This is the type of person that the dearly departed Leader had rewarded with positions of responsibility throughout Glasgow. His largesse was also extended to key players in the opposition; he wasn’t stupid, he realised that it was in his interest to keep them on side. The leader of the Liberal Democrats, was created Chair of the body who monitors these quangos. The glorious ex-Leader has been repaid by the support of the Liberal Democrats in preventing an investigation into the whole affair. It appears that the leader of the official opposition, the SNP, was also sitting on one of the boards.

Glasgow has the title of the unhealthiest city in Britain; we can expect to live many years less than anyone else in the country. The Council tried to blame the ills on poverty and deprivation, but that has not stood up to scrutiny. The poor life expectancy travels through all social classes. If we are honest with ourselves we can perhaps see some of the problems. We drink too much, do too little exercise and are not really interested in the pollution we are causing. When I raised the issue of Glasgow’s poor air quality, other councillors fell about laughing.

We saw what happens when these colleagues are put in charge. There was a Labour councillor running the body in charge of public transport. I remember him well from my time in the Council. He came to speak at a conference in Dundee. Myself and my colleagues travelled by train; Dundee is well linked with public transport. He took his car, and I asked him if as a representative of the public transport industry, he ought to set an example and use it. Well, he told me he didn’t go in for gesture politics.
At any rate, it appears that his co-directors had a jolly good time, jetting off around the globe, staying in luxury hotels and even attending a football cup final These trips were presumably for the purpose of seing how other cities run their public transport systems, and to learn lessons from this.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The one time golden boy of the Labour Party has crashed and burned. In his wake he has exposed a tangled web private businesses running council services.
In my previous book I touched on the regimented nature of the political groups of the Council. What I underestimated was the magnificent system of patronage designed by the dearly departed Leader. Towards the end of my time in office, there was a rush to privatise Council departments. Culture & Leisure and a rash of other departments were removed from Council control and arms length companies were created to run them.
I was slightly bewildered; here was a Labour politician taking public sector departments into private ownership; even Margaret Thatcher would have been proud of him. I found myself, a businessman, in the position of rebel against the so-called left wing Labour Party.
From the outside this could look like jobs for the boys (and girls). By giving his colleagues well paid positions on the boards of these companies, he could ensure loyalty.

Glasgow Herald

Jon Findlay, the new chairman of SPT, makes a poor attempt to explain the cuts in services for the subway. The company made an extra loss last year, a large proportion of which can be explained by the excess expenses of his predecessor.
Perhaps it is time that we had someone other than a Labour councillor running the show.

It is no surprise to see Strathcyde Passenger Transport (SPT) executives enjoying the gravy train
.
But hundreds of pounds on taxis is particularly galling: these people represent public transport so should use it.
When I was a politician, their Chairman spoke at one of our conferences. He came by car and I used the train. Some example.

No wonder the train fares are so expensive.

Dear Sirs

Jim Murphy is clutching at straws when he links New Labour with christian values.
His party's tenure has seen two wars, extraordinary renditions, expenses abuses and possibly bullying.
If God has a vote; I wouldn't think he will be voting Labour.

James MacDonald


James was born in Glasgow and educated at St. Andrews University, where he studied History and Economics. He then tried Accountancy, but was a square peg in a round hole. Following a period in his family business he set up on his own. He entered politics after growing unhappy with the Government, in the run up to the war in Iraq.
His interests include walking, cycling and the environment.