IF YOU ARE FREE ON SATURDAY AT 1...

AN OLD FASHIONED LABOUR...REMEMBER THIS?

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GOOD NEWS FOR SCOTTISH FARMERS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD FRESH MEAT?

"It may look like a load of bull, but this image makes a serious point. For many years, since the days of the BSE crisis, the Scottish meat industry has worked tirelessly to make its products totally traceable. Every steak or sausage on a butcher's shelf can be traced back to the farm, and even the animal, from which it came.

Scotland has long had a reputation for producing the finest meat products on the planet and now it (rightly) has a reputation for producing the safest too. This of course comes at a cost and Scottish meats carry a premium over lower quality equivalents.

Large retailers, including many in the UK, have been moving away from Scottish producers, in favour of other cheaper sources, in a drive to reduce prices for consumers. This 'race to the bottom' has caused many corners to be cut and has even promoted widespread fraud, as we have seen in recent weeks.

Scottish butchers have seen increases in sales of over 25% since the 'horsegate' scandal began, as consumers have returned to buying higher quality and safer products. Now we should all begin to put pressure on the supermarkets to source their own products from traceable Scottish sources and stop using 'dodgy' ingredients of uncertain provenance."

(From Yes To An Independent Scotland)

The butchers' shops around our way have certainly had queues out the door this weekend, but we need to remember that not everyone can afford to do that kind of luxury. 

There was a government minister on QT who was all for shopping locally, but of course she collects £300+ tax free every day as an aristocrat (incidentally, one which was dumped by her Commons constituency and promptly sent to the Lords to show that no matter how much the stupid voters didn't want her in parliament, they were going to get her one way or the other). Then she has her ministerial salary on top of that, so exorbitant prices probably don't phase her much. 

When you feed your kids value burgers, because that's all you can afford, I'm not quite sure where you go once you find out that they are dodgy and quite possibly lethal. 

When you sit in the House of Lords, the answer is probably ... your local high quality butchers.

Once again while the aristocrats are safely shielded from the misery, ordinary commoners find themselves badly let down.

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LETTER FROM ALAN GROGAN TO ANAS SARWAR

Dear Mr Sarwar MP

I write this in response to your untrue, unfounded and un-researched allegations in the House of Commons during the Section 30 debate. In your speech you claimed: 

"We have seen the launch of the Labour for Independence campaign, which has one or a maximum of two Labour members fronting a campaign led mainly by the SNP…..”

Some might call it admirable that you feel you can give such false information to the British Parliament without any evidence or research behind it. However, we at Labour for Independence believe in an honest political dialogue. 

Here is a list of Labour party members who are staff and ambassadors of Labour for Independence. We have also included some supporters at their own request to show their full backing for our group. 

Allan Grogan- Labour member & LFI founder
Steven Syme - Labour member & LFI Southern Scotland regional co-ordinator.
Alex Bell – Labour member & LFI West Coast co-ordinator
Paul Leinster- Labour member & LFI Ambassador
Debbie Waters- Labour member & LFI Ambassador
John Paul Tonner- Labour member & LFI Ambassador
Michael Daley- Labour member & LFI Ambassador
Celia Fitzgerald- Labour member & LFI Ambassador
Alex Foulkes- Labour member & LFI supporter
Tam Dewar- Labour member & LFI supporter
Robert Cowie- Labour member & LFI supporter
John Dalzell- Labour member & LFI activist
Robert Lodge- Labour member & LFI activist
A mention must also go to George Anderson, former Labour member, one of the heroes of the Skye Bridge crossing group, and now a LFI ambassador.

We have not carried out a full audit of members and supporters. But this sample clearly shows that we have more than a ‘maximum of two’ members. We are sure that throughout our social media support and our grass roots campaigning we have and will continue to receive more support from our fellow Labour members. 

While Labour membership numbers seem to be especially important to the party HQ when discussing LFI, it is important to stress that we are not solely a members group. We encourage and welcome support from all of Labour, including past supporters. I am sure you will appreciate that the success of any group is not based solely on formal membership. If so the Labour party would have received 13,000 votes in the last Scottish Election finishing up 90,000 votes behind the Lib Dems. Your other accusation that we are a front for the SNP is plainly ludicrous and will be seen for the lie it is. Frankly, this is a desperate move by a party hierarchy out of touch with their members, supporters and the people of Scotland. 

I hope this goes some way to giving you the facts. I will assume that you will no longer be peddling such mistruths in future. 
This will be the last time we will respond to such remarks; any further similar attacks will be treated with the contempt they deserve.

On a personal level I would like to say how disappointed I was with your comments in the House particularly coming only days after you promised a positive campaign. 

We at LFI and Yes Scotland will continue to deliver a positive message to all Labour supporters and to the people of Scotland, persuading them of the benefits an independent Scotland will bring, with a real Scottish Labour party at the heart of it. 

Regards 

Allan Grogan
Labour for Independence Founder.