Aitken “delighted” with new Justice role

Glasgow MSP Bill Aitken has been appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice by Conservative Leader Annabel Goldie.

Mr Aitken, who previously served as a Glasgow baillie, said his experience as both a magistrate and an MSP for the city provided him with invaluable experience for the role.

Bill Aitken said “I am delighted with this new role, one which is of growing importance.

“With offending rates across Scotland increasing, the new SNP administration must look at tackling crime and anti-social behaviour levels as a matter of urgency.

“If they put forward legislation which we believe will be effective in reducing offending rates – and which will make Glasgow’s streets and communities safer for all people – then they will have our support.

“However, if like the previous Liberal/Labour administration, they are more interested in high profile pilot schemes which deliver questionable results, then it will be my responsibility, and the responsibility of the Scottish Conservatives, to hold them to account”.

Super-casino decision

I am disappointed but not surprised that Manchester has been chosen as the location for Britain's first super-casino. Manchester, for some time now, has seemed to have been pencilled in as the preferred option.

Clearly this is a blow to Glasgow but we’ll just have to see whether anything can be rescued by obtaining some investment in a smaller facility from the various interested companies.

The City, and its elected representatives, will now need to try even harder than we are at present to get the Commonwealth Games to come to Glasgow in 2014 and in this respect I am upbeat we’ll get a result.

Bill welcomes local businessman to Holyrood

Bill lost his seat in Parliament on Friday but thankfully it was just for the day.

The Conservative MSP welcomed George Brown of Glasgow company Brown and Brown Consultants to Holyrood’s Business in Parliament Day which sees MSPs invite a prominent member of their local business community to their usual seat for business meetings and seminars at the £431 million complex.

Bill said “I was delighted to be able to welcome George Brown to the Business in Parliament day. George is a prominent member of Glasgow’s business community and someone who knows the business sector in the City inside-out.

“Business in Parliament Day has become an important opportunity for representatives of businesses of all sizes to come to Holyrood and discuss with MSPs directly the many problems they face in doing business in our country.

“The event is growing every year and is a big success. While the Conservatives have always been a party which understands the needs of the business sector, the day is a real attempt by MSPs of other colours to better understand and assist the wealth creation process”.