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Monday, 2nd November 2009 Change Date Latest Issue

Salmond 'snubs public travel'

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Published Date: 23 January 2008
ALEX SALMOND was under fire today over for snubbing public transport on official engagements. Figures released today show the First Minister had made all his trips by limousine or plane.
Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes claimed the fact neither Mr Salmond nor Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had used trains, ferries or buses called into question their commitment to public transport.

Mr Salmond has made a total of five return and 11 single plane trips since taking office in May. Ms Sturgeon has made six return air journeys.

Transport minister Stewart Stevenson has made the most trips by rail – three return and five single journeys – and is the only minister to have used the bus, which he did four times.



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  • Last Updated: 25 January 2008 2:35 PM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scottish National Party
 
1

,

23/01/2008 13:45:02
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
2

Edward,

23/01/2008 14:12:07
Is Foulkes for real???
George 'makes a malt' Foulkes seems to forget that Alex Salmond is First Minister. Does George raise the same points about Gordon Brown (after all George is still a regular at Lords (the Westminster Parliament that is not the pub) I dont think he would so why come out with such a crass and stupid rambling?
This paper should stop paying George Foulkes to come up with idiotic statements, ebven if its only the price of a large one!
3

The Judge,

23/01/2008 14:15:21
One small problem George, The Scottish Government don't own any limousines. Good try though, by the way how much did you claim for attending The House of Lords last year? You know the place you gave up a committee place at Holyrood so you could still claim expenses down there too.

4

Johnny Yen,

23/01/2008 14:52:22
He really could do with walking.
5

mrmoneypenny,

23/01/2008 15:01:49
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/george_foulkes/roi.htm

Strangley though, in this story they work harder, which is it to be?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6989972.stm

also he claimed £111,386 in expenses from Westminster's second chamber over the last two years. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/politics/Foulkes-hits-back-at-MSP39s.3672259.jp
6

 Ayrshire Scot™,

23/01/2008 15:21:35
2. Foulkes uses public transport sometimes. If the back of a police van taking him to the nick for assaulting a policeman is public transport?
7

Jimmy the Pie,

23/01/2008 15:25:39
It's easy to see why the Hootsmoan circulation figures are dropping like a stone. With articles like this drivel, to which no one puts their name, shows a desperate paper, run by spineless halfwits.
8

Sgurr,

23/01/2008 15:28:39
is that the same George Foulkes who once got drunk and knocked over an old lady in the street before being carted off by the police? I wonder if police cars count as public transport, since they are publicly funded...?

This type of chatter is so low-rent that it makes its peddler look like a complete bumpkin. I've never heard of the premier of any country being harranged for not taking the bus to work...surely we would rather see our polticians spending more time actually working than hanging aroung to catch busses and trains in the name of a PR stunt.
9

theburnschap,

23/01/2008 15:43:15
Be great to see Alex using the train system - oops of course, there isn't one in the north east of Scotland.....

I'm sure I was once told that Banff and Buchan was the only constituency in mainland UK that had no train stations any more.

Of course he could take the bus to Aberdeen - but they are every hour from the Broch and take 1.5 hours to get there.

And then get the train from Aberdeen to Edinburgh another 3 hours.

And then the mad dobber Foulke would be critical of the fact that Alex was never in Edinburgh on time....
10

Mr Crisps,

Musselburgh 23/01/2008 15:50:58
Foulkes, get a group man.
11

Mr Crisps,

Musselburgh 23/01/2008 15:51:08
Or even a grip lol
12

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 23/01/2008 16:04:03
Has George Foulkes got shares in the Scotsman? They seem to publish anything he says, whether it makes any sense or not.
13

tomias,

Edinburgh 23/01/2008 16:06:40
George Foulkes ( Report Unsuitable)
14

Rasco,

23/01/2008 16:09:14
GET A GRIP SCOTSMAN. When are we going to see some reporting about Wendy or have your bosses put a blank on.Had to look at the Express to see Wendy had got a slap on the wrist for allowing details of het campaign donors to be leaked.
15

An Beal Bacht,

23/01/2008 16:24:45
Salmond as FM should be setting an example given public concern over climate change! Buy the man a bicycle. If he feels that is beneath his dignity get him a tandem - the chauffeur can go in front.
16

GrahamH,

Edinburgh 23/01/2008 16:27:32
After he allowed the trams, surprised he isn't more passionate about public transport.
17

 Ayrshire Scot™,

23/01/2008 16:32:57
Here is a picture of George Foulkes not using public transport as he leaves the police station he was taken to in public transport, courtesy of the Metropolitan police:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/1947360844_3cdce16824_o.jpg
18

Il Penseroso,

Inverurie 23/01/2008 16:33:25
I tell you, if this the only dirt this shower of warmongers can get on Salmond we have nothing to fear. It clearly emphasises the huge difference between a class act, Salmond and a booze soaked greedy two faced imposter. He wouldn't know decency if he read it on the bottom of a bottle of guiness. Keep going Foulkes, like Helen Liddell, every time you open your gub the SNP get another bag full of votes. Where is Helen now? She was such a liability they shipped her off to Hong Kong(?) or some cushy place where she can do no more damage.
19

Jingsitsme,

EDINBURGH 23/01/2008 16:59:11
I'm a business person and you cannot rely on public transport!!

