Michael Moore MP is the new Secretary of State for Scotland as Danny Alexander MP takes on the role of Chief Secretary to the Treasury due to the scandal of how David Laws MP spent around £40,000 on keeping his secret homosexual lover in accommodation to keep it a secret from the public. This is a huge blow to the UK Government at such an early stage in a fragile coalition. It is also a huge lose of any confidence anyone had in MPs since it looked like things were getting better after the expenses scandal. It only makes you wonder if there is anyone else been making huge claims like this.
I don't understand what made David Laws MP think it was appropriate to spend public money on keeping his sexuality a secret. He must have known that what he was doing was wrong but that did not stop him. He put himself before the people he is meant to be serving. It is a great shame to see this happen to someone I thought was a 'half decent MP', obviously I was wrong.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at: austin.sheridan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP
_______________________
You can find this article at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (Blog section)
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Thursday, 27 May 2010
UK Government try to control QT?
The UK Government said that they would not sent a Cabinet Minister on Question Time today (27/05/10) due to Alistair Campbell 'Tony Blair's Former Communications Director' taking part in the show.
I really do not understand why they refuse to put a Minister on QT just because Alistair Campbell is on the panel. I mean all the parties put a frontbench MP on the show when the BNP's Nick Griffin MEP was on the show. I very much doubt that anyone could see Alistair Campbell anymore vile than Nick Griffin MEP.
It was expected that a Cabinet Minister would attend the show as the Queens speech was done this week. David Dimbleby said that BBC Question Time refused to remove Alistair Campbell saying that only the BBC Question Time will choose the panel, not No 10.
I was very pleased that Question Time made a point of telling people why there was no Cabinet Minister on the show. I think that it is wrong that the UK Government tried to control who was on the Question Time panel. I am glad BBC QT did not give into the UK Government's demands to have Alistair Campbell removed from the QT panel.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at: austin.sheridan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP
_______________________
You can find this article at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (Blog section)
I really do not understand why they refuse to put a Minister on QT just because Alistair Campbell is on the panel. I mean all the parties put a frontbench MP on the show when the BNP's Nick Griffin MEP was on the show. I very much doubt that anyone could see Alistair Campbell anymore vile than Nick Griffin MEP.
It was expected that a Cabinet Minister would attend the show as the Queens speech was done this week. David Dimbleby said that BBC Question Time refused to remove Alistair Campbell saying that only the BBC Question Time will choose the panel, not No 10.
I was very pleased that Question Time made a point of telling people why there was no Cabinet Minister on the show. I think that it is wrong that the UK Government tried to control who was on the Question Time panel. I am glad BBC QT did not give into the UK Government's demands to have Alistair Campbell removed from the QT panel.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at: austin.sheridan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP
_______________________
You can find this article at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (Blog section)
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Glasgow MSYP Group set to change constitution to create a Glasgow Youth Council
The Glasgow MSYP Group is set to have it's AGM on the 9 June (2010) where it will discuss changing the groups constitution to become a city-wide Youth Council.
I said that this would be a good idea as it will allow more young people in our city to be involved in youth campaigns and will open opportunities to young people that are interested in making a difference. Once the funding and structures are put in place the group will consist of Glasgow MSYPs, Unsuccessful SYP candidates, youth groups from around the city and Schools.
I am particularly pleased that this will give unsuccessful SYP candidates a place on the youth council if this goes ahead. I believe that even though the candidates were not elected, it proves that they are interested in making a difference to their area and young people in other parts of the constituency they stand for.
In the South West part of my constituency I, alongside other young people set up a youth community reference group which is called YSpeak. This group has been very good for the young people in the South West of Glasgow as we now have a much stronger voice and more of a say on youth issues in the area. I am hoping that I can get young people together in the South Central (Southside) part of my constituency to do the same. To give young people a voice in their community. It will be groups like YSpeak that a Youth Council in Glasgow would be made up of.
I also hope that if a Youth Council is set up we will see more young people wanting to run for MSYP. Glasgow Govan was one of the most contested constituencies with 5 people running. The others had 4-3 candidates apart from one. Glasgow Pollok (covers the rest of Glasgow South West) only had 1 candidate which meant that Aamir Riaz MSYP was uncontested. Hopefully a Youth Council will attract more candidates and stop this from happening again.
I will post an update blog on the AGM once it has taken place.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at: austin.sheridan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP
_______________________
This article can be found at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (blog section)
I said that this would be a good idea as it will allow more young people in our city to be involved in youth campaigns and will open opportunities to young people that are interested in making a difference. Once the funding and structures are put in place the group will consist of Glasgow MSYPs, Unsuccessful SYP candidates, youth groups from around the city and Schools.
