In his column this month, Councillor Gary Mulvaney asks whether other voters are rightly feeling let down by Labour and Sir Kier Starmer?

Clearly no real popular desire or acclaim for Sir Keir Starmer and Labour at the general election in July.

Basically after 14 years in power, folk were fed up with the Conservatives and wanted them out, whatever it took.

The bargain seemingly struck was that Sir Keir was maybe bland, boring and robotic but with him we would be safe and okay?

Setting aside the freebies, we have seen a budget that has attacked generations of farmers through inheritance tax changes; one of the largest single tax hikes on business (£25 billion) that will affect workers and jobs creation; and the removal of the £300 winter fuel payment from 10 million pensioners.

In addition we have seen borrowing and public spending increase. All of which contributes to lower growth then pre-budget and increasing mortgage rates because of market nervousness.

On quiet reflection have voters really got what they thought was on offer? Surely an opportunity with Russell Findlay’s and Kemi Badenoch’s common sense conservatism to change that in 2026 and beyond.

Shameless

Following on from Labour and Keir Starmer’s first 100 days being dominated by freebies, passes for glasses, free suits and tickets, this fag-end Scottish Government are mired in some shameless behaviour of their own with Health Secretary racking up the miles in taxpayer paid limousines as he, his friends and family are chauffeured to and from various football games.

Why on earth should someone supposedly responsible for the herculean task of fixing the NHS be devoting so much energy, time and taxpayer costs to football?

Anyway, surely they could have used their own vehicle? Or a rarely used motorhome maybe?

What it is with SNP health ministers, with Neil Gray’s excesses following his predecessors £11,000 iPad expenses claim in the same role.

The stench of decay in the SNP’s 17 years in power is only exacerbated by the rank hypocrisy when you see former disgraced FM, Nicola Sturgeon, blazingly bagging a cool £25,000 for her TV punditry having criticised Ruth Davidson for exactly same in 2019 – albeit Ruth got a fraction of that sum.

Add in, MP’s Stephen Flynn dodgy £30,000 campaign donation from a firm he had being lobbying SG ministers for and you get the shameless behaviour enveloping the Nats - one rule for them and another for the rest of us.

Winter Festival

With temperature’s having dropped back to the seasonal norms and Christmas less than four weeks away, there is no better time to have a look at Helensburgh Winter Festival this weekend and start your Christmas shopping.

The small volunteer team that organise the event do a power of work throughout the year to make it all happen, so please pop down Saturday or Sunday and support a great community event.