Wind Farm Walk

I'll be heading to Lochindorb and the Dava on Monday, to meet local people campaigning against the plans for wind farms in the area and to walk round the loch and some of the surrounding hills. I want to see for myself where such developments are being proposed and what the impact on the area will be.

I’m committed to strong and radical action to tackle climate change. I am also of the view that land based wind generation – including large and small scale Wind Farms - has an important role to play in the renewable energy mix. Inevitably, that will mean difficult decisions need to be made. But, we need to get the balance right and ensure we don’t compromise our unique mountain landscapes for only short-term gain.

I'll post again on this topic after my visit on Monday. Meantime, I'd welcome comments with views both for and against such developments.

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Inspired today to sign up for the Guardian's 10:10 campaign. BIg picture political campaigns to save the planet risk making us feel good about the headline targets whilst assuming it will all just happen through what the government does. Committing to reduce my households carbon footprint by 10% by the end of 2010 makes it very personal. Now we need to work out how to make it happen.......

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Scrappage Scheme Success

I must admit I was sceptical about the Car Scrappage Scheme when it was launched earlier this year. With its focus on trading in old vehicles for new cars, I was not sure it would work.

So I was delighted to read today that Peter Mandelson's Industry Department has announced that more than 150,000 people have taken advantage of the scheme. As a result, car sales have grown by 13.5% since last year. Even more significantly, the CO2 emmissions associated with new cars sold are down 25% from the old vehicles traded in.

Seems the scheme is working for consumers, the car trade and the environment.

Now that's something we can all be proud of.

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Politics Still Matters

Going door to door over the weekend, canvassing for Labour candidates in the Euro Elections, I've lost count of how many times people have -mostly - smiled sympathetically and just asked "why are you still doing this"?

They mostly mean, of course, why are volunteer, unpaid party foot soldiers like me - and my many party colleagues who were out on Saturday - still prepared to face up and take the flack on behalf of our elected politicians in the midst of the expenses furore.

The answer is that despite the appalling behaviour of some individual politicians I still believe that electing labour party representatives into office locally, at Holyrood, Westminster and Strasbourg really matters.

In Europe it matters because its only the socialist group who are working to create jobs, protect working people, enforce better regulation of financial services and deal with climate change.

Here in the Highlands it matters because Labour is doing everything it can to save jobs, keep businesses afloat and get Scotland back on track. Its a Labour government that has rescued Scotland’s banks – not to help failed bankers, but to save jobs, mortgages, homes and savings. Its Labour who has increased people’s spending power by giving people a little extra in their pockets to support the economy; lower mortgage payments, increased child benefits and raised pension credits. Its Labour who is helping small businesses with the Loan Guarantee Scheme and making sure that HM Revenue & Customs is just a wee bit more helpful when the tax bills are due.

In Inverness it matters. Last Friday's Courier exposed the shocking social inequalities in the heart of the City. As usual, its those with the least who pay the price when our current economic model fails. Those are the people who should expect Labour to stand up for them, not make it worse.

We need to grow our way out of this recession, not cut our way out of it.

That's why I'll be proud to be out on the street in Aviemore this weekend, standing up for Labour values for all our communities.

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