First Minister and Equal Pay ((24/02/16)
In a recent post I set out a number of practical campaigning ideas for people to take up to turn up the heat on Labour-run North Lanarkshire Council - one of which was to contact Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
So I was delighted to read this article which appeared in The Herald newspaper the other day which says that Nicola Sturgeon is preparing to take the fight to stay in Europe to voters in England.
Because all too often politicians say they can't get involved in issues beyond their direct remit, that it's not their business and they have no powers to tell local councils (for example) what to do when it comes to equal pay.
Which is true, of course, though completely beside the point since the issue is not about the First Minister, MSPs or MPs instructing North Lanarkshire Council what to do or how to clear up a mess of their own foolish making.
No, the issue is that politicians at all levels are perfectly entitled to establish the facts and make their views known loudly and publicly, as they do on every other issue under the sun from the price of mince to the pros and cons of nuclear weapons.
So a word of encouragement for any readers contacting elected politicians (local or national) about equal pay in Labour-run North Lanarkshire Council - don't take accept a lame excuse like "It's not my responsibility" for an answer.
Because if Scotland's First Minister is prepared to campaign in England over the future of Europe, then there's nothing to stop senior politicians from making their voices heard over equal pay in North Lanarkshire which is right in their own back yard.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14291463.Sturgeon_will_take_fight_to_stay_in_Europe_to_English_voters/
Sturgeon will take fight to stay in Europe to English voters
Sturgeon will take fight to stay in Europe to English voters
By Tom Gordon - The Sunday Herald
NICOLA Sturgeon will use her enhanced profile since the general election to try and persuade voters south of the border to stay in the European Union.
After reaching an English audience through last year’s TV debates, the First Minister will make a series of speeches selling the benefits of being in the EU.
SNP Europe and External Affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop told the Sunday Herald: “The First Minister will continue to make speeches in London and elsewhere on our view of how the UK should operate in the EU. We will be setting out our views and our arguments for a positive view based on solidarity, social protection and mutual support.
