Iain Gray for Scotland

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 Iain Gray calls for help for disabled workers

5th September

Iain Gray today met with workers at Blindcraft to call for greater help for disabled workers to ensure they can realise their full potential, outlining his plans to expand opportunities for disabled workers through Labour's proposed Apprenticeships Bill.

Visiting workers at the BlindCraft facility in Springburn Glasgow, Iain Gray met with workers, trade union officials and managers to hear their views on giving greater opportunities to disabled people in Scotland. Iain Gray then addressed over 200 of the workers.

Iain Gray paid tribute to the success of the Glasgow Blindcraft facility in responding to market changes, offering new skills and remaining a viable business despite high levels of competition. Iain Gray also outlined his plans to ensure Labour's proposed Apprenticeships Bill provides an expansion in opportunities for disabled workers.

Iain Gray said:

"I want to see a Scotland where no one is left behind and everyone is given the opportunity to reach their full potential. We need to ensure that everyone can gain the skills, experience and job opportunities to take a full part in society. That's why I believe the Apprenticeships Bill that Scottish Labour will be bringing forward will be crucial to providing further opportunities for disabled people in Scotland.

"Meeting the workers, trade union officials and the management at Blindcraft today, and seeing the work undertaken in the factory, I'm in no doubt that Scotland needs to do everything it can to give everyone a fair chance. I'm as convinced as ever that Scottish Labour is the only party that can do this.

"Blindcraft is a great example of one way we can tap into the potential of all workers in Scotland. They're competitive, making excellent products, and providing opportunities to disabled people across the country.

John Park said:

"The Apprenticeships Bill will provide increased opportunities and offer new skills for people across Scotland, just at the time that we need them. I believe we must harness the potential of everyone in Scotland and I hope the increased opportunities for apprenticeships will mean increased opportunities for disabled people in Scotland.

Iain Gray: "Thatcherite Economics not welcome in Glenrothes."

Sunday 24th August
 
Iain Gray was the first leadership candidate to hit the by election trail in Glenrothes today, where he took to the streets of Buckhaven with a strong warning for the SNP. 
 
Iain Gray said:

"Alex Salmond said that Scotland 'didn't mind' the economics of Thatcher in the 1980s. Margaret Thatcher decimated this area, crushing a whole generation of hopes and wiped out the industries which were the lifeblood of the area. We should never forget what the Tories did here. The SNP are so clearly out of touch with the people of Fife if they think that kind of rosy view of history is welcome in Glenrothes.

"I'm here in Glenrothes on the first weekend of campaigning because I know the people here need a strong Labour leader that understands their concerns and campaigns every day to make their lives better. Just last week, I visited the Rosyth where the two new aircraft carriers will be built. While the Tories almost closed it down, investment from a Labour Government has secured over 1000 jobs.

"Alex Salmond and the SNP have only one principle that unites them, and that's independence, a blinkered policy which would rip the heart out of Glenrothes. If elected leader I will offer a fresh start, uniting the party to fight as one to deliver Labour principles for the people of Scotland.

Iain Gray calls on Alex Salmond to apologise to Scotland for Thatcher praise

 

Following Alex Salmond's claim that Scotland 'didn't mind' Thatcher economics in the 1980's, Iain Gray said:

 

"Alex Salmond's comments are astonishing. Any Scot old enough remembers that Thatcher's economics had at their core the belief that mass unemployment was not just a price worth paying but necessary in a modern economy.

 

"Far from 'not minding' these economics, Scotland's communities were devastated by them. I remember being a teacher in the early 1980s and seeing the hope of a generation crushed by Thatcher and her economics.

 

"Labour has proved that we can have prosperity and full employment. We should never allow Thatcher's economics to ravage Scotland again. We should not be surprised at Alex Salmond's comments since in the past he has cheerfully admitted to an economic approach akin to Reaganomics.

 

"Alex Salmond might not have minded Thatcher's economics but he does not speak for Scotland on this and should apologise immediately.

 

Iain Gray to campaign for better bus services

Thursday 21 August

Iain Gray today called on the SNP to back Labour's plans for tighter regulation of bus services in Scotland to further improve services and increase bus use.

