News Update

Setting the Record Straight - 26th June 2009

The Herald newspaper has published Charlie Gordon MSP's letter correcting factual errors and innuendo about his expenses as an MSP in a series of articles in January 2009.

Mr Gordon sent a similar letter to the Herald for publication in January 2009, but they did not publish it and he subsequently complained to the Press Complaints Commission, whose intercession led to his letter's publication.  The Herald had reported in January that Charlie Gordon MSP's website costs for 2007/08 were £15,000 when in fact they were £1,938.

You can read the full text of Charlie's letter to the Herald on their website by clicking here.

Supporting the 'Post Bank' - 25th June 2009

Charlie Gordon MSP has added his support to the campaign by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to establish a 'Post Bank' and attended a briefing session by the CWU at the Scottish Parliament.  The proposed Post Bank would provide secure and trusted banking while addressing those currently socially excluded from mainstream banking with a range of suitably tailored products and services. 

The campaign is also supported by the Federation of Small Businesses, Federation of Sub-Postmasters, Consumer Focus and the National Association of Credit Unions.

The Post Bank would be a natural progression of the current services provided by the Post Office and would provide an alternative to the large commercial banks and would work in conjunction with Credit Unions who may benefit from having access to the Post Office network. 

Charlie Gordon MSP said "The Post Bank provides a great opportunity for the less well off and pensioners who do not feel comfortable having a current account with one of the large banks.  Many pensioners are more comfortable with their Post Office Card Account and a Post Bank would build on the success of that scheme and provide safe, accessible banking for those who are currently excluded as well as securing the viability of Post Offices in our communities."

More information on the campaign can be found on the CWU website by clicking here.

Castlemilk Pensioners Take Holyrood By Storm - 24th June 2009

Charlie Gordon MSP was delighted to welcome 18 Members of Castlemilk Pensioners' Action Centre, together with staff members Melanie O'Donnell and Janice Flannagan to the Scottish Parliament this week.  Their visit coincided with a busier than usual Parliamentary day in Holyrood with the Stage 3 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill taking place in the Chamber resulting in Charlie rushing from a series of running votes to meet his VIP guests.

The group arrived in Edinburgh and, after a compulsory cup of tea, toured the Parliament building.  The tour included the Garden Lobby, Charlie's office (with several Members of the group test driving the window pod!) and then into the Debating Chamber itself.

It was then onto Committee Room 3 for a working lunch with Charlie which gave the Ladies an opportunity to question Charlie on any the Scottish Parliament or any concerns they had back home in Castlemilk.

Speaking after the visit Charlie Gordon MSP said "I am glad the Ladies enjoyed the visit and the purvey!  I hope they left the Scottish Parliament with an informed perspective about my work in Holyrood."

Charlie welcomes his V.I.P guests.

Charlie and the group.

'Give a Kid a Goal' Graduation - 23rd June 2009

The Rev Neil Galbraith was the host and Cathcart Old Parish Church the venue for the respected Charity "Glasgow The Caring City" and its 'Give a Kid a Goal' graduation 2009, involving pupils from Mount Florida and King's Park Primary Schools. Charlie Gordon MSP attended to support the event which has the welfare and education of children at its heart.  One of the prize winners was Andrew Laycock, a primary 6 pupil from Mount Florida Primary School who was presented with a Fire Helmet by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue along with a miniature replica New York Fire Engine.  The Ronnie MacOwan Memorial Quaich was presented to Mount Florida Primary School for one of their projects.

Pictures courtesy of John Maclean of the Glasgow SouthEast Press.

Pupils from Mount Florida Primary School	Andrew Laycock with Fire Fighters.

Evening Times Community Champions - 23rd June 2009

Charlie Gordon MSP was delighted to learn of the achievements of his constituents being recognised by the Evening Times newspaper in their “Community Champions” awards.

Former Police Officer, Charlie Boyce, who died last year was named the Individual winner at the south-east of Glasgow area awards.  The former expert in addiction and post-traumatic stress, who helped officers involved in the Lockerbie disaster, was honoured for his work with Mount Florida Community Council.

Teaching and support staff at Castlemilk High School won the Public Service Team Award.
In 2008, they were given six ratings of "excellent" in a HM Inspectorate of Education report - the most recorded by any school in Glasgow and the second-highest rating ever recorded in Scotland. Primary 7 pupils from Mount Florida Primary School celebrated after winning the Young Community Champion Award. They organised Flofest, a multicultural event that brought together local schools and groups, earlier this month.

The Team Award went to Castlemilk Pensioners' Action Centre and Lord Provost Bob Winter handed the trophy to the delighted staff and volunteers. The centre helps elderly people to live independently in their own homes by providing trips, classes and advice. It has 500 members and also provides over 100 meals each day.  Members of the Action Centre will be guests of Charlie Gordon MSP at the Scottish Parliament later this week.

Staff nurse Cath Christie won the Public Service Individual Award. She has worked at the Victoria Infirmary's dermatology department for 31 years and also performs minor surgery after studying at Caledonian University.

