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Tory councillor suspended by party for trams vote rebellion



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Published Date: 29 December 2007
By ALAN RODEN
A CITY councillor has been suspended from Edinburgh's Tory group after refusing to back the controversial trams scheme.
It is understood Kate MacKenzie will be excluded from all group meetings and votes for the next three months, and be forced to vacate the Conservative offices at the City Chambers. One source said the Almond councillor will be re-housed in a private room next to Labour's former Lord Provost, Eric Milligan.

Councillor MacKenzie's opposition to the £498 million scheme is well known at the City Chambers, but the Conservative manifesto she was re-elected on included a pledge to back the proposals.

At a full council meeting last week she stayed outside the chamber for a vote on the final business case for the trams, which was only opposed by SNP councillors.

It is the second time Cllr MacKenzie has got into trouble for refusing to support the tram plans. In December last year, she resigned as Tory whip "on principle" – fearing the costs of the project would spiral.

One senior councillor said today: "Kate's position has been well known for some time, so she deliberately stayed out of the room during the vote."

Another leading councillor added: "Kate was told she had to be in the room for the vote, and by failing to do so she has had the party whip withdrawn.

"She's been told to leave the Tory offices and has been given her own office next to Eric Milligan.

"I don't know which is the worse punishment: the suspension or being put next to Eric."

It is believed Cllr MacKenzie is the only Tory councillor in more than 25 years to defy party bosses on an issue being debated in public.

There are thought to be a small number of councillors – including other Conservative and Labour members – who privately harbour doubts about the trams scheme, but always follow the party whip.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, the SNP group leader, said today: "(Cllr MacKenzie's abstention] backs up the assertion that although the tram scheme has all-party support – apart from the SNP – it doesn't have all-councillor support."

It is thought Cllr MacKenzie will be excluded from all group meetings, ruling her out of policy discussions and group briefings from officials. She is likely to be barred from using group facilities and may have to sit on her own at full council meetings.

Tory leader Iain Whyte today said he was unable to comment on internal group matters.

Cllr MacKenzie also declined to comment.

The full article contains 425 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 29 December 2007 11:39 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Edinburgh transport plans
 
1

Richardinho,

29/12/2007 12:42:21
This is actually quite a remarkable story. It illustrates the real concerns that there are about this project in both the Tory and the Labour party.

The worrying suspicion is that this project is being led not by councilors but by their respective parties central leaderships at Holyrood and maybe beyond.

This project has became a flagship of the oppositions 'lets kick the SNP' policy, rather than having anything to do with improving transport infrastructure.

It is a scandalous waste of money for nothing more than petty party politics on the part of the libs, labs and tories.
2

morris,

edinburgh 29/12/2007 13:39:02
1

Absolutely ,but it sure is nice to see all those who spoke in favour of the Trams on here, now having to run away and pretend they did not read this.

This may not do Kate McKenzie any good of course,but if she is a woman of principles IM sure the SNP will welocome her with open arms .
3

calum,

29/12/2007 13:41:12
Without wishing to delve too deeply into the inner workings of the Conservative Party's disciplinary process, I have to question the proportionality of moving Kate Mackenzie to the office next door to Eric Milligan. That's far too heavy a punishment for anyone, far less her, to have to take.
4

Urban Guerrilla,

Edinburgh 29/12/2007 13:45:37
Congratulations to Kate MacKenzie. She's obviously a woman of courage and good sense.
5

cataibh,

Bo'ness 29/12/2007 14:47:43
Where is the all party support for the trams now. Thanks Kate you are saying what a lot of councillors would say but cannot go against the party line.
6

tomias,

Edinburgh 29/12/2007 15:09:10
that is one answer to those who adversely critisise concillors.meps et all for being soundly whipped into line and not using their own mind; yes a lesson for all of us and party manifesto- those echoes of Christmas fairy tales
7

Toast,

29/12/2007 15:23:08
The party "whip" system destroys any illusion of democracy in this country,all votes should be free votes,and politicians should shoulder their own election expences,how much does a few thousand leaflets and some posters cost anyway,national broadcasts are a waste of money and generally negative and very economical with the truth.
8

Road Raga,

EDINBURGH 29/12/2007 18:39:59
Kate Mackenzie knows nothing about trams, she is only doing this for political reasons. She is against spending money on public transport, as most of her beloved constituents drive cars and live in posh Barnton.
9

GraemeH,

Edinburgh 29/12/2007 18:53:59
Maybe unlike the rest of the tram loonies she has read the business plan and could not go against her conscience to waste so much taxpayers money for so little benefit.

At least she did not vote, unlike the spineless labour councillor who said he was against it but still voted for this money pit.
10

Richardinho,

29/12/2007 19:13:56
I can't be the only person to spot this irony;

Most of Edinburgh against trams, yet the council is voting them through anyway.