Iain Gray has worked with his colleagues Des McNulty and Charlie Gordon on the proposals, with both MSPs backing Iain's bid to be leader of Labour in Scotland. Charlie Gordon will bring a private members bill in the Scottish Parliament after it returns next month.

The proposals would give local authorities more powers to discourage bus companies from cherry picking lucrative bus routes, a practice which has left whole areas of Scotland without bus services. The new powers would make it easier for local authorities to establish contracts for lucrative routes on condition, for example, that bus companies reduce journey times, offer services to areas without bus services or encourage routes throughout the day rather than just at rush hour.

The proposals would also make consultation obligatory before service changes, giving communities and local authorities much more influence in the way services are provided.

Other aspects of the bill would allow local authorities and the Transport Commissioner greater influence over bus companies to improve emissions, accessibility, and the quality of buses, and for the first time involve trade unions giving greater protection for workers' terms and conditions.

Iain Gray said:

Scottish Labour achieved a great deal when in power, not least the national concessionary travel scheme which gives pensioners free bus travel across Scotland. But what use is that if you don't have a bus service in your area? We cannot allow communities across Scotland to have to put up with no bus service, or buses that are so irregular or unreliable as to be useless.

Charlie's proposals would give more powers so that bus services could be extended to new areas and to ensure buses operate throughout the day rather than just on the most profitable routes.

Competition has improved our buses but commercial profit should not be the only consideration for where and when bus services operate. I don't want to turn back the clock to 1985, and fully re-regulate buses, but I think we can find a better balance that protects communities from cuts to bus services, extends bus services across Scotland, and gives communities and workers a greater voice.

Today I'm calling on Alex Salmond to back our proposals to improve bus services in Scotland. If the SNP will not act on this, then it is our duty to offer a fresh approach, building support in the parliament and in the country, to get these proposals through and get things done for the people of Scotland.

Wednesday 20 August

Iain Gray reveals plan to crack down on alcohol 'conveyer belt of crime'

Iain Gray has today announced that if he is elected leader of Scottish Labour he will pursue ground breaking measures to crack down on alcohol crime in Scotland.

Iain Gray, ahead of today's hustings in Edinburgh, proposed the idea of Alcohol Treatment and Testing Orders to address the root causes of many crimes we see in Scotland's courts. The ATTOs would extend proposals mooted earlier this week by Campbell Corrigan, the acting assistant chief constable at Strathclyde Police, to tackle domestic abuse through alcohol consumption bail orders for those on remand.

ATTOs would be a new option for Scottish courts to be used where offenders have committed low level crimes and alcohol is the underlying factor. Under ATTOs, offenders would be faced with the choice of addressing their alcohol dependency – through treatment and regular testing – or serving a more traditional punishment like a fine, community sentence, or short prison sentence. If offenders refuse to undertake an ATTO, or if they fail to complete one, they will have to serve the traditional sentence laid down by court.

The idea is a parallel to the Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) introduced in Scotland, alongside Drug Courts, by Iain Gray when he was Deputy Justice Minister in the first Scottish Executive. At the time they were hailed as a ground breaking achievement, the first in the UK and the second in Europe. However the threat of cuts to funding by the SNP still hangs over Scotland's Drug Courts.

ATTOs would be designed to ensure Scottish courts can address the root causes of the crimes before them, punishing offenders while also reducing reoffending in the future.

Iain Gray said:

"Alcohol is a huge problem in Scotland with a great deal of the lower level crimes in our courts caused, or at least influenced, by drinking alcohol. However our courts do not have all of the resources at their disposal to deal with the problems they face. While I welcome the proposals from Strathclyde Police Force earlier this week to tackle domestic abuse, I believe we need to go further by introducing ATTOs in courts across the country.

"ATTOs would give the judiciary a new option to address the scourge of low level alcohol crime in Scotland, meaning court is not just a conveyer belt for reoffenders but a place where we can intervene and tackle the causes of alcohol crime. We must be tough on offenders, giving them the choice address their alcohol problem or face a fine, community sentence or short prison term.

"This leadership contest should be about picking the right person to bring forward new ideas and a fresh approach, uniting the party to fight as one for Labour principles. I believe I can offer a new voice and a fresh start and I'm delighted with the response I have received to that message across all parts of the country and across all sections of the party. 

