Party funding
Posted on March 30, 2006Sleaze is back. Did it ever go away? It fell off the headlines for a while, but the latest revelations about party funding have prompted more agonizing about the state of the UK?s political culture.
Should the ?cash for ermine? allegations really bother us? In reality the House of Lords has always been a place of patronage, and many of the original hereditary titles were rewards for financial, material or military favours. The only surprise is that we have put up with it for so long, allowing the government to appoint the legislature, rather than the other way round as is traditional in democracies. Only an elected second chamber will change that, though in the current climate there may be less appetite for yet another election than there is for public funding of the parties.
But however much value single issue politics has (and I?d strongly defend it) the political system still works on the basis of parties. They may not be greatly respected. They may not smell of roses. But now more than ever people are voting on the basis of party ?branding? rather than for their own local candidate. Parties are here to stay and they need to be funded somehow.
That?s not to say that the vast sums of money being spent are appropriate. Continually ratchetting up the cost of election campaigns only serves to increase the dependence of the big parties on their wealthy donors, and raises a financial bar to new ideas, new people and new politics. But the money parties spend on their campaigns will always be your money in one way or another.
You might join and pay your monthly subs with your own cash. But the days of mass party membership are gone, and even for a shoestring party like mine elections don?t come cheap. Given their situation it?s only natural that very big parties look to very rich backers.
So you buy your clothes or beer or mobile phone from a company which donates to a party. That?s your money too. Part of the price of the goods you paid for is funding a political party, and doing it in a pretty unaccountable way.
Then there?s the other option. It could come out of your taxes. Most people recoil at this, and it would certainly only be acceptable if it came with stringent controls. But what often shocks people is that their taxes are already paying millions of pounds to political parties. Policy Development Grants were introduced after the review which followed the last furore over party financing, and are administered by the independent Electoral Commission. They are given to any party with two or more MPs at Westminster.
But tellingly the UK government is currently resisting the Commission?s recommendation to change the rules for these grants to reflect devolution. They recognise that politics is no longer a Westminster-only game, and have proposed that parties with members elected at devolved or European level should also qualify. The Ministers, of course, are yet to be convinced.
It?s plainly an abuse of the system for Ministers to solicit secret loans form their donors on the basis that they can avoid disclosing names and numbers. When they then wring their hands about transparency and promise to clean up the system it?s hard to take them seriously. But for those same politicians to benefit from millions of pounds of taxpayers? money which they withhold from other parties is utterly hypocritical. If state funding has a place, it must reflect the level of support all parties gain at the ballot box, not just those who happen to be in power at Westminster.
Sexual orientation discrimination to be outlawed
Posted on March 23, 2006Most of us are familiar with the sight of ?no blacks, no Irish? signs in windows only from very old films and documentaries. Such blatant discrimination was outlawed years ago, and its image is shocking now. But of course it did not die, it merely evolved. More subtle forms of discrimination continued to affect ethnic groups, as well as groups defined on a whole range of grounds.
These days most organisations work hard to tout their equality credentials; big businesses, local councils, campaign groups, retailers, police forces, all are keen to distance themselves from any whiff of prejudice. Almost every major employer?s staff handbook has its statement on equality and diversity, and many of them pay big money for consultants to come in to ?raise their awareness?.
Governments too want to be seen on the side of equality. Prompted by study after study showing the continuing inequality in people?s lives, politicians fund publicity campaigns to challenge prejudice, and talk of creating a truly inclusive society.
Yet so often when attempts are made to put such aspirations into practice, the tabloid headlines scream in protest. It almost seems that the phrase ?political correctness? is no longer utterable without the suffix ?gone mad!?
For example when a Scottish bed-and-breakfast owner refused to provide the same service to gay customers that he provided to straight ones, and compounded the discrimination with some choice insults which could have come directly from the playground, you could predict which newspapers would jump to his defence, and which would instead congratulate Visit Scotland for dropping him from their website. He may not have displayed a sign in the window saying ?no queers?, but the effect was the same.
But the fact is that his discrimination was quite legal. It is even possible that he could have legitimately kept such a sign in the window if he?d wanted to. So I was pleased to see that this week the UK government has decided to move to close the gap in anti-discrimination law which allows businesses to refuse to provide goods and services on the grounds of sexual orientation. Following enabling amendments to the recent Equality Act, UK Ministers are now consulting on regulations which would extend to lesbians, gay men and bisexual people the same level of protection which already exists for other ?equality groups?.
