I was born in Stranraer fifty years ago and have spent most of my life living and working in the area.
I am married with two children, my eldest son Ryan is at present studying Law and Public Administration at University in Glasgow, my youngest son Brendan, is presently taking his Highers at Stranraer Academy with a view to studying Politics after the Summer.
I started my working life at the Ministry of Technology at Farnborough, where I spent almost two years. Deciding on a career switch I then went on to spend the next eighteen years in various positions within the Bookmaking industry in various parts of the country. When my eldest son reached the age of four, we returned to Stranraer to enable him to have a settled education. I spent the next thirteen years working in my home town, the last 10 of which were with Stena Line as a Docker, being forced to retire after injury.
Since 1992, I have been an elected Councillor for Stranraer, firstly on Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council and now the Unitary Authority. At present I am the leader of the Labour Group on the Council and also the chairman of the Education Committee. I believe it is the duty of any elected person to have the views of those he represents heard in the corridors of power, this I know is my greatest strength.
The forthcoming General Election should be fought on issues, but we cannot ignore the fact that the SNP have failed us, they have failed us because they can never be the strong voice we need at Westminster.
Alasdair Morgan now says he wants to concentrate on the Scottish Parliament, which is where they see their furture.
The Conservatives cannot be trusted, they had their chance over many years and let us all down.
I believe the Labour Party in Government, after just three and a half years, are doing a good job, not as fast as we would like, but they are delivering. Inflation and interest rates are at record lows, this got to be good news for business, unemployment at a twenty-five year low, although I do not believe enough has been done to attract new business to this constituency. Upper Nithsdale has been decimated byn the pit closures under the Tories, so efforts must be made to attract new industry to prevent the steady depopulation of this area. Our traditional industries in Galloway, farming, tourism and transport must be revitalised.
Farming has suffered greaty from the recent BSE crisis and now they have the threat of Foot and Mouth hanging over their heads. While I would not pretend to have great knowledge in this area, any industry faced with these mounting problems must seek and be given assistance from the Government.
Our tourism and transport problems, I believe, are linked in many ways, although the common denominator to them both is the A75, we need this road upgraded if there is to be easy access to our region for both of these groups alike.
The Labour party is no longer seen as the enemy of business, I believe in my work as a Councillor I have built links with and helped business and as the MP for Galloway & Upper Nithsdale would look to strengthen these.
Finally, although I believe Labour is doing well in Govenment, we cannot be complacent there are still many issues to be addressed, fuel prices are too high, this not only affects business but also day to day living in a rural area.
Pensions have increased under Labour, but not enough. I believe the link between Pensions and wages - which was removed by the Tories - must be reinstated.
These are the issues I would campaign on if elected.
I am married with two children, my eldest son Ryan is at present studying Law and Public Administration at University in Glasgow, my youngest son Brendan, is presently taking his Highers at Stranraer Academy with a view to studying Politics after the Summer.
I started my working life at the Ministry of Technology at Farnborough, where I spent almost two years. Deciding on a career switch I then went on to spend the next eighteen years in various positions within the Bookmaking industry in various parts of the country. When my eldest son reached the age of four, we returned to Stranraer to enable him to have a settled education. I spent the next thirteen years working in my home town, the last 10 of which were with Stena Line as a Docker, being forced to retire after injury.
Since 1992, I have been an elected Councillor for Stranraer, firstly on Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council and now the Unitary Authority. At present I am the leader of the Labour Group on the Council and also the chairman of the Education Committee. I believe it is the duty of any elected person to have the views of those he represents heard in the corridors of power, this I know is my greatest strength.
The forthcoming General Election should be fought on issues, but we cannot ignore the fact that the SNP have failed us, they have failed us because they can never be the strong voice we need at Westminster.
Alasdair Morgan now says he wants to concentrate on the Scottish Parliament, which is where they see their furture.
The Conservatives cannot be trusted, they had their chance over many years and let us all down.
I believe the Labour Party in Government, after just three and a half years, are doing a good job, not as fast as we would like, but they are delivering. Inflation and interest rates are at record lows, this got to be good news for business, unemployment at a twenty-five year low, although I do not believe enough has been done to attract new business to this constituency. Upper Nithsdale has been decimated byn the pit closures under the Tories, so efforts must be made to attract new industry to prevent the steady depopulation of this area. Our traditional industries in Galloway, farming, tourism and transport must be revitalised.
Farming has suffered greaty from the recent BSE crisis and now they have the threat of Foot and Mouth hanging over their heads. While I would not pretend to have great knowledge in this area, any industry faced with these mounting problems must seek and be given assistance from the Government.
Our tourism and transport problems, I believe, are linked in many ways, although the common denominator to them both is the A75, we need this road upgraded if there is to be easy access to our region for both of these groups alike.
The Labour party is no longer seen as the enemy of business, I believe in my work as a Councillor I have built links with and helped business and as the MP for Galloway & Upper Nithsdale would look to strengthen these.
Finally, although I believe Labour is doing well in Govenment, we cannot be complacent there are still many issues to be addressed, fuel prices are too high, this not only affects business but also day to day living in a rural area.
Pensions have increased under Labour, but not enough. I believe the link between Pensions and wages - which was removed by the Tories - must be reinstated.
These are the issues I would campaign on if elected.
