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Politicians that put people rather than party first 14/7/09
Sirs,
I've had an interest in local politics for more years than I care to remember ......because I care what happens to the people of our Isles.
During that time I've always been careful to avoid the trap of believing that one
party is "always right-
Last week Jim Murphy [ Secretary of Scotland ] came to the Isles and his speech at the Bridge Centre was a refreshing blast of "fresh air"and fresh thinking on the way forward for the people of Scotland and the UK in these difficult times ........consensus and working together.....nobody wins when you fight with friends and relations when you " face a crisis."
Jim won and held the safest Tory seat in Scotland and went on to become Secretary of State for Scotland.
He did this by building consensus and trust......where there was scope for people to work together...and "putting people first " rather than petty party political dogma!
Last week's meeting was interesting , in that....... Alasdair Allan [our MSP] attended
the Secretary of State's public meeting and by doing so -
Earlier in the year he also attended the "Calman Commission" consultations at the
Caberfeidh Hotel and differentiated himself from our "part-
It was however disappointing to hear him the following day retrench into "tired" separatist rhetoric [and show less respect than the Secretary of State had shown to him at his Public Meeting].
To be blunt .....for a change............the difference between Domhnall Iain Macsween and Jim Murphy and separatists like Brendan and Allan is that Jim Murphy and Domhnall Iain have a track record of improving the lives of the old...the young...the poor...and those who need help to look after themselves.
They are not separatist nationalist policians [ SNP] driven by selfishness and self-
SEPARATISTS aren't driven by what they can deliver for communities and how they can help people get ahead [ in the way that Domhnall Iain Macsween and Jim Murphy are "driven"]
Seperatists are driven by a selfish, petty, obsession of erecting barriers which seperate............ brothers /sisters/cousins and friends from each other
and achieves nothing !
Messrs Macneil and Allan should grow up -
The world's moved on ........Bannockburn and Culloden are history ....
People are interested in history, but ,much more interested in the difference elected representatives make to their lives .....changing the weather map didn't improve our weather !
Callum Ian Macmillan
Chairman
Western Isles Labour Party
8 Lewis Street
Stornoway
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