Scottish Government deliver “slap in the face” to local residents over Park of Keir

Almost seventeen months after Stirling Council refused planning permission for development on the Park of Keir, SNP Ministers have overturned the decision.

Stirling Labour Councillor Margaret Brisley who chaired the Planning Panel that refused the application in 2015 said:

“This is a deeply disappointing decision by the SNP Scottish Government who have delivered a slap in the face to local residents and local democracy. Stirling Councillors agreed our Local Development Plan which didn’t include such a provision on this site. Stirling Council Planning and Regulation Panel held a public hearing and considered all aspects of the application and ultimately refused it. It is also unacceptable that the SNP took so long to come to this unfortunate decision – had any local council taken this amount of time on a planning application, they would face criticism from the Scottish Government.”

Stirling Labour Group Leader Councillor Danny Gibson said:

“This is an outrageous decision by the SNP’s Local Government Minister which treats local democratic decision making here in Stirling with contempt. Instead of more central command and control over the planning system from this minority SNP Scottish Government, MSPs in Holyrood should be ensuring that the Scottish Government respects local government. To make matters worse the Minister Kevin Stewart MSP has even ignored his own Scottish Government reporter’s recommendation “To dismiss the appeal and refuse planning permission”. It would seem that the Minister who ‘called in’ this application in for his own decision thinks he knows better than everyone else. Locally we are all proud of the tennis achievements of the Murray family however this greenbelt land is the wrong location for this project – there are plenty of other suitable sites in the Stirling Council area and it is still not too late for the applicants to work with, not against, public opinion on this matter.”

Statement by the Stirling Constituency Labour Party on the lifting of suspension and reinstatement of Tory Party Whip to Stirling Councillors Robert Davies and Alistair Majury:

“Stirling deserves better than offensive Tory councillors and feckless Tory discipline. Given the deeply offensive views expressed by Councillors Majury and Davis, ‘Keep your heads down lads and it will all blow over in a couple of months’ is a response you’d expect in a 1970s TV cop show, not a political party in 2017. With this incident, the Tory party has shown bad judgement in choosing councillors and poor leadership in denouncing sectarianism and racism in Scotland today.

Councillors Davies and Majury need to face up to their actions and offer their resignations to their constituents.”

Chris Kane on EVE OF ELECTION DAY

The Stirling Observer have been running a series of articles from candidates ahead of the General Election. Here’s what Chris Kane had to say in the newspaper on the eve of Election Day:

“Britain needs a government that works for the many not the few. The Tories have spent the past seven years giving the super-rich tax breaks while working families are set to be on average over £1,400 a year worse off. People can’t risk voting Tory, just as they can’t risk can’t risk voting SNP. In 2015, Labour warned that a vote for the SNP would let the Tories get back into Number 10. That’s exactly what happened and now we have the chaos of Brexit and the threat of a second independence referendum. People across Scotland are trapped between two governments with the wrong priorities. A Tory Government intent on a hard Brexit and an SNP Government determined to divide Scotland again with another independence referendum. Only a Labour Government will be a government for the many, not the privileged few. Labour will increase the incomes of working people with a £10 real living wage, we will ban zero hour contracts to ensure people get a fair day’s pay, and we will protect pensioners by guaranteeing the triple lock until 2025. Labour will end the public sector pay cap. Labour will invest in enforcement of rights at work and empower workers and their trade unions. A Labour Government will bring the railways back into public ownership and use the profits to lower fares and improve services. Labour will transform our energy systems, investing in new state-of-the-art, low-carbon gas and renewable electricity production. Labour will deliver universal superfast broadband by 2021 across Scotland, with a focus on rural broadband coverage. Labour will reregulate the buses and pursue municipal ownership; public transport should run to community not commercial priorities. I’m proud of our manifesto and I would encourage you to read it at www.scottishlabour.org.uk. If elected I’ll be a local Labour champion and work every day to make you proud. Tomorrow, vote for the many, not the few. Vote Labour.”

