Scottish Votepods.com

Photos of everything

Over at our associate Scottish Votepods Unplugged there are photos of all of the Debates.

If you want to see images form the events then please take a look. Indeed, if you have a better shot that you would like to share then please send it to us for consideration.

Yours aye.

Are we connecting ?

We have now completed 6 Big Debates and everyone has been kind enough to thank us for our efforts. That's great and we appreciate it. However, we would like to hear your personal story. If  you were an organiser, a participant, a member of the audience or even a panelist, what did you think ? If you have  watched the video clips on YouTube or listened via iTunes, what was it like for you ? Did the event work for you ? Are you feeling more connected to the issues ? Do you think this method of engagement works ? Lots of people have expressed opinions - let's have a debate about the Big Debates. After we all need to connect. Right.

More Voting Results...

Although we have already posted the interactive voting results from the Seniors Debate in Stirling, it is probably useful for completeness to let  you see their results in the same chart format ...Download the_big_seniors_debate.pdf ...

Seniors Votepad Results

At yesterdays Seniors Debate, we used electronic votepads to instantly get a snapshot of their collective view on individual topics. While this is not a scientific snapshot like an opinion poll, it does give an indication of how strongly people felt about certain things. Around 150 of the audience used the pads and the results are below. The results are percentages.

Question 1             
Should the Council Tax be replaced with a local income tax?
Yes                              71      
No                               18
Don’t know                 11

Question 2
Community care in many council areas is under funded, and raided for other uses. Which party has convinced you they will not allow council cash for older peoples services to be spent on other things?
LAB                            1
SNP                          17
TORY                          6
LIB DEM                       2
GREENS                       3         
SSP                             5
SOLIDARITY              50
SSCUP                        6
NONE                        10

Question 3            
Should the free bus system for pensioners be extended to include all public transport – bus, Rail and ferries?
Yes                              95
No                               3
Don’t know                 1

Question 4             
Post Offices are vital for pensioners. Which party has convinced you they will avoid cuts and restore post office services?
LAB                            2
SNP                          29
TORY                          3
LIB DEM                      3         
GREENS                       1
SSP                             3
SOLIDARITY               46
SSCUP                        3
NONE                         9

Question 5            
Is the government’s intention to restore the link between pensions and earnings by 2012 reasonable?
YES                             17
NO                              82
DON’T KNOW               1

Question 6
Based on today’s debate how will you be voting in the constituency section of the vote for Holyrood on May 3rd?
LAB                                10
SNP                                 34
TORY                                 7
LIB DEM                             1
GREENS                             1
SSP                                   2
SOLIDARITY                    28      
SSCUP                              3
NONE OF YR BUSINESS!  13

Seniors Debate - Stirling

Chaired by Lesley Riddoch, the second Votepod Debate took place in the Albert Halls, Stirling this afternoon. The politicians are keen to court Scotland's 700,000 pensioners and today they were put through their paces by 250 seniors anxious to get their views across.

We have broken the debate down into managable sections that you can  listen and view directly on this page. You can also view videos on the Scottish VotePod Channel on You Tube, subscribe to the audio podcasts on iTunes or directly download the audio files. Our audio clips allow you to listen to the discussion in detail, while the video clips will feature shorter highlight clips.

The following party representatives took part:

Lab: Sylvia Jackson

SNP: Christine Grahame

Conservative: Graham Brown

Lib Dem: Andrew Arbuckle

Green: Robin Harper

Solidarity: Tommy Sheridan

Senior Citizens Party: Jack Stewart 

View Video of Lesley Riddoch introducing the Panel

Audio

Section 1: The event started off with an extended discussion on Council Tax and whether or not it should be replaced by a local income tax. In the first excerpt each of the party representatives outline their position on an issue of great importance to senior citizens.

You can download the file here

Section 2: The discussion continues with comments on the efficiency of local government. It then tackles the important subject for many pensioners, the provision of community care .

You can download the file here

Section 3: This section of the Big Seniors Debate deals with how well older peoples views are represented and tackles the difficult subject of pensioners having to sell their homes to fund their care.

You can download the file here.

Section 4: In the final part of the debate, we hear calls for a Pensioners Parliament, discussion over pension credits, concerns over transport provision and the closure of rural post offices.

You can download the file here

VIDEO - produced by students from Napier University

The Seniors debate was dominated by a discussion over the future of the Council tax. Many pensioners see it as an unfair tax as they make clear in this video clip.

In this clip each of the politicians  respond by outlining their policies in regard to the Council tax.

