It is hard to see what the local Labour Party were thinking when the approached local right-winger David Shaw to be candidate in the Ballochmyle by-election. Apart from him being known to be a ferrari-driving millionaire, the last thing Labour need to portray in a deprived area, he famously welcomed farmers going out of business last year, during talks over milk prices. The Scotsman reported " Shaw, in a phrase that he might now regret, said it would help his business if more farmers quit: "It would be music to my ears if more dairy farmers went out of business and I don't care who that annoys."
The view we are getting through canvassing on the street in the villages of the ward is that the anger over his selection comes from Labour members rather than supporters.
To Solidarity, it gives us a clear choice to put to voters, do you stand with a man who celebrated pit closures and toasted Maggie Thatcher with every job lost in the pits? Or do you stand with Danny Masterton, a former miner who took part in the miners strikes of 1973, 1974 and 1984/85?
But Labour are obviously not alone in their connections to business. They have become the tories in most peoples eyes and the public will not be surprised to hear of Peter Mandelson and George Osborne being togetheer on a billionaire's yacht, both brown-nosing the same oligarch for funds and influence.
But this week we see the Lib Dems biggest donor found guilty of stealing 30 million from clients, over two million of which made it's way to funding the Lib Dems. The SNP's 'transport policy for sale' signs drooped this week too when the man they appointed head of the Transport Scotland Qango was forced to resign after it emerged that he owned shares in the company the was awarded the rail franchise by the very body. We, the taxpaye,r were paying this guy ninety grand a year, John Swinney appointed him.
Solidarity is the only party in this by-election whose principles and policies are not for sale, the only party who are talking about people and not profit. Ballochmyle does not need another councillor with 'business contacts' or 'backed by business', we dont need more councillors for parties who put the interests of business before the interests of pensioners and families.
Only a vote for Solidarity and for Danny Masterton will give ordinary people a voice in the council. Vote Danny Masterton on December 11th to start the fight back against our councils and government deciding policy on the basis of the highest bider.
Poor Public Transport is Social Exclusion
Solidarity's candidate in the Ballochmyle By-election, Danny Masterton, has vowed to fight for better and cheaper public transport links if elected to the Council. He said:
"People who cannot afford to run a car have their life limited by the lack of affordable transport. Children and families in outlying villages are excluded from a lot of activities and opportunities by the cost and poor service provided by public transport. The last train from Glasgow is too early to let people enjoy a show, concert or football match, when it arrives in this area many people then need to pay for expensive taxis to get them home. It costs over four pounds to get a bus from Muirkirk to Cumnock and back. This has to end."
Solidarity, if elected, will campaign for a train station at Mauchline, for a later train service from Glasgow, for lower bus fares, and for a connecting bus service meeting the trains, providing low cost links to and from Mauchline, Muirkirk, Catrine and Sorn.
Sheridan & Byrne join Danny in Muirkirk
Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne joined candidate Danny Masterton and Solidarity members on the streets of Muirkirk this weekend. Rosemary, the former Regional MSP for South Scotland, returned to the area where she built strong links during her time in parliament, especially with workers in the open cast coal industry. She said:
"It was uplifting to see the positive attitude the people of Muirkirk have towards Danny as a candidate and Solidarity as a party. I had forgotten how cold it could be up here but I was warmed by the response we had and the friendliness of the local people."
Tommy Sheridan and Jim Walls will join the campaign in Muirkirk this week at a public meeting in support of Danny at the Muirkirk IFE win on Thu 27 Nov, 7.30pm.
Ballochmyle Update
The nominations are closed for the East Ayrshire Council by-election with five candidates declared. In the coming week Coalfields Solidarity will be canvassing in Muirkirk and Mauchline, comrades from other branches who want to join us contact Jim Monaghan on 07944 217938
Public Meeting, Thursday 27 November, Muirkirk PS IFE Wing, 7.30pm. Speakers Tommy Sheridan, Jim Walls, Danny Masterton.
Full list of candidates: Iain Fraser (Lib Dems) Janette MacAlpine (Conservatives) Danny Masterton (Solidarity) Roseanne Savage (SNP) David Shaw (Labour)
Making History in Ballochmyle? by Jim Monaghan
We have seen some historic events in elections in the last year or two, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuiness sharing power, a smile and a handshake, The SNP coming to Government in Scotland, A black president in the USA. But we are hoping to add to that tally with what people may think is unlikely, a Solidarity councillor in East Ayrshire. And, if there is a place to create history then the Ballochmyle ward of East Ayrshire council is the place to do it, there is history in every village, around every corner. So please indulge me in my pride of my local area and my family with a tour of the ward and it's social history. It is easy to forget that before we were 'deprived ex-mining communities' we were so much more.
Events Calendar
It is hard to see what the local Labour Party were thinking when the approached local right-winger David Shaw to be candidate in the Ballochmyle by-election. Apart from him being known to be a ferrari-driving millionaire, the last thing Labour need to portray in a deprived area, he famously welcomed farmers going out of business last year, during talks over milk prices. The Scotsman reported " Shaw, in a phrase that he might now regret, said it would help his business if more farmers quit: "It would be music to my ears if more dairy farmers went out of business and I don't care who that annoys." 
Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne joined candidate Danny Masterton and Solidarity members on the streets of Muirkirk this weekend. Rosemary, the former Regional MSP for South Scotland, returned to the area where she built strong links during her time in parliament, especially with workers in the open cast coal industry. She said:
