Musings from the Merse
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Getting an Orr in
I am sure we all wish Janie Orr the best of luck in her chosen career as a politician-here I am heavily dependent on a Berwickshire News article which you can share here She says that she is following in her mother's footsteps and whilst reiterating our best wishes we sincerely hope she has more success than her indefatigable mater who must be one of the most unsuccessful politicians in the Borders. Yet to win anything in any election at any level and I doubt her chances of doing any better as the SNP candidate for Westminster -presumably standing when Mr Brown throws in the towel.
Janie is quoted as saying "I got interested in politics through my mum" Well she certainly started with the basics when her mum was out canvassing: the Orr children handed out the bumph while the candidate sat in her car. Or so my Paxton friends tell me. She certainly never made it to the top of Kirk Lane in Hutton but I did get her handouts-child delivered. Perhaps Mrs O felt that the locals knew her well so why bother to put in a personal appearance and press the flesh. Here she was right enough: she failed to get in against much less familiar opponents.
Well here is the junior Orr in a parliament already. A first for the family. A youth assembly is better than none. The article fails to mention her party label. ff she is not joining the SNP, well done Janie.
You deserve to go far.
I am sure we all wish Janie Orr the best of luck in her chosen career as a politician-here I am heavily dependent on a Berwickshire News article which you can share here She says that she is following in her mother's footsteps and whilst reiterating our best wishes we sincerely hope she has more success than her indefatigable mater who must be one of the most unsuccessful politicians in the Borders. Yet to win anything in any election at any level and I doubt her chances of doing any better as the SNP candidate for Westminster -presumably standing when Mr Brown throws in the towel.
Janie is quoted as saying "I got interested in politics through my mum" Well she certainly started with the basics when her mum was out canvassing: the Orr children handed out the bumph while the candidate sat in her car. Or so my Paxton friends tell me. She certainly never made it to the top of Kirk Lane in Hutton but I did get her handouts-child delivered. Perhaps Mrs O felt that the locals knew her well so why bother to put in a personal appearance and press the flesh. Here she was right enough: she failed to get in against much less familiar opponents.
Well here is the junior Orr in a parliament already. A first for the family. A youth assembly is better than none. The article fails to mention her party label. ff she is not joining the SNP, well done Janie.
You deserve to go far.
Labels: Borders Politics, Mrs O, SNP
Comments:
Perhaps Juni-orr could start with a bill banning the use of public roads as farmyards.
# posted by 
: 11:10 AM
: 11:10 AM
The Scottish Youth Parliament is not fundamentally a political organisation, it is for young people who want issues affecting them discussed and sorted out. It does involve politics, but most MYSP's are not part of a political party and many join through Youth Clubs and Schools. You seemed to have missed the point of this, it is very important in discussing issues such as education, health and transport just to name a few. I understand that you are a former ambassador, but I would have thought that you would have supported young people being involved in the democratic process?
I am very disappointed in the comments you wrote about my family. I am actually interested in Politics but am planning to go on and do Pharmacy at University in 2 years, as I really enjoy sciences. And for my political ideas, yes I am a member of the SNP but so are many other young people in my school, a few in the Paxton and Hutton area which you may not be aware of who are my age? So if you were ever wanting to meet to discuss and debate issues I would be very happy to, and to listen to your ideas. Rather than posting them on your blog.
I am very disappointed in the comments you wrote about my family. I am actually interested in Politics but am planning to go on and do Pharmacy at University in 2 years, as I really enjoy sciences. And for my political ideas, yes I am a member of the SNP but so are many other young people in my school, a few in the Paxton and Hutton area which you may not be aware of who are my age? So if you were ever wanting to meet to discuss and debate issues I would be very happy to, and to listen to your ideas. Rather than posting them on your blog.
# posted by : 7:37 PM
: 7:37 PM
Thank you Janie for your contribution. One point of a blog is to exchange ideas(and to provoke a reaction)-that is why there are so many political blogs around. Sadly few in the Borders-although Havering On (see link above) is a good example of a semi political blog and it is very rare in my experience to provoke any comments at all so I am glad you have at least reacted. I am delighted that you are representing young Borderers. I was careful to make no comment on the Scottish Youth Parliament as I knew very lttle about it but from what you tell me it is an excellent way to introduce youngsters to politics especially in a positive non partisan way. That will come later!
