Strike lessons to be learned
Published: 07 May, 2008
LAST week's strike at the Grangemouth oil refinery, and the knock-on effects on the supply of fuel locally, graphically illustrated our dependence on this source of energy.
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Rising taxes hit poorest
Published: 09 April, 2008
LAST Sunday was the start of the new tax year. Any changes to the personal tax system made in the budget start from that date, and this year has been more controversial than most.
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Faster progress on A9 needed
Published: 12 March, 2008
REGULAR travellers on the A9 through the strath have been experiencing for the past few weeks roadworks over a long stretch around Kincraig.
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Homes that people can afford:
Published: 06 February, 2008
LAST week, Matthew Taylor, the Liberal Democrat MP who is doing a review of affordable housing and the rural economy for the Prime Minister, spent the day in Boat of Garten learning about the extent of the housing crisis in the Highlands, and the innovative solutions that are being pursued here.
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Transport priorities are left in limbo
Published: 19 December, 2007
I WAS very surprised to learn last week that John Swinney, the SNP Finance Secretary in Edinburgh, has refused to approve the list of priorities which were submitted by our regional transport partnership, HITRANS, in March.
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A new session
Published: 31 October, 2007
THE NEW House of Commons session starts next week with the Queen's speech. Having spent most of the last few month talking to local people, business and organisations, there are a number of key issues that I will pursuing with my Highland colleagues John Thurso and Charles Kennedy in Westminster now.
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We must tackle inequality
Published: 26 September, 2007
THE new political 'season' entered full swing last week, with the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton.
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Foot and mouth affects us all
Published: 15 August, 2007
THE foot and mouth outbreak may have taken place in Surrey, but it is having dire consequences here in the Highlands.
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Urgency on Highland transport issues?
Published: 04 July, 2007
MUCH has been said in recent weeks about the importance of upgrading the Highlands' transport infrastructure as an urgent priority.
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The fight to save the Post Offices will go on
Published: 23 May, 2007
The Government's consultation on its plans to close post offices demonstrates very effectively why people are so sceptical about official 'consultation exercises'.
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Keep healthcare local in Strath!
Published: 21 March, 2007
MANY 'Strathy’ readers will have received a 'Highland Health Survey’ from my local Liberal Democrat colleague, Craig Harrow.
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New election systems
Published: 14 February, 2007
IN LESS than three months time, readers of this column will be asked to vote for members of the Scottish Parliament and the Highland Council.
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How do we fight climate change?
Published: 27 September, 2006
THE news that Richard Branson has decided to put $3 billion over the next 10 years into research into climate change highlights once again the need for urgent action to tackle global warming.
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Let’s have fair fuel prices for all
Published: 30 August, 2006
RISING oil prices have again pushed the issue of the disproportionate impact of high petrol prices to the top of the political agenda.
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Middle East crisis fuels unrest throughout world
Published: 26 July, 2006
THE appalling events in the Middle East seem to get worse with every day that passes.
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