Latest news with #JimSillars
The Herald Scotland
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump is out to destroy the rules-based world order
The rules-based world order established at Bretton Woods in 1944, which America and Europe have been defending against authoritarian regimes seeking to change it fundamentally in their favour, is now being destroyed by the very United States who constructed it, led by a President whose knowledge of the world outside New York real estate hustling is non-existent. The United States has had a mix in its presidents, but none until now has ever qualified as the world's number one ignoramus. I cannot help in the situation we see unfolding in the Middle East, where western involvement has a record of leaving turmoil and bitterness behind it, contemplating the words of Burns: 'forward tho' I canna see, I guess and fear.' Jim Sillars, Edinburgh. Read more letters Dreading our rail future Is the long-running rail rumour to be proved right? That the replacements for our current long-distance fleet are to be Class 222 Meridians? The transport stars seem to be aligning that way. Let me pour scorn on these 222s, as well as asking the question: why are we in Scotland being landed with such shoddy trains for service on what should be our premier lines? These 'new' long-distance trains are actually third-hand, having passed through Midland Main Line and East Midlands Railways. What's their quality? 'Cramped, noisy, smelly. They're crap.' These five dismissive words belong to a noted planning director, someone well acquainted with railway work. My own experience with Class 222 Meridians is of incessant racket from vibrating underfloor engines, chemical toilets that stink, a body shell that severely restricts passenger space, and a general air of the thoroughly shabby. I was stuck in Derby Station for an hour last year, and it proved deeply depressing seeing these contemptible trains in action. Actually using them proved worse, starting with basics such as lack of luggage space. When ScotRail introduced the current long-distance fleet of HSTs (High Speed Trains), there were grouses that they were half a century old. True, but thanks to their design, these same trains have proved themselves winners down two generations. They're sturdy, fast, quiet, right for the job, and possess legroom, bike spaces, luggage areas and real toilets. Their style and speed engender pride in our nation. Yet ScotRail and its inept overseer Transport Scotland now bleat that HSTs are 'expensive to run and maintain'. If this is true, why were HSTs acquired in the first place? Away back in 1989, a most awful fleet of trains designated for Scotland's long-distance work was rolled out, the utterly contemptible 158s and 170s (the latter were initially christened Turbostars, a name scarcely worthy of The Beano). It took 34 years of campaigning to rid ourselves of this rubbish. Throughout, Transport Scotland proved blind and deaf to the fact that the same type of train serving what should be our premier long-distance routes of Glasgow/Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness was actually the same Dinky toy that trundled the commuter service to Cumbernauld. So who in Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government is responsible for considering these Meridians? Why might the leadership of our nation settle for the cheap and nasty? If Class 222 Meridians are so wonderful, why is East Midlands Railways so keen to get rid of them? A final question: has our nation become Glaikit Scotland, a land of numpties so lacking in gumption that we'll meekly accept long-distance trains foisted on us that utterly lack in every area of real rail quality? Gordon Casely, Crathes. Just picture, a lot of rubbish This might help Jane Lax (Letters, June 18) picture what 600,000 tons of waste looks like. A ton of waste is one cubic metre so if Jane can imagine a pile of used nappies, tattie peelings, empty baked bean tins and other sundry detritus that is about four miles long, 30 feet high and 30ft wide she won't be far away. Although she should be, because the pong will be something else. Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven. Scotland's ban on sending municipal waste to landfill is due to come into effect at the end of the year (Image: Colin Mearns) A waste of effort I write in response to Catherine Hunter's recent article ('Call for more education on recycling as Glasgow rated among worst for action', The Herald, June 12). I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment expressed. However, I recently visited Dawsholm Recycling Centre, where I carefully distributed the material I had brought in the appropriately designated areas only to see a bulldozer move the garden waste and mix it with the non-recyclable material. I note in your article that a Glasgow City Council spokesman had said that 'substantial investment is being made in improving recycling services in Glasgow'. Perhaps, in addition to educating the public, the council should pay attention to what is happening on its own premises. Ian Watson, Glasgow. Heartbroken Several correspondents have written of the delights of Walter Scott. At school, every couple of months, we had to read a book and write a critical review. Returning from a family weekend, in Glencoe, halfway down Loch Lomond side, my normally laid-back brother announced in a panic-stricken voice that he had to hand in a book review, first period on Monday and he had not read the book. "What book?" my mother asked. "Heart of Midlothian," wailed John. David Hay, Minard.
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
By-election could be as seminal as my '88 win...due to SNP's decline, says the party's former deputy leader
A crunch by-election could become a 'seminal moment' in the decline of the SNP following a decade of failure, according to a former deputy leader of the party. Jim Sillars said next week's vote in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse could give further evidence that working-class voters are turning their back on the SNP. He also said the SNP's failings have created a 'vacuum' in Scottish politics which can play into the hands of Nigel Farage 's Reform UK. But a leading pollster also yesterday said that a rise in support for Reform is likely to help the SNP in Thursday's by-election and in next year's Scottish Parliament election. It comes as Labour told voters that they can help 'call time' on John Swinney 's party. Mr Sillars said Reform is benefiting from the 'failure of the elite mainstream parties' and that 'ordinary working class people look at the SNP Government and say that have failed us'. He said Reform is now capitalising on a 'vacuum' in Scottish politics which sees many voters unsure who to give their support to. He also compared Thursday's vote to his 1988 victory in the Glasgow Govan by-election, when voters backed the insurgent SNP against a Labour Party which was the dominant force north of the border at the time. Jim Sillars won the Glasgow Govan seat for the Scottish National Party in 1988 Mr Sillars said: 'Everyone in Scottish politics should watch Reform very closely. 'This could be another seminal by-election in Scottish politics, and that is due entirely to failure based on the mediocrity that has reigned in the SNP since Alex Salmond resigned.' Mr Farage is due to visit Scotland on Monday as he steps up campaign ahead of Thursday's vote. Ahead of the final weekend of campaigning, Mr Swinney yesterday claimed that the by-election is now a 'straight contest between the SNP and Nigel Farage'. But leading pollster Mark Diffley said a rise in support for Reform will benefit the SNP in Hamilton and in next year's Holyrood elections. He said: 'Whether at a one-off event in Hamilton or in 2026, the fact the SNP has lost support since 2021 is likely not to impact hugely on its chances because for the Unionist part of the country there is now a new party that fragments that side of the electorate even further. Whether in Hamilton or in a year's time, that helps the SNP. 'The SNP is polling around 36 per cent now, compared to 48 per cent (on the constituency vote) in 2021, so it has lost a quarter of its voters but, because of the electoral system and the fragmentation of the Unionist vote, it will still win the vast majority of constituencies even on 36 per cent.' Labour is targeting pro-Union voters, former Labour supporters and those disgruntled with the SNP's failures in the final days of the campaign. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'Next week the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will get a chance to call time on SNP failure and choose a new direction with Scottish Labour. 'We can see the consequences of SNP incompetence right across this community - people languishing on NHS waiting lists, high street shops struggling to stay open, and kids not getting the education they deserve. 'It's clear the SNP does not deserve to win this by-election and only Scottish Labour can beat them. 'Reform can't win here - this is a direct fight between Scottish Labour and the SNP, no matter how much Reform and the SNP want to pretend otherwise.' Mr Swinney said: 'Labour have let people across Scotland down, and they have quite clearly given up on this by-election. 'Thursday's vote is now a straight contest between the SNP and Nigel Farage - and I am urging people to reject the ugly, divisive politics of Nigel Farage and to unite behind the SNP.'