Notes to editors

17th January 2008, Herald.
"An evaluation found that 84% of offenders committed no more than two crimes after being placed on a drug treatment and testing order. Each cost an average of 24408 over 18 months, compared to 46008 for the same period in prison. The drug court in glasgow has been so successful it is now being copied in england and norway."

In a 2005 survey of Scottish prisoners (The 2005 Scottish Prison Survey), 4 in 10 adult prisoners reported that they were drunk at the time of the offence and 1 in 3 admitted that they had a drink problem in the community. The figures for young offenders are even more striking - 62% admitted to being intoxicated at the time of the offence and 50% felt that they had a problem with drink. Drink is associated with domestic violence [40%] and child abuse and neglect. Drink is involved in 1 in 6 road deaths.

Iain Gray visits £3.8billion aircraft carrier shipyard
 
Iain Gray today met with GMB and Unite union shop stewards and representatives of Babcock at Rosyth dockyard to view progress at the site that will build two new aircraft carriers for the MoD.

The dockyard recently won the £3.8billion contract to assemble the new aircraft carriers from parts built across the UK. Work is currently underway to modify Rosyth's huge No1drydock where the ships will be built.

The contract will see unprecedented levels of defence spending in Scotland providing jobs, apprenticeships and a legacy of skills in the local area and across the country.

Iain Gray said:

"It's a testament to the quality of workers at Rosyth, and across Scottish shipyards, that this multi-billion pound vessels will be built here.

"While there have been difficult times at the dockyard in recent years, the site has really turned the corner. I know the local trade unions have worked tirelessly on behalf of the workers here and it's the partnership that has been built between the employer and trade unions on the site that has made winning these contracts possible.

"With the constant picking of fights with Westminster by the SNP you'd be forgiven for thinking there was no benefit to Scotland from being a part of the UK. However here we have a £3.8billion commitment to Scotland by the Ministry of Defence, just one of many examples, providing a huge number of new opportunities for jobs and apprenticeships across Scotland.

"Standing up to Westminster is not the same thing as standing up for Scotland. If I am elected leader of Scottish Labour I will work from day one, solely in the Scottish national interest, to deliver Labour principles for the people of Scotland.

Tuesday 19 August 2008

Message of Support for Public Sector Workers

"I stand shoulder to shoulder with the workers who are on strike today.  Families across Scotland are struggling with the rising cost of living and it is up to the Scottish Government to properly fund local authorities so that you get a fair pay deal."

Saturday 16 August 2008

Iain Gray announces FutureScot programme for young people

Iain Gray today announced plans for his FutureScot programme, to create opportunities for Scotland's young people, and substantially reduce the number of young people without jobs, training or education.
 
Iain Gray's FutureScot programme consists of a package to boost literacy, to increase the numbers of apprenticeships, to improve funding for access courses, enhance support for deprived students at university, and to provide scholarships in partnership with the private sector to plug skills gaps.
 
The FutureScot scholarships would encourage students to take degrees that would fill Scotland's skills shortages, for example in science or IT. The scholarships would be funded jointly by private sector companies and the Scottish Government providing the student with additional funding through their degree, work experience, and a job following graduation.
 
Scotland has the highest rates of young people not in education, employment or training in the UK with 23,500, or 12.1%, of 16 to 18 year olds at the last count. This compares with far lower rates in England (9.4%). Furthermore, while the numbers of NEETs have dropped substantially in England over the last few years, in Scotland, the levels remain close to static.
 
At the same time the SNP have cut £9m (20.1%) from the budget of the educational maintenance allowance that supports young people from deprived backgrounds to continue in education or training and have failed to commit to new apprenticeships.
 
The package would:
1.      Invest in scholarships to plug skill shortages in science, IT and other areas, in partnership with the private sector to sponsor young people through degrees, providing additional funds, work experience and employment following graduation.
2.      Improve funding for access courses to enable people to move from further education to higher education.
3.      Provide a literacy specialist in each primary school in Scotland, and recruit literacy volunteers for catch up summer schools for those falling behind in reading and writing.
4.      Boost the numbers of apprenticeships by giving every young person the same right to an apprenticeship as they have to a place at school, college or university.
5.      Increase student funding for the poorest students by £1700 a year, to ensure those from the most deprived backgrounds can afford to go to university.
 
