Hugh Henry kicks off 2014 by looking ahead to the year, and reflecting on recent changes to public transport and the success of a Neilston charity.

Neilston War Memorial This year marks the centenary of the First World War – the so called “war to end all wars”. Of course we know that never happened and we still have young men and women engaged in combat in foreign parts. There are many parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, where war and devastation are a constant feature of life. While the First World War may be just a part of our history with none left alive who fought, it is still right to remember the devastation that war caused to communities like Barrhead and Neilston. Nor should we forget those who took a principled position of opposition to the First World War. People like Jimmy Maxton campaigned against the war, some because they were pacifists, some because they were conscientious objectors, and some because they believed that working people should have been fighting the sound injustice of the time rather than fighting other workers. Jimmy Maxton moved to Barrhead when he was three. His father was headmaster of Grahamston Public School. Barrhead and Neilston were very much part of Jimmy Maxton’s life. It would be wrong not to remember those whose principled stand led them to losing their jobs and sometimes like Jimmy Maxton, spending time in prison. Neilston, unlike Barrhead, has never had any kind of memorial to those who died in the war and I want to pay tribute in particular to the local campaigners in Neilston who have now raised the money to build a fitting tribute to those from Neilston who lost their lives in conflict. I’ve written before about the remembrance tributes from the pupils of Neilston Primary and St. Thomas Primary. This new generation, supported by their teachers, are making sure that not only do we pay tribute to those who died, but we also learn the lessons to try to avoid such tragedies happening in the future. Matt Drennan and the campaign team have now made sure that Neilston will take its place in having a visible and lasting memorial. Well done to everyone who helped out and thank you to Jimmy Higgins and John McGuire whose walk to Vimy Ridge in France helped to publicise the campaign.

Bus Services I have been warning for some time that Alex Salmond’s transport policy would lead to higher bus fares and reduced services. Now local bus travellers have been hit with a 10% increase in bus fares by McGill’s. I’ve also recently been told that McGill’s has decided to axe its day time service between Paisley and a large part of Johnstone which is in my constituency. I fear that this may be the start of service cuts. I do want McGills and other operators to look at their responsibility to local communities. But it would be wrong to simply blame the bus companies. They are being squeezed by Alex Salmond’s SNP Government. Scottish Labour introduced the popular concessionary bus travel scheme for older people. Now Alex Salmond is cutting the compensation paid to bus companies every time the card is used. Bus companies are having to increase fares and cut services because the Scottish Government is short changing them. On top of this, the SNP Government has cut the bus operator’s grant which is designed to maintain bus services across Scotland. This will lead to higher fares and cuts in services. That’s why I’m backing the Labour sponsored bill to regulate bus services. Alex Salmond used to support this until a major bus company owner donated £500,000 to the SNP and he then changed his mind. I wonder why?