Try taking a return train to Stirling regularly for example. It's late more than it's on time or it is cancelled.

If you want to go somewhere for a certain time the best vehicle is by car or plane if you can do that.

I used to be able to rely on first train to Aberdeen but you can't now.

So when public transport is reliable then I will use it. So carry on Mr Salmond you can't do your job properly if you are going to rely on public transport
20

Andrew D,

23/01/2008 17:01:02
What the hell is this nonsense?

He's the First Minister. Our Prime Minister, our Premier, our President.

And Foulkes has the gall to moan and this paper the cheek to print his rubbish that the guy doesn't use public transport on official business???

Excuse me? I know that Labour think Scotland is a joke to be used as applicable but that is just ridiculously demeaning of the institutions of government in this country to even say such a thing.
21

Groucho,

23/01/2008 17:35:19
I don't use public transport either. As transport it's crap and you have to mix with the public.
22

morris,

edinburgh 23/01/2008 17:39:52
17 Comments as stupid as that are only useful for a laugh. The SNP were opposed to the Trams,but being a minority party could not succesfully oppose them when there are 47 SNP members and 82 which are NOT SNP.
If you cannot understand what a minority administration means or even do simple arithmetic,why advertise the fact?
23

morris,

edinburgh 23/01/2008 17:55:18
21

His predecessors used transportation paid for by the state,and if we purchase vehicles (which we need as does any parliament for any visiting dignitaries) it makes sense to make use of them also,especially when you are travelling to the North East. He may be our FM but he is also an elected MP and MSP. If he cant get to where he needs to be, quickly, he would be neglecting all three jobs. FOULKES is a two faced imbecile who was perfectly happy to watch as Hearts staff were shown the door.It's only when he realised that Romanov wanted him out the door also, that he developed a spine!

Foulkes is a race card playing idiot, who does not know when to keep his gob shut, which is remarkable since in his case, permanently would appear to be the best choice!

When your spell checker stops on his name and asks should it ignore or delete Foulkes ,I think Good Question, and sometimes wonder if PCS are more advanced than we thought?
24

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 23/01/2008 18:40:25
As #3 points out, the SG don't own limosines.

I imagine that most of the reasoning behind this are security considerations coupled with not having the time to spend getting buses all over the place when you have a busy schedule of meetings.

Why do people have to take everything literally?
25

Draco Was a Wimp,

Edinburgh 23/01/2008 20:01:17
#24 Morris

How dare you say 'Lord' Foulkes is an imbecile. Although it's perhaps an un-pc term these days, there are genuine 'imbeciles' out there working and contributing. Something that sycophantic sot could never claim to have done.
26

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 23/01/2008 20:38:03
Let's face it - it befits the rank and is so much more comfortable and quick compared to mixing with the hoi polloi on buses and trains. And you'll no doubt get there more quickly and on time.
27

John B Dick,

Rothesay 23/01/2008 22:07:34
Ye ken yon birkie ca'ed a lord?
28

IainGlasgow,

23/01/2008 23:00:41
Alex Salmond is the head of a government and as such there are personal safety concerns to consider when travelling. Still perhaps it would be good to see Gordon Brown or Ken Livingston travelling on the London Underground. I doubt if George Bush ever uses the Washington Metro system or Rudolf Giullianni ever used the New York subway during his term as Mayor.
29

IainGlasgow,

23/01/2008 23:04:48
Never mind public transport. Considering the lows the British establishment are prepared to stoop to, if I was a nationalist FM I would not only travel by limo, I'd be surrounded by an entourage of armed bodyguards at all times.
30

Julian,

EDINBURGH 23/01/2008 23:06:55
#2 Edward,

That's maybe because Foulkes couldn't make the same point about Gordon Brown who has used buses and trains.
31

Julian,

EDINBURGH 23/01/2008 23:13:28
#20 Jingsitsme

You must be travelling on different planes from me. Three quarters of those that I have travelled on have been at least 15 minutes late with some of the worst cases up to 3 hours.

The last one I travelled on was 2 hours late and the one before that was 75 minutes late.

Nowadays when I fly I just assume the default position is that I will not be on time.
32

subrosa,

23/01/2008 23:21:19
Can anyone supply the number of public transport journeys Jack McConnell made as First Minister? Considering he lived in the Central Belt with an excellent bus and train service between Edinburgh and Glasgow, I do hope the number is pleasing.
33

COLINTON.MAINS,

Oakville Ontario 23/01/2008 23:30:34
BUY.THE.MAN.A.HELICOPTER.FOR.GOD.SAKE
34

donald,

glasgow 24/01/2008 07:53:21
Fooks was telt that Union Jack McConnell flew by helicopter to see Mr Trump. Why was this not reported?
35

Katty,

Bannockburn 24/01/2008 18:43:57

Give us a break jingly jangle Geordie The man would be mobbed and never get anything done if he had to go by bus or God forbid tram.

Labour are determined to bring Scotland down, Do not
allow them.

I heard David Cameron say on TV Wendy Alexander is small potatoes not in the same league as Haine.
It matter not Sheep or Lamb. Wrong is Wrong and should be punished

 

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