Champs!

By the time you read this St Mirren Football Club will have been presented with the First Division Trophy.   This fantastic achievement caps a wonderful season for Gus MacPherson, his players, support staff and Chairman Stewart Gilmour.

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Clearing the air

Smoking is the biggest threat to the health of our nation. Over 500 people in Renfrewshire die from tobacco use and around 40 people who have never smoked die from effects of passive smoking.

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Linwood lottery boost In 2003 Linwood was awarded over half a million lottery monies to support better facilities and community health initiatives. Three years on and the final monies are now being allocated to the upgrading of the skatepark in Linwood and new changing facilities for  Linwood Rangers football club. Well done to those who put the bids together. It is good to see Linwood now getting its fair share of lottery money.

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As many of you will know I am currently on maternity leave but I also plan to keep Buddies up to date with what is happening in the Scottish Parliament and how it effects Paisley.  

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Road disruption

I am only getting back to driving this week after the C section I had with my twins. But I have recently ventured out with my husband and children to visit relatives on the weekend. Even on a Sunday we faced delays because of the work being carried out at the White Cart Viaduct.

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Fine Food

As a soon-to-be new mum I have a special interest these days in the welfare of young children. I am therefore pleased to report that the Scottish Executive has recently unveiled new guidance for nurseries, playgroups and childminders on providing nutritious meals and snacks for under-fives. The plan builds on the ground-breaking Hungry for Success programme in schools. 

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Support for Sport

I have discovered that no Paisley North sports groups have taken advantage of a scheme called “Sportsmatch” which gives cash to local sports groups which have succeeding in attracting some commercial business sponsorship. The scheme is funded by the Scottish Executive and administered by Sportscotland.

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Today’s motion is fascinating because, for the first time in a decade, the Tories have had the courage to offer their previous economic record for debate.

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Powerpoint presentation from Wendy’s lecture to the Royal Socitey of Edinburgh

Royal Society of Edinburgh Lecture

On any basis Labour has been a successful and a progressive Government. 

• 2 million more jobs and long-term youth unemployment virtually eliminated
• the only Government of any major developed nation investing more public money in health and education every year as a proportion of national income
• an end to the worst pensioner poverty
• leading the world on fighting poverty in Africa
• and a host of seminal changes from nearly trebling numbers of women MPs, the first black Cabinet Ministers and Muslim MPs and gay rights
• the minimum wage
• House of Lords reform and,
• devolution

Most of these advances would alone justify a Labour Government. Together they add up to a massive advance for progressive politics.  

Let me turn to Scotland.  

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