Musings from the Merse
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
New party for the Borders
Huttonian in a desperate search to find any political party taking the Local Council Elections due on 3 May at all seriously has rediscovered the 'manifesto' launched by the Borders Party last October:
A NEW political party has been formed in the Borders, arguing the region should shape its own futures rather than hang on to "Edinburgh's coat tails".
The Borders Party, which plans to fight next year's council elections in the area, brings together protest groups and objectors unhappy about Scottish Borders Council's plans for the region.
Nicholas Watson, chairman of the new party, said for too long objectors had been characterised as opposing all change.
He said: "Of course the Borders needs new houses, new jobs, better transport links and improved services. But the Borders Party will support local communities and consult with them in an open and comprehensible way."
He added: "It's time someone stood up for the Borders before it's too late."
Stirring stuff but like all the other parties with a presence in the Borders there is very little political activity apparent around here. Go to the SNP, Lib Dem, Tory, New Labour websites you will find bytes and bytes of burble about their candidates for the Edinburgh Parliament but nothing about the hustings for Newtown St Boswells.
A free cup of coffee for the first SBC candidate on the Old Manse doorstep and a slice of the wife's home made organic brown bread. If he or she are here by 1030 tomorrow they can kiss a baby and be blogged to immortality.
Can't be fairer than that?
I have to report that this announcement (in the Scotsman) although it caused something of a stir locally did not seem to resonate abroad. The only overseas comment sent to the paper about the news item was from someone in Tasmania as follows:
I am pretty old, is it OK that I die without making a comment.
I wonder if he/she did. If so
RIP
Huttonian in a desperate search to find any political party taking the Local Council Elections due on 3 May at all seriously has rediscovered the 'manifesto' launched by the Borders Party last October:
A NEW political party has been formed in the Borders, arguing the region should shape its own futures rather than hang on to "Edinburgh's coat tails".
The Borders Party, which plans to fight next year's council elections in the area, brings together protest groups and objectors unhappy about Scottish Borders Council's plans for the region.
Nicholas Watson, chairman of the new party, said for too long objectors had been characterised as opposing all change.
He said: "Of course the Borders needs new houses, new jobs, better transport links and improved services. But the Borders Party will support local communities and consult with them in an open and comprehensible way."
He added: "It's time someone stood up for the Borders before it's too late."
Stirring stuff but like all the other parties with a presence in the Borders there is very little political activity apparent around here. Go to the SNP, Lib Dem, Tory, New Labour websites you will find bytes and bytes of burble about their candidates for the Edinburgh Parliament but nothing about the hustings for Newtown St Boswells.
A free cup of coffee for the first SBC candidate on the Old Manse doorstep and a slice of the wife's home made organic brown bread. If he or she are here by 1030 tomorrow they can kiss a baby and be blogged to immortality.
Can't be fairer than that?
I have to report that this announcement (in the Scotsman) although it caused something of a stir locally did not seem to resonate abroad. The only overseas comment sent to the paper about the news item was from someone in Tasmania as follows:
I am pretty old, is it OK that I die without making a comment.
I wonder if he/she did. If so
RIP
Comments:
… and who could blame them.
One only needs to reflect on relatively recent local activities to see that this area has been badly served by its politicians. MSPs and local councillors who appear to have acted in their own interests rather than those whom they were elected to represent.
It is any wonder that there are so few people voting? Hypocrisy is alive and well, or so it would appear.
We await the tales of tea and (organic) bread….
One only needs to reflect on relatively recent local activities to see that this area has been badly served by its politicians. MSPs and local councillors who appear to have acted in their own interests rather than those whom they were elected to represent.
It is any wonder that there are so few people voting? Hypocrisy is alive and well, or so it would appear.
We await the tales of tea and (organic) bread….
# posted by 
: 7:30 PM
: 7:30 PM
I wrote to the Berwickshire Bugle this week supporting the Borders Party - I wonder if they'll print it? Now I just have to wait for the Postie to bring the paper in the morning and all will be revealed. I think they may be on to something but I fear it's too late. I'm off over to meet the chairman on Friday for a chat, to see if I can help in anyway.
We've been inundated by a candidate's leaflet for the SBC elections, one for the MSP elections and a "sorry you weren't in when I called to talk to you card" from a real life candidate. All SNP.
So what has the SNP got against Hutton? Our Parliamentary candidate is a well known local woman who may feel that canvassing here is either (a) unnecessary or (b) futile given the anti-independence sentiment. But no sign of the SBC elections candidate unless she is standing in both. Is this possible?
I'm pretty sure that she isn't standing in both. In mid Berwickshire we have a SNP local council candidate. He's unseen on the doorstep, but he did visit the local community council meeting along with the Tory man.
The Berwickshire Bugle printed my letter....so that's a start.
The Berwickshire Bugle printed my letter....so that's a start.
Well then who is the SNP candidate for East Berwickshire?
He/she may be lying low in unfriendly country but then how will we know to vote for them. Or even when we know who it is perhaps they will follow the practice of the West Cork Fire Brigade
and be ex-directory.
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He/she may be lying low in unfriendly country but then how will we know to vote for them. Or even when we know who it is perhaps they will follow the practice of the West Cork Fire Brigade
and be ex-directory.
