Blog of Stephen Glenn who was Liberal Democrat candidate for Linlithgow and East Falkirk candidate from the 2005 and 2010 Westminster General Elections.
As a fan of Douglas Adams he knows the true meaning of 42. When not blogging and Lib Demming he can be found supporting Livingston Football Club.
"In some cases [repossession] is the best thing for the people who are struggling with these mortgages."
This from John Healey the Labour Housing Minister in response to eviction figures being at their highest in 14 years, 46,000 householders lost their homes last year. His subsidied London flat he sold last year for £88,000 profit. He added:
"Sometimes it is impossible for people to maintain the mortgage commitments they've got... it may be the best thing in those circumstances."
Best response of the day
"These comments are grossly insensitive to families booted out of their home. If this is John Healey's best response to record repossession figures then he should just shut up."
The above cartoon from Peter Brookes in yesterday's Times sadly speaks a lot of truth.
Following the tropical storms that hit much of Haiti in 2008, the shanty areas of Port-au-Prince were swiftly rebuilt. Those that had died were reburied. In one of the early news reports I remember reading that the buildings in Haiti of course weren't built like those in Japan, ready to withstand earthquakes. You only have to look at the various buildings that have been destroyed to see that, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the UN Offices, hospitals, schools. Key parts of the nations infrastructure what because of cost are not built to withstand earthquakes, this in a county that occupies half of an island that straddle the fault line between the Caribbean and Atlantic plates.
I know this is early days in the post earthquake relief, as I blogged myself earlier the latest need is clean water. But the worlds attention as with all these disasters will be fleeting, therefore now is a time we should also think of the reconstruction of Haiti. The last disaster, those 4 severe tropical storms that swept over Hispaniola were still being sorted out when the earthquake struck and of course the tropical storm and hurricane season will come again later this year, long after the world's media, the worlds attention will have gone elsewhere. We may well be later on this year woken up to the fact that Haiti, oh year they had that, what was it, if we are not careful.
Brookes' cartoon may well be the truth but why should we let it be? Once this immediate need to feed, water and give some shelter the people of Haiti, we need to look at the permanent solution for their needs. Our world leaders are more than happy to give aid to help these people but maybe we should also be writing to them asking them to help the long term.
Remember the scene in season seven when CJ Cregg meets with Fred Hollis and is given an option of what she wants to do next. A single problem she wants to solve. The things she picks on that in "not sexy" because nobody will ever raise money for it. She says highways in Africa, but the same could well apply for infrastructure for Haiti, currently we are all giving money to meet the immediate need, but we'll not be doing much to help in the aftermath.
UPDATE: It was good to see that the thrust of this post was taken up in Monday's Guardian as well by Paul Collier a former UN special adviser on Haiti.
So the threat of Compulsory Purchase Orders still hangs over those in the path of Donald Trump's. The four families whose homes are under threat from the American entrepreneur describe it as "intolerable psychological torture".
One representative of the four, David Milne, yesterday addressed a full meeting of Aberdeenshire saying:
"I don't know how many of you have even tried to imagine what it's like not knowing if your home will be your own for much longer – not knowing if the next birthday or Christmas will be the last in your own house," he said.
"It is a horrible situation to be in, not knowing if the people who are effectively your neighbours will throw you out.
"I ask you now to stand up – stand up for your own personal conscience, stand up for ethics, stand up for morals and stand up for the reputation of Aberdeenshire."
But thte decision was yet put off, yet again the desire of Trump himself seemed to outweigh the desire of the local residents to have an equivocal answer to this state of affairs sooner rather than later. Instead of an unequivocal resonating from the Council Chamber that CPOs would not be used to acquire Trump's desired land from landowners, an amendment described as a "cowardly fudge" was agreed by the majority.
As well as being described as cowardly those councillors who failed to vote for Martin Ford's motion were branded "Trump's puppets" by Martin Forbes whose home is also under threat. Alex Massie in The Spectator comments following the 57 to 6 vote rejection of ruling out CPOs that:
"While it's good that the Council hasn't yet endorsed compulsory purchase orders, it's depressing that they remain on the table at all and one must fear that, when or if push comes to shove, the council will eventually approve them."
Which just about says it all really. The fact is the guillotine is still hanging hauntingly over the heads of local residents and their council is still able to release the catch.
The letter's page of the Scotsman today has two excellent contributions to the compulsory purchase order debate in Balmedie and Donald Trump's desire to use them.
Compulsory purchase orders are needed to ensure projects for the public good, such as roads and railways, can be completed. I am sure when the enabling bill went through parliament it was never intended that it would be used to further the commercial interests of individuals such as Donald Trump.
A point I made back in July when I wrote about Trump's Aberdeenshire Clearances. Although I appear to have been corrected on my understanding of the clearances by this letter from Sue Edwards of Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire.
