Hello,

Welcome to my web-site. I’m very pleased you’ve dropped in, because I’m well aware that the idea of spending some time with a politician holds about as much attraction as a visit to the dentist…for root canal work.

Regretfully, I’m the only Independent MSP in Holyrood. I represent Lothians, and have a good working relationship with the other MSPs for the area. Sometimes my role is that of jaikit holder, other times I can sometimes wriggle through the parties’ partisan territory in an effort to achieve a result for people I represent.

As an Independent, I’m able to determine my political priorities and style of representing Lothians. I can pursue objectives, such as negotiating a Capital City Supplement for Edinburgh, which I managed last year, after nagging successive Finance Ministers for about five years. And the secret of my success? My vote.
With a minority government, sometimes my vote is pivotal.

The campaigns I’ve pursued over the last decade, and before, are too numerous to mention, but I unsuccessfully introduced a Members Bill on the management of street prostitution in 2006, can probably claim quite fairly to have influenced successive Education Ministers on Physical Education and sports, along with service users, successfully campaigned for an overhaul of NHS wheelchair services etc, etc.

This session, I’ve introduced a Member’s Bill on End of Life choices, and I’m pursuing a mini-campaign to instigate “Town Meeting” style community events to . allow people to discuss, and prioritise, with local council and Holyrood Finance Department officials, the maintenance of public services during a decade in which public spending will be greatly reduced.

Not exactly a bundle of laughs, I freely concede…but interesting, and important. I’ll keep you posted if you keep tapping into my site…and since politics attracts some funny people, you might even have the odd laugh or two .

Scottish Parliament: Marine (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3: Section 98 — Seal licences (4 Feb 2010)

Division number 17 For: Harper, Robin, Harvie, Patrick, MacDonald, Margo Against: Adam, Brian, Aitken, Bill, Alexander, Ms Wendy, Allan, Alasdair, Baillie, Jackie, Baker, Claire, Baker, Richard, Boyack, Sarah, Brankin, Rhona, Brocklebank, Ted, Brown, Gavin, Brown, Keith, Brown, Robert, Brownlee, Derek, Butler, Bill, Campbell, Aileen, Carlaw, Jackson, Chisholm, Malcolm, Coffey, Willie,...

Posted on 4 February 2010 | 8:28 am

Scottish Parliament: Decision Time (3 Feb 2010)

..., Gillon, Karen, Glen, Marlyn, Godman, Trish, Gordon, Charlie, Grant, Rhoda, Gray, Iain, Henry, Hugh, Hume, Jim, Jamieson, Cathy, Kelly, James, Kerr, Andy, Lamont, Johann, Livingstone, Marilyn, Macdonald, Lewis, Macintosh, Ken, Martin, Paul, McArthur, Liam, McAveety, Mr Frank, McConnell, Jack, McInnes, Alison, McMahon, Michael, McNeil, Duncan, McNeill, Pauline, McNulty, Des, Mulligan,...

Posted on 3 February 2010 | 10:05 am

Scottish Parliament: Budget (Scotland) (No 4) Bill: Stage 3 (3 Feb 2010)

John Swinney: ...Mr Harvie-given the messages that he articulates to Parliament about sustainability, the use of natural resources and the implementation of climate change legislation-are enshrined in the review's remit. Margo MacDonald made a fascinating point about the relationship between PFI repayments and public ownership of the banks, which merits further detailed consideration. Michael...

Posted on 3 February 2010 | 9:50 am