Glasgow North Labour

Ann McKechin condemns post office closure plan

October 23rd, 2007

The Post Office has today announced that it plans to close four post offices in the Glasgow North constiutency. Ann McKechin MP has condemned the plans.

“This plan to close half of the post offices in the constituency is unacceptable. The Post Office plans to close Kelvindale, Hyndland, West End (Dumbarton Road) and Gilshochill Post Offices.

These plans are totally unacceptable. The Post Office must think again - these post offices provide a valuable local facility. They are more than just a business – they are an important part of our local communities. Why should residents in Glasgow North suffer such a disproportionate cut in services? The Post Office has said they want to close 20% of post offices over all, yet they want to close half of the post offices in this area. I am giving a clear message to the Post Office – don’t close our local offices.”

Ann is urging constituents to join the campaign to save the post offices from closure and has launched a local petition. If you would like copies of the petition contact Ann. It is important that the views of local people are made known to the Post Office in the six-week consultation programme. Ann’s campaign is supported by local MSPs Bill Butler, Patricia Ferguson and Pauline McNeill. They have issued a joint statement condemning the closure plans: “Local post offices are an important part of local communities. We want to see services improved and not post offices closed down. We would urge local residents to support this campaign to save these post offices.”

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Local Labour MP and MSP support call for a public inquiry into ICL explosion

September 13th, 2007

Local Labour representatives are supporting the campaign for a full public judicial enquiry into the ICL Stockline explosion. ICL Tech Ltd and ICL Plastics Ltd pled guilty and were sentenced in August to a number of charges under health and safety legislation in relation to the explosion at their factory in Glasgow on 11th May 2004 which killed 9 employees and left many seriously injured. However despite the fact that over three years have elapsed this is only the start of the long search for answers as to why such a devastating event could have occurred in the centre of a major city in 21st century modern Britain.

Glasgow North MP, Ann McKechin and Maryhill MSP, Patricia Ferguson are working with the Stockline Support Group and the STUC for a full public judicial inquiry. As yet, the families of those who were killed and the employees who survived have still to have access to the huge amount of evidence gathered by the Crown Office and Health and Safety or the ability to question the key players about the events. Over the last three years, Ann and Patricia, have worked closely with the Stockline Support Group and throughout that time their members and many others in the local community have asked that lessons are learnt so that such an event can never occur again. Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Peter Hain, accepted an invitation from Ann McKechin to meet with the families of the bereaved and hear their plea for the fullest possible public inquiry that will examine all aspects of the tragedy. Only such an inquiry can give the families the justice they deserve and let Scotland address its shameful record on protecting vulnerable workers.

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More useful contacts leafleting in the Wyndford

August 23rd, 2007

We’ve been delivering more of the useful local contacts leaflet in the Wyndford estate with Mohammed Razaq and the local Labour team as part of our Summer clean up campaign. We’re hoping to encourage more reporting of local problems which we can get sorted together. We got a very good response from local residents when we told them about our local campaign to sort out problems with litter, graffiti and rubbish dumping.

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Let’s discuss International Development

August 16th, 2007

Our local Member of Parliament, Ann McKechin, has been asked by Gordon Brown to head up the Labour Party’s Manifesto Group on International Development policy. Ann has a long standing commitment to development issues and is a member of the International Development Select Committee and chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt, Aid and Trade.

Labour knows that debt relief, international laws and fair trade all have a crucial role to play in making our world a fairer, more equal place. There is an increasingly important debate about how best to tackle the problems holding back the world’s poorest economies and crushing the world’s poorest people. The Labour Party, which was founded over 100 years ago to fight for social justice and representation for ordinary working class people at home, is determined to lead that struggle abroad. Meanwhile, David Cameron’s Tories are almost entirely financed by big businesses and the ready-rich.

The Conservatives simply cannot be trusted to take action on international economic reforms, tackle exploitative vulture funds abroad, nor to continue the Labour Government’s work on debt relief.

Your views are needed
We’re working on framing a debate which will lead to a strong agenda for action on International Development, Debt, Aid and Trade. We want to hear your views on how we can improve International Development policy. To join the debate online, please click here.

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Useful phone numbers leaflet delivered in Gilshochill

August 16th, 2007

Yesterday, members of Glasgow North Labour Party were delivering a locally produced leaflet to residents in Duncruin Street, Viewmount Drive, Cranbrooke Drive, Dunure Street, Duncombe Street, and the Campbell Street area. We want to give people the useful contact details which allow local problems to be reported and acted upon quickly by your local Labour team.

Glasgow North Labour’s elected representatives are very keen to make sure that communities like Gilshochill are able to speak up when vandalism or the anti-social behaviour of a small minority cause problems for other tenants and residents. If you’ve got a local issue you need to raise, please visit our Contact section to get in touch.

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