The Neighbour Award went to Alison Drummond for her dedication to Friends of Linn Park.
As Chairwoman of the group, she secured a £50,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund to improve access and landscaping of one section of the Park.

All 60 winners will be invited to a gala final at the City Chambers in October.
Charlie Gordon MSP said “Congratulations all round, I particularly look forward to congratulating Castlemilk Pensioners Action Centre staff and members on Wednesday when I host them at the Scottish Parliament.”

Gordon to take forward Bus Bill - 11th June 2009

Glasgow Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon has confirmed that he has enough public support to take his Private Member's Bill to the next stage in the Scottish Parliament.

"Of 95 responses to my public consultation on my bill proposal, only 4 were opposed outright" said Charlie.  "I will lodge a proposal in the Scottish Parliament for 4 weeks and, provided I receive support from at least 18 MSPs drawn from at lease 2 major political parties, my way will then be clear under the Parliament's rules to bring forward a full draft Bill."

Charlie's Bill also proposes to extend free bus travel to people in receipt of the lower rate of disability living allowance and to allow free travel for eligible users of community transport.

Charlie publishes Spring Newsletter - 29th May 2009

Charlie Gordon MSP has published his Spring newsletter with a front page splash on his war on the blade culture. Last week he welcomed moves by the Leader of Labour in the Scottish Parliament, Iain Gray MSP and Scottish Conservative Leader, Annabel Goldie MSP on their calls for automatic jail sentences for people caught carrying a knife.

The Spring edition also updates constituents on his work as their MSP over the past three months including news from the Church in the Mount Befriending Centre's AGM, the Green Flag Eco award to Our lady of the Annunciation Primary School in Cathcart and much more.

You can read a PDF of his newsletter by clicking here or alternatively call Charlie's office on 0141-632-8645 for a hard copy to be posted to you.

Statement by Charlie Gordon MSP re Office Costs - 29th May 2009

My salary is £55,381 per year; the same as every other MSP which is set at 87.5% of an MPs salary.  My allowance for staff related costs is £58,700 per year the same as every other MSP.  All MSPs receive allowances for non-staff costs such as travel, office rent, equipment, overnight accommodation etc ; these costs can vary, but my costs are not higher than average, for example of my £11,800 MSP allowance for overnight accommodation in Edinburgh, I claimed £400 in 2008/09.

Full details of all MSPs' costs are available at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/MSPAllowances/searchGuidance.htm

Gordon Hails Breakthrough on Knife Crime - 15th May 2009

Glasgow Cathcart MSP, Charlie Gordon, a long-term campaigner for automatic jail sentences for knife possession, has hailed the fact that Scottish Labour Leader Iain Gray and Scottish Tory Leader Annabelle Goldie have committed their MSPs to supporting such a measure.

"This is a real breakthrough!" said Charlie.  "There is a criminal Justice Bill before the Scottish Parliament at present and it looks as though majority of MSPs will support an amendment to it that will give us a tough, simple and very necessary new law on knives:- carry one and you go to jail!"

In May 2006, Charlie Gordon MSP proposed such an amendment to the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act, but received no support from other MSPs.

Charlie had first proposed automatic jail sentences for knife possession in an interview in the "Evening Times" newspaper when he was Leader of Glasgow City Council.  Since then, Charlie has continued to raise the issue in Parliament, in petitions organised for his constituents and on his website.

"I'm putting a new poll on knife crime on my website immediately" said Charlie "MSPs must be made aware of the strength of public support for smashing the blade culture once and for all."

N.B Please click on the "VOTE NOW" button above to make your view known.

"What Are You Actually Gonnae Dae?" asks Gordon over Climate Change - 7th May 2009

The Bill as introduced.

Scottish Climate Change Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP, has hailed the views of Glasgow Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon on the new Climate Change Bill as "…absolutely focused and on the money" in a debate in the Scottish Parliament. 

For the full text of Charlie's speech click here.

To read the Bill in its first stage click here. (Requires Adobe Reader to view)

New Shaws Housing Organisation - 1st May 2009

Charlie with Bill Wason and Isabel Gallacher of the New Shaws Housing Organisation.

Charlie Gordon MSP held a working lunch with the Chair of New Shaws Housing Organisation, Bill Wason and its Treasurer, Isabel Gallacher at his Parliamentary Office in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.  The meeting was part of a wider lobby by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) housing associations from across the City who were meeting with MSPs to defend the GHA and raise their concerns over suggestions of the it being disbanded.

Following the meeting, the lobby sat in the Public Gallery during the afternoon debate on housing.  Charlie Gordon MSP said "I have taken on board Mr Wason and Ms Gallacher's views on the GHA and their frustration that tenants are being sidelined in the current debate.  I was pleased that tenant satisfaction surveys undertaken by New Shaws had shown that the vast majority of tenants were happy with the existing arrangements and I assured them that any proposed changes must be voted on by tenants before they are implemented.

For the full text of the housing debate click here.

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