Charlie Gordon Homepage

Welcome to the website of Charlie Gordon, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Cathcart.

Serving the communities of :- Auldhouse, Battlefield, Carmunnock, Carnwadric, Castlemilk, Cathcart, Croftfoot, Crosshill, Earlspark, Eastwood, Hillpark, Kennishead, King's Park, Langside, Mansewood, Merrylee, Mount Florida, Myrtle Park , Netherlee, Newlands, Old Darnley, Regent's Park, Simshill, Thornliebank, and Wellmeadow.

Charlie Gordon MSP is Member of the Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee. He is also a Member of three Cross Party Groups; Carers; M.E. (Myalgic Encephalitis) and Glasgow Crossrail.

News Update

Time for an end to Scots' Heathrow Hassle" Says Gordon - 25th April 2008

BAA Airports: Glasgow and Heathrow's Terminal 5

Glasgow Cathcart MSP, Charlie Gordon, this week welcomed the Competition Commission's doubts, expressed in its "Emerging Thinking" document, part of its investigation into the airport markets in London and Scotland, that it may not be in the public interest for both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports to remain in the ownership of BAA. Speaking after the publication of the document Charlie said that the findings were "Well Researched and thoroughly argued"

He immediately signed a Scottish Parliamentary Motion calling for more competition to replace BAA's near-monopoly and to increase prospects of more direct flights to and from Scotland. For the full text of the motion, click the "In Parliament" button, then the "Motions" button.

"Glasgow's booming and vital tourism industry cannot be left depending on BAA's monopoly, nor its suspected pro-Edinburgh bias." said Charlie. "The recent Heathrow Terminal 5 fiasco showed flights to Scotland are regarded as expendable, as well as underlining that Scotland needs more direct flights and less Heathrow Hassle. Above all the Scottish Government must find a replacement for the former Air Route Development Fund."

The "Emerging Thinking" document published by the Competition Commission can be found here.

Conserving Carmunnock…and Harmony. - 18th April 2008

The village of Carmunnock

Charlie Gordon MSP is pleased that the alternative site which he suggested for a proposed Muslim Cemetery has been accepted by both Glasgow City Council and Glasgow's Muslim Community.

The original plans were for a cemetery at Windlaw Farm, adjacent to Carmunnock village; it resulted in a large number of objections and some controversy, with some mischief-makers suggesting most objections were racially motivated.

"I am in support of a new Muslim cemetery for Glasgow" said Charlie Gordon MSP " I also support conserving Carmunnock village"; "The acceptance of my alternative suggestion of using fields at Mid-Netherton Farm, adjacent to New Carmunnock Cemetery, achieves both."

Managing Mansewood - 17th April 2008

Tom, Charlie and Stephen with the events organisers.

Politicians, police officers and residents grappled with the thorny issues of parking, bus services and recycling at a packed public meeting in Mansewood.

Together with Tom Harris, MP for Glasgow South and Councillor Stephen Curran, Charlie Gordon MSP listened to local residents' views at Mansewood Community Centre.

Top of the agenda was proposed changes to FirstBus service 29, which will have to change its route from this summer due to a new disabled-friendly bus design which will make it more difficult to navigate through some of the narrower local streets.

Representatives of FirstBus were also present to hear local people's concerns.
Charlie said afterwards: "I was pleased to see a large turnout. Mansewood has great community spirit, and I enjoyed the event."

Scottish Government's New Tax Plans…A Pig in a Poke - 11th April 2008

Glasgow Cathcart MSP, Charlie Gordon has attacked the Scottish Government's plans to replace Council Tax with a Local Income Tax as 'a pig in a poke'.

"The Council Tax isn't popular; but can anyone name a popular tax? There hasn’t been an above-inflation increase in Glasgow's Council Tax for 10 years now; for 3 of those 10 years Council Tax was frozen." said Charlie.

By Law water charges are collected by Councils on behalf of Scottish Water, along with Council Tax. Charlie added "I support abolishing water rates for Pensioners and looking at reforms to the Council Tax as a more sensible and affordable option. In contrast the Scottish Government's plan to have a so-called Local Income Tax; which they will set centrally; is not just an attack on local democracy but an attack on every wage earner in Scotland to the tune of between 3p and 6p in the pound of extra tax to pay."

Gordon in New Knife Crime Survey - 4th April 2008

Glasgow Cathcart MSP, Charlie Gordon, who has been campaigning for some years for automatic jail sentences for knife possession, has launched a new survey on his website to gauge public support for such a measure.

Charlie attempted to introduce such a Law in the Scottish Parliament in 2006, but did not get support from other MSPs.

"There has been a concerted effort against knife crime over the past two years, but I want to see if there is public support for jailing those who carry knives illegally, as is the case with those who carry guns." said Charlie.

To take part in Charlie's survey click here.