I m strongly opposed to the break up of the UK, and therefore do not suppor the SNP. As a former British Ambassador I can tell you that our position in the international community comes from a position of economic strength and national cohesion. The UK without Scotland is very diminished and we could no longer justify our seat as a permenant member of the UN or of the G7/ If you weaken the UK you also weaken Scotland.
I am sorry you are disapointed by the comments I made about your mother. I am a great admirer of her energy and comittment. We worked together on the save the Hutton school campaign although she was dubious of the Community Council's role (wrongly in my view) But I have to say that I thought she did not run her election campaigns as effectively as she might. The SNP label has not helped in the Borders many of whose people look as much to England as to Scotland. Had she stood as an independant, especially in the local council elections after Catherine Home Robertson stood down she would have easily defeated the Tory Jim Fullarton.
I am always happy to be invited to debate ideas. I do a lot of public speaking in the Borders as well as teach Politics (Middle East) at Edinburgh University. And a Blog is for airing views without fear or favour.
I m strongly opposed to the break up of the UK, and therefore do not suppor the SNP. As a former British Ambassador I can tell you that our position in the international community comes from a position of economic strength and national cohesion. The UK without Scotland is very diminished and we could no longer justify our seat as a permenant member of the UN or of the G7/ If you weaken the UK you also weaken Scotland.
I am sorry you are disapointed by the comments I made about your mother. I am a great admirer of her energy and comittment. We worked together on the save the Hutton school campaign although she was dubious of the Community Council's role (wrongly in my view) But I have to say that I thought she did not run her election campaigns as effectively as she might. The SNP label has not helped in the Borders many of whose people look as much to England as to Scotland. Had she stood as an independant, especially in the local council elections after Catherine Home Robertson stood down she would have easily defeated the Tory Jim Fullarton.
I am always happy to be invited to debate ideas. I do a lot of public speaking in the Borders as well as teach Politics (Middle East) at Edinburgh University. And a Blog is for airing views without fear or favour.
Named, but not shamed!
As The redoubtable Huttonian says we merry very small band of Border bloggers seldom get reactions to much of what we post from local people. I have a long running blog relationship, if we can call it such a thing, with an SNP blogger who is standing for parliament....the real one in Westminster...at the next election. I regularly gently chide him about some of the SNP policies.
That's what's so great about blogging. A chance to put forward ideas, thoughts, information and even the odd fact. It can be absolutely fascinating where it leads and the things that it throws up.
I actually told Mrs Orr that if she was representing any other party than the SNP...well almost, I couldn't ever bring myself to vote Labour, that I would have voted for her.
As the Great Hutt says...."weaken the UK and you weaken Scotland." As I've always said, I get the emotional stuff about Scotland and the independence business, but it's the practicalities that will do for us.
Janie, good luck with the SYP. It sounds like a great idea. Anything that involves young people in politics is a good thing. In my day it was still pretty trendy to be a communist when young....
As The redoubtable Huttonian says we merry very small band of Border bloggers seldom get reactions to much of what we post from local people. I have a long running blog relationship, if we can call it such a thing, with an SNP blogger who is standing for parliament....the real one in Westminster...at the next election. I regularly gently chide him about some of the SNP policies.
That's what's so great about blogging. A chance to put forward ideas, thoughts, information and even the odd fact. It can be absolutely fascinating where it leads and the things that it throws up.
I actually told Mrs Orr that if she was representing any other party than the SNP...well almost, I couldn't ever bring myself to vote Labour, that I would have voted for her.
As the Great Hutt says...."weaken the UK and you weaken Scotland." As I've always said, I get the emotional stuff about Scotland and the independence business, but it's the practicalities that will do for us.
Janie, good luck with the SYP. It sounds like a great idea. Anything that involves young people in politics is a good thing. In my day it was still pretty trendy to be a communist when young....
Perhaps Scottish Nationalism is the new communism amongst the idealistic youth-but little evidence of this in the Borders. And I doubt if it was taken too seriously at Hutton Primary School
Janie, if you put your head above the parapet you will get shot at. Your mother would have had my vote too if she hadn't been SNP.
Post a Comment
# posted by : 4:59 PM
: 4:59 PM