Tory disrespect for core values

East Kilbride has long been at ease with its global connections, serving as a focal point for inward investment to Scotland from its earliest days.

For decades contacts and exchanges with Ballerup in Denmark have enriched the lives of many people in both communities.

In 1974, the workers of Rolls-Royce blocked work on aero engines that were vital to the Chilean regime’s oppression of its own people. Their actions created bonds of friendship and solidarity that remain to this day, and movingly narrated in the award-winning 2018 film, Nae Pasaran.

Abercrombie House has housed workers of the DfID for many years. Countless lives have been saved and made better by their efforts to end extreme poverty and tackling disease and inequality worldwide.

These global links are a source of pride for East Kilbride, reflecting the democratic values most of us want to see more of in the economy and society as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

I thought of these aspirations when I read the shocking‘Russia Report’ by the UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee. The most worrying sections in the report were those about Westminster’s failure to protect our democracy from foreign, not just Russian, interference.

The report highlights that London is a base of choice for Russian oligarchs laundering their wealth. They also launder their reputations by buying links to UK business and political leaders.

The report makes it clear that the unelected House of Lords is a key focus for their activity. Unlike every elected politician in the

UK, these unelected peers do not need to declare who they work for, or how much they earn.

It’s time that changed – transparency is a lynch-pin of democracy.

In the wake of the Russia Report, there has been much debate about what President Vladimir Putin wants to achieve and how we should react. It has been suggested that Putin wants to see Scotland become independent, to weaken the UK and the West.

The Scottish Tories in fact are demanding an investigation into this – perhaps what they should investigate is their own former leader’s action during the 2014 referendum.

David Cameron’s Government asked for Putin’s backing in the battle against Scottish independence, all as reported in the mainstream press at the time.

In fact, what will weaken the West is evidence that the human rights agenda and respect for the rule of law promoted globally by the West is a sham.

As they drive the UK towards a hard Brexit, the Tory Government has made clear their determination to‘take back control’, including a power-grab against the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

They have demolished the idea that there is any such thing as a‘respect agenda’or that the UK is a family of nations. Indeed, Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared there is no border between Scotland and England.

So, as far as he is concerned Scotland no longer exists.

With this in mind, one must ask how the UK will behave in the future in relation to its global actions and obligations?

We must argue our case in the months ahead and stick to our principles about the kind of nation we wish to be.

The UK Prime Minister and his government have no interest in helping build a fairer, more sustainable economy for Scotland in the years ahead.

It is vital that this power grab is stopped dead in its tracks, and that we all work together for a better future. Scotland and East Kilbride deserve no less than that.

FRASER WILSON

The East Kilbride rail line is to be electrified as part of the Scottish government’s “ambitious” decarbonisation plans.

And the news has been welcomed by the area’s MSP, who called the announcement “really exciting”.

We told you at the start of the month how preparatory work being carried out by Network Rail was paving the way for major improvement works to the line.

Now they have been confirmed in Parliament by Transport Secretary Michael Matheson.

Responding to a question by Linda Fabiani, he said: “I am delighted to announce the Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan is being published today.

“This action plan sets out in detail how we will ambitiously decarbonise Scotland’s rail passenger services by 2035, furthering our efforts to reduce emissions in transport, while helping contribute to a green economic recovery following the health pandemic.

“Our action plan will result in Scotland being the first area in the UK to have fully decarbonised passenger services.

“Significant development work on the East Kilbride and Barrhead lines, is already underway, with other proposals in the rolling programme of electrification also being progressed.”

Network Rail have restarted preparatory work on the 11-mile railway corridor between Glasgow and East Kilbride after it was paused because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Work to clear trees and vegetation along on the line will be ongoing until December.

Reacting to the news, Ms Fabiani said: “It was only a couple of weeks ago that we received confirmation that preparatory work was underway to identify what enhancements are possible on the East Kilbride line.

“I was delighted the Cabinet Secretary confirmed in his answer to my latest question that the East Kilbride line is being electrified – a fair number of commuters who have been in touch over the years will be pleased with this announcement.

“The benefits are huge – not only faster journey times and a more frequent, reliable service, but one too which is better for our environment. This news really is exciting and will finally provide a service which users deserve.”

Work being carried out is preparatory for the implementation of overhead wires to allow for the electrification of the line, as well as dualling of some parts of the track.

Following a tip off from a government source, we reported at the start of the month on a publicly available application on the Glasgow City Counil planning portal.

That identified the demolition, modification and renewal of existing bridge structures, as well as “capacity enhancement”.

It also eluded to the lengthening of platforms, station access enhancements, and “relocation of station building at East Kilbride”.

Further details of the government’s decarbonisation plan can be found on Transport Scotland’s website.