Meanwhile most of Aberdeenshire are in favour of the Trump development yet the council voted that down.

local democracy-go figure!
11

Gorgie_Tony,

Edinburgh 29/12/2007 19:16:46
No surprise here - a Tory is showing true colours - she is obviously showing preference to the car owners who are causing no end of damage to our planet. Instead of showing commonsense by backing public transport (in an effort to reduce car usage) - she has backed the very people that are destroying our planet. Roll on the next election and it's cheerio MacKenzie.
12

Richardinho,

29/12/2007 19:32:03
I've still to have explained to me how trams are any different/better than buses?
13

Ard Righ,

The Rock Of Edinburgh 29/12/2007 19:45:41
Well done Kate, power to you, shame on all you spineless gimps.

1 Richardinho,29/12/2007 12:42:21
You got the nail on the head.


Get rid of the utterly daft concept, before any more public funds are wasted on an INSANE IDEA.

This is politics at it's worst, the opposition, campaign the idea simply because it is the opposite, rather than arguing for the right thing to be done.

The trams concept take very little thought to arrive at the conclusion they should not even be considered as an option.

The outrageous cost, one carriage costs ten times more than the most modern bus, not inclusive of infrastructure!
Edinburgh has SERIOUS ROAD PROBLEMS at the best of times. Add to that the fact this is a hilly ancient village, with too much traffic already.
Trams are TOTALLY IMPRACTICAL, one line at the cost of millions, THEY ARE MAD.

How about employing one man who drives about every day reporting all road defects and having a crack "pot hole squad" to make minor repairs? you could get rid of the obsessive line painting merchants as well as the congestion creating "traffic calming measures".
How are roads to be repaired? we don't have underground tunnels for services do we?
The CONGESTION TRAMS will create will be devastating.
The maintenance of these trams will be alarmingly costly.
Grooves in the road will be LETHAL for cyclists and certain pedestrians.
We had trams and removed them, because they didn't work properly.
Edinburgh is not a theme park, anything that adds to this isea should be banned outright.

Who promoted this idea in the first place ? some back hander for the tram company?

I have not heard one man or woman make any positive suggestions about this ABSURD idea.

STOP NOW
KICK OUT THE IDIOTS.

Let common sense prevail.
14

NorT,

Edinburgh 29/12/2007 20:28:46
Well done Councillor MacKenzie for standing up to the bully boys in the party. If only there were more politicians like yourself and to think I once voted Tory. They are now just back stabbing individuals and their leader is no better. No wonder they are not in power.
15

Andrew Doofrain,

Somewhere out there 29/12/2007 21:09:53

Well done Cllr MAcKenzie. Earlier in the year (or was it late last year, she refused to support the Final Draft Tram Business Case because she did not believe the document.

Quite right too. The various versions of the business cases are over 100 pages long, but nowhere is there a break-down of how the £497million is to be spent. For such a complex scheme, that is amazing and perplexing.

This is public money so people have a right to see how the £497 million is made up - so we can see what is and is not including in the figures.

The party whip is a sad reflection on politics these days, with a number of councillors too scared to vote against this white elephant, because to do so would seriously damage their careers.

16

Dismayed Old Soldier,

celle 29/12/2007 21:14:16
I grew up 60 years ago in Auld Reekie with a push bike as my normal means of transport.The tram rails were a hazard to bikes and to anyone having to walk over them. Bikes are less used now but we have very much more vehicular traffic and therefore even less space to share with an expensive outmoded form of transport,which has long gone from most European cities. I am very surprised that the city fathers are about to bring back the tram. Will it still run into the suburbs? Will they be equiped with the old style clanking bells and conductors with money pouches and tickets? Perhaps for a bit of real nostalgia we are going to get horse drawn trams. Progress is a wonderful thing. I am glad the female councellor has not been put in the stocks,or had a metal ring put round her neck for her impudence in speaking up. There was one still I beleive in the Craigentinny area. Last thought will the EU support this project if Scotland declares Independance ? Absolute final thought;the japanese and the Chines have monorails in the sky,above the roads,how about elevating this project to a higher plain?
17

Finbarr Saunders,

29/12/2007 22:01:34
#17 - Dismayed Old Soldier - "...the japanese and the Chines have monorails in the sky,above the roads,how about elevating this project to a higher plain?"

I agree. This whole trams thing just isn't very exciting. What we really need is a maglev monorail!

Well, sir, there's nothing on earth like a genuine, bona fide, electrified, six-car monorail!

What'd I say?
Monorail!
What's it called?
Monorail!
That's right! Monorail!