Iain Gray said:
 
"It's a travesty for over 1 in 10 of our young people to leave school with nothing to go to. We need to provide more opportunities for young people in Scotland. The FutureScot programme I have proposed today would invest in key areas to provide more opportunities for our young people, to ensure that every young person in Scotland can reach their full potential.
 
"The SNP have failed to act on this. If I am elected leader of Scottish Labour I will work to ensure we don't waste the talents of a single Scot. Scottish Labour needs a new voice, a fresh start and a fresh approach. Where the SNP fail to act, Scottish Labour must do so from opposition.
 
"These twenty three and a half thousand young people don't just represent a loss to Scotland's future economy, they represent a loss to Scottish society.  We need to invest in the hopes and aspirations of young Scots so that together we can create a confident future for Scotland."

 

 

Thursday 14 August 2008

Iain Gray challenges Salmond to back Labour's apprenticeships move

Iain Gray today challenged Alex Salmond to back Labour's moves to increase the number of apprenticeships in Scotland.

Visiting a training centre for apprentices in Falkirk, alongside John Park MSP, Iain Gray called on Alex Salmond to heed the wide support for the move to give 16 – 19 year olds the right to an apprenticeship.

John Park MSP, who is backing Iain Gray to be leader, has brought forward a private members bill which would give 16 – 19 year olds the same right to an apprenticeship as they have to a university or college place. The Bill so far has the backing of trade unions, the voluntary sector, and small and large businesses across the country.

Iain Gray said :

"Alex Salmond pledged when he formed his minority government that he would listen to proposals from any part of the parliament and take them on their merits. I believe he has the chance to prove this in backing our proposals for apprenticeships.

"Now more than ever we need to be investing in the skills of our country. The Trade Union movement knows that, the business community know that and it is about time the SNP woke up to it. We still have skills shortages in key parts of the economy but while the rest of the UK is pushing ahead and expanding apprenticeship programmes, the SNP are cutting them back.  Alex Salmond should stand up for Scotland's future by backing Scotland's school leavers.

"Today I am challenging Alex Salmond to start to show the maturity and respect he promised on election, to overcome party politics, and back our moves on increasing apprenticeships."

Notes to editors

Iain Gray and John Park today visited the MetTech training centre in Falkirk training apprentices in engineering to hear the views of apprentices.

Alex Salmond acceptance speech, 16 May 2007 http://www.snp.org/node/8222.

"All of us in the Parliament have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a way that respects the Parliament that the people have chosen to elect. That will take patience, maturity and leadership on all sides of the chamber. My pledge to the Parliament today is that any Scottish Government that is led by me will respect and include the Parliament in the governance of Scotland over the next four years.

"Today I commit myself to leadership wholly and exclusively in the Scottish national interest. We will appeal for support across the chamber policy by policy. That is the Parliament that the people of Scotland have elected and that is the Government that I will be proud to lead."

Iain sends his wishes to John MacDougall's family

 

Following the sad news that Glenrothes MP John MacDougall had passed away. Iain Gray MSP said:

 

“John was an excellent constituency MP and a popular, well-respected figure in Westminister. He served Fife for three decades including an outstanding period as Leader of Fife Council where he championed many local causes.

 

“My thoughts are with his wife and family on this very sad day.”

 

 

Iain Gray receives support from Unite trade union

Tuesday 12th August

Following a hustings between all three candidates for the Scottish Labour leadership, the Unite union last night backed Iain Gray's candidacy to be the new leader of Scottish Labour. Unite is the largest union in Scotland and was formed following the merger of the T & G and AMICUS. The news of the union's support comes on the same day as supportive nominations from Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Falkirk, Linlithgow and Falkirk East, Edinburgh South West and Midlothian CLPs (Constituency Labour Parties).
Iain Gray said:
 
"I'm honoured to receive the backing of Unite. As Scotland and the United Kingdom's largest trade union with members across the whole country, it gives me great pride that they have chosen to endorse my candidacy to be leader of Scottish Labour. I have been an active trade unionist all my life and I believe I have taken those values into my time in politics. I hope I can continue to do so if elected as leader."
 