Claire Baker MSP – Stirling Observer column

Claire Baker, MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, writes a regular column for the Stirling Observer newspaper. Here’s her latest one:

claire baker and chris kane2JPG — Claire Baker and Stirling’s General Election Candidate Chris Kane

“As a politician it feels that Scotland has been on a continual election footing since the 2010 General Election, so I can only imagine what it must feel like for voters. A common complaint from a voter on the doors used to be “we only ever see you at elections,” now we are more likely to hear “weren’t you here last week?”

Yet every election from 2010 onwards has brought with it something different and this upcoming one is no exception. When voters enter the booth to put their ‘x’ beside a candidate’s name it will be with thoughts of two referendums; brexit and indyref 2.

Labour is the party which best represents the majority view of the electorate. We support Scotland in the UK and we want to see a close relationship between the UK and Europe. Meanwhile the Conservatives pursuit of a hard brexit and the SNP’s continual insistence that independence is the answer, whatever the question, is damaging Scotland’s interests.

Voters deserve more when choosing the direction of the country for the next five years than two parties promoting their own constitutional agendas. Voters deserve better than the uncertainty and division than these referendums bring. Scotland, and the UK, are at their best when there is a common interest and when the have governments that work to promote prosperity, fairness and opportunity for everyone.

That is why a Labour Government will focus on creating a better society. We will invest £500 billion in infrastructure and industry, backed by a National Investment Bank, we will tackle exploitative zero hour contracts that make it impossible for many people to plan their lives and we will build a progressive tax system.

It is not fair that those who have suffered the most as a result of the banking crisis are those that had the least. In recent years, the burden has disproportionately fallen on the poorest and there is a need for us all to take responsibility for increasing equality in our country.

We also have the opportunity to elect local Labour MPs that will stand up for their communities, not use their position to posture on the constitution. Many will already know Labour’s candidate Chris Kane as someone who cares passionately about Stirling and someone who is able to bring communities together to work in the common interest. Chris Kane can be your local champion who will fight for the many, not the few and make sure Stirling’s voice is heard.

It is worth remembering the difference a Labour Government can bring – a minimum wage, paternity leave, investment in public services, devolution, creating and protecting the NHS.

A lot has changed since the last General Election only 2 years ago. The SNP surge has become a slump with their national share of the vote dropping significantly from almost 50% to 32%. Many seats now look vulnerable to a challenge and this snap election might have a few surprises in store across the country.

Yet whilst a lot has changed, one thing remains clear: if you want an MP who stands up for your area, who will always put you and your community first, and who will stand against a second independence referendum, there is really only one candidate to look to, Chris Kane, the Labour Party candidate.

I urge you to give Chris Kane your vote on 8^th June.

Labour’s Councillor Christine Simpson becomes Provost of Stirling

Stirling West Councillor Christine Simpson was today elected Provost of Stirling Council. This was a unanimous appointment, supported by all political groups on the council.

Provost Simpson took the Chair and told the Chamber,

“I am very conscious of the great honour you have done me in electing me as Provost. I want to pay tribute to my predecessors in this post and I hope I can live up to the high standards they have set. I will do my best to be fair and balanced in this Chamber while promoting healthy debate. I hope that in turn all Councillors will treat each other and our officers with respect. These are challenging time and goodwill will be of great importance as we go forward. Whatever the differences in our political parties nationally, we must always bear in mind that we are here to guide the future of our communities and to further the best interests of our constituents. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

Labour agree deal with SNP To form Stirling Council Administration

The Labour Group on Stirling Council have been involved in extensive negotiations with the SNP Group on Stirling Council and have today announced that they will form a partnership agreement to form an Administration. The agreement guarantees that all of Stirling Labour’s Local Government Manifesto has been adopted into a programme of local government for Stirling.