Another area that provoked considerable discussion was whether funds for the provision of community care be ringfenced.

Election Bidding War for Pensioners' Votes Reaches Climax

The parties contesting the Holyrood election have been falling over themselves to bid for pensioners votes over the last week.

It started with the SNPs decision to scrap the council tax and replace it with a local income tax -- almost guaranteed to help the majority of pensioners whose house size is outstripping their pension income. Labour responded this week with a promise to introduce a new lower band, cut council tax for pensioners by 24% and halve water and sewerage charges within two years.

The Tories have gone 26% better -- they say they'll halve the council tax for senior citizens. And the Lib Dems have yet to join the bidding war.

So scrapping water charges or scrapping the poll tax -- which will Scotland's pensioners go for?

The Votepods debate at the Albert Halls in Stirling 1-3pm on Thursday 12 April (yip -tomorrow!!!) will be the first chance for representatives of Scotland's 700,000 pensioners to give their reaction to the latest proposals. Given that over 60's have the highest propensity to vote -- its no wonder the parties are queuing up to make big promises. But happily, pensioners have seen and heard it all, and are very likely to deliver a light savaging to any politician that tries to offer glib sound-bites are evasive answers.

The afternoon will start with songs from Sheena Wellington - who opened the Scottish Parliament with her rendition of Burns anthem, A Man's a Man for 'a that.

IF YOU'RE CURIOUS COME ALONG -- ITS FREE AND IT'LL BE GOOD CRAIC.

IF YOU CAN'T COME WATCH THIS SPACE FROM THURSDAY EVENING FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS.

-- Good luck to all the candidates who are.....

LAB Sylvia Jackson

SNP Christine Grahame

TORY Graham Brown

LIB DEM Andrew Arbuckle

GREEN Robin Harper

SSP Lorna Bett

SOLIDARITY Tommy Sheridan

SENIOR CITIZENS PARTY Don Sharp

Help Shape the Debate - Post a Comment

While we want as many people as possible to attend the events, we realise that not everybody will be able to go. So if you've got a question you want to ask or an issue that you would like Lesley to raise, please let us know. We'll do our best to include them at the event.

You can contribute here or by clicking on the comments tab at the bottom of each individual entry on this site. If you prefer, you can e-mail us directly.

Don't just sit there - get involved and Shape the Debate.

The Scottish Podcast Events

Here is the list of events with date and location.

For ticket requests contact us or where listed below the local organiser. Not all events require tickets.

Further details of participants, musicians, timing and arrangements for tickets etc will be announced as and when they are confirmed.

• March 19th The Big Student Debate – McEwan Hall, Edinburgh University. Starts at 12 Noon.
No tickets required. Stand-up comedy from Janey Godley. Organised by Edinburgh University Students Association.

• April 12th The Seniors Big Debate, 2.00pm Albert Halls, Stirling. Music from Sheena Wellington. Organised by West of Scotland Seniors Forum.

• April 16th The Big Wellbeing Debate –  AK Bell Theatre, Perth. Starts 7.30. Ticket arrangements to follow. Music from St. Andrew of the Woolen Mill (including Michael Marra and Kevin Murray). This event is organised by the Perth Association for Mental Health.

• April 17th The Big Green Debate - The Hub, Edinburgh. Starts 7.30. No tickets - entry first come, first served. Musical entertainment from Capercaille. The event is organised by the EveryOne campaign

• April 19th The Big Energy Debate - Caird Hall, Dundee. Solar Cities Scotland is hosting this debate on the evening of Thursday 19th April 2007. There will be an energy fair and music from the Hazey Janes. Tickets are free but limited. Email the local organiser.

• April 20th  The Big Cairngorm Debate - MacDonald Aviemore Centre. Doors open 7.00 for 7.30pm start. Music from Babelfish. The event will be advertised locally and tickets are required. Organised by The Inner Wheel of Spey Valley  there will be a small charge, proceeds going to charity. Please email local organiser.

• April 23rd, The Big Grey Power Debate -  Banqueting Hall, City Chambers, Glasgow. 2.00pm. Music from Sheena Wellington. No tickets required. Organised by the Scottish Pensioners Forum.

• April 25th The Big Neighbourhood Debate – 7.00pm, Ocean Terminal, Leith. 

• April 26th The Big Island Debate – 7.00pm, Aros Centre,  Music from Babalfish.

• April 30th  The Big Work Debate – 7.00pm, Main Lecture Theatre, Abertay University,  Dundee. Music from Sheena Wellington. Free tickets by emailing the organisers Dundee Voluntary Action or phone 0138 2221545