Evening Times
HEALTH bosses were today accused of "suppressing and distorting" evidence against the closure of the Queen Mother's Hospital.
MSP Carolyn Leckie has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling on Greater Glasgow NHS Board to come clean on key advice from clinicians and interest groups on the reasons for keeping the maternity hospital open.
The former Glasgow midwife said the board must now publish all expert submissions it received as part of a much-criticised pre-consultation process on the proposed closure.
She said: "If health boards are confident of their arguments they should produce all the evidence and research.
"Unfortunately, it would appear Greater Glasgow NHS Board suppressed and distorted submissions by eminent clinicians in relation to the Queen Mother's consultation."

Scottish Press Association
Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan today won an apology from finance minister Andy Kerr over “a slip of the tongue” in a Holyrood row over council tax.
The row took place in Parliament on December 17 when Mr Kerr said those on the national minimum wage would pay more under the SSP’s proposed “Scottish service tax” than they do at present under the council tax.

Drugs advice for worried parents

Kevin Williamson, the Scottish Socialist Party's spokesman on drugs, told BBC Radio Scotland that education and information about drugs should come form those who have been directly involved with them.

"The reason children aren't going to their parents to talk about drugs is because the information that has been put out there is very disapproving and judgemental.

"Rather than having parents thinking that if their child is taking drugs, it's a one-way ticket to heroin addiction, we should be telling parents not to panic and to listen to the kids without judging them."

He added: "The best people to be giving out information is people who have used drugs themselves, and people who have dealt with people on drugs - not the Scottish Executive." BBC News

Socialist MSP talks his way into Oxford

SCOTTISH Socialist firebrand Colin Fox is preparing to take the bastions of privilege by storm after being invited to speak at the Oxford University Union.

The world’s most famous debating society - often seen as a testing ground for future Prime Ministers - has asked the Lothians list MSP to help propose a motion lamenting the decline of student militancy. Edinburgh Evening News

`New Labour represents the rich' says union leader Green Left Weekly

Press Association
Socialist firebrand Rosie Kane today branded Home Office officials “little Englanders” over a move to deport a mother and daughter given refuge in her home.
The Glasgow list MSP went on the attack after a decision to remove Mercy Ikolo, a 32-year-old asylum seeker from Cameroon, and her 18-month-old daughter Percie.

Refugees Staying With MSP to be Deported

A MOTHER and daughter given refuge in the home of Rosie Kane, the Glasgow MSP, are to be deported after losing their battle to stay in Scotland.
Mercy Ikolo, a 32-year-old asylum seeker from Cameroon and 18-month-old Percieliz have been ordered by immigration officials to be removed to Ireland, where the child was born.
The pair had been staying with Ms Kane, the Scottish Socialist MSP, and her two teenage daughters, since leaving Dungavel detention centre in Lanarkshire last August.
Ms Kane called news of the deportation "heartbreaking". She said last night: "They are family to us. Mercy and I are like sisters. We just feel numb."
Ms Ikolo, a qualified teacher, who has aspirations to train as a social worker, said: "Our hearts are broken and we are afraid. I wish we knew what was in front of us."
Ms Ikolo was seven months' pregnant when she fled Cameroon where, she claimed, her family were targets for political violence. The Herald

NO MERCY: MUM AND BABY BOOTED OUT Sunday Mail

Rosie Kane column in the Sunday Mail:

WE'RE GOING TO MISS MERCY AND PERCIE..SO WILL SCOTLAND

£1 BN M-WAY IS A DISASTER ON STILTS