We have already given you a list of MSPs in the Edinburgh area elsewhere on this site but we are conducting an investigation into the online presence of our politicians from council level upwards and here is what we have discovered so far….
Kenny McAskill is a man with enough on his plate but he seems to be one of the few MSPs who actually update his website during the summer months. He has a good summary of what is happening at Newcraighall and the planning application which has been lodged there for a housing development by Cadell 2 LLP – a surname well known to those living in Linlithgow and Bo’ness as Cadell is (or technically was) the feudal superior there. There will be a further public open day in August. He also voices his opposition to the Biomass plant proposed for Leith Docks.
David McLetchie’s site was last updated in June 2010 but he does have some interesting things to say about his opposition to the changes to Right to Buy legislation. McLetchie is the Conservative MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands. This is the legal right introduced by the Tories under Thatcher which allowed council tenants to buy their homes at reduced prices. This led to two different results – one is that the council housing stock has been much reduced. The other is that the purchasers were able to profit from their years as council tenants, since they were free to sell the home three years after buying it, and keep any profit for themselves to invest in a new property. Characteristically, the level of profit was about 50% so it was always a good move for a council tenant to buy their own home if they could. The SNP now want to bring an end to this right.
Mike Pringle MSP for Edinburgh South last updated his site on 14th June when he commented on the closure of St Margaret’s School in Newington. This private girls’ school went into liquidation after over a century of education. Perhaps a victim of the recession, the school itself had in the past taken over the former girls schools St Denis and Cranley as well as St Hilary’s. The private schools in Edinburgh educate a large proportion of children. Part of the ethos of girls schools like St Margarets is to educate girls to be independent and confident. Testament to that ethos – one of St Margaret’s old girls is Katie Logan who runs Rainbow Cupcakes with her sister Susie. They donate 5% of their profits to cancer charities.
Margaret Smith MSP’s website was updated on 2 July when she explained her opposition to the drop off charges being introduced by Edinburgh Airport which we highlighted in our earlier article.
Not really sure exactly how recently his website was updated but Gavin Brown MSP for Edinburgh South has been very vocal in his opposition to the proposed parking fees at the airport and he started a petition on 2nd July called Stop the Drop-Off Rip-Off which 2748 people have now signed.
George Foulkes is the old man of Scottish politics and is Labour MSP representing the Lothians. His latest question to Shona Robison Minister for Public Health and Sport asked what services the Scottish Executive had requested for the First Minister on his trip to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games – the verbose answer from Ms Robison is ………..”None.” Surely this is not really sufficient as a parliamentary written answer?? Asking the supplementary question as to who will host Mr Salmond when he gets there the answer is rather longer… They will be guests of the Commonwealth Games Federation – because there will be several of them going as hosts of the next games…..we have to wonder who “they” are….?
Robin Harper MSP seems to have a redundant website…There are a few photos but no real meat there….What is happening with the site? We have asked and will let you know!
Fiona Hyslop is MSP for Lothians but her website does not seem to be active…. We have asked why and will get back to you!
Independent MSP Margo McDonald has been very busy introducing her End of LIfe bill. Sadly she is suffering from illness, but this does not seem to hold her back from a busy schedule. Her website is great! She has excerpts from her Evening News column where she most recently wrote about the trams in June. You can see this here.
Dr Ian McKee MSP for the Lothians is a former GP and has been an MSP since 2007. His is a great website. It is bang up to date. His latest article was filed on 29th July 2010 and deals with the NHS reorganisation south of the border. (Health is a devolved area in Scotland and thus the responsibility of Holyrood.)
Shirley-Anne Somerville is SNP MSP for the Lothians and her website is just fab. She is a member of the Transport Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee. She has made many speeches however over a wide range of issues and you can access these speeches here. She also asked an important question earlier in the year about the financing of the trams project.
Sarah Boyack Labour MSP for Edinburgh Central has a monthly newsletter. The latest one can be accessed here.
She has a good website with a regularly updated video diary at http://www.sarahboyack.net