Commenting, Labour Group Leader Councillor Danny Gibson says,

“After extensive conversations with local party members, we all agree that Stirling works best when Labour are in Administration. We’ve ensured that our entire Local Government Manifesto has been adopted by the new Partnership Administration and we will be working hard to ensure Labour values are at the heart of Stirling’s future. We will oppose austerity at every turn. We will tackle poverty in its many guises. We will fight hard to ensure Local Government is properly funded. We will never support compulsory redundancies. We will deliver more homes. We will realise the full potential of the City Region Deal. Whilst there is much that we disagree with the SNP on at a national level, there is much that we can achieve together locally that will ensure that Stirling works for the many, not the few.”

Thursday 4 May is Stirling Council Election Day

Read our Manifesto For Stirling and you’ll see Labour have a vision for Stirling’s future and a track record of success.

Vote Labour to protect the local services – from schools, care services, paths, parks, roads and more – that touch our daily lives.

We need local Labour champions who will drive Stirling forward.

Stirling deserves better than SNP candidates who won’t even stand up to their own party and the damage the SNP Government are doing to local services. Stirling Council’s budget has been CUT by £2.6 million this year by Nicola Sturgeon.

Stirling deserves better than Tory candidates who are following an increasingly right wing austerity agenda. Send a message to the Tories that Scotland is shamed by the Rape Clause they’ve introduced.

Vote Labour and you’re voting for a plan to build hundreds more social homes across Stirling’s communities over the next four years.

Vote Labour for a municipal energy company to help tackle fuel poverty and ensure communities retain profits.

Vote Labour to help re-regulate busses to ensure they run to community not commercial priorities.

Vote for local Labour champions on May 4^th.

Find our more about our #GE17 Candidate Chris Kane

Labour’s candidate for Member of Parliament for the Stirling Constituency at the 2017 General Election is CHRIS KANE

Chris Kane is a Stirling Son of the Rock and has lived in the constituency for most of his life. He lives in Braehead with his wife and two young children. Chris is a journalist and marketing consultant. Chris is currently a Stirling Councillor for the Stirling East Ward. He’s raised over £300,000 for projects in his community and has been tackling important issues around community empowerment, local food production, social isolation and environmental practices. He’s heavily involved in promoting community led green energy solutions as Chair of Braehead & Broomridge Community Development Trust. Chris is a keen amateur historian and serves as a Trustee for the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and museum. Away from work and politics, Chris has recently taken up beekeeping after helping establish an apiary at Braehead Community Garden. Chris wants all of us to have good jobs, warm homes, caring communities, great schools and equality and opportunity for all.

Chris Kane says,

“Stirling deserves better than an SNP candidate obsessed by a second independence referendum. A candidate whose two years at Westminster have been completely underwhelming. Stirling deserves better than a Tory Government hell bent on more austerity and increasingly right wing policies. The first thing I’ll be obsessing about is creating a world where food banks are unnecessary. It should shame the SNP and the Tories that there are working families that can’t afford to feed themselves. This General Election can be the chance for a fresh start under a Labour Government. Labour will stand up for you. Labour will deliver a better, fairer country where everybody is rewarded properly for a hard day’s work and where a home to rent or buy is affordable. Stirling deserves a local champion who will fight for the many, not the few. If elected, I’ll always put you first and I will work tirelessly to make you proud. Stirling deserves nothing less.”

If you’d like to speak with Chris, email hello@stirlinglabour.org.

Stirling Labour sets out vision for Stirling with 2017 Manifesto

Bold new commitments to local bus and energy companies feature in Labour’s manifesto for Stirling. The party’s key priorities were unveiled this week and include a promise to double to 1200 the number of hours of free pre-school childcare available to families, and realise the potential of £600 million in City Region Deal investment. The document will help shape Stirling over the next five years if Labour return to power on May 4^th.

