worth watching

http://www.labourlist.org/clegg-told-hes-sold-out-by-students?utm_source=taomail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=111432+Only+8%25+of+coalition+MPs+back+%27Big+Society%27+%2F+Clegg+confronted+by+angry+students+%2F+Livingstone+leads+London+poll+%28LL457%29&tmtid=111432-11636-11636-162-12-1210-68724

FAIRER?? Scotland Fund

I was back on the case of the LibDem/SNP approach to the Fairer ?? Scotland Fund (FSF) at Council again this month!

As I reported before, the centralising of FSF means that local Neighbourhood Partnerships - ie local people! no longer have a formal role into important funding decisions in their local communities.

I was pleased to welcome local residents as well as community representatives from the North Edinburgh News (NEN) who made a great case for continuing funding for the NEN as part of a deputation to Council; watched on from the public gallery by some of our young people!

After hearing from the deputations I seconded the Labour Group Amendment rejecting the LibDem/SNP third party grant proposals and calling for a further report next month. In fact, had the opposition Labour Budget got through there would have been sufficient funding for all third party grants and FSF activities!!

The NEN already had massive funding cuts a couple of years ago but staff took a pay cut and a fantastic job has been done to generate advertising revenue from local organisations, BUT grant funding needed to be secured as well to keep the paper going! The paper is a great way for elected representatives from all parties to keep in touch with local people and a valuable source of local information and what's happening in our patch. Its closure will be a major loss for our community! Unbelievably, despite that... I was the only Forth Ward Councillor to oppose the funding cut. Says it all!

100 days - 100 broken snp promises

Iain Gray said,,

In highlighting many of the SNP failed promises....

In less than one hundred days, Scotland will choose its course for the next one thousand days. I am standing to be First Minister and win this election because Scotland deserves better.

click here for more info

More LIE b DEM lies

Nick Clegg and David Cameron promised to rebuild the military covenant and improve pay and conditions....???

Last week, the government announced £250 million in cuts to Armed Forces Personnel Allowances, which will reportedly lead to an average £1,400 cut in the income of every member of the Armed Forces. From 1 May 2011, they’ll be cutting something from everything; from the Day Subsistence allowance to the School Children’s Visits allowance. Nothing remains untouched!

full story; click here

FID DEM Failings

Fib Dem collapse?

Not smiling now...?

More Lie'b Dem failings reported recently..

Further to my last posting....Maybe less than rock-bottom in Scotland. According to a poll today, support for the Liberal Democrats in Scotland has fallen by more than half since the last Holyrood elections! The party’s public opinion ratings have fallen by five percentage points over the last five months. This follows all their broken promises on manifesto commitments like tuition fees and VAT.

The LibDems’ five-percentage-point fall to a tiny 7% in Scotland, is also found in the regional list vote comparison with last August. Labour are well in the lead and the main beneficiaries.

However, I’ll continue working hard to put across Labour’s message locally and fight for local residents and businesses.

Full story:-

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/libdems-hit-by-backlash-as-scottish-vote-collapses-1.1080206

Lib Dem support hits rock bottom

LIB DEM LET DOWN

The Liberal Democrats faced a depressing start to the political year today, after a poll of polls revealed the party's support had hit rock bottom.

A weighted average of surveys from ComRes, ICM, Ipsos MORI and YouGov by the Independent put the party on just 11%, its lowest level since it was formed in 1988.

Nick Clegg became the most unpopular third party leader since David Owen led the Social Democratic party (SDP) in 1989.

Meanwhile, Labour retained a small lead over the Conservatives, on 40% compared to the Tories 38%.

If the results were repeated at a general election the Lib Dems would be reduced to 15 MPs from their current 57.

full story here

another year.... Best Wishes for 2011

It has been a busy 2010 in Forth! Alongside all of my Council duties and weekly surgeries, I've been campaigning on a whole host of local matters, including, · promoting the successful Forth Community Festival · fighting the corner of voluntary groups facing an uncertain future due to budget cuts · pressing the case for affordable housing in the city · tackling the LIbDem/SNP Council on their budget CONsultation · highlighting the work of Edinburgh Tenants' Federation · advising staff and students at Telford College · demanding and achieving action on issues from Bangholm to Craigroyston · awarding grants to worthwhile local projects as Neighbourhood Partnership Convener · helping save Granton Gas Tower from demolition... just a few of the things in which I've been involved! Next year I'll keep up the pressure on the LibDem/SNP Council Administration to deliver a fair deal for Forth locally and lets hope for a change in government at Holyrood in May which will deliver for us. I would like to wish all my constituents a very happy New Year and all the best for 2011! Please do not hesitate to get i touch with me; http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/councillors/16/cammy_day

There is a Better Way

There is a Better Way

Festive cheer!

have a laugh at the lie-b dems

www.thereisabetterway.org/cleggs-last-christmas

UNFAIR to some!!

