Better Together Western Isles /
Nas Fheàrr Còmhla sna h-Eileanan an Iar
13th September - Stornoway Town centre
Another great day today in Stornoway with plenty of support forthcoming for #bettertogether.
Letter to the Stornoway Gazette, September 2014
Sir,
MERCHANT NAVY AND THE REFERENDUM
Having spent 51 years in the Merchant Navy, i find it disappointing that the Scottish Government's White Paper on independence does not even give it a passing mention. There are few industries more important to Scottish society and our economy than shipping. Currently, there are some 41,000 people directly employed by the sector in Scotland.
The United Kingdom has set global standards and benchmarks for training, certification, and safety. Despite this there are still examples of unscrupulous ship owners who are allowed to flout the rules. If there is to be a new Scottish registry, what assurances do we have about the standards that would be maintained, particularly if we are in a competitive situation with what is left of the UK and the values embodied in the Red Ensign?
I note that the White Paper promises low corporate taxation as the incentive for investment in an independent Scotland. No industry is more vulnerable to this approach and the "race to the bottom" it would encourage than Merchant shipping. Lower levels of taxation would attract the kind of ship owners who would also expect lower standards of regulation and enforcement.
Anyone who thinks this could not happen should consider the example of the Isle of Man-registered freight ferry which operates out of Stornoway under Scottish Government auspices, employing foreign labour at the rate of £4.19 per hour. The Global Maritime Labour Convention is now in place to ensure that seafarers' rights are protected. The United Kingdom has signed up to this. Would Scotland be prepared to do the same?
How would the recruitment prospects of youngsters from Scotland's maritime communities be affected if there were two separate registries, rather than one? Would it not be more likely that ship owners in the rest of the UK would recruit from their own colleges and apprenticeship schemes, rather than "crossing the border" to what would then be a foreign jurisdiction?
The British Merchant Navy has served this country well in times of peace and war. It deserves better than to be ignored in the White Paper or vague promises that "it will be all right on the night". We need answers now.
Yours etc.
Duncan Gordon (Captain)
Chairman, Merchant Navy Association, Western Isles Branch
Coll, Isle of Lewis
1st September 2014 - Stornoway town centre
Another great afternoon with the Better Together team in Stornoway.
August 2014 - Stornoway town centre
A great afternoon had, chatting with locals and visitors in Stornoway today.
August 2014 - Stornoway
A great chat tonight with Danny Alexander MP and Better Together activists. A good debate and confident frame of mind from all who were there.
August 2014 - Carnival Day, Stornoway
August 2014 - Better Together stall, Stornoway
August 2014 - Westside Agricultural Show
IndyRef Express with Anas Sarwar MP
Leverburgh, Harris - #100streets with Jim Murphy MP
Another good had and a welcome reaction in Leverburgh with Jim Murphy MP with Alasdair Morrison and Morag Munro.
Stornoway - #100streets with Jim Murphy MP
A great talk was held by Jim Murphy MP in Stornoway town centre last night with a good crowd to boot.
July 2014
A good stall response at the Lochs Show in Laxay on Saturday and another stall due tomorrow at the South Harris Show.
Keep up the good work guys!
July 2014
Former MP, Calum Macdonald, opened the annual Point Show show yesterday and a busy time was had at the Better Together stand. Even the Police were happy!
The yes stand was quiet!
May 2014
A very encouraging response was had on Cromwell Street last week for the first "stall" of the year.
Further information on the Better Together campaign is available here:
