The tactics of fear
In reply to Mr A D Moffat’s letter of December 3, I will pick up on the salient points of (1)“the Vow being kept” and (2)“I know I have not answered all your questions Mr. Starrs, nor do I see it as my place to do so.”
I do not recall asking you any questions Mr Moffat and you are perfectly correct in stating that it is not your place to answer questions I did not address to you.
I do recall asking Labour’s Mr Kelly and Mr Greatrex, Labour’s MSP and MP, what the Labour Party membership numbers are nationally. My reason for asking in this post referendum period where all parties in the Yes movement were reporting massive membership gains, the two gentlemen who were claiming victory for Labour and the union were silent. It does not surprise me that their silence continues. Labour’s membership numbers embarrass them and so they should.
With regards to“the Vow” being kept and a new leader for the Scottish branch as the ingredients to win at Holyrood in 2016 I will say this. Since the hypocrisy of the“Vow”has been exposed, the polls indicate that if there was another referendum tomorrow Scotland would vote for independence.
Do you really think, Mr Moffat, that people’s memories are so short that they will forget that the Labour Party got into bed with the blue Tories in order to protect their own self interest? That the last leader of the Scottish branch proudly posed for her photo outside Asda as the Asda bosses threatened the Scottish people with price rises if they dared to vote for independence.
The list and tactics of the fear strategy employed by Labour goes on and on. It was nothing short of despicable behaviour from despicable people.
The party you represent in these correspondence has respect for nothing other than power. Or as the late Jimmy Reid put it,“Power without Principle”As I said in a previously letter, Mr Moffat,“The writing’s on the wall”. John Starrs, By email. Regarding the McDonald’s story, whilst it is good news that 65 jobs are coming to the Rutherglen area, I wonder why McDonald’s feel the need to stub Scottish qualifications in their offer to new employees.
Foundation Degrees are not awarded in Scotland, so will the Rutherglen employees have to travel to England?
It sounds very much like McDonald’s will be offering their Rutherglen employees the English Apprenticeship given the reference to “nationally recognised qualifications including adult certificates in Maths and English”.
With the English Apprenticeship, all candidates undertaking the Apprenticeship have to have either GCSE in English and Maths or I would just like to say that the dog wardens should be out and about more in central Rutherglen area, there is dog mess left on pavements near schools and parks.
I think they should be monitoring this more frequently as I have witnessed myself dog owners not picking up after their dog and its disgusting.
As a community councillor Foundation Skills in English and Maths if they do not already have a GCSE in English and Maths. There is no recognition of Scottish equivalents e.g. the old Standard Grades or the new National 5s.
Thus if someone locally is recruited and they already have Standard Grades in Maths and English (or even Highers!) and they undertake the English Apprenticeship no recognition is given for their achievement and they will most likely have to undertake the Foundation Skills.
Perhaps you should be asking McDonald’s why it isn’t prepared to offer Scottish people the opportunity to undertake the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship! George Brown, Via email. in Rutherglen, I am concerned about this issue as it is happening near schools and people houses and in public parks.
It is a health hazard for kids if they slip on it, and also it is not a very nice sight to see.
Please have this issue dealt with. Barry Cathie Community Councillor (Rutherglen).