Kelly needs to move on

I have read recently some articles printed on behalf of James Kelly MSP in the Reformer and I see he is advertising a surgery in Rutherglen Town Hall.

Does he not realise the voters of Rutherglen and Cambuslang have rejected his negative policies and approach and that we now have a new sitting MSP, Clare Haughey.

When Labour held both the MP (Greatrex) and MSP (Kelly) seats, I never saw other Glasgow MSP’s writing in our local paper nor any other MSP holding a surgery.

If Mr Kelly wants to hold surgeries I suggest he does so in his own constituency of Glasgow. It seems like sour grapes to me. Move on Mr Kelly, the voters of South Lanarkshire have sent you a clear message. David Spence Kirkbean Avenue Rutherglen

Editors note: Rutherglen and Cambuslang are part of the Glasgow constituency and we are happy to quote regional MSPs where we feel it is relevant to our readers. We have previously run columns from a number of Glasgow MSPs of different parties.

However, although it’s a difficult and often taboo subject to discuss, it is very important that our loved ones are aware of our wishes after we have passed away.

I often support families who are unsure what their loved ones would have wanted after their death and this puts even more stress on them during an already emotional time.

The advice comes as the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), which represents over 870 independent funeral directors across the UK including Fosters Funeral Directors, launches a new ‘Five things to do before you die’ booklet, which gives people an opportunity to record their end of life wishes for their loved ones.

The booklet outlines five key areas for people to consider:

1. Make a will to outline your inheritance wishes as well as details of your digital legacy. This includes social media passwords so relatives can keep online photos.

2. Record your funeral wishes including whether you want to be cremated or buried, your preferred venue and the type of flowers, music and poetry at your funeral.

3. Plan your future care and support such as details of where you would like to be cared for, who should look after your pets and other practical issues.

4. Ensure loved ones know if you are a registered organ donor.

5. Tell your loved ones your wishes and ensure they know where the booklet and other important documentation, such as bank statements, are kept.

There are so many things to consider when planning for the end of your life, from making a will and funeral arrangements though to your digital legacy and views on organ donation. This new free booklet aims to make that process a lot easier by clearly demonstrating to your loved ones your final wishes.”

The ‘Five things to do before you die’ booklet is available from Fosters Funeral Directors or it can be downloaded online via www.saif.org. uk. Tony Foster Fosters Funeral Directors Stonelaw Road

work to ensure that Labour is a strong and credible opposition in parliament.

Our party is and always has been a broad church; a place where people who don’t necessarily agree on everything are welcomed and respected.

There is more that unites us than divides us.

However, Jeremy’s challenge isn’t confined to the Parliamentary Labour Party.

He must also reach out to the Labour Party members who didn’t vote for him, many of whom are long-standing activists who have been knocking on doors and delivering leaflets for years.

These are not people who joined Labour to support one person; they have given a lot of their time and energy to the party through good times and bad, regardless of who has been the leader, and are crucial to Labour getting our message out to voters and winning elections.

Therein lies the ultimate challenge for Jeremy. To win the trust and confidence of the voters, he needs to make the Labour Party look and sound like a government in waiting so that we can win the next election.

Our policies, principles and opposition to the Tories mean nothing if we cannot win power.

The Labour leader must earn the confidence of our MPs, members and voters.

Only with the support of all three, can a Labour leader offer real hope to the millions of people who rely on us to get rid of the Tories and their failed and divisive policies John Hannett Usdaw General Secretary

My youngest grandson attended Dingwall Primary School at the same time as Lachlan Brain although not in the same class.

Through the school community my daughter became acquainted with Kathryn Brain who has recently been in the news regarding the cancellation by our Conservative government of the Post Study Work Visa issued to her as a foreign student coming to the end of their course which would have allowed her and her family to remain in Scotland following completion of her degree at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

It was good to learn that she has now obtained a job from an employer in a position which already has a Certificate of Sponsorship. This shows that there is more than one way to skin a Tory cat.

Many who obtain their news only from the unionist press or the BBC are probably unaware that if she were currently studying at Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol Universities or Imperial College London she would entitled to a Post Study Work Visa.

This demonstrates to me yet again the complete absence of even-handedness in the way that Scotland is treated compared to the London and the south of England.

Currently no students at Scottish universities can obtain Post Study Work Visas. Harry Valentine via email Many of you had plenty to say on our story about potential improvements to Cambuslang Main Street:

“Rutherglen and Cambuslang shopping areas are dire. There’s money in Cambuslang with all the new houses getting built but the shopping facilities don’t reflect this, that’s why people have to travel to Hamilton or further afield to get a decent quality of shop.”- Jamie Durie

“No more pubs, bookies and hairdressers and more locally owned businesses.”- Jordan Trainer

“Repair all of the pavements, they are a disgrace, would have been better to slab such large areas of pavement. We need some decent shops. I miss fresh fruit and veg shop. We need clothes shops for all. Next the parking, this needs sorted so people can stop and go into said new shops.”- Angela Quinn

“No business in their right mind will want to pay rates that are not in keeping with the standard of this Main Street. It is not only a dump, it is a car parking disaster. This Main Street is a perfect example of serious neglect and to be perfectly honest, it is an utter embarrassment. Thanks to Michelle Farmer for investing her personal time in pushing this forward.”- Marlyn Campbell

“Hate to be negative but if the retail elements of the developments proposed for J2 of the M74 and the Hoover site go ahead, the council will have done more damage to the main streets of both towns than anyone. The only hope I can see is to offer attractive rate reductions on the Main Street in the hope that small independents or boutique shops can sustain trade there. That a town the size of Cambuslang doesn’t have a decent coffee or fruit and veg shop is dreadful.”- Gary Painter

“No way would I shop in Cambuslang Main Street, it looks a dump to me. Rutherglen Exchange as they call it now need more decent shops. People only go there if they are stuck. Better going into town or EK.”- Margaret Brown

Labourmustnowunite London and Scotland treateddifferently