Of course straight people will also be protected by the same law ? though it is likely that there are far fewer instances of discrimination happening that way round.
Announcing the consultation, the Trade Minister made note of the amount of progress which has been achieved toward sexuality equality in recent years. Much of the legislation which made people feel like second-class citizens has been removed, and many public services are far more aware of the need to challenge prejudice and ignorance. Perhaps astonishingly, there is broad political consensus among the main parties, and almost all of the smaller ones too, that these changes have been positive and should never be reversed.
But laws are relatively easy to change. Attitudes take far longer, and the level of prejudice which many people still experience because of their sexuality has a profound impact on their health, their sense of wellbeing, and their success in education and work.
The new regulations will be very welcome, but the Scottish Executive must also play its role to ensure that rights don?t only exist on paper. Ultimately anti-discrimination laws can only be judged a success if they are no longer needed. The experience of tackling racism, sexism and the rest shows us that the job is not one for the short term.
NEWS RELEASE – Centre for Human Ecology
Posted on March 22, 2006For immediate release Wednesday 22nd March
HARVIE WELCOMES GROUND BREAKING CENTRE TO GLASGOW – Green MSP urges new Centre and community groups to link up for social and environmental justice
At the event taking place tomorrow evening (Thursday) at the Centre for Human Ecology?s new Strathclyde University base, Green MSP, Patrick Harvie, will encourage people to share ideas and inspiration from the city’s communities and beyond. [1]
Mr Harvie, who will chair a session including Fellow of the CHE, Alistair McIntosh, and Govan’s GalGael Trust, said “I am really pleased that the innovative and exciting work of the CHE is now here in Glasgow. With those in the most deprived parts of the city more likely than those in affluent areas to live near a polluting factory or derelict land and breathe dirtier air, Glasgow suffers from some of the worst social and environmental injustices in Scotland. But it is also a vibrant city with great potential to be an extremely attractive and pleasant place to live and work. I hope that local groups and the CHE will work together to tap into that potential.”
ENDS
For more information contact Kirsten Robb on 0141 332 6405 or Green MSP Press Office on 0131 348 6360 or 0771 761 8771.
Notes for editors:
[1] CHE is a Scotland-based organisation (Edinburgh and Glasgow) carrying out action, research and education for personal development, ecological sustainability and social justice. They aim to help create responses that address underlying causes; that are based on respect; that empower people; that restore nature; that reflect the importance of people?s identity; belonging and purpose.
For more information please visit: www.che.ac.uk
The seminar, on Thursday 23rd March, begins with refreshments at 5.30pm in the common room on the 8th floor of Strathclyde University’s Graham Hills building. At 6.30pm, in room 511 on the 5th floor, the panel will be opened by the chair (Patrick Harvie MSP). Speakers include Toby Clark (John Muir Trust), Alastair McIntosh (Fellow of the Centre for Human Ecology), Gehan Macleod (GalGael Trust, Govan), Joe Henderson (Phoenix Centre).
NEWS RELEASE – Scotland’s for Peace
Posted onFor immediate release, Tuesday 21st March 2006
SCOTLAND’S FOR PEACE FIRST ANNIVERSARY: GREEN MSP SAYS NO TO TRIDENT REPLACEMENT
Scotland should be known for its contribution to building a culture of peace rather than waging war, Glasgow Green MSP, Patrick Harvie, will say at an event tomorrow (March 22) in Glasgow’s Oran Mor held to mark the first anniversary of Scotland?s for Peace [1].
Mr Harvie will highlight the teachers guide ?Education for Peace? written by his Green colleague, Chris Ballance MSP. Mr Harvie said, “It is important to focus on positive actions to make our lives in Scotland happier, healthier and more peaceful. We should not just oppose today?s ills ? knife crime, sectarianism, prejudice etc. ? we must also promote approaches which aim to tackle the root causes.”
A Green debate in the Parliament held in 2004 to mark the 2000-10 United Nations Decade for a Culture of Peace, gained cross-party agreement on the benefits of promoting education for peace across Scotland.