"I believe I can offer Scottish Labour a new voice and a fresh start and I'm very happy with the positive response I've received to that message from elected politicians, trade unionists, and from party members across all parts of Scotland. "

Iain Gray announces plans for a literacy specialist for every school

Tuesday 12th August

Iain Gray has today pledged that if elected leader he would make tackling illiteracy one of his top priorities for education in Scotland.
 
Iain Gray has outlined his vision for tackling illiteracy by providing literacy specialists for every school in Scotland. In enhancing the role of learning assistants, guaranteeing their job security, and recruiting greater numbers, Iain Gray believes Scotland can take great strides towards eradicating illiteracy. In addition, for children who fall behind during term time, Iain Gray has pledged to recruit literacy volunteers to work in summer schools to enable children to catch up on literacy skills.
 
The plans would feed into the Scottish Labour Literacy Commission announced in June. Iain Gray made the announcement visiting the Robert Burns Centre in Dumfries today.
 
Iain Gray said:
 
"We need to provide a better start in life for Scotland's children. It's just not good enough for so many of our children to be held back by a lack of basic reading and writing skills. We must provide support to teachers to better pinpoint those children that are struggling and to provide targeted support to ensure those children don't fall behind. The SNP cuts at the local level have hit classroom support very hard just at a time when teachers need the extra resources to tackle illiteracy.
 
"I believe that every school should have a literacy specialist and by providing further resources we should also be developing summer catch up schools for children that are falling behind. By recruiting more learning assistants, by enhancing their role, and by recruiting an army of volunteers to back up the specialists, I believe we can make real progress in eradicating illiteracy in Scotland.
 
"The written word has played such an important role in the history of Scotland, from Robbie Burns, to the Enlightenment, through to the modern day. The written word must play an equally important role in Scotland's future. We must ensure that every child can reach their potential without being held back by a lack of basic reading and writing skills.
 

Ends...

Iain Gray pledges £18m boost in student funding

Sunday 10th August

Iain Gray has today announced that he would make increasing student funding to match levels in England one of his major priorities if elected as leader of Scottish Labour.

Levels of student support in the rest of the UK are around a third higher than in Scotland, with students in England able to access up to £6200 a year as compared to just over £4500 north of the border.

At the same time statistics for widening access in Scotland make for worrying reading with Scotland seeing lower rates of state school pupils, students from deprived backgrounds and students from 'low participation backgrounds' than every other part of the UK. Furthermore, Scotland has drop out rates far above the UK average and lower rates of students with a disability in full time higher education.

The SNP spent roughly £17m abolishing the graduate endowment which has had no effect on students' standard of living while they are studying.

Iain Gray today pledged that if elected leader he would work with other opposition parties to increase student support levels in Scotland to match those in the rest of the UK. This would see the poorest students able to access around an extra £1700 a year in loans, costing around £18m a year.

Iain Gray said: "Students are Scotland's future. That's why today I have announced an £18m boost to support the poorest students through university and tackle Scotland's challenges on widening access and drop out rates.

"What I'm proposing is something that would help students go to university and would help them stay at university once they're there. The figures for widening access and drop out rates make for worrying reading. If we cannot improve these statistics we are undermining Scotland's future by failing to support many young people to achieve their full potential.

"The SNP have let students down and it's now up to Scottish Labour to step forward and stand up for students in Scotland. The SNP promised to write off student debt, they didn't. They promised to replace loans with grants, they haven't and now we see them bring forward proposals, like the local income tax, that will actually take money away from students in Scotland.

"As part of my campaign to give Scottish Labour a fresh start, I will work with opposition parties to bring these proposals forward and make them a reality in the next 3 years. If the SNP aren't delivering then Scottish Labour has to."

Iain Gray proposes alternative to alcohol age limit of 21

Thursday 7th August

Iain Gray today outlined that he would not support moves to increase the alcohol age limit in off licences to 21. However he would support firm action against under age drinking and instead proposes a proof of age card – mandatory in order to buy alcohol – to enforce the current 18 age limit.

Iain Gray also called for further increased penalties for proxy purchase – adults buying alcohol to supply to those underage.

