Cllr Jim Barrie
SNP Candidate for Dundee West
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Archive for July, 2009
New Rail Service should have a Stop at Dundee Airport, says Jim
Jim Barrie says a new Tay Estuary Rail service would prove popular and successful and help to improve the city’s – and the region’s – transport infrastructure. And such a new service could usefully introduce a new rail halt at Dundee airport.
He has welcomed the announcement made today by his fellow SNP Councillor, Will Dawson who presently chairs the strategic transport body, the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership of plans for new services.
Dundee City Councillor Jim Barrie, whose West End ward boundaries on Invergowrie, said he felt that it would be worthwhile considering the introduction of a railway halt for Dundee Airport on the proposed new TERS rail service.
Councillor Barrie said: “It would seem to make sense and allow for maximum integration of transport, particularly at times when people might use the peak air services to London City, Birmingham or Belfast, to allow passengers to get to the plane by train, which would help to relieve car parking congestion at Dundee airport. I will pass on my suggestion to the TACTRAN Partnership.”
Labour MP Questioned on 10p tax rate compensation vote
Labour MP Jim McGovern has come under fire after the Government voted down a compensation package for people who lost out when they scrapped the 10p tax rate.The Dundee West MP voted along party lines to defeat Labour MP Frank Field’s bill for compensation at Westminster although many Labour MPs had reportedly said they supported measures to help those who had suffered as a consequence of the lowest tax band being abolished.
The 10p rate was abolished in the 2007 budget, which was Gordon Brown’s last as Chancellor.
A humiliating defeat looked to be on the cards for the Government when the vote was taken earlier this month, but a backbench rebellion failed to get enough support for the compensation package to be approved.
It is estimated that 500,000 Scottish households will lose out as a consequence of the move.
Dundee SNP Councillor Jim Barrie, who is standing against Mr McGovern in the General Election, said: “Scrapping the 10p tax rate hit people who could least afford it with a huge tax hike. Tax for the lowest-paid workers was doubled overnight.
“Local people will be shocked that Jim McGovern has now voted against a modest compensation package and failed to stand up for his constituents. He did not stand up to be counted with the Labour rebels, the SNP and Plaid Cymru behind Labour MP Frank Field’s compensation Bill. He will need to explain why to the electors of Dundee West.
“The SNP is doing everything in its power to help people through these tough economic times: freezing council tax, phasing out prescription charges and scrapping bridge tolls as well as driving down business rates for small businesses.
“Meanwhile, the Labour UK Government is inflicting shameful tax hikes on low paid workers and pensioners and is wasting billions of pounds on a new nuclear weapons system instead of investing in public services.
“There is no doubt thousands of people on low incomes are worse off since the 10p tax rate was abolished.
“The Government’s clumsy attempts to compensate for their blunder by introducing larger personal tax allowances do not go far enough.
“These people should be taken out of the income tax tier altogether. They cannot afford to shoulder the burden, especially in these difficult economic times. The vote to reject Labour MP Frank Field’s compensation bill simply compounds the damage which the government has done.”
Jim Barrie Calls For Royal Mail Privatisation To Be Scrapped
Jim will fight for retention of publicly-owned postal services
The temporary shelving of the UK Government’s plans for part-privatising the Royal Mail have been welcomed but the moves should be cancelled permanently according to Councillor Jim Barrie, Convenor of the SNP Group on Dundee City Council.
Jim Barrie said: “I welcome Mr Mandelson’s u-turn on moves to part-privatise the Royal Mail but I want this to be more than just a temporary reprieve. The government should announce that it is permanently abandoning these unpopular and potentially damaging privatisations.
“Privatisation of Royal Mail should not just be put off for another day, it should be ruled out once and for all.
“In Dundee we have recently lost a number of Post Offices, there have been complaints from constituents about postal delivery times and internal issues within the Royal Mail service itself locally about staffing levels and service agreements.
“I would like to see the government focussing on ensuring a long term successful future for a public Royal Mail service and for the universal service obligation.
“This humiliating climb-down, hard on the heels of a u-turn on ID cards, shows the UK government is in complete chaos.
“Lord Mandelson can’t even get his story straight on why privatisation was abandoned – first he said it was because the plans were jostling for space in the legislative agenda, and now he say it is because the economic conditions are not right.
“Royal Mail must remain in public hands. If elected as MP for Dundee West at the next General Election, I wil continue to fight for the retention of publicly-owned postal services.”SNP Stunning Victory in Angus Council By-election
THE SNP have recorded a huge victory in the Angus Council Monifieth and Sidlaw ward by-election where the party increased its first preference votes by 15% to 69% – the highest share of the vote for any party in any ward since the current proportional representation voting system was introduced.
The victory saw Jean Lee elected as councillor for the seat with swings from all parties. Labour failed to field a candidate, despite leafleting the ward, after it was discovered their candidate didn’t qualify for the by-election.
Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie whose constituency includes a sizeable portion of the Angus Council ward of Monifieth & Sidlaw, today congratulated new SNP Councillor Jean Lee for her stunning by-election win.
Stewart Hosie said:
“Jean Lee will be a first-class councillor for Monifieth & Sidlaw and I congratulate her on her tremendous victory, taking 69% of the first preference votes. That is the highest vote share for any party in any local government election since PR was introduced.
“The SNP are the party of government in Scotland, and our victory is a positive endorsement of the SNP and a positive vote for our record of policy delivery. In by-elections, the European elections, and opinion polls for Holyrood and Westminster, the SNP have the support of the people of Scotland.
“The SNP Government are focussed on helping families and business during tough times – the Economic Recovery Programme is supporting 15,000 jobs, and we are freezing the Council Tax freeze, slashing business rates, introducing free prescriptions, and delivering 1,000 additional police officers in Scotland’s communities. These are the SNP policies that are winning elections across Scotland – and in spectacular style in Monifieth & Sidlaw.”
Angus MP Mike Weir added:
“To have secured an even greater share of the vote since 2007 – which was a high watermark year for the SNP – is a stunning achievement.
“In Jean Lee the people of Monifieth & Sidlaw have elected an excellent and dedicated local campaigner who will represent their interests in the council.
”I look forward to working with her and Councillor Rob Murray on behalf of constituents of Monifieth and the Sidlaw villages.”
Commenting on her victory Cllr Jean Lee said;
“It is an honour to have been elected to represent Monifieth & Sidlaw on Angus Council.
“I look forward to working with my SNP colleagues on the council, in Parliament and in the SNP Government to put forward a positive vision for Monifieth & Sidlaw, and to fight for the interests of the area.
“The sad death of well-known local councillor Frank Ellis was a loss to Monifieth & Sidlaw because he had contributed much to the area.
“I will work hard to ensure his legacy continues to show that it is the SNP which represents the best interests of all the people of Monifieth & Sidlaw.”
