One of our churches held a hustings for the local candidates. It was a full house; who says religion and politics don’t mix? Of course, being the west end it was very civilised and everyone was polite. Each candidate spoke for two minutes then it was the turn of the audience to ask questions. Predictably someone asked about the greedy bankers. All the candidates seem agreed that they are going to tax them more. It is going to be like getting blood from a stone, as banks are making eye watering losses. Further taxes will ensure shareholders, including the taxpayer, will have no chance of a dividend.
There was a question about treatment of asylum seekers. The best answer to that came from the Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate. She pointed out that many of the asylum seekers have fled their homes as a result of our Government’s foreign policy. For example the invasion of Iraq.
The final questioner asked the panel what they thought about more devolved powers for the Scottish Parliament. Again they all seemed agreed that Scotland should have tax raising powers. Don’t we all pay enough tax already?
The candidates summed up. Our sitting Labour MP mentioned the government’s record of eradicating pensioner poverty. Pensioners have much to be grateful for: exceptionally low interest rates on their hard earned savings; collapse in the value of shares they own in banks; rising inflation further eroding their standard of living.
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