Speeches
SNP Conference Spring 2012, Glasgow
Thank you Convenor
Delegates I join you here, at my first conference still the newest Glasgow SNP Councillor
However in May I am convinced Glasgow will benefit from MANY new SNP Councillors and an SNP administration
After January I have frequently been asked why I joined the SNP
Oh where to begin : I thought Conference has to end today-there just ISNT the time.
Perhaps with a confession? Delegates I have been a sinner
I was part of something you have known was not right but took me longer, too long: to realise
Part of a group at City Chambers which has been in civil war for the best part of 2 years
A civil war which inevitably led to the loss in focus on prioritising the needs of the citizens we are elected to serve
We now have the absurd situation where GLASGOW Labour is not even trusted to run its OWN City’s election campaign with London interfering and dictating to them
If they can’t be trusted with their OWN election why should they be trusted with running OUR city?
Delegates whilst interference and dictation from London may be acceptable to Labour. It is something we the SNP thankfully will never accept on any issue at any time.
While Labour took their eye off the ball they sought refuge and solace
Refuge and solace anywhere else but in Glasgow or in tackling the issues that mattered to our citizens
They consoled themselves with unjustified attacks on the Scottish Government
Picking fights and opposition for opposition’s sake
The worst kind of politics and the kind voters are more and more disassociating themselves from
The criticism all the more absurd when you look at what The SNP has actually delivered for the people of Glasgow.
Projects like
- The New South Glasgow Hospital
-Fastlink
-The M74 extension
- £200 million new Glasgow College campus
- And the Glasgow/Edinburgh rail improvements
As if all this was not reason enough I find I joined
A party which embraces everyone (even repentant sinners like me)
A party which listens to and selects from local communities
A party who’s elected representatives at every level are valued and who carry themselves with humility and dignity
A party with a COLLECTIVE vision and a Leadership which wants to better the lives of our people before bettering their own positions and that of their party
A party where there is a conspicuous lack of the egotisticalculture now permeating throughout and at the heart of the LABOUR leadership
I KNOW THE ELECTORATE SEE THIS TOO
In summary why I joined the SNP is I want the best for our people, our city, my country and I believe THE SNP (SCOTLAND’S Party) is best placed to deliver that
Convenor if you will indulge me I would like to also take this opportunity to publicly thank people from every strand of the part
Their welcome their kindness and their support has been overwhelming and appreciated
If I wasnt sure enough before this has convinced me I made the right decision
Thank you all
My motion to Council Celebrating Barak Obamas Inauguration
Lord Provost I am happy to join with colleagues today
Join in recording THIS Council’s recognition of an immensely inspiring election victory
Regardless of our political affiliations the momentous result captured our imaginations
Recognising its enormity we pay tribute to those who helped realise a dream
And we reflect on events which led to history being made
The COURAGE of Rosa Parks in refusing to be discriminated against
The DETERMINATION of 250,000 demonstrators walking on Washington DC
And the INSPIRATIONAL leadership of Dr Martin Luther King
President Elect Obama’s victory is a landmark for MORE than the African American community ALONE
The significance of the result holds great meaning for MANY people from MANY diverse backgrounds
And is seen as a progressive triumph and liberating experience for ALL
America has gone a long way towards cashing the bad cheque given its citizens of colour
The electorate have recapitalised the bank of justice with an investment of sixty-eight million votes
Votes heavy with the weight of faith in solidarity, belief in justice, and a hope in opportunity for all
Many NOW finally believe they will be treated as equal heirs to the promise in the Declaration of Independence
And guaranteed the inalienable rights of “Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
The dream of POSSIBILITY is REBORN
The dream of OPPORTUNITY is REALISED
The dream that anyone can become PRESIDENT is VALIDATED for ALL America’s children
Dr King’s OWN dream has only partly come to fruition
Not ALL descendants of slaves and descendants of slave owners sit together at the table of brotherhood YET
BUT a nation did overwhelmingly judge one of its children not by the colour of his skin but by the CONTENT of his political CHARACTER
However while we rejoice
While we celebrate
While we enjoy this invigorating autumn of equality we are reminded
Reminded that EVEN 2008 must not be an end but a BEGINNING
One success for equality in one nation must not allow us to forget many other injustices
Injustices which prevail in its land, in our OWN land and in lands ACROSS the world
For though freedom may well be ringing from Stone Mountain Georgia
And though equality may well be echoing from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee
Despite these welcome sounds we know many in the world are NOT free and are NOT treated equally
And they STILL HAVE A DREAM
A dream denied them as a result of war, of poverty, and of oppression
Therefore Lord Provost the collective energy and enthusiasm inspired by the election is best RE-invested
Re invested in a global commitment
A COMMITMENT that we ALL work together to address every injustice, every inequality wherever we see it
Only then can we help realise the dream of ALL the world’s peoples
The dream that one day they may be relieved of the ravages of war the chains of hunger and the shackles of despair
The dream that one day they too may be able to sing
“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty we are free at last!”
Lord Provost I commend the motion before us
