Herald Article on Jack McConnell

Five years ago Jack McConnell was elected First Minister. Some three weeks earlier, following the resignation of Henry McLeish, I had contemplated running for the job myself. For largely personal reasons, I declined to stand. 

In recent interviews Jack has pointed to the relentless pressures on senior politicians.  His honesty attracted comment. But those politicians who never agonise about the price of public life are the ones you never want to elect.

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Financial Powers Debate

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): As this is an SNP debate six months before an election, the SNP should, as a minimum, have clarified what Scotland’s principal Opposition party believes about the future financing of Scotland.

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Renfrew Health Centre (Question to the Health Minister)

 Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Health and Community Care will consider a visit to Renfrew, given the Executive’s recent announcement of further resources for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to support the building of new health centres in Renfrew and Barrhead. (S2O-10894)

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Procedures Debate

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): I am a not infrequent speaker in the chamber, but this is the first time that I have spoken in a procedures debate. I was prompted to do so because I thought that the Procedures Committee produced an excellent report on the use of parliamentary time. I will make one contribution to the committee’s final deliberations, which lie ahead.

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Video clips of speeches in the Scottish Parliament

Clips of Wendy in the Scottish Parliament (20 minutes long).

(These clips require Macromedia Flash Player)

Debate: Student Funding

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): It is refreshing to have the chance to debate SNP policy. I wanted to do the party justice, so I had a look at its website.

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The Scots and Union

Politics and history are colliding in Scotland. Next May’s Scottish Parliament elections coincide with the tri-centenary of the Union. Jack McConnell opened the new session of the Scottish Parliament this week with a declaration that no Scot’s patriotism should be doubted because they support the partnership created over three hundred years ago. And Gordon Brown yesterday redefined the economic case for the Union in our time.

If the political temperature is rising, the historical debate is also hotting up with an estimated seven new books due this year examining the origins of the Union.

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Executive Debate: Future of Scotland

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): This has been an interesting debate. As it moves to a close, I invite members to consider the amendments that are before us.Unaccountably, the Tories’ amendment seems to have overlooked the big idea of their leader, David Cameron, for Scotland’s future ”that in future, all Scots who are elected to the Westminster Parliament to represent their fellow Scots should become second-class members of that Parliament. Little wonder that not one of the Holyrood Tories—the old Tories—is trumpeting the new Tories’ big idea for Scotland. I have a word of advice for our old Tories in Scotland: beware. They may be about to enjoy the irrelevance, ignominy and isolation that old Labour has enjoyed under Tony Blair.

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Opening Speech at the Children in Scotland Conference

Our title today is GIVING OUR CHILDREN AN APPETITE FOR LIFE?And an appetite for life – means a healthy appetite for food.  But something has been going wrong. �
If we take just one figure – one in five Scottish toddlers are overweight by the time they reach their third birthday.

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Family Mealtime Makes Children Happier Eaters (Scotsman)

HAVING recently become a mum, the subject of infants and their eating habits has become of great interest to me.

Having survived breastfeeding twins, I did not want to fall at the first hurdle, so I am pureeing carrots with a vengeance. This was a new departure; I have only just learned (in my twins’ honour) how to use a blender.

My poor babies had to celebrate their six-month birthdays with carrots washed down with water. I harbour high hopes about their future diet.

Perhaps they will manage the easy relationship with food that has eluded their mother. But coming from the west of Scotland I live in trepidation that this may be harder to achieve than it first appears. Read more »