​Local MSP Gil Paterson says he is delighted that West Dunbartonshire Council have agreed to light-up the Titan Crane for St Andrew’s Fair Saturday.
Last year saw the biggest ever national celebration of St Andrew’s Day in Scotland. It was also the first time St Andrew’s Day celebrations were combined with the global Fair Saturday movement.
 
The Fair Saturday movement started in Bilbao in northern Spain in 2015 as a reaction to the rampant consumerism of Black Friday. It is a non-profit organisation aimed at raising money for social causes through the arts.
 
Speaking to the Clydebank Post Mr Paterson said;
 
“I am delighted that, following my letter to them, West Dunbartonshire Council have agreed to support St Andrew’s Fair Saturday by lighting the Titan Crane Blue.
 
“This year St Andrew’s Day and the Fair Saturday celebrations fall on the same day.  Fair Saturday is a new initiative and it is expanding rapidly.
 
“The idea behind Fair Saturday sits very well with St Andrew’s Day.  It presents a unique opportunity to highlight the kindness of Scotland’s people and the inclusive, outward-looking and compassionate spirit of our nation, as well as making our national day unique in global terms.
 
“Clydebank’s famous landmark can act as a beacon for celebrations in communities across Scotland as well as enhance our international profile through our association with Fair Saturday, so I thank West Dunbartonshire Council for their enthusiastic support.
 
“I hope Bankies will share photos of the Crane, lit up in all its glory, on their social media – I certainly will.”
 
Last year 84 St Andrew’s Fair events raised an impressive £38,682 for social causes across the country.

Local MSP Gil Paterson says he was horrified to hear Jo Swinson say she would be prepared to press the Nuclear button if she became Prime Minister.
 
Ms Swinson made the statement during her enthusiastic performance at the launch of the Liberal Democrat election campaign in London yesterday.
 
Speaking to the Milngavie Herald Mr Paterson, who has always held a principled stance against nuclear weapons, said;
 
“I was horrified to hear Jo Swinson say she would be prepared to press the button in a nuclear conflict which would incinerate her entire constituency but not her own family as she lives and works 400 miles away.
 
“Having these weapons of mass destruction on our doorstep puts us in the target zone. Ms Swinson may think that her willingness to indiscriminately kill innocent people at the same time as endangering her constituents makes her strong. I have another word for it and I’m sure the people of Milngavie and Bearsden will too.
 
“One of the things people who are in favour of nuclear weapons don’t consider is the potential for an accident to take place at the nuclear base on the Clyde, either as a result of technological failure or human error. It’s one of my main objections and the chances of it happening are equal to that of nuclear conflict.  The nuclear industry, and the Faslane Base in particular, do not have a good safety record and I wonder if Jo Swinson would be so blasé if this danger was on her doorstep, 400 miles away, where she lives with her children.”
 
Mr Paterson continued saying;
 
“Scotland has consistently shown itself to be utterly opposed to nuclear weapons - a position taken by the vast majority of Scottish people in survey after survey over many, many years, the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, Scottish MPs and a majority of Scotland’s political parties and trade unions.”