Fay Young

Category: Politics

  • Come friendly bombs

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    But spare the bald young clerks who add The profits of the stinking cad; It’s not their fault that they are mad, They’ve tasted Hell. Politicians say daft things from time to time because after all (contrary to the view of  Hugh (hedge fund) Hendry on Question Time from Glasgow last week) they are human. …

  • Travel the world without leaving Leith

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    Who says multicultural Britain is broken?  On Facebook I am invited to a ‘Migrant Drop In Night’ where an open stage invites migrants, travellers, refugees and local people to celebrate Edinburgh “As a welcoming & safe environment; where all new arrivals feel empowered, accepted & integrated & able to contribute to our community.”

  • The value of nothing

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    Are you in the top 25% of earners?  You might be surprised to discover how little it takes to be in that band. Even before the coalition cuts begin to hurt we already suffer from  a low or (no) pay economy. You don’t have to look far to find evidence.

  • Power of the people

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    Here’s real people power for you. Yesterday in the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament we voted in favour of a maximum wage, a cap on bank bonuses and renationalisation of the railways. And, no, I wasn’t dreaming.

  • How to save a million George? Invest in young people

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    Job schemes for the young have taken the first big hit in George Osborne’s deficit reduction cuts. It’s dogma over common sense Another gorgeous day.  I haven’t switched on the radio yet because I can’t quite bear to hear what less than gorgeous George is doing to the economic climate of the country. Is this…

  • Welcome immigrants, you make life better

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    Not many people saw it, but last night was a good night for community action.  While would-be leaders dominated the television screen,  a political drama was quietly unfolding in a Leith community centre which confounds all those fears of immigrants.

  • Broughton awaits Tesco Express

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    Welcome to Broughton Street, open for business despite the tramworks. It’s the place to come whether you want a leisurely meal or a quick coffee, whether you are looking for upmarket sausages or  good wines, second hand books or frilly knickers, organic  fruit, vegetables or ( ahem) erotica.  On a wet March morning there is …

  • The tenement tree

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    Enlightened city had let you be till Mammon’s grasp said ‘damn the tree’; So far the trees are still there: a splash of green between grey buildings in a grey street. Otherwise only cars and traffic signs add  colour to one of the posher parts of Edinburgh. Planning permission for a new building on the…

  • Can cafe culture beat Tesco in Broughton?

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    Just for the record, I did write a letter to Edinburgh’s Head of Planning to register my concern over Tesco’s plans to open a new store at 8 Picardy Place.  As it happens I wrote it the same day I went to see the Edinburgh premiere of the Age of Stupid.  Make of that what…

  • Stop Tesco destroying Broughton

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    Update March 26: Tesco is coming to Broughton, what will happen to local shops?  See Broughton awaits Tesco Express Can we stop Tesco dominating the landscape? I feel strongly that we can and must. But we will need to be quick. Letters to protest against yet another Tesco store in the Broughton area have to…

  • Rehearsing for reality

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    Can art change society? Here’s news of an exciting new community theatre project in Leith which aims to get people actively involved in society by taking part in art. No theatre experience needed but an enquiring mind is useful. 

  • Anyone for green custard?

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    Come the revolution Who said this: “Owners of capital will stimulate the working class to buy more and more expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credit, until their debt becomes unbearable…