I hear those things are awfully loud.
It glides as softly as a cloud.
Is there a chance the track could bend?
Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
What about us brain-dead slobs?
You'll be given cushy jobs.
Were you sent here by the devil?
No, good sir, I'm on the level.
The ring came off my pudding can.
Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear it's Springfield's only choice.
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!

Monorail!
What's it called?
All: Monorail!
Once again.
Monorail!
But Main Street's still all cracked and broken.
Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!

Mono... D'oh!

18

juan kerr and his dead magic hands, now re risen.,

29/12/2007 22:13:03
It is refreshing and heartening to see an outbreak of conscience. Good on her. Unfortunately my own Colinton Conservative Councillors have apparently backed this. It is quite slim between them and the SNP next time around......

"It is believed Cllr MacKenzie is the only Tory councillor in more than 25 years to defy party bosses on an issue being debated in public."

This postion is an afront to democracy and the issues and feelings of those you represent.
19

morris,

edinburgh 30/12/2007 00:05:34
13

Quite

Its time we all started refering to the Tram loonies as such.
Common sense would tell you that a tram has no ADVANTAGE WHATSOEVER.

We were told that a tram carries more passengers than a bus.

A bus however can run on a frequency tailored to demand. Advantage ZERO!
A tram is faster Actually its not, but it stops far less often which gives a fractionally faster average speed but you have further to walk both to and from the Tram stop Advantage ZERO

Elderly probably cannot use the tram because of the walking distance Advantage ZERO

It is restricted to the tram/rail route
Advantage ZERO

If it breaks down the nertwork does also until you sort it out Adavantage ZERO

It disrupts an already nearing standstill city.
Advantage ZERO

It uses money on a grand scale and rising which could have been better used if we had done anything else at all with it !

Not only is there clearly NO ADVANTAGE whatsoever each of the above is a disadvantage !

You know it
I know it
Everybody with even temporary custody of the family brain cell knows it!
The then Transport Minister(Alastair Darling) was opposed to any Trams anywhere in the UK !

THIS IS NONSENSE and should be treated as such.
The city of Edinburgh voters should remove the Labour Tory and LIb Idiots asap.
Kate Mackenzie is the exception.She would appear to decide on principle.She alone should stay out of this lot.
20

COLINTON.MAINS,

Oakville Ontario 30/12/2007 00:16:39
GOOD.FOR.YOU.LADY/THEY.CANT.SAVE.COLINTON.PRIMARY
21

Sarah B,

Edinburgh 30/12/2007 00:17:08
Respect to Councillor MacKenzie - the lady has integrity. It is very seldom now that politicians risk the ire of their party leaders and I can only assume that Councillor MacKenzie's concerns were sufficiently great that she felt compelled to take this step in the public interest.

Shame on those other councillors who are similarly concerned about this project but who chose to put their party or personal ambition above the public.

22

COLINTON.MAINS,

Oakville Ontario 30/12/2007 00:18:50
GOOD.FOR.YOU.LADY/THEY.CANT.SAVE.COLINTON.PRIMARY
23

morris,

edinburgh 30/12/2007 00:25:01
12

This has absolutely nothing to do with public v private transport. WE ALREADY HAVE BUSES and will continue to have them Whats being debated here is what form of public transport we should use.We can spend 650 miilion and have 1 tram route where we already have buses OR

we can save that money and continue using the BUSES!
24

David Harrington,

Edinburgh 30/12/2007 15:50:59
As usual, there are the same suspects on here claiming that what Ms MacKenzie has done demonstrates anything other than her personal belief that the tram system is doomed, when all the evidence suggests otherwise. There are people in the SNP who believe the tram system is a good thing for Edinburgh yet will not stand up for what they believe in; how is this any different? There are even people (such as #20) using the same tired arguments which have been repeatedly discredited, claiming anyone who disagrees with them is a "loony". This plumbs new depths and smacks of desperation. There is nothing to suggest that the tram system will be anything other than a huge success, as they have been everywhere else they have been implemented. Tram scheme opponents remind me of 9/11 and alien conspiracy theorists who rely on people being taken in by misinformation and half truths. Quite said really - I suggest a visit to the psychiatrist might be in order.
25

Catherine,

Edinburgh 30/12/2007 16:09:31
Councillor MacKenzie is voicing what she has every right to do on behalf of her constituents and principles. In a democratic country, where I am sick of lies, cover-ups and false hope, she has made a mark that is badly needed. It's about time politics and government took a leaf out of her book and started being honest and listening to the voters and what WE want. I personally feel the tram system is unnecessary, expensive and not a priority.
26

Graham P,

Edinburgh 30/12/2007 19:34:32
#13 Richardinho: Trams run on electricity so they do not cause any local pollution. They are quieter than buses. Where their tracks are off-road (i.e. Haymarket everywhere West and North of Haymarket) they can run faster than buses; 50MPH is the planned speed. And habitual car drivers have far less of a problem with using them. So now it has been explained to you.
27