I am particularly pleased that this will give unsuccessful SYP candidates a place on the youth council if this goes ahead. I believe that even though the candidates were not elected, it proves that they are interested in making a difference to their area and young people in other parts of the constituency they stand for.
In the South West part of my constituency I, alongside other young people set up a youth community reference group which is called YSpeak. This group has been very good for the young people in the South West of Glasgow as we now have a much stronger voice and more of a say on youth issues in the area. I am hoping that I can get young people together in the South Central (Southside) part of my constituency to do the same. To give young people a voice in their community. It will be groups like YSpeak that a Youth Council in Glasgow would be made up of.
I also hope that if a Youth Council is set up we will see more young people wanting to run for MSYP. Glasgow Govan was one of the most contested constituencies with 5 people running. The others had 4-3 candidates apart from one. Glasgow Pollok (covers the rest of Glasgow South West) only had 1 candidate which meant that Aamir Riaz MSYP was uncontested. Hopefully a Youth Council will attract more candidates and stop this from happening again.
I will post an update blog on the AGM once it has taken place.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at: austin.sheridan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP
_______________________
This article can be found at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (blog section)
Friday, 21 May 2010
Scottish Youth Parliament prepares for AGM on 26 June
The Scottish Youth Parliament is going to have it's next sitting this June on the 26th. This will also be the Youth Parliaments AGM where MSYPs will have the opportunity to be elected to the Board of Trustees which Govern the Youth Parliament and make important decisions on the finance of the Scottish Youth Parliament and also covers areas such as which staff to employ etc.
Any MSYP between the age of 16 - 25 will have the opportunity to apply to become a candidate for Trustee Director, Chair and Vice Chair. This is a great example of a properly Youth Lead organisation. No major decision is made by anyone over the age of 25 and all board members must be Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. No other Youth Parliament in the UK is entirely Youth Led.
You must be over the age of 16 to become a board member due to child protection law. This is why the age range of 14 - 25 benefits the SYP. If we had an age range such as 11-18 we would not be able to have a Youth Lead Parliament.
I have been thinking of standing for a position on the board as I believe that the Scottish Youth Parliament still needs a lot of change to become a model Youth Parliament I believe it can be. There has been lots of changes in the SYP over the past year which have been very beneficial to the day to day running of the Scottish Youth Parliament but we have not gone far enough in my view. I believe that the SYP has not met it's full potential. I believe its about MSYPs working together to make it more accountable and more democratic. It's time for change, it's time to move forward.
What I think the SYPs main goal should be is this, we should try and become a department of the Scottish Parliament. Become an OFFICAL Youth Parliament like the Irish equivalent. This is a goal that we should aim for. The SYP has been leading the way in Europe when it comes to Youth Parliaments, we should continue to lead the way by becoming a Government department which would mean more secure funding.
Another thing I would like to see is reform of the Committee system. It is unworkable in its current state and I am sure that MSYPs will agree that even though we are all members of committee's we do not have committee meetings. If we can reform this I believe that it will close the 'us and them' gap between backbench MSYPs and MSYPs who are Conveners/Deputy Conveners and Trustee Directors. Along side these plans I would like to see all minuets (non-confidential) of the Board meetings published for all MSYPs to read and hopefully the general public would also be able to read them.
We will just have to wait and see what happens at this years AGM to see if we get people who are willing to go for the change we need.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at: austin.sheridan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP
_______________________
This article can be found at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (Blog Section)
Any MSYP between the age of 16 - 25 will have the opportunity to apply to become a candidate for Trustee Director, Chair and Vice Chair. This is a great example of a properly Youth Lead organisation. No major decision is made by anyone over the age of 25 and all board members must be Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. No other Youth Parliament in the UK is entirely Youth Led.
You must be over the age of 16 to become a board member due to child protection law. This is why the age range of 14 - 25 benefits the SYP. If we had an age range such as 11-18 we would not be able to have a Youth Lead Parliament.
I have been thinking of standing for a position on the board as I believe that the Scottish Youth Parliament still needs a lot of change to become a model Youth Parliament I believe it can be. There has been lots of changes in the SYP over the past year which have been very beneficial to the day to day running of the Scottish Youth Parliament but we have not gone far enough in my view. I believe that the SYP has not met it's full potential. I believe its about MSYPs working together to make it more accountable and more democratic. It's time for change, it's time to move forward.
