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"...her campaigning against education cuts is good news for parents" - Rachael Ewing, Seedhill
" In Parliament this morning for Labour debate on need for better bus services and cleaner, greener buses "Follow Me what is this?
"...her campaigning against education cuts is good news for parents" - Rachael Ewing, Seedhill
" In Parliament this morning for Labour debate on need for better bus services and cleaner, greener buses "Follow Me what is this?
Wendy Alexander has laid a motion in the Scottish Parliament to celebrate Scotland’s Cluniac heritage.
The Scottish programme of celebration events centring in Paisley will mark the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey of Cluny in Burgundy, France and will reflect on Paisley Abbey’s role as a Cluniac Abbey.
Wendy’s motion to her MSP colleagues points out that Scotland’s Cluny celebrations are ranked in the top six in Europe, out of nearly 300 Cluny-associated events going on through the course of 12 months. Read more »
Wendy Alexander MSP claims victory for local newspapers after the Scottish Government announced a climbdown over its undemocratic proposals to allow local councils to put public notices online.
Labour’s campaign won overwhelmingly supported from MSPs, who backed a motion calling “on the Scottish Government to withdraw the Local Authority Public Information Notices (Electronic Publication) (Scotland) Order 2010.” Read more »
Wendy Alexander and Amanda McMillan have both backed a third runway for Heathrow.
The two, Paisley North MSP and Glasgow Airport Managing Director respectively, were members of the panel at an event to discuss Heathrow and in particular, the proposal for a third runway there.
Other panel members included Steve Ridgeway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, and John McGlynn, the Renfrewshire-based Managing Director of the Airlink Group. Read more »
Wendy Alexander, Hugh Henry and Trish Godman met with the Renfrewshire Autism Carers Support Group on Monday 1st March.
Following the meeting the 3 MSPs unanimously agreed that they would be willing to support Hugh O’Donnell’s proposed Member’s Bill for a Scottish Autism Strategy.
In a joint statement the three politicians said, “As the families we met told us, supporting a child or adult with autism is a really tough challenge for any family. Scotland is getting left behind. Every other part of the U.K. – Wales, England, N Ireland – all now have national strategies in place which give families the right support. We are keen to support a Scottish Autism Strategy Bill. Read more »
The National Autistic Society Scotland (NAS Scotland) has today raised serious concerns regarding the Scottish Government’s proposed 2011 Census as in its current format it would discriminate against the 50,000 people in Scotland living with autism.
Most of the 50,00 people living with this life long condition are unidentified by local authorities and health boards. NAS Scotland and Autism Initiatives Scotland believe that the identification and recording of children and adults with autism is essential if appropriate support is to be made available. Read more »
Wendy says it’s time for Council to listen to parents following today’s defeat of a review of the cuts in school buses.
Wendy Alexander said:
“Cloth ears to the concerns of parents just fuels parents’ cynicism about councillors removing their school buses. Today’s vote was very close (19 to 17). Council officials still need to respond to parent’s real fears. Read more »
Campaigning Pays off
In January my post bag was dominated by objections to the axing of the Renfrew Ferry. Local campaigners like Liz Grant, tirelessly collected 2800 signatures in just a week to keep the Ferry. Jim Sheridan MP, I and many others lobbied Strathclyde Passenger Transport to reverse the decision. SPT were wrong to propose closing the Ferry and we did not let party loyalty get in the way of condemnation on a wrong decision.
Thankfully – SPT’s new leadership have been “big” enough to think again. They have successfully searched for a new operator for the ferry. So I expect we will now have operator, with a new ferry boat on the route and a saving to the public purse by the summer. This is politicians listening and responding to public pressure. We need more of that today. Read more »
PARENTS DEMO
Wendy Receives Many Moving Responses Against The Removal of Buses in Renfrewshire
Wendy said, “I expect a big turnout on Monday. I do not think the council has thought through the consequences of this misguided decisions. What happens to disabled parents of children facing very costly zone card bills?
I received some very moving accounts of how the removal of school transport in Renfrewshire will affect the lives of parents and children. One mother wrote about how it will cost her 71 pounds a month in zone cards in August to send her children to school. Another mum is partially sighted and had to surrender her driver’s license in 2005 so she cannot drive her children to school. A Chair of a Parent Council has mobilised into action to help gain support for the cause.” Read more »
- By Just Eating 4-finger Kit Kats! -
Wendy Alexander MSP is participating in Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from 22 February to 7 March 2010. This year’s theme is ‘The Big Swap’ - encouraging people to swap their usual product for a Fairtrade alternative.
Wendy’s pledge for ‘The Big Swap’ is to only eat 4 bar Kit Kats in the future!
Wendy has passionately campaigned against the use of human trafficking in chocolate manufacturing in Africa, where the cocoa that makes over a third of the world’s chocolate is harvested. In the cocoa farms of the Ivory Coast, thousands of young children are trafficked, enslaved, and abused. Read more »
Wendy was delighted to attend the celebrations for Montgomery Court’s 10th Anniversary. Wendy officially opened the Very Sheltered Development in the Gallowhill area of Paisley on 25 February 2000. She said “Thank you to Tommy Greenhorn for organising and inviting me here today. Ten years ago Montgomery Court opened its doors. Since then it has provided local, friendly care to lots of Buddies. Montgomery Court has welcomed a new manager to lead the staff and residents team to even greater success in the years to come.”