Scandalous

February 15th, 2010

As if politics needed any more scandal, we got a fresh load this week

Cash for access, ministers getting mixed up with crooks and anything that ends with the suffix ‘gate’ are always guaranteed to make headlines.

While it is important that the First Minister and his deputy are held to account over dodgy auctions and court references for fraudsters, there has actually been some other important work going on that you may have missed.

Having worked on it through my committee, I was pleased to see a bill passed which aims to improve the rights of people caught up in debt and facing the threat of losing their home.

These pressures can split families forever and I hope this important piece of legislation will help people in this difficult situation to remain in the family home and give them much-needed respite from mounting bills.

We also looked at the so-called Dog ASBO bill, although in truth this is more about the careless owners than the pooches.

It is not acceptable that people are forced to cross the street because a rottweiler is allowed to strain at the leash by an owner more occupied with looking mean than caring for his dog.

I also got the chance to put the concerns of unemployed midwives and those worried about the future of maternity services in Inverclyde to the health secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

I was disappointed with her less than assured response but I appreciate she has a lot on her mind right now.

Importantly, we also had tireless campaigner John Muir through to the Parliament as we put down an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill.

This amendment will ensure politicians of all stripes are forced to make a choice between listening to the people and backing tough action on knife crime or allowing the senseless violence in our communities to go unchallenged.

This work might not generate the type of headlines that are being created by the alleged discretions of the First Minister and his deputy.

But it does go to show that there is more to politics than scandal and sleaze.