A regular forum for comment on happenings in and around Glasgow. Irreverent or serious, your submissions are welcome.

Scotland The Brave, or Don't Believe The Hype - 1st July 1999

It has been a long break since the last 'View'. Many events have occured during that period: the madness in Kosovo, the Starr Report with Bill Clinton's definitiion of not having a sexual relationship, the India - Pakistan skirmishes and the Irish peace talks. However, the event of prime importance to Scotland has been the official elections of MSPs to the Scottish parliament.

The Labour-Liberal coalition was a brave new beginning for Scottish politics. We hope that egotistical politicians will be forced to compromise on policies under the new almost-PR electoral system. Cooperation should be a required element of new Scottish politics. Now that idea is a refreshing change to the daily squabbling which is a feature of the television coverage of Westminster! Likewise the representation in parliament of minority parties such as the Greens and Socialists must also be perceived as a step forward.

All such enthusiasm for the new electoral system should, however, be tempered by caution. Witness the recent heavy-handed approach of First Minister Donald Dewar. In the space of a year Mr. Dewar has become both a New Labour figurehead and a brusque, no-nonsense politician of the Thatcher school. Some people might argue that these are one and the same idea. A sceptical approach such as this is not unwarranted. Minority MSPs from the Greens and the Socialists were denied voting membership of decision-making committees covering topics such as environment and housing, the very platforms upon which these MSPs were elected. Mr Dewar's effective 'loading' of parliamentary committees has sinister undertones which no amount of hype from the Labour publicity machine can disguise. To quote Roger Daltrey, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss".

As responsible Scots we should look carefully at the actions of the new MSPs. The Scottish Parliament has created a forum in which to enforce the wishes of the Scottish people. We should make sure that our MSPs act out those wishes rather than setting their own agenda or slavishly following national party policy. And if the MSPs don't cooperate we should ignore the hype and send them a message to say that they are accountable to their electorate. If we don't do this we negate the power of our Parliament and we may as well still be ruled by Westminster. Think about it.

Mad Pierre, 1st July 1999

Death Of A Princess - 31st August 1998

As the media are indulging in a Diana-fest, we thought we'd join them...

One year ago today Princess Diana and her companions died as the result of an accident in Paris. Since then she has become the face of a growing Diana business - Di margarine, Di charities, Di landmines, Di memorabilia. Isn't it time we had a break from this collective grief / greed thing and viewed things in perspective?

Temper the sadness at her death with the thought that even though she died at an early age there are millions of people who would readily have traded places with Diana Spencer. Diana was a pretty lady of mediocre intelligence who had the good fortune to be born into an upper-class family. She lived an idyllic life and married a Prince who outlived her. He is a short-arse Royal rat who used her as breeding stock to replenish failing House of Windsor genetics. In the main Diana's in-laws are (excluding the Princess Royal) a bunch of in-bred upper-class parasites who choose to live in isolation from the country they theoretically rule. As a result of her adventures Diana was an unhappy woman, idolised by millions in the fashion of Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. Like them, she is destined to become a cultural icon.

Who knows what she would have wanted people to remember her for? Landmines? Her private life? Her warm-heartedness? There has been a lot of media speculation about 'the Diana legacy'. The only legacy that seems to be of real worth is her children, who have been brought up in as normal a fashion as possible. Given that one of these children is the future King, let us hope that he remembers his mother as a woman and not a media personality. And let us hope that he proves to be more of a man than his contemptible father.

Mad Pierre, 31st August 1998

Urban Retail Warfare - 6th July 1997

Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar has interfered in local politics to block retail giant IKEA from building a superstore on the outskirts of Paisley in Renfrewshire. And this is despite the fact that every weekend an estimated 10,000 Scots shoppers make a four hour round-trip to the the nearest IKEA superstore in Gateshead, Newcastle. Even though Geordies are honorary Scots that is an awful lot of revenue going to England when it could be staying in Scotland. Note also that the proposed IKEA development would create up to 600 badly-needed jobs in an unemployment blackspot.

What is Mr Dewar's reason for interfering in the local politics of Renfrewshire? Official Labour government policy which seeks to stop the shift of retail outlets from city centres to business parks on city outskirts. In the words of the wisest of sages, Homer Simpson, "Doh!"

