Council must be clear on anti-blackmail actions

Following reports in the Times that some Labour members were aware of issues surrounding Steven Purcell in 2008 but dismissed the claims, and reports in the Scotsman that Glasgow City Council is refusing to consider a review of its practices and recent decisions, SNP MP John Mason and Council group leader James Dornan today repeated their call for answers from Labour and from the City Council.

Political and civic leaders gathered in Glasgow today for a crime summit organised by SNP councillor Billy McAlister. Mr McAlister teamed up with local MSP, Bob Doris, as he invited representatives from all political parties to look at new ways of tackling Glasgow’s higher than average crime rate.

Mason calls for full disclosure and finance probe

Glasgow East MP John Mason has today called for full disclosure from the Labour Party amid the extremely serious issues raised by the latest revelations following the resignation of Steven Purcell as Glasgow City Council leader and as an elected councillor.

SNP MSPs and activsts today attended the EIS march and rally in Glasgow to show their support for protecting Scotland's budget from Westminster cuts ahead of a UK general election. It is widely expected that no matter which UK party wins the forthcoming General Election that there will be a UK budget which will lead to further cuts to Scotland's funding from the London. 

Patrick Grady, SNP Candidate for Glasgow North, welcomed Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, SNP Depute Leader and MSP for Govan Nicola Sturgeon to Summerston on Saturday 27th February, to launch the party’s campaign to win Glasgow North at the Westminster election.

The SNP candidate for Glasgow Central has spoken out on the need for high speed rail connecting Glasgow to London.

The Labour government will be commenting on plans for a high speed rail line from London to Birmingham later this month. The Conservatives meanwhile say they will only commit to one to Leeds.

Bob Doris MSP has spoken out in favour of proposed legislation to sharpen up the practices of factoring companies. The idea has been proposed by Labour MSP Patricia Fergusson and will introduce a new dispute resolution process between factors and their clients. Complaints have flooded in about malpractice in the industry, with some companies forcing customers into poverty by applying exorbitant administration charges and failing to complete routine work.

Mr Doris said: "I support the regulation of factors and it is very positive that the Scottish Government has signalled that the introduction of a voluntary accreditation scheme does not rule out statutory regulation.

SNP MSP for the city of Glasgow Anne McLaughlin has today welcomed new figures that show police numbers across Scotland are at their highest ever.

At the end of 2009 there were a total of 17 273 police officers in Scotland, the highest number ever recorded. This has no doubt been a major factor that has brought crime across Scotland to its lowest ever in 30 years, with every single police force in the country seeing an increase in police numbers.

John Mason, SNP MP for Glasgow East, has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons calling on the EU to stub out its tobacco subsidy.

The continuing subsidy by the European Union of tobacco cultivation is costing taxpayers £260 million a year. Consequentially, the SNP Euro-MP Alyn Smith has written to the EU Commissioner-Designate for Health, John Dalli, and EU Commissioner-Designate for Budget and Financial Programming, Janusz Lewandowski, calling for their support to end the payments, and has also launched a petition on his website which calls for an end to the subsidy.