Gerry's Vision

I was born in Falkirk and after completing my primary and secondary education there went on to study philosophy and theology at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

Upon graduation I soon discovered that there wasn't much demand, or many job opportunities for professional philosophers or theologians,so then decided to immerse myself in youth and community work in various settings throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States with both voluntary agencies and local authorities.

Following further studies at Bombay University/University of Mumbai (Personal Counselling and Personal & Community Development) and then at Loyola New Orleans (Problem Management), I returned to Scotlandand studied at Moray House in Edinburgh where I attained the Post-Graduate Certificate in Community Education.

I am married to Karen and my personal interests include music, (particularly folk, blues, classical and traditional music), cinema, and good food. I am an avid reader.

I currently work as a Parliamentary Assistant to Dame Ann McGuire MP in her Stirling constituency, a constituency co-incidentally, the size of Luxembourg, containing both urban and rural and urban areas, which give me first hand insight to the issues facing rural communities as I deal with them on a daily basis.

My work encompasses my passion for promoting the ideals and values of equality and social justice held by the Scottish Labour Party and the Co-operative Party. I also have a long history of Trade Union activism. However, these are not empty theoretical ideals as I havecontributedin practical ways to the betterment of the communities in which I have lived and worked all my adult life.

I have done thisto great effect in a number of urban and rural settings through my community development work, and currently I serveapolitically on Gartmore Community Council, Gartmore Youth Club's Management Committee and Gartmore Community Cinema, as well asthe Committee of a local Area Health Centre Management Board. Other commitments permitting,I volunteer with Strathcarron Hospice.

Clearly I don’t currently live on the islands,but basedin the rural village of Gartmore, I am more than familiar with, and understand the issues which concern local people, and inparticular the specific needs of rural communities.

I am fully conversant with the nature of the issues you are experiencingas a direct consequence of the double whammy of Scottish Government cuts, particularly the Rate Support Grant, and those created by Westminster directly as a result of Tory policy on issues that have not yet been devolved.

I am aware of the resultant effect and stresses placed on Council Services, especially those such as subsidies, schools, and inter-island ferries.

Given the lack of investment to business and infrastructure development there are threats to island life which ought to have been a priority for the incumbent Member of Parliament long before the recent destabilisation of the oil industry highlighted by the drop in oil prices and although this may good for getting-around, the over-dependency on oil revenue is not good for island economy, and that over dependency now reveals a potential further destabilisation of the local economy, not only with oil related jobs, but also ancillary or secondary services dependenton the oil industry.

Your situation is unique and your needs distinct, requiring a voice prepared to focus on your situation and needs as well as being part of the solution and not part of the problem - as displayed by the incumbent Member of Parliament.

I am under no illusions about the task that any candidate faces when contesting this seat, and I think I have some insight into how Andy Murray must have felt every time he walked onto Centre Court for a Wimbledon Final…before finally winning.

If he paid any attention to the pundits and commentators, all he would have heard was that it’s been over half a century since a Britain lifted the trophy, and if made of less sterner stuff with that thought hewould have turned round, walked off the court and gone to visit his grandparents in Dunblane and watch the whole thing on TV.

There is a similar sense when I look at how Orkney and Shetland have voted since 1950 with the Libdems taking the seat each time since, but I believe that such traditions are made to be broken, and that the voters in Orkney and Shetland should have the opportunity to vote for a Scottish Labour candidate who does not see the lives and politics of the islands as a middle class parlour game, and is certainly not playing games with people’s lives as the Libdems take voters for granted and the SNP pursue their sole policy of superficial narrow parochialism. Walking away and not squaring-up to challenges isn’t Murray’s style – nor is it mine.

I have a clear understanding of what my candidacy would be about, and it is this, life changing stuff that WILL make a real difference to the lives of people on these islands. Asking the electorate to vote for me should you select me is a vote for:

More nurses.
Capping energy prices.
Job-creating powers for Scottish towns & cities -giving local authorities the powers they need to get our young people back to work.
Scrapping the Bedroom Tax completely – remember I was part of the process in Stirling which helped determine our local government finances mitigated the impact of this appalling policy locally in Stirling.
Challenging the SNP’s A&E crisis and protecting vital services.
Dealing with the cost-of-living crisis by pushing for the introduction of fair pay with an £8 minimum wage, which have been part of making happen already in Stirling.
To freeze fracking and make sure residents always have the final say with a local referendum
Letting local people decide about whether or not they want to have a wind farm in their neighbourhood.
Building new homes to deal with the SNP’s housing shortfall, which hasseen house building at its lowest level since the 1930s.
Cutting cancer waiting times - with a one-week guarantee for a cancer test and result.

Banning exploitative zero hour contracts ensuring that those working regular hours have the right to a regular contract.

These are the positive policy positions I would promote if elected.

If you want the Labour Party to try to make a difference with this election, I’m not playing games. I genuinely believe the Party needs to present a strong credible candidate who is able send out a clear message to the electorate, not only giving them the choice to vote for these policiesand values, but want to vote for them. I believe I am that strong credible candidate

Gerry's Vision

More nurses.

Capping energy prices.

Job-creating powers for Scottish towns & cities -giving local authorities the powers they need to get our young people back to work.

Scrapping the Bedroom Tax completely – remember I was part of the process in Stirling which helped determine our local government finances mitigated the impact of this appalling policy locally in Stirling.

Challenging the SNP’s A&E crisis and protecting vital services.

Dealing with the cost-of-living crisis by pushing for the introduction of fair pay with an £8 minimum wage, which have been part of making happen already in Stirling.

To freeze fracking and make sure residents always have the final say with a local referendum

Letting local people decide about whether or not they want to have a wind farm in their neighbourhood.

Building new homes to deal with the SNP’s housing shortfall, which hasseen house building at its lowest level since the 1930s.

Cutting cancer waiting times - with a one-week guarantee for a cancer test and result.

Banning exploitative zero hour contracts ensuring that those working regular hours have the right to a regular contract.