What I think the SYPs main goal should be is this, we should try and become a department of the Scottish Parliament. Become an OFFICAL Youth Parliament like the Irish equivalent. This is a goal that we should aim for. The SYP has been leading the way in Europe when it comes to Youth Parliaments, we should continue to lead the way by becoming a Government department which would mean more secure funding.
Another thing I would like to see is reform of the Committee system. It is unworkable in its current state and I am sure that MSYPs will agree that even though we are all members of committee's we do not have committee meetings. If we can reform this I believe that it will close the 'us and them' gap between backbench MSYPs and MSYPs who are Conveners/Deputy Conveners and Trustee Directors. Along side these plans I would like to see all minuets (non-confidential) of the Board meetings published for all MSYPs to read and hopefully the general public would also be able to read them.
We will just have to wait and see what happens at this years AGM to see if we get people who are willing to go for the change we need.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at: austin.sheridan.msyp@sypmail.org.uk
Posted by Austin Sheridan MSYP
_______________________
This article can be found at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (Blog Section)
Friday, 14 May 2010
New UK Government
So now we have a new UK Government at Westminster. A Government formed in a balanced parliament where no party his a majority of the seats. A Government which is made up of two parties. The Conservatives and The Liberal Democrats have now went into coalition to form a Government. David Cameron MP as UK Prime Minister, and Nick Clegg MP as UK Deputy Prime Minister.
So what exactly does this mean and what is so different about this Government compared to previous Governments?
The difference between this Government and the previous modern Governments is that this Government is made up of two political parties. Two parties that fought each other in the General Election and are now sharing power with one another. This now means that these two parties now have to work together. Many people say that this will not last long due to the differences between the two parties that are now in Government. These people may be right however, the Scottish Parliament since its creation in 1999 has always been a balanced parliament. If it can work in the Scottish Parliament then surly it can work at Westminster?
Some people may ask why it was the Tories and Lib-Dems that share power, this is due to Labour refusing to go into a rainbow progressive alliance against a Tory Government. For some people that may not be a problem however, Scotland only has 1 Tory MP. Labour got the highest vote in Scotland, mainly because the people of Scotland did not want a Tory Government. After the election the SNP proposed a 'rainbow alliance' which would be a Government made up of parties across the UK that oppose a Tory Government. Labour said "we will never work with the SNP". If Labour want to hold that view then that is their choice, but they said "a vote for the SNP would let the Tories in through the back door". That was simply not true. The SNP has done everything it can to prevent a Tory Government but Labour were not willing to co-operate. Labour also ruined their chance with the Lib-Dems for being so demanding.
When it comes to letting the Tories into Government I would say it was Labours fault. Labour said they would stop the Tories getting in through the back door, and they were successful. Why? because Labour choose to let the Tories in through the front door instead.
Now we will have to wait and see what happens next. This will be a very interesting 5 years. This is history in the making.
Posted by Austin Sheridan MYP
_____________________________
This Article can be found at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (Blog Section)
So what exactly does this mean and what is so different about this Government compared to previous Governments?
The difference between this Government and the previous modern Governments is that this Government is made up of two political parties. Two parties that fought each other in the General Election and are now sharing power with one another. This now means that these two parties now have to work together. Many people say that this will not last long due to the differences between the two parties that are now in Government. These people may be right however, the Scottish Parliament since its creation in 1999 has always been a balanced parliament. If it can work in the Scottish Parliament then surly it can work at Westminster?
Some people may ask why it was the Tories and Lib-Dems that share power, this is due to Labour refusing to go into a rainbow progressive alliance against a Tory Government. For some people that may not be a problem however, Scotland only has 1 Tory MP. Labour got the highest vote in Scotland, mainly because the people of Scotland did not want a Tory Government. After the election the SNP proposed a 'rainbow alliance' which would be a Government made up of parties across the UK that oppose a Tory Government. Labour said "we will never work with the SNP". If Labour want to hold that view then that is their choice, but they said "a vote for the SNP would let the Tories in through the back door". That was simply not true. The SNP has done everything it can to prevent a Tory Government but Labour were not willing to co-operate. Labour also ruined their chance with the Lib-Dems for being so demanding.
When it comes to letting the Tories into Government I would say it was Labours fault. Labour said they would stop the Tories getting in through the back door, and they were successful. Why? because Labour choose to let the Tories in through the front door instead.
Now we will have to wait and see what happens next. This will be a very interesting 5 years. This is history in the making.
Posted by Austin Sheridan MYP
_____________________________
This Article can be found at: www.AustinMSYP.co.nr (Blog Section)
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