Mark Irvine - Blogger, Campaigner, Organiser

I came across this very interesting article in the Cumbenauld News which reports that North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) is planning to go into the film business. I wonder if I should write to Councillor Fagan to suggest an approach to Wast Disney Studios with a view to a joint venture over North Lanarkshire's pay arrangements including the council's 'Mickey Mouse' job evaluation scheme (JES).     North Lanarkshire Council sets up fund to attract filmmakers Published on the 27 May 2014 15:22 Print this Sponsored by In an attempt to build upon recent interest from film and TV producers, North Lanarkshire Council is offering to help fund future productions. The local authority is offering small to medium productions a share of a £30,000 fund it has sent up. Regeneration convener David Fagan, said: “In TV and film-making terms £30,000 isn’t a huge sum, although it could make a real difference to smaller teams. “What is just...

While Labour's Scottish secretary, Margaret Curran, is banging on about the responsibilities of the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments she could do well to reflect up the fact that North Lanarkshire Council has been forced to concede a 60% pay gap between equivalent male and female jobs, as the result of hidden bonus schemes.  Now that's something worth getting worked up about if you ask me, so when are we going to hear what Labour politicians have to say about the behaviour of a Labour-run council - right in their own backyard? Soon, I hope.  Rank Hypocrisy  (29 May 2014) Labour's shadow Scottish secretary, Margaret Curran, held an event the other day marking the 44th anniversary of the 1970 Equal Pay Act. Such a pity that Margaret, a Glasgow MP, didn't hold this event in Motherwell which is only a few miles down the road and home to one of Scotland largest councils, North Lanarkshire Council, which is up to its neck in an equal pay ...

Here's another disturbing report from the BBC about the men in balaclavas in Ukraine who have appointed themselves as protectors of the people while disguising their identities from fellow citizens and the wider world. Now unless these people are not who they claim they are, I can't think of a good reason for them to hide their identities or be so evasive about their background.  Ukraine crisis: Meeting the little green men By Steven Rosenberg BBC News, Donetsk Pro-Russia activists have occupied government buildings with relatively little difficulty Nikolai stood near the local council building in Konstantinovka, leaning on his walking stick and shaking his head at the scene in front of him. Masked gunmen in camouflage had seized the building and were guarding the entrance. Meanwhile, Pro-Russia activists were building barricades with concrete blocks and sandbags and singing along to а pop song about the Soviet Union. Back in the USSR, Nikolai had worked for...

The Guardian reports, via the Press Association, that no sooner has a UKIP fruitcake been elected as a local councillor than he has been sacked within a few days for bringing the party into disrepute. Now I don't admire anything about UKIP, but they seemed to have bundled this chap out the door without drawing breath since the elections took place last Thursday. So what kind of hearing took place, what response did Dave Small (who is still a councillor thanks to UKIP) make to these charges and who made the decision to show him the door? I think these are important questions for a democratic party to answer, particularly one that is now in receipt of so much public money.   Newly elected Ukip councillor sacked for racism and homophobia Dave Small of Redditch Borough Council expelled from party less than a week after local election victory Press Association - The Guardian Ukip's success in last week's local elections was hailed as a breakthrough for the party. P...

As far as I know, crop tops, T-shirts and suchlike did not exist at the time the Koran was written - just as people in those days didn't have mobile phones, the internet, TVs washing machines and fancy cars.  So what's the big deal about a dress code in Qatar since these 'rules' can only have been invented recently by religious zealots who have nothing better to do with their time than go around trying to control other people's lives. Now if a Qatari person were to visit Glasgow this summer for the Commonwealth Games, I'd be perfectly happy for them to wear what they like with the possible exception of walking down down Argyll Street stark naked, as that's likely to cause a bit of a commotion and terrible traffic jam. But other than that I'd say 'knock yourself out' and I wouldn't be remotely offended if they wore traditional Qatari dress, as opposed to a Scottish kilt or a T-shirt and a pair of shorts, weather permitting of course. ...

Rod Liddle has a bit of fun at the expenses of the Miliband brothers via his column in The Sunday Times - because I have to say I'd pay good money to watch a rematch between Bananaman and Sandwich Slayer. How pleased must David Miliband be that he's moved on and got himself a real job instead of being pictured holding a banana or trying to eat a bacon butty. Stand aside, Bananaman, here comes the Sandwich Slayer What is it with the Milibands and food? First we saw David holding aloft a banana as if it were an astonishing and hitherto unencountered artefact. Now kid brother Ed, during his typically brilliant election campaign, attempted to get to grips with an equally strange comestible, a bacon sandwich. It looked very much as if the sandwich had announced its intention to vote UKIP just before he tried to bite it. Ed gurned and grimaced, presumably trying desperately to get the thing down. His eyes began to pop. But still the bacon sandwich would not give in.

I thought that Alex Massie's piece in Scotland on Sunday was a clever and perceptive insight into the mindset of many UKIP supporters - 'bring your own pitchfork' is how I think it can best be summed up. The good thing to have come out of the   Euro elections is that the political establishment has, at long last, been shaken out of its complacency which will require a serious, measured response.  So while fun's fun, the important political point to remember is - never underestimate the stupidity of an angry mob. Alex Massie: Understanding Nigel Farage’s success Farage enjoys a pint of beer in a pub after last week s elections. Picture: Getty NIGEL Farage plays ‘misery’ card to up the ante ponders Alex Massie - Scotland on Sunday To understand Nigel Farage, and Ukip, it is first necessary to read Saki. Specifically, his great short story The Lumber Room. A young boy named Nicholas is in disgrace. At breakfast he has refused to eat his bread-and-m...

While Labour's Scottish secretary, Margaret Curran, is banging on about the responsibilities of the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments she could do well to reflect up the fact that North Lanarkshire Council has been forced to concede a 60% pay gap between equivalent male and female jobs, as the result of hidden bonus schemes.  Now that's something worth getting worked up about if you ask me, so when are we going to hear what Labour politicians have to say about the behaviour of a Labour-run council - right in their own backyard? Soon, I hope.  Rank Hypocrisy  (29 May 2014) Labour's shadow Scottish secretary, Margaret Curran, held an event the other day marking the 44th anniversary of the 1970 Equal Pay Act. Such a pity that Margaret, a Glasgow MP, didn't hold this event in Motherwell which is only a few miles down the road and home to one of Scotland largest councils, North Lanarkshire Council, which is up to its neck in an equal pay...