Your Labour candidates who will deliver on manifesto commitments

Violet Weir, one of two Labour candidates standing in the Bannockburn ward, told an audience of local party members and guests that the Labour-led Administration had much to be proud about since coming to power in 2012. Violet said,

“We have created over 400 council homes, built new schools at Cowie and St Ninians, and the £35 million Stirling Care Village is months away from opening. But we must go further and in the next five years we want to create more social rented homes that we have in the last five years. We will promote Stirling to employers around the world and we will realise the once in a generation potential of the £600 million City Region Deal that Labour Councillors are negotiating. We have a vision for Stirling and we will work tirelessly to deliver it in the face of continuing and unnecessary cuts to council budgets from the SNP Government at Holyrood.”

Chris Kane, one of two Labour candidates standing in Stirling East, spoke on the thinking behind the new approach to public transport and energy production. Chris said,

“It is unacceptable that fuel poverty exists and that Stirling’s citizens can’t rely on public transport to get them where they need to be when they need to be there. We want bus services run to community not commercial priorities. We want locally produced green energy with lower costs, fixed for longer periods. Stirling Council has the scale and the resources to kick start a local green energy revolution and sort out the buses and if Labour are in Administration in May, we’ll get to work and deliver for Stirling.”

The keynote speaker at the launch event was Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Alex Rowley MSP who said that Labour were the only party who offered a vision for Stirling’s future, backed up by a track record of success in the past.

To download a full copy of our manifesto, click here.

To read individual sections of our manifesto online, click on the links below:

Alex Rowley MSP with local members and candidates

SNP and Tories accused of backroom election deals

Stirling SNP has been accused of striking a backroom deal with the Tories to put themselves in power after the Council elections on May 4^th.

SNP candidates are as desperate to conquer Stirling as Edward II was in 1314. Stirling Labour say this means the SNP is likely to consider a coalition with the Tories.

Despite the most unlikely relationship since Beauty met the Beast, this is a tale as old as time. The SNP have a history of casting their principles aside, with recent Tory/SNP coalitions on East Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway and a Tory/SNP pact at Holyrood after Alex Salmond reached out for help in 2007.

A Stirling Labour spokesperson said,

“There is a sinister genius to this SNP plan. A Tory/SNP coalition could screw up education, social care, libraries, bin collections and more, and then blame each other. ‘It Wis’nae Me’ would replace ‘hello’ as the greeting of choice for the Snories.”

The SNP has been a conveyor belt for Tory austerity cuts. Like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, these political siblings were separated at birth. But in this political tragedy, they’ve taken on characteristics of their father, Darth Vader.

'The farce is strong with this one" said a Darth Vader shaped pumpkin — ‘The farce is strong with this one” said a Darth Vader shaped pumpkin

Anyway, if you’ve got to this point, thanks for sticking with us. Quite a few people stopped after the first sentence and started screaming like Chewbacca when Han Solo got shot (Look out for “Labour Spoil Star Wars Plot” on SNP website soon).

This is our tongue and cheek response to a local SNP website story saying there’s been deals done at Viewforth. There really hasn’t. But the SNP need to keep your attention away from their dismal failure in past Administrations at Viewforth and their non-existent vision for Stirling’s future.

Your Labour-led Stirling Council has been fighting for workers’ rights (we made Stirling Council a Living Wage Employer), building warm homes (we’ve created 300 council homes since 2012), supporting Care Services (an extra £1.8 million this year and the new Stirling Care Village next year), creating jobs (up to £600 million for a City Region Deal) and much, much more.

If voters decide that no one party should have overall control at Viewforth, then all parties have a responsibility to work for the good of Stirling. On rural issues, the Tories & SNP already work hand in hand. A Tory/SNP coalition is a real possibility. Stirling works for everybody when Labour is in power. We’ll be publishing our manifesto next week and we’re really excited by the commitments it contains. The only way to ensure Labour values of equality and opportunities for all is to VOTE LABOUR on 4th May.

Thanks for reading! And sorry for the Star Wars spoiler.