David Fiddimore wisely states that he sees no difference between Donald Trump's bullying and the actions of landowners who created the misery of the Highland Clearances (Letters, 4 September).
There is one big difference. The Duke of Sutherland owned the land upon which those poor people lived, Trump doesn't. There has been a huge tide of objection now that compulsory purchase has been put forward to enable him to acquire this land and people's homes and few people continue to support the development.
Councillors must realise that they face the risk of not being re-elected if they vote for compulsory purchase or abstain. If this goes through, none of us will be safe in our houses as it will set a terrible precedent.
Yeah that is true this isn't so much a clearance as a land grab. As she says there is a dangerous precedent to be had it the use of CPOs goes through for commercial gain, none of us will ever be safe in our houses. Our objections to planning will come to naught if a wealthy developer wants to make a grab he'll just point to Trump.
Compulsory purchase orders are usually used by the Government or local authorities to acquire land that is required for transportation, education or health etc. The measures are not and should not be used for a private enterprise for a 'profit development' to get its way over private individuals.
Donald Trump has been saying all along that his Golf Resort development at the Menie Estate at Balmedie is meant to help the local community. Yet having failed to reach a negotiated settlement to encourage the neighbours to sell up he has applied for compulsory purchase orders. He really does think he can throw his weight around, but then he has already used influence to flaunt his way around UK planning procedure once already to get to this stage.
Martin Ford has placed a motion before Aberdeenshire Council which calls on them not to use compulsory purchase powers to force residents from their own homes on or adjacent to the Menie Estate. He adds:
"It must be very stressful for residents living with the anxiety caused by this threat to their homes. The council owes it to them to end the uncertainty.
"The other reason for tabling the notice of motion is to ensure the council discusses this matter in public.
"This decision is such a crucial one, concerning as it does basic rights important to us all, that it must be taken in public.
"A debate and vote in public will ensure that those directly affected by the decision can be present when it is taken, if they wish."
Some of the commenters on the Press and Journal article are likening Trump's approach to the Highland Clearances, a rich landlord is looking to forcibly more residents off his land and even that adjoining it to have his own way. He is seeking to use the full authority of the law to bring it to be, whilst claiming it is for the best of everyone.
Development director George Sorial while saying he was 'shocked and surprised' by Mr Ford’s motion added:
"Compulsory purchase powers are reserved for the council. It’s a process we would rather avoid. For him to take a position like this when we have a live application creates an extreme risk of prejudice."
Sadly by not ruling it out maybe people will understand just why the original planning committee was tied when discussing the application. There were issues of environment and local residents that were of concern. Martin Ford's casting vote was to look out for those varied concerns when they themselves could not come to a clear decision. The fall out has been great and the council still have not learnt the lesson to listen to the public opinion, too busy eying their corporate perks no doubt when the new links course is finally opened.
On the back of big Phil's removal from Stamford Bridge and while the former heads of the RBS and HBoS were making their apologies Alex has welded his sgian dubh, I would have said Claymore if any of the Cabinet had been effected. Indeed Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser did say that Salmond should have taken an axe to his cabinet, rather than 'knifing a few junior ministers'.
Culture minister Linda Fabiani, schools minister Maureen Watt and housing and sports minister Stewart Maxwell all lost their junior ministerial roles in Salmond's first reshuffle. The sport portfolio has been added to public Health Minister Shona Robinson's brief. Mike Russell has moved to Culture while his environment brief has been taken up by Roseanna Cunningham. Also arriving is Alex Neil as a revamped communities and housing minister. With Keith Brown stepping up to assist Fiona Hyslop as the new education minister for schools and skills.
As Mike Rumbles, Lib Dem chief whip put it:
"I'm delighted that Alex Neil's ultra loyalty has finally been rewarded. The lesson of this reshuffle is that slavish adoration of the first minister pays dividends."
Labour health spokesperson Cathy Jamieson said the reason for Maxwell's demise was plain:
"The number of new homes being built in our two biggest cities is falling off the edge of a cliff.
"The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations reports that its members are being forced to reduce their ambitions and shelve badly needed developments because of funding cuts by the SNP government."
So the high noon of the short sgian dubhs is over. Buried under a heap of Scottish Banking news. Does it show that in culture, education, housing and sports that the SNP are failing to deliver?Certainly the team that had been responsible must have been. Shockingly do they really think that Environment has been a success with Maxwell's move to Culture? Or have they failed there to and are just shifting out the dross?
Lawyers for the Local Government Association are casting legal doubts over the governments proposals to deliver up to 10 new eco-towns. Now no matter what the LGA may think the threat of climate change is something that should be support at all levels rather than fighting a territorial battle over who has the right to govern over planning.
