Local news

Local politicians Frank Roy MP, John Pentand MSP, Michael McMahon MSP, and Cambuslang MP and MSP Tom Greatrex and James Kelly met with local and national management of Tata Steel, along with representatives of the steelworkers union, Community, and the STUC at the Dalzell plant last Friday to discuss the reasons why no Scottish steel will be used in the 1.5 billion pound project to construct a new Forth Bridge project.

Over the last few weeks UK politics has been dominated by the Scottish Referendum issue of who runs the Referendum? Is it legal and binding? Who decides it content? When will it be? I have no problem in admitting the SNP won the last Scottish Parliamentary Election and have a mandate to hold a referendum on separation. However, on an issue as important to Scotland as any issue raised in the past 300 years, the SNP do not have the monopoly of wisdom.

Motherwell & Wishaw MP, Frank Roy, and MSP John Pentland met with Public Utility companies involved in the Kitchener Street/Kenilworth Avenue By-pass project to discuss the costs associated with delays to the project.

Local MP Frank Roy has called on the Government to act swiftly to the worsening crisis in West Africa. His call comes after a stark reminder contained in Oxfam and Save the Children’s report, published this week, on last year’s Horn of Africa crisis. The report “A Dangerous Delay: The cost of late response to early warnings in the 2011 drought in the Horn of Africa” highlighted the loss of life caused by the slow response to the crisis in East Africa and warns that there must be a faster response to the impending famine in West Africa to prevent a repeat.

Frank gives a special Christmas and New Year message to all for 2011.

Frank reflects on the year that has been, without doubt one of the most dramatic and event filled in history.

This week millions of hard working public service workers throughout the UK have been taking action in support of a fair deal on public service pensions. Local MP, Frank Roy said “Who are these public sector workers? They are Homehelps from Coltness, NHS workers from North Motherwell, schoolteachers from Cambusnethan, Lollipop men and women from Muirhouse, Care workers from Overtown and Waterloo, Paramedics from Carfin and New Stevenston, Janitors, Dinner Ladies, Binmen and Office Workers from Bellshill…the list goes on and on, but basically they are all our family, friends and neighbours – none of whom voted to strike just for the sake of it.”

Last week I was delighted to attend the opening of a new social enterprise in Motherwell’s Merry Street called ‘Suited and Booted’. The charitable organisation will provide free interview clothing to residents in North Lanarkshire who are over 16 and on benefits.. click here to read more.

Day of judgement on Government’s economic decisions as unemployment soars and youth unemployment higher than ever in our local area. Frank calls for a change of direction.

Many readers of the Wishaw Press will know, or knew people, who have worked in the local Remploy factory in Netherton Industrial Estate and for many years beforehand at their old Flemington factory site at the bottom of Shields Road. For nearly 60 years Remploy have given local disabled people, who might otherwise have been left on the employment scrapheap, the opportunity to prove they are no different from able bodied workers when it comes to hard work, dedication and professionalism.