The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

August Column (3)

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Olympics show what Team GB can do

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By common consent the Beijing Olympic games have been a great success both for China and Team GB setting a standard for London to follow. Already the UK authorities are making it clear that London will be smaller and 'more intimate'.

For UK athletes to achieve fourth place behind China, the USA and Russia in the medals table and the best total medals haul for 100 years has been magnificent and a vindication of the dedication of the athletes and their coaches and the professional approach to supporting the best athletes in each sport.

Of course, we are all delighted with the achievements of Scottish members of the team from Chris Hoy's three cycling golds, David Florence's silver in canoe slalom, Katherine Grainger's silver in the women's quadruple sculls and Ross Edgar's silver in the Keirin.

Hannah Miley's success in reaching the finals holds out the prospect of future medal success.

Nevertheless this was undoubtedly a great British achievement based on combined technical support, coaching and resources that a Scottish-only team could never match. Although Chris Hoy achieved two individual gold medals he would be the first to acknowledge that the team event required partners from other parts of the UK and the whole team benefited from a professional UK-wide technical support team. By definition, Katherine Grainger was part of Team GB.

It was clear watching the Commonwealth Games in Manchester two years ago that even when the UK was fielding national teams from each of the UK nations (and the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) they were all training together as Olympic Team GB and rejoiced in each others' successes. I hope and believe that will be the spirit of the Commonwealth Games in India in 2010 and the Glasgow games in 2014.

Chris Hoy himself has strongly opposed a separate Scottish Olympic team. This would not only mean Scotland would be well down the table but the ability to win medals would be diminished. Scots athletes gained hugely from training facilities, coaching and support across the UK and furth of Scotland. Chris Hoy suggested Scottish Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell should focus on more pressing priorities.

I suggest these should be improving support to grass roots sport in the shape of new and upgraded swimming pools and gymnastic facilities and support for coaching, equipment and travel and accommodation for regional competitions.

Neither the Commonwealth nor the Olympic Games will have a lasting legacy if attention and funding is only for medal winners and in the long run we will only get more medal winners by having a healthier engagement in sport at grass roots levels.

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Summer (?) tour

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Over the last two weeks I have been out and about on my annual summer tour around the constituency. The weather was pretty mixed and disappointing for the harvest but it was good to meet people across Gordon.

Schools are back and I took the opportunity to call on a number of them and found our rural schools in good heart with teachers enthusiastic and praising parent and community support and the children, of course.

A number of specific and community issues were raised with me and I will be taking them up as usual.

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Filling the broadband gaps

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One issue which is clearly causing concern in a number of rural communities is access to and speed of broadband connections. I hope this is just a matter of time as funding has been provided for upgrades which are under way.

Nevertheless in some cases the work has been completed but the faster access has not been provided to subscribers. I suspect too, there will be one or two black holes to fill. I am aware of problems in Collieston, Leslie, Lumsden and Keig.

If there are others, I would urge people to let me know as I will shortly be having a meeting with BT to discuss progress and I hope get coverage extended.

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Economic worries but don't talk it worse

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The general economic situation is worrying for everyone as inflation rises and the housing market stagnates. People whose earnings are capped below inflation are clearly feeling the pinch and public sector workers resent being told they are the cause of inflation when in reality they are among the victims.

It is high oil, food and commodity prices that are driving inflation. This is further aggravated by the credit crunch brought about by irresponsible lending by the banks which we are all now having to pay for.

It is no good the government which has been happy to claim the credit for benign economic circumstances in recent years to try and lay the blame everywhere but with them.

Nevertheless commentators and opposition politicians should not be trying to make a difficult situation worse by aggravating or exaggerating the problems. It almost seems as if the right wing press are happy to see millions of people lose their jobs or have their homes repossessed if it brings about the defeat of the Government.

There are real challenges facing the economy but sentiment i.e. confidence is part of the process and recovery. If people are terrified to spend then that will further deflate the economy.

It is difficult for people to sell houses because people are holding off buying partly because of mortgage constraints but also through fear of buying into negative equity.

For the first time in years there is a fear of unemployment although the shock may be partially absorbed by immigrants returning home.

However, we must not talk ourselves into deeper gloom. In the North East, the housing market has slowed down but not stopped. There is a skills shortage in the oil and gas industry but a need for services.

People will hesitate personally and in business to make investment decisions but in time if confidence is restored deferred spending may start again and the economy should pick up.

Gordon Brown said in a reply to a question from me about oil prices that we had a once in a lifetime opportunity to diversify away from fossil fuels. I told him we had one in the 1970s and didn't take it so why would it be different this time.

Perhaps, however that is why he has resisted SNP and backbench Labour calls for a windfall tax on energy companies which may be popular but would deter investment in new sources of supply just when we need it most. So it is to be hoped he has learned something.

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Tavish Scott is ready for the challenge

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Scottish Liberal Democrats have elected a new leader this week following the unexpected but understandable resignation of Nicol Stephen for family reasons.

There was a real choice among three candidates with distinctive characteristics but I am delighted at the outcome.

Tavish Scott is a Shetlander with whom I have worked over many years and I am sure he will bring energy and vision to the post.

He will continue Nicol Stephen's needed and effective opposition to the SNP while promoting a positive Liberal Democrat vision for Scotland. The other two candidates have pledged their unqualified support.

This is a time of challenge and opportunity for opposition parties and certainly for the Liberal Democrats. Labour have passed the point of no return and the SNP and Tories are playing a merry dance together with the Tories suggesting deals with the SNP and Alex Salmond saying nice things about Margaret Thatcher.

The Liberal Democrats are the most effective opposition party at Holyrood and Westminster and the challenge for our Scottish and federal leaders is to turn that into votes.

The Liberal Democrat policies for a stronger Scottish Parliament with a share in taxes raised in Scotland but a continued stake in the United Kingdom is the most popular option. Taking Scotland out of the UK and picking a fight every week to achieve it is not.

Liberal Democrats also have clear policies on civil liberties, local decision making, lower taxes for lower earners, strong action on the environment and constructive and honourable foreign relations.

Over the next year under our new Scottish leader we will be working to promote these.