Category Archives: Commerce

The latest employment figures continue to show Scotland moving in the right direction through SNP commitment to creating jobs, investing in infrastructure and supporting training. The Government level was complemented by ELC’s budget, restricting internal job losses to empty posts, … Continue reading →

Posted on February 17, 2011 by davidsberry | Leave a comment

80 Days to Decide

Posted on February 14, 2011 by davidsberry

Plenty of time, then, in which to make up your mind. Perhaps a table of comparison between the two main contenders—Labour and SNP—at our local council level would help. After all, Labour had long experience running this county for thirty … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Community, Politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

84: The Coast Line

Posted on February 10, 2011 by davidsberry

Relevant though they may be, I am not going to bother you with details how Transport Scotland, Network Rail, SESTrans and various Train Operating Companies interact to organise rail services for East Lothian. Their committees meet out of public sight … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Transport | Tagged | 1 Comment

88: Beef Haddington

Posted on February 6, 2011 by davidsberry

I am delicate after an evening’s hospitality from East Lothian branch of the National Farmers’ Union. Though blowing a hoolie outside, the 150-strong annual dinner inside the Maitlandfield roared with cameraderie. And, since members apparently lead double lives as prop forwards, … Continue reading →

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91: Time to Defect…

Posted on February 3, 2011 by davidsberry

…to the Federation of Small Businesses? A staunch member of the SNP for 35 years, I’ve never endorsed another’s manifesto. But I find the FSB’s booklet laced with a sense that would lead us out of this economic fankle faster … Continue reading →

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92: Omni-Bus

Posted on February 2, 2011 by davidsberry

At Hallhill in Dunbar last night a working group gathered to follow up a lively public meeting on Jan 28th that vented frustration with FirstBus. Chaired by Peter Armstrong of Spott, the group agreed a constitution for Rural East Lothian Bus … Continue reading →

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93: Bellweather

Posted on February 1, 2011 by davidsberry

Two hundred years ago, during the Napoleonic Wars, people had little—no cars, electricity, social work, NHS, trains, TV, benefits…not even a police force. What trade there was went by sailing ship or canal barge. But engineering was a lively part … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Environment | Tagged | Leave a comment

95: In His Own Write

Posted on January 30, 2011 by davidsberry

Interesting interview of my erstwhile opponent by Colin Donald in today’s Sunday Herald (http://www.heraldscotland.com:80/business/markets-economy/gray-s-blueprint-1.1082576), not least because of what he says about himself: “…one of the reasons we had not done as well as we would have hoped in 2007 was … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce | Tagged | 1 Comment

96: All at Sea

Posted on January 29, 2011 by davidsberry

Two days ago, while UK Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey visited RAF Lossiemouth (under serious threat of closure now that RAF Marham has been deemed ‘too expensive’ to dispense with), a Tornado GR4 from the base flying an exercise over … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce | Tagged | 2 Comments

No NEET Answers

Posted on January 13, 2011 by davidsberry

In 1997, Gordon Brown announced what he claimed were the “most radical welfare reforms since the Second World War” and declared that the unemployed young would be first in the firing line. “How,” he asked, “did a society like ours … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Education | Leave a comment