News Update

Gordon welcomes jobs resurgence at Vion Foods - 4th August 2010                          

Glasgow cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon has welcomed the creation of 100 new jobs at Vion Food's Cambuslang plant, where some of his constituents are employed.

"This news is especially welcome when you consider that, less than 18 months ago, 150 jobs were lost there" said Charlie.

In March 2009, Charlie Gordon was one of 37 MSPs who signed a Motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for jobs help for the plant; Charlie spoke in a holyrood Debate on the issue on 19 March 2009.

" "Carry a knife; go to jail" campaign goes on despite lost vote."  says Gordon - 30th June 2010

Glasgow Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon, a long-term campaigner against knife crime, has pledged that the campaign to give automatic jail terms to those caught carrying knives

Will continue, despite a narrow defeat for the measure in a vote in the Scottish Parliament on 30 June.

The Parliament had been voting on clauses in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill at its third and final stage of scrutiny.

At stage 2, the Committee stage of scrutiny of the Bill, the Scottish parliament's Justice Committee had agreed to insert an amendment by Richard Baker MSP, stipulating a mandatory jail sentence of at least 6 months to any convicted of knife possession, except in exceptional circumstances.

But at Stage 3, Scottish Government Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAaskill MSP, moved an amendment to remove the clause inserted by Mr Baker; in a tight vote, the Justice Secretary's amendment passed by 63 votes to 61.

"Of course the losing vote is a bitter blow to those who, like me, favour in sentencing policy the deterrent of "carry a kinfe; go to jail" said Charlie Gordon MSP. "but we've come a long way since 2006, when I could not get the support of a single MSP for a similar clause.

The are fresh elections to the Scottish Parliament in May 2011 and I believe that the majority of MSPs elected then will soon after change the law in the way that is needed

To save the lives of our young people. That's why the campaign will not go away".

To read Charlie Gordon's speech in the Debate, click here.

Cathcart MSP Demands Urgent Action on Rogue Landlords - 23rd & 24th June 2010

Glasgow Cathcart MSP, Charlie Gordon MSP has urged the Scottish Government to fill gaps in legislation to tackle the activities of rogue landlords, their unscrupulous letting agents and their anti-social tenants.

Charlie spoke in the Stage 1 Debate on the Housing (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament on 23rd June 2010.

The following day, he asked Housing Minister Alex Neil to take action against private letting agents who fail to vet whether landlords are registered, or whether new tenants have a record of anti-social behaviour.

"Too many of my constituent s are having their quality of life ruined in their own homes by the anti-social behaviour of rogue landlords.  The Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament must act swiftly to tighten up the law and put these cowboys out of business." said Charlie.

To read Charlie's speech in the 23rd June debate click here.

To read Charlie's Parliamentary Question click here.

More Success for Gordon's campaign For Better Buses - 22nd June 2010

Glasgow Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon has claimed more success for his campaign for greener, more accessible buses.

Following the success of his motion, signed by over 100 MSPs and debated in the Scottish Parliament on 18th March 2010, which resulted in £1 million grant to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to buy hybrid buses, Charlie called for at least another £2 million to help bus operators fund new hybrid buses; the Scottish Government have now agreed to grant another £3.4 million.  "Job done" said Charlie.

Carers' Week - 14th to 20th June 2010

Glasgow Cathcart MSP, Charlie Gordon is a Member of the Scottish Parliament's Cross - Party Group on Carers.

Charlie took part in 2 events during Scotland's 10th Annual Carers Week.

On 14th June, Charlie visited the Castlemilk Office of The Princess Royal Trust Glasgow South East Carers Centre (pictured above), to see a group of constituent carers who were walking to the charity's main office in Govanhill, to mark Carers' Week.

On 17th June Charlie attended a meeting of the Cross - Party Group on Carers, where there was a discussion on future strategies to support Scotland's carers.

Charlie meets with the Carers before they set off.

Breakthrough on Children's Cycle Safety - 9th June 2010

Charlie is a long-standing campaigner for safe cycling as the above picture from 1994 shows, when he headed Strathclyde Regional Council's Roads and Transport Committee.

Glasgow Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon has hailed a new scheme to train children across Scotland to cycle safely.

The new scheme was suggested to the Scottish Government by the Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee (TICC), of which Charlie is a Member.

The new scheme was announced around a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the TICC's report on its inquiry into "Active Travel"; cycling and walking in Scotland.

To read Charlie's contribution on Active Travel click here.

To view the TICC report on Active Travel click here.

Nursery Becomes A Butterfly - 4th June 2010

The former Carnwadric and Kennishead Pre-5 Unit has moved premises and changed its name to Butterfly Nursery.

Charlie Gordon MSP jointly performed the Official Opening alongside Councillor Stephen Curran. Tom Harris MP for Glasgow South also attended along with Glasgow South West MP, Ian Davidson.

"For years I have supported the nursery's campaign to secure new premises, after the former Carnwadric Primary School building closed; this is a great day for all concerned." said Charlie.

The Plaque is uncovered!	Charlie Gordon MSP congratulates staff and parents for their efforts.

Gordon Welcomes Bill to Regulate Property Factors - 2nd June 2010

Charlie Gordon MSP and Patricia Ferguson MSP

Glasgow Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon has welcomed a new Bill in the Scottish Parliament to regulate property factors.

A Bill to require Property Factors to comply with a code of conduct and be registered has been published by Patricia Ferguson MSP.  The Property Factors (Scotland) Bill will make it an offence for a property factor to operate without being registered, and will also introduce an accessible form of dispute resolution.

The legislation will lead to the establishment of a code of conduct setting minimum standards of practice expected of registered property factors, and will afford greater protection for homeowners from rogue factors.

"I regularly receive complaints from constituents about rogue factors, so I welcome this Bill." said Charlie Gordon MSP

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