Surely a properly thought out carbon-neutral town would not have any difficulty in basing a Local Authorities planning application. The LGA are arguing along old lines that "new developments have good transport connections alongside the schools, health and leisure facilities which are needed to create places where people would want to live". In my thinking of towns going forward these should have all such facilities within cycling and walking distance of the townspeople themselves, that is the point of a it being carbon neutral and eco-friendly, that is the new model going forward. Cars may even be restricted to the edge of town, or designated access points, with good public transport structured in and walkways and trolleys provided for taking heavy goods to the doorsteps of houses etc.
I agree with the LGA that the government needs to discuss and involve the local authorities in these plans, but that should be to envision them of the possibilities and show them that people really do want to start living in a different way, if provided the opportunity to do so.
Well as the Chancellor he once littered his budget speeches with prudence, or some other word derived from that stem is passing the buck regarding all things economic. However, as is the way of the Tim'rous Beatie as things are going wrong the Prime Minister instead of taking the plaudits once thrown at him for a stable economy, he's papering over the cracks as subsidence sets in, not even a year after his watch concludes.
Now while I accept that he does not have control really over international oil prices. He has had some control over food prices and as for UK house prices just who is the PM kidding by blaming international factors carte blanche.
Let's start with food. Yes for some time now our supermarkets have been underpaying suppliers to provide them with good which consumers are demanding all year round. Looking at the 'fresh' fruit and veg in February you'd think it was summer time if you had your own allotment or vegetable patch. Many of our European neighbours don't go in for this have it fresh have it now attitude and are more reliant on local in season produce, or pickled, frozen, tinned etc varieties when out of season.
Now by underpaying for what we eat, the producers have been unable to reinvest in their businesses to improve things, many have gone out of business. So yes while there is a food shortage in some areas of the world forcing prices for some commodities up, it is actually as much our responsibility in the first place as it now is our concern in our pockets. The fact that the keeping of prices artificially low has aided the chancellors inflationary targets for so long is possibly one reason why the government weren't too keen on fair trade, as fair trade wouldn't have made them look quite so good to the punter on the street.
As for the housing market problems. Surely the only problem our banks have had is in investing in something that overstretches. I remember learning all about discounting etc way back in early Economics classes at school. About how the banks had continued to lend more and more against a smaller and smaller proportion of anything substantial. Therefore the whole sub-prime fiasco is a disaster of the banks own making. The fact that many of our banks investing in companies offering that is a sign of their own greed, to try and make a quick buck.
The fact that 125% mortgages were available in the UK makes you wonder if it all goes wrong how on earth do you get back the extra 25%. Especially if the bubble finally bursts and house prices can no longer rise because people no longer can afford to pay to be able to borrow to pay those sorts of prices.
So just who was able to keep some sort of check on the financial sector in the last 11 years then Gordon?
All along the issue regarding the initial rejection of Donald Trump's golf resort in Aberdeenshire wasn't about the foreign investment, wasn't to prevent job creation it was about the environmental impact.
When the initial casting vote of Martin Ford went with the status quo thus rejecting development it was only under the plans presented at that time. All planning applications have to viewed on what is present not supposition of what may be done. Indeed immediately following that initial rejection and before the escalation of the whole Trumpgate scenario the planning committee had said they would reconsider it if substantive environmental concerns were taken on board by the American developer's team.
Well after Trump blasted around, attacking everyone left, right and centre he has updated his plans, although only slightly. The damage to the sand dune area which is designated a site of special scientific interest has been lessened, but not sufficiently say the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) who say this area should and can be left unharmed.
This may be a last minute tweak to try an appease the environmentalist and have been recommended by the SNP to show that there is a little give from Trump's side ahead of the review of the called in plans. However, as this is now taken out of the hands of the local authority's planners who originally requested a resubmission taking on board the local concerns, Trumpgate will rumble on.
As if the removal of 100% mortgages wasn't bad enough news for first time buyers in Scotland today's news that house prices North of the Border are the only part of the country where they are continuing to rise, thus the Scottish bucking of this trend only makes matters worse.
So not only is it becoming harder for those of us not yet on the housing ladder to gain financing to do so the amount we're needing to raise for that percentage the banks now require continues to rise. Added to this the fact that most houses in Scotland are sold as offers over and the lottery of trying to become a first time buyer in Scotland continues to be harder than for most of the rest of the UK under the current credit crunch conditions.
When you add on the fact that our fuel bills, food bills, travel costs etc are also rising at level above the rate of inflation don't talk about the credit squeeze so much as the wage squeeze. Plus today I got my new wage packet partially under the new tax policy and find that I'm also marginally now worse off at the start of the month as well. It's becoming harder and harder for many of us to afford to live where we want to, to go to the work that we want to, and stay on top of all our bills.
Yet all the while Gordon Brown says the economy is his sole focus, that he doesn't want to be diverted from making "unpopular" decisions. Yet somehow the Government owned Northern Rock has yet to pass on the latest interest rate cuts to its shrinking number of customers that the government is demanding other lenders pass on quickly.
Gordon Brown is clearly seeking a role as Dooh Nibor, the outlaw who steals from the poor to give to the rich.