Apparently this is the second time that IKEA have been refused permission to build such a superstore. The first time, a planning permission refusal, was because the IKEA building would have been bright blue and yellow.

Does anyone else see madness in this tale?

It is a fact that the UK is becoming more Americanised. Out-of-town cinema complexes and retail outlets are now the norm rather than the exception. Is the Labout government trying to turn back the tide?

In a two-fingered gesture to Mr. Dewar, Labour-controlled Renfrewshire Council are still courting IKEA, who have restated their desire to have a West coast superstore. Another site has been proposed just outside Renfrew, and IKEA are coming back to the negotiating table. We can only hope that it's a case of 'third time lucky'.

Mad Pierre, 6th July 1998

Council Spending Chaos - 6th June 1988

You see it in newspaper headlines everywhere; Glasgow City Council In Sleaze Allegations! Surprised that a socialist Labour-controlled council is corrupt? Welcome to the real world of ignorant politicians, misguided ideas and petty bureaucrats with their own agendas.

Whilst Labour councillors waste public money on junkets and fatuous art projects, there is another serious issue that seems to have been ignored by the media. The city council have taken it upon themselves to slavishly follow Labour party policy on spending, putting all our money into Roads and Education. This is something of a cynical ploy to win votes as changes within these two sectors are immediately obvious to the punter in the street. But what benefits do we see? And what has been missed out in this public spending spree?

Schools all over Glasgow are still threatened with closure. Teachers still feel undervalued, underpaid and underfunded. New books for pupils are scarce. It is a sad fact that those who are dedicated to teaching as a profession are used and abused for political gain. Yet the councillors can afford to fund 'fact-finding' trips and expensive preparations for the millenium. Where is the money going?

Roads? Well, the road network in the south side has had a major rework. Apparently this is all part of the preparations for the 1999 celebrations, to assist with the M74 - M8 motorway link, and to regenrate the Gorbals as a future tourist attraction(?!). It is good on paper but take a drive in the south side and you'll see just how poor the reality is. Shawlands was one of the first areas to receive these dubious benefits. Great if you are a pedestrian as you don't have to dodge traffic any more. If you are a driver then make sure you take your Pro-Plus as you won't be going anywhere fast. Govanhill now has pretty parking spaces (at serious expense) and a new one-way traffic system to speed traffic flow. Unfortunately the traffic speeds straight past a number of schools in Govanhill and Crosshill. And all that channelled traffic makes for major bottlenecks at rush hour.

Visible public spending is a great idea, and it is about time too. But the council leadership have made serious cuts in Housing to fund these ill-targeted spending programs. Glasgow is justly famous for its architecture, not just in the city centre but all over the city. Now, with reduced funding available, housing refurbishment projects are on the back burner. Solid sandstone tenement blocks are left to decay, regardless of the fact that these buildings are the heart of Glasgow and irreplaceable in modern times. Craftsmanship which cannot be purchased in today's market is being left to crumble. Solid, roomy flats which a Londoner would kill for are left to the mercies of dampness, dry rot, subsidence and traffic damage.

A city is nothing without its people, and people need hosuing. The original sandstone tenements of the Gorbals may not have had interior bathrooms, but they were of solid and beautiful construction. They were pulled down to make way for eyesore, unwelcome high-rise blocks, a move that everyone now acknowledges as a mistake. All over the city this mistake is being repeated in a low-key fashion. So-called 'problem' tenements are not upgraded but bulldozed to make way for low-cost brick-built monstrosities, unless a housing authority has the ability to step in to help. Govanhill Housing Association has done an amazing job refurbishing properties in the area and should be praised for their foresight. Recent work in Darnley is another welcome change. But even these projects have limits based on the funding they get, or don't get, from the council.

Isn't it time that the council took stock of one of Glasgow's assets?

One day Glaswegians will realise that the recent Labour council has exercised extremely poor judgement. Sprucing up the city centre and road network for 1999 whilst sacrificing our living conditions makes no sense at all. It is time to put the house in order.

Mad Pierre, 6th June 1998