I was pleased to put forward an amendment at Full Council this month,,,looking for urgent discussions in relation to Fairer Scotland Funding. The removal of the decision making authority from our local area to central officers goes against community planning and accountability. I tackled the LibDem/SNP Council on the lack of progress and clarity and the misleading timetables given to local projects ad to elected members. Unfortunately while I won the support of the Green Group, the Forth community was let down by the other parties who voted ahgainst this course of action.. I will keep fighting to ensure future funding is properly discussed and that our area continues to be a priority investment for anti poverty funding and is NOT ignored by the LibDem/SNP Administration and their Unfair approach. City of Edinburgh Council Labour Amendment Full Council Meeting 16th December 2010 Item 8.4 Transition from Fairer Scotland Funding Recommendations 6.1 Delete recommendation ii and insert: 1 Council notes with concern the lack of progress and clarity provided to voluntary sector groups in the transition process from receipt of Fairer Scotland Funding throughout the city. 2 Council further notes that the removal of decision making authority from democratically elected local neighbourhood partnership boards, to central officer groups is not in the spirit of local community participation /planning. 3 Council further notes concerns about misleading timetables provided to funded projects on the timescales for investment/disinvestment. 4 Council deplores the broken promise to hold proper and detailed briefing and the additional bureaucracy requiring information in triplicate with an unrealistic deadline. Delete v and vi and insert: Council therefore instructs that: 1 Urgent/ Proper discussions between departments and individual projects be held to look at potential future funding. 2 Projects highlighted for disinvestment be brought to January’s Policy and Strategy committee. 3 Areas of multiple deprivation continue to be a priority investment for anti poverty funding Proposed by Cllr Cammy Day Seconded Cllr Ewan Aitken

too little, too late

My inbox and phone is hot with the calls coming in about the state of the roads and pavements in Forth Ward..

Some schools in the city still closed, pavements and roads inaccessible, and some areas still unable to get a bus service to help transport them arounds the city

This administration need to takle control of this, and 'get it sorted'!

for more information on this - please read the Labour Group Leaders blog here

Ed Miliband addresses conference!

Ed Miliband addresses conference, his background, and his vision for our country

to see the full speech - click here

Ed Miliband said this Labour generation will create;

a better economy for all
a society that values community and families
change how goverment works
change foreign policy - based on values! not alliances
a new politics.. for the country
a living wage for all...


a new generation has taken charge of labour
optmistic about our county
optimistic about our world
optyimisitc about the power of politics

together we will change britain

Macmillan Coffee Morning

I was pleased to be asked to open the 'Old Kirk' at Pennywell road - coffee morning in support of the Macmillan cancer support. click here for more info on Saturday 25th September

The day was also supported by some wonderful music and service from the All Nation Christian Fellowship International, many of whom are fijian nationals and current or former service personnel.

a short video, from my poor quality camera -

Today a new generation has stepped forward to change our party.

Labour party members and affiliates, elected our party leader, to take on the CON DEM Coalition yesterday.

With a close run race between the two Miliband brothers, im pleased we now have a result, and a great leader and that Ed Miliband will lead our party to success, I for one will be fully behind our new leader!


Ed pipped brother David by 1.3%, for the full voting results click here Ed Milliband - Labours Leader

commenting on his fantastic result - Ed said;

Ed Miliband said:

"Today a new generation has stepped forward to change our party. We are united in our mission to transform Labour so that, once again, we stand up for the hardworking majority who play by the rules and want a less divided and more prosperous Britain. I know we have a lot of work to do. The journey starts today."

if you want to get involved - log on to http://www2.labour.org.uk/home

Community Festival

I have been keen to push forward our local community festival - showing the rest of the city - that North Edinburgh is a lively and great place to be! The Forth Neighbourhood Partnership, along with Pilton Community Health Project, Telford College, National Grid and EMERGE + many others have planned a great event for this weekend...Good discussions today in finalising the plans for the Forth Community Festival - to be held at ForthQuarter Park this saturday 25 September 2010, from 12-4 more info here

Lets hope the sun shines for another year of fun, bringing all the local agencies and community together!

More Rubbish...?

More complaints today fom local comunity representatives about the increase in fly tipping - as a direct result of the SNP/Lib Dem cuts, in abandoning free special uplifts! Now your welcome message is 'get you card ready to pay' when you call for an uplift

someone needs to remind them - it was your SNP/LIb Dem decision - now deal with the problem, not just blame officers!

Budget 'CON' sultation

you may have heard the recent shambles of the SNP/LIb Dems pathetic attempt at pretending to listen to the voters in a budget CONsultation! You can read more about this on Cllr Andrew Burns blog click here

The opportunity for people in the Forth and Inverleith ward is on Tuesday 5th October - I hope you can make it along - and let the Lib Dem /SNP shambles know your thoughts!!

The meeting is at Drylaw Parish Church - Groathill Road North map here at 7pm sharp!