Mr Harvie continued, “Whilst Westminster decides to go to war and spend billions of pounds on replacing our own weapons of mass destruction, I want to support the schools, communities and individuals working hard to promote peace. Together, they contribute to educating people, both children and adults, to become more peaceful – within themselves, within their families, within schools and organisations, as communities and nations and as a global humanity.”
Promoting peace education can reap long-term benefits by ensuring pupils are able to deal with anger, conflict, and bullying, and help them fulfil their potential in the work place and at home.
ENDS
For more information, contact Kirsten Robb on 0141 332 6405 or Green MSP Press Office on 0131 348 6360 or 0771 761 8771.
Notes for editors:
1. Scotland’s for Peace is an initiative started by Scottish CND and involving the Church of Scotland, Iona Community, STUC, UNISON Scotland, the Scottish Human Rights Centre and others. The focus is that “Scotland should be known for its contribution to international peace and justice rather than for waging war”. Scotland’s for Peace was launched in the Oran Mor in March 2005. The evening will involve short statements by a range of politicians and a CND speaker. Sharon Colman, who is
nominated for an Oscar for her short animation based on Faslane, has agreed to come and show her film. There will be music from Back of the Moon. The venue is the auditorium in the Oran Mor and the event will be from 7.30 to 9.30 pm on 22nd March.
Scotland?s for Peace is also planning a Scottish delegation to Aldermaston in June and a Peace Walk from Faslane to the Scottish Parliament in September.
NEWS RELEASE – Climate change in Glasgow
Posted on March 15, 2006GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release, Wednesday 15 March, 2006
RECORD CLIMATE CHANGE POLLUTION : GLASGOW MUST TACKLE GROWING TRAFFIC LEVELS
As climate change pollution reaches record levels, Glasgow Green MSP Patrick Harvie has accused Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Executive of dragging their heels in taking serious action, with ministers even lagging behind moves at Westminster to reduce pollution (1).
Mr Harvie said, ?The Executive’s failure to take serious action on climate change verges on criminal negligence. Scottish Ministers and Glasgow Council are dragging their heels, leaving Scotland lagging behind.
“These figures are grim indeed; we should be looking for ways of reducing pollution. With traffic levels in Glasgow predicted to increase by 40% by 2021, illegal air pollution damaging our health and many people still suffering from fuel poverty, we need stronger action now more than ever.” (2)
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has now reached 381 parts per million (ppm), the highest level for at least one million years. Concentrations have risen by 2.6 ppm over the past year, one of the largest annual increases on record, prompting scientists to again warn that the rate of carbon dioxide gas rises in the atmosphere is increasing rather than decreasing.
Greens are aiming to ensure legislation is passed that will oblige ministers to reduce climate change gas emissions and make it easier for households and business to install green energy-generating devices and improve energy efficiency. (3)
Greens have opposed climate wrecking policies of Libdem Transport Ministers who are promoting a massive motorway building programme and the trebling of air travel – both major and growing causes of climate pollution.
Newspaper reports yesterday confirmed the closure of the well-respected Centre for Ecology & Hydrology unit at Banchory, a move condemned by academics, scientists and campaigners as a blow to Scottish-based research into climate change and its effects.
Mr Harvie said; “Now that the nuclear option has been thoroughly dismissed by the Executive’s own experts as well as public opinion, we need to move onto the real sustainable energy debate. The Greens have proposed a bill on microrenewable power to make every new home mini-power station and to promote small scale renewables everywhere. We have also proposed a bill to improve energy efficiency in all buildings – and I hope that MSPs of all parties will support these positive, practical proposals.”
ENDS
For further information call Kirsten Robb on 0141 332 6405 or the Green MSP press office on 0131 348 6360/0771 761 8771.
Notes for editors:
1. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4803460.stm
2. “Scotland’s Transport: Delivering Improvements” The Scottish Executive?s Transport Delivery Report 2002
predicts on page 19 that Glasgow’s traffic will increase by 40% by 2021
Glasgow City Council – Audit of Best Value and Community Planning
Page 67 – Medium Priority – ‘Redress the balance in the council’s approach to sustainable development by focussing improvement on delivering environmental sustainability’
3. Westminster has set targets for improving energy efficiency in homes – a similar move here by the Greens was voted down by Labour, LibDems and Tories.
The Big Ask bill at Westminster aims to reduce climate change emissions by 3% each year and has cross party support, including Norman Baker, former LibDem environment spokesperson, and Michael Meacher, former environment secretary.