GraemeH,

Edinburgh 30/12/2007 21:27:25
#25 - If tram systems are a huge success why has every new build tram system in England been scrapped - oh, it is because the so-called benefits do not justify the enormous costs. The Edinburgh tram line is even more of a joke, with the biggest so-called benefit being reduced journey times, which given the lower frequency of the tram compared with buses, longer distances between stops meaning people have to walk further at either end, services being scrapped so many people have to use bus-tram-bus instead of a single bus and that in areas where the tram line runs bus and other road users will be held up to give it priority, these savings must be called into question.

Oh, and #27, buses can go faster than trams given their own roads and the "business plan" for the tram line expects c.1,000 fewer car journeys per day. Given than this is maybe 500 drivers making return journeys it works out at a cost of £1.2million per car removed. Do you think that makes economic sense?
28

Paula,

31/12/2007 00:44:35
Kate MacKenzie should go independent and tell the Tories where to stick it (politely of course.)

I quite liked the idea of trams until I saw the plans, well I don't live in the city so the likelihood (sp?) of ever using it is nil. I do however use the buses which unlike the wild West Lothian ones, turn up! I'll probably get ridiculed for this but why not an underground?
29

Andrew D,

31/12/2007 06:57:08
This whole tram thing is terrible. It's like some pining for ye olde days rubbish and it's saddling the country with a whopping great bill.

Spend the money sure to improve the transport infrastructure but nearly 500mill on a TRAM!?

Getting rid of driving in the city by putting on more dedicated park and ride, subsidise it so it's free, get it running often, that'd have a far better effect than a few dingding trams going around. Ugh.

And good on that Kate MacKenzie. I don't think it is sensible or right when any party rigidly enforces the whip on such issues.
30

rs,

in ma house 31/12/2007 09:34:57
what ever happened to democracy and freedom of speech

party whip....bullying is a better description for this, towing the party line party whip stuff.
31

cataibh,

Bo'ness 31/12/2007 10:23:51
Each time the tram debate is raised I ask the same question WHAT CAN TRAMS DO THAT A BUS CANNOT. To date no answer
32

rs,

in ma house 31/12/2007 10:27:40
n032..the answer is ZERO....
33

pehman,

sussex 31/12/2007 16:51:22
If the lady in question thought the trams a bad idea, then it begs the question why didn't she vote against ?
34

The Busman,

Edinburgh 01/01/2008 00:50:07
The cost of the scheme, £497m, works out at about £50m per mile. This is much more expensive than the average American light rail scheme, running at £30m per mile, and some schemes have got down to £20m per mile (£12m per km). AM I the only person around who thinks that the benefits of the scheme do not justify the extortionat costs?

Over 80 percent of the passengers will be existing bus or rail passengers anyway. Some will be former car passengers, some will be generated traffic, and only about a million of the 13m pax per year will be former car drivers. If the cost of the scheme is annualised, it comes out at £42m per year - that's £42 per car trip removed from the network, which seems far too dear. Could someone check my sums?
35

Sas,

Edinburgh 02/01/2008 16:54:13
#17 Dismayed (should that read "Confused"?) Old Soldier: "an expensive outmoded form of transport,which has long gone from most European cities."

What a load of rubbish. Have you ever been in any other European city? As well as the numerous cities which sensibly kept and modernised their tram systems, Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes Grenoble, Montpellier, St Etienne and Strasbourg, in France alone, have built new systems in recent years. You need to get out more. I suggest visits to Amsterdam, Munich, Prague, Budapest, Tallin, Helsinki, Vienna, Athens, Dublin, Milan, Oslo, Gothenburg, Lisbon, Rome, Stuttgart......
36

grumpy200,

Edinburgh 07/01/2008 17:10:17
Well done Councillor. You must know by now that your action has been applauded by the vast majority of Council Tax payers and you should be encouraged to try to get your felow members to show your courage.

We have recently been told that at least £70m has been lost in the roads budget, largely due to mis-spending by the previous executive. Then anothe £8m is needed for urgent work on lamp=posts. So where is all the money to come from. Can there really be enough to justify doubling the salary of the leader of this dreadful scheme and to give him a huge bonus f he brings it in on budget. Fortunatly there is no chance of that, but we will suffer in, either higher Council Tax or in further stealingg of money from other budgets -- I notice that the closure of schools has suddenly become a necessity!
37

suse,

09/01/2008 19:05:15
CONGRATULATIONS KATE MCKENZIE. I live in the Almond ward so i'm delighted she has made her (any many constituents') feelings known.
38

,

21/01/2008 19:52:27
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