Farewell to Sheila Laing

One of the most inspiring people I've been fortunate to work with during my time as an MP has been Sheila Laing, Headteacher of Forthview Primary School. After more than 20 years there, she is finally moving, to take up a new post in East Lothian.

As well as her wonderful leadership of the school, she's been very active in supporting Burmese refugees and the cause for human rights in that country. Through her interest, first her school and now another five elsewhere in Edinburgh have got involved in finding out more about Burma and refugees from that country in Thailand.

Last week, along with Sarah Boyack MSP and Councillor David Beckett, I took part in the launch of the Burma Book and Exhibition, with art from children both here in Edinburgh and in the refugee settlements in Thailand. Try and go and see the exhibition, at Ocean Terminal. And have a look here for more information about the book and exhibition.

The expenses fiasco

I've been slow in making a comment about the expenses issue. That's for a number of reasons - partly because I've been responding to a lot of correspondence about the statement I made on my position (and for the record, having had the chance to look more closely at the files, I'm remain convinced that the claim for legal and professional fees which I made was entirely within the rules and justified - but I said that in the present climate I would pay back 50% of these fees; I have never said I would draw back from that - in spite of some media comment; and the cheque was sent off last week) - and partly because I have been wondering what is the way forward out of the current terrible mess.

The fact is that Parliament has let down the public in a big way. We can at least try and make amends whilst this Parliament is in existence - and that means massive and fundamental reforms in the expenses system. But it also means a much more fundamental change in our democratic system as well - and a first step needs to be electoral reform for a fair election system. I've always been in favour of that - but I promise I will now try and do what I can to make sure that happens sooner rather than later.