Draft text of motion lodged in Parliament by Mark Ruskell MSP:
Notes that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has now reached 381 parts per million, the highest level for at least one million years;
further notes that concentrations have risen by 2.6 ppm over the past year, one of the largest annual increases on record; believes that urgent action is vital if we have any chance to stabilise atmospheric carbon levels; notes the confirmed closure of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology unit at Banchory which will weaken Scottish-based research into climate change and its effects;
and calls on the Scottish Executive to consider legislative moves similar to those in Westminster where Labour, Libdem and Tory politicians have joined forces to propose legislation on microrenewable power, and the setting of annual reduction targets for CO2 emissions.
The End of Ivor Cutler
Posted on March 8, 2006I was most distressed to learn of the death of Glasgow-born musician, poet, artist and generally all-round marvel Ivor Cutler.
I suspect that anyone who knows his work will understand the loss. He’s irreplaceable.
For anyone who isn’t familiar with his work the link below will show you just a tiny sample, but one which will also explain the motion I’ve lodged in Parliament.
S2M-04082 – The End of Ivor Cutler
That the Parliament celebrates the life of Ivor Cutler, poet, musician and artist, who sadly died this week after entertaining and occasionally perplexing audiences for half a century; hopes that Cutler?s passing will not stop new generations from discovering his work and delighting in it as so many have before, and, now that the coffin is closed, hopes that he enjoys the doughnut.
If you want to know more, Wikipedia is as good as place to start as any:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Cutler
NEWS RELEASE – Glasgow’s fair trade status
Posted onGREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release, Wednesday 8 March, 2006
HARVIE CONGRATULATES GLASGOW FAIRTRADE CITY STATUS
The need for farmers in Scotland and in developing countries to be paid a fair price for their produce will be highlighted by Green Glasgow MSP Patrick Harvie at an event celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight on Friday night (10 March). Mr Harvie will also congratulate Glasgow on achieving Fairtrade status.
The Fairtrade Foundation will formally convey official Fairtrade City status on Glasgow at a special event on Thursday (9 March) morning. This event will also launch the Glasgow Fairtrade Business Directory which details where consumers can buy Fairtrade products.
Harvie has already received support from across the political spectrum for his motion in Parliament congratulating Glasgow on its Fairtrade City status. [1]
Mr Harvie said, “Greens have been campaigning for fair food for sometime now as part of our Food Revolution campaign [2]. That’s why I’m delighted that Glasgow has achieved Fairtrade City Status by people from all walks of life working together. Fairtrade’s high social and environmental standards make a real difference to the lives of producers in developing countries. I would encourage everyone to use the Glasgow Fairtrade Business Directory and ask for Fairtrade products at your local shop, caf?, school or work place to increase demand.
“Fair trade is the only sustainable way forward for everyone in the food supply chain from farmers to small shopkeepers [3]. This includes Scottish farmers – pig prices are now following milk prices in falling below the cost of production [4] putting huge pressure on producers’ businesses. We need to break the domination of food multinationals, both here at home and in developing countries.”
-ENDS-
For more information contact Kirsten Robb on 0141 332 6405 or Esther Black on 0131 348 6360 / 0771 761 8771
[1] Motion reads:
S2M-04064 – Congratulations for Glasgow?s Fairtrade Status
That the Parliament congratulates all of Glasgow on achieving Fairtrade City status during Fairtrade Fortnight; notes that businesses, charities, schools, Glasgow City Council, the voluntary sector and individuals worked together to achieve this; recognises that Fairtrade?s high social and environmental
standards make a real difference to the lives of producers in developing countries, and encourages everyone to use the services of organisations in the Glasgow Fairtrade Business Directory.
[2] The food campaign has four themes:
safe food (control pesticide use, campaign against GM and encourage organic farming)
fair food (to ensure farmers receive a fair price for their goods, and to help low income households source healthy food)
good food (promote access to fresh, high quality food, especially in schools and hospitals)
local food (to cut down on food miles and boost farmers? markets and independent shops thereby preserving jobs in the area)
Documents for download:
The full Food Revolution campaign document.
Our Great Milk Robbery leaflet
[3]
Clone Town Britain report – pressure builds for fair trade and regulation of supermarkets
[4]
Parliament inquiry into supply chains
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