Scottish Government Housing Minister visit

The SNP group of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar welcomes the news that the Scottish Government have announced an additional 650k towards the building of new houses in the Western Isles.

Privatisation of the Royal Mail by Westminster

“The UK government’s decision to privatise the Royal Mail poses real danger to the postal service, and in particular, the universal service obligation which is of huge importance to Scotland.

“Like the bedroom tax, the majority of Scottish MPs will oppose, but this privatisation is a consequence of not being independent and getting governments that we don’t vote for.  This will of course raise concerns for island and rural services in the long term. If anything, this alone should waken people up to the need for independence.

“Last December, Citizens Advice Scotland published a report showing that people living in some remote and rural areas of Scotland are paying extra money to have goods bought online delivered to their homes – with many courier companies refusing to deliver to certain postcodes.  A privatised postal service in a competitive market will undoubtedly put pressure on government to reduce the terms of the USO, as its competitors “cherry pick” the profitable urban routes leading to a reduced service in rural and less affluent areas.

“Seventy seven per cent of Scots are totally opposed to the privatisation of Royal Mail – more than any other part of the UK. Vince Cable has spouted nonsense about independence being a threat to post offices, yet Scotland could be losing their post offices due to a UK government they did not elect. Only with independence can Scotland be assured of a mail service that meets the needs of Scotland and our communities rather than the money men of London.

“It is a nonsense that a public flotation on the stock exchange will make any difference to the eventual outcome. In previous Tory privatisations, they trumpeted the idea of mass shareholding but the truth is that many were soon sold, the numbers of people holding shares peaked in 1997 and has steadily declined since.

“Most of the privatised companies, such as the energy companies, were soon taken over and most have now ended up as divisions of overseas companies. It is highly likely that Royal Mail will soon end up losing its independence and becoming part of one of the larger European mail companies, or worse still, fall into the hands of those seeking to asset strip the organisation.

“The only protection to the consumer is Ofcom, who have already lifted the price cap on most products, allowed competitors to establish delivery services on profitable routes and confirmed that they have no power to stop the introduction of different prices for different areas of the country.”

The Road to Uncertainty

As Councillor Manford, with the support of his SNP colleagues, continues to fight for openness and transparency on safe roads, the Comhairle’s decision to implement the Home to School Transport policy has been little more than a shambles.

Report on the Impact of the Removal of RET for commercial vehicles

The report on the Impact of the Removal of RET Fares from Commercial Vehicles was welcomed by the SNP Group at the Comhairle seminar.

The report highlighted a number of issues which suggested the need for improvements to support island economies and remove disadvantages in costs of ferry travel.

Urgent action needed as impact of lost air service hammers home

Newspaper Delivery Re-routed

The calamitous implications of council axing Uist and Barra flights, continues to escalate. Directly and indirectly over 20 flights in total are lost, including connections between Stornoway, Inverness and Edinburgh.

How much more will be lost while the council howls; it’s not our fault.

Budget 14th Feb, 2013 - Council Confusion.

Confusion reigns within the council ruling group as more councillors try to distance themselves from the consequences of their atrocious decisions.  They try and claim that "scoring exercises" done last year absolve them from their worst actions.

There is one, and one only, decision-making forum for deciding the council's budget at that was, 14th February 2013 at 4:00pm.  This is enshrined in democratic law and is to be done in public.  This is where all 31 elected councillors should make their choices. Whatever desperate excuses are given, 6 councillors voted to save the air service and 24 voted to axe it, that is the simple inescapable reality.

Council leader still attacking his critics

The increasingly puerile attacks by the Western Isles Council's leader on anyone who dares oppose their decision to axe the air service continue.

First, the SNP council group are attacked for invoking the basic democratic right of presenting a proper amendment against his proposal to end the service.

Then the Health Board are slated for not funding the council's transport responsibilities.

Next, the  Member of Parliament is condemned for not " standing shoulder to shoulder" to remove services.