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24Jun 06
Scotland’s Ten Tomorrows – Bill Jamieson – Review by Wendy Alexander MSP
Scotland’s 10 Tomorrows begins with the claim that it will “inspire and infuriate in equal measure”. It certainly has the capacity to infuriate – whether it inspires depends on where you stand politically.
Let me declare an interest. As someone who helped bring about the Allander Series on Scotland’s prospects a couple of years ago I have an instinctive sympathy for serious writing about policy and devolution – we need more of it. But whereas the Allander Series was scholarly and non-partisan, inviting outsiders to look in on Scotland, this volume comes from a very different direction. It is partisan, polemical and looks from the inside out.
Styled as a “rebel standard” against the pro-devolution consensus, this is Scotland’s Right wing’s response to the current state of our politics and governance.
The text is best approached as pamphleteering polemic. If you generally agree with the Scotsman’s editorial line then this is the book for you. If not – it is still worth reading - but as a powerful clarion call against complacency.
The majority of contributors are Scotsman Publication journalists or columnists, an advantage reflected in the book’s pithy, direct style. Bill Jamieson, as editor, has brought what might have been a sprawling, repetitious volume into focused, coherent narrative.
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21Jun 06
Glasgow Airport Rail Link Preliminary Debate
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): I am delighted to be back in Parliament after several months on maternity leave. In that vein, I add my congratulations to Michael Matheson on becoming a father to James: I hope that he enjoys parenthood as much as I do.
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26Nov 05
Speech in the Scottish Parliament on Manufacturing
Today’s motion is fascinating because, for the first time in a decade, the Tories have had the courage to offer their previous economic record for debate.
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17Nov 05
Role of Government – Royal Society of Edinburgh
Powerpoint presentation from Wendy’s lecture to the Royal Socitey of Edinburgh
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16Nov 05
Edinburgh University Labour Club
On any basis Labour has been a successful and a progressive Government.
- 2 million more jobs and long-term youth unemployment virtually eliminated
- the only Government of any major developed nation investing more public money in health and education every year as a proportion of national income
- an end to the worst pensioner poverty
- leading the world on fighting poverty in Africa
- and a host of seminal changes from nearly trebling numbers of women MPs, the first black Cabinet Ministers and Muslim MPs and gay rights
- the minimum wage
- House of Lords reform and,
- devolution
Most of these advances would alone justify a Labour Government. Together they add up to a massive advance for progressive politics.
Let me turn to Scotland.
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26Oct 05
KPMG Lunch
I am delighted to be here.
At a lunchtime speech one usually dispenses with the jokes that are de rigueur for their after dinner equivalent as if to prove that lunch is not for wimps which is a pity since KPMG has offered some fertile territory in the last year on tax law suits – far enough away to be entertaining – but when I opened my newspapers yesterday I rather thought the last laugh was yours since UK income is up an average of 20%.
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25Oct 05
Scottish Education – Staying Ahead
Powerpoint presentation on Scottish Education – Staying Ahead
University of Strathclyde
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05Oct 05
Planning Reform Debate in Scottish Parliament
I am grateful for the chance to speak in the debate at this early stage in the policy process.
Like others, I welcome the Executive’s determination to modernise Scotland’s planning system.
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01Oct 05
Holyrood Magazine
One of the easiest quips to make about the Scottish Parliament is that it simply isn’t connecting with the business sector – it’s also one of the laziest.
As a general rule of thumb you’ll find anyone using this line is increasingly out of touch with what’s actually going on in and around Holyrood.
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18Sep 05
Donald Dewar – Scotland’s First First Minister
Perhaps it was his height, but Donald Dewar seemed to see more than the rest of us.
From way up there Donald seemed to glimpse the Scotland he wanted for us all.
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"...her campaigning against education cuts is good news for parents!" - Rachael Ewing, Seedhill