Iain Gray said: "The SNP have proposed an unworkable and unfair increase to the age limit for buying alcohol. It does not make sense to justify preventing 18 – 21 year olds from drinking responsibly by saying it will reduce teenage drinking. The SNP should focus on properly enforcing the law we currently have."

"I believe that a mandatory proof of age card for buying alcohol would be a much more effective and much fairer way to tackle underage drinking, rather than a blanket increase in the age limit. It would also help protect retail workers who have to make difficult judgements about age and face disciplinary action or even the sack if they get it wrong. Scottish Labour needs a fresh start and I believe I am the new voice, with the fresh approach and the right ideas, to take Scottish Labour forward and to take the fight to the SNP."

Iain Gray calls for council tax to be "replaced or reformed"

Monday 4th August 2008

Iain Gray today pledged that if elected as Scottish Labour leader he would develop fresh proposals to replace or reform the council tax.

Stating his support for a property tax as part of the mix of taxation in Scotland Iain Gray announced that within days of being elected as leader he would convene a working group to investigate changes to local taxation in Scotland.

Arguing that the burden of local taxation needs to be more widely spread Iain Gray believes that there is a need to look again to consider how to reform or replace the tax, including looking at the overhaul of property banding, the recommendations of the Burt review and to discuss with other opposition parties, like the Greens and Tories, their own proposals on local taxation.

Iain Gray said:

"The SNP's discredited LIT proposals have been exposed as unworkable, undeliverable and unfair. It is now for Scottish Labour to fill the vacuum left by the SNP's incompetence on this issue. It is up to us to come forward with an alternative to the SNP's so called local income tax.

"I believe the council tax must be replaced or reformed to make it fairer and if elected as leader I would bring forward proposals to do so. I believe in a property tax but we should be open to other ideas including elements of land value tax too, if they are found to be workable.

"However people cannot wait for help. We do need to find long term reforms that we can get through parliament with other opposition parties but we must also find solutions to improve current arrangements in the short term. This could include looking at plans to cut council tax for pensioners or our own proposals to abolish water charges for pensioners. These are difficult and complex issues and we must spend the time as a party to get this right.

Iain Gray attacks SNP inaction on cost of living

Tuesday, 5 August 2008

Iain Gray today attacked the SNP's response to the increased cost of living in Scotland.

Visiting The Wedge in Glasgow, a building that houses community projects tackling debt and offering financial advice, Iain Gray outlined his priorities for helping the poorest families with the increasing cost of living.

Iain Gray said:

"Increased oil prices, food prices and the credit crunch are hitting families hard across Scotland. However all we have heard from Alex Salmond is the usual pointing the finger at Westminster.

"The truth is that the SNP have powers at their disposal to help families through these difficult times but instead they are using the usual tactic of blaming everything on the UK Government. To make matters worse the SNP cuts across the country are hurting the very projects helping people through these difficult times.

"Rising prices are hitting the poorest the hardest but yet the SNP are doing nothing to help. The SNP should urgently increase funding for community projects working to tackle debt, offering money advice, and providing sources of affordable credit.

ENDS

Gray calls for "Team Labour"

Iain Gray today wrote to all Scottish Labour councillors to inform them of his decision to stand for leadership of Scottish Labour and to assure them of the value he places on local government and their role as local leaders in the Labour party. The letter acknowledges the role local government has played in the past and the "very significant role our councillors will play in helping guide the party back to power in councils across Scotland and in the Scottish Parliament."

Commenting Iain Gray said:

"It's crucial that the new Scottish Labour leader can unite the party across all levels - MSPs, MPs, Councillors and local activists. I thought it was therefore very important to make writing to all Scottish Labour councillors one of my very first actions since announcing my intention to stand for leader of Scottish Labour.

The letter states:

"Today I confirmed my intention to stand as Leader of Labour in the Scottish Parliament.

Over the coming weeks party members will hear much from myself and the other contenders for the post about our ideas for the future. However, as a Labour councillor, I wanted to write to you immediately to inform you of my candidacy.

I value Local Government and I understand the massive contribution made by Labour councillors in seeing the party through difficult times in the past and the very significant role our councillors will play in helping guide the party back to power in councils across Scotland and in the Scottish Parliament. I also know the Team Labour approach must work both ways and I will ensure that Labour in Local Government is listened to and that we work in closer partnership."

ENDS