Mr.Gordon introduces himself in bold black type and it stands out against the yellowish background.

Mr.Gordon tells us he is active in a number of Forth Ward Committees,and we believe he is first candidate to tell us he is actively involved in local Forth Ward Committees.

Good  start. Mr. Gordon also receives praise from his leader Alex Salmond and his photo appears on the bottom left corner of the leaflet. As with the other two candidates we have heard from Mr. Gordon has a survey for people to fill in if they so feel.

George Gordon’s local resident survey is how it is titled and it asked for your views and comments on a number of issues.

We do however feel as with the Labour Leader that asking people how they are going to vote or have voted in the past,is not the greatest idea but it must be popular or it wouldn’t happen.

So out of thirty

we give 7 for content

We give 6 for content[strong presence on local groups]

Finally We feel Mr Gordon’s leaflet is easy on the eye and is not full of promises and is aimed locally. We award 7

We therefore award Mr. Gordon the SNP candidate 20 out of thirty.

So far we have had literature from three candidates and the parties they represent.

Ms. Downie  the Lib Dem canididate scored 8 on the Pilton Sucks ricter scale.

Mr. Day the Labour cadidate faired slightly better with 13 out of thirty

Mr. Gordon representing the SNP is out in front with 20 out of thirty.

We await the rest of the candidates literature.

In a story that Pilton Sucks covered first,the Evening News has cottoned on to what Pilton Sucks reported. In Thursdays edition[9-09-08] Alan Roden reports the unseemly quick calling of the Labour Party selection, and how some local activists felt angry about how this meeting was conducted.

We have to say it does not surprise us. We told you how the correct candidate for the area former Councillor William Fitzpatrick was purposely hi-jacked in a bid to stop him being selected.

A number of members have refused to help out in the by-election and this is a sad reflection of what should have been an open and democratic selection procedure.

It’s clear there was an anti Fitzpatrick campaign put together by some of his comrades to stop him being selected and ironically Mr. Fitzpatrick was their best chance of winning this by-election.

Somebody is trying to pull the strings of the local members and get them to dance to their tune. Answers on a postcard to

The By-election Naughty bits

Pilton sucks .com

P.S We did report to you that the Labour Leader and covering letter were not printed locally or even in the North Of the City,Any reason why?

Today we received the Labour literature North Edinburgh Leader accompanied by a covering letter with words of wisdom from the candidate himself.

A double sided A4 sheet where on the front Mr. Day introduces himself and tells the punters a little bit about himself. Mr. Day tells us he has a vision and a commitment to this community,where have we heard that before?

Still on the front page Mr.Day tells us of where he thinks the City Council is failing us. And below that he tells us what Labour achieved in twenty years of office.

On the back is a survey form which asks four questions the last one being what would you like Cammy to do if elected? Well Pilton Sucks can answer that one immediately. Put an End to the Labour party cabal and the jobs for the boys mentality.

Finally at the bottom Mr. Day and his comrades try and pry into how you voted last time. How you vote is still a secret we think,and someone should tell the Labour Party.

The first disappointment is that the Leader is not printed locally but in Edinburgh South and Cammy could have shown some sort of commitment and had it printed locally.

The covering letter is again not printed locally and that’s a poor show and will be picked up on. It’s a good enough letter and is the first we have that mentions the Fairer Scotland Fund and the 40% cut.

So we will to mark this out of thirty as well.

For content and the Leader does have some we award 4

This is the first Labour Literature we have had and therefore award 5

Mr Day says’s he is committed to the community but gets his literature printed elsewhere,not a lot of commitment there. Mr. Day does mention the problem with the Fairer Scotland Fund and credit to him for that. His prying into how people vote is not a clever move and we could have done without that.

He also tells us of how he feels the ruling administration have done and balances it with what Labour achieved over twenty years,arithmetically speaking a slight imbalance in the difference in years spent in office.

All in all a fairly good if amarturish leaflet and the covering letter fails to have an impact and the important issue mentioned should have been in the main Leader.

We award 5.

In total 15 out of 30. A better effort than the Lib Dems but falls down on the unnecessary covering letter. Didn’t get printed locally or even in North Edinburgh big disappointment.

Let us at Pilton Sucks try to get below the smoke screen of what is actual and what is not,and of course we would welcome any additions to our views from all quarters.

First of all this community is to receive a cut of around £800,000 pound from it’s former SIP budget of 1.8 million pounds. This to us on the face of it looks like a deep cut and will if implemented have serious repercusions on local projects that rely on funding of one sort or another.

We are told that up to 17 projects in this community receive some form of funding and therefore all projects in theory could have funding problems.

But let us take a closer look if we can and see who gets what. Not all the information was available to us but it should be as it is in the public interest.

We understand that the Pilton Childcare Centre receives over 400,000 pounds from this budget,that is by an stretch of the imagination a huge chunk,but it has received numerous plaudits for the work it carries out and it is deemed political suicide to tamper with it’s budget,but we disagree and all projects regardless of their political patronage should be put in the budget pot for closer examination.

The Black Community Development project based in Muirhouse has enjoyed very good funding over the years but remains a secret project which very few people we spoke to knew anything about and seems to have done little or no work outside Muirhouse and if it has few know about it.

But as you can Guess the old favourite shout of racism might be heard if their funding was tampered with,but we feel they are insulated and almost Masonic in their secrecy and feel their work does not warrant their funding,and were recently rejected in Craigmillar.

The business incubator base in Granton Square is a basement based project which receives funding for helping people into self employment. Sounds good but closer scrutiny would suggest that in a community which is low skilled and even lower paid,upskilling would be more important than the poison chalice of self employment,so do they warrant funding.

The Granton information Centre is another project that has enjoyed generous funding over the years and we are told that it has returned more than £1million to the community in benefits and such like. Sounds like value for money,then why on earth was this project rejected for statutory funding when it applied,could it be that it was in a political pocket at the time as some have suggested who Knows,but another project worth taking a closer look at.

Then there is everybody’s favourite the Labour edited local news sheet NEN,another project that has benefited from funding and political patronage and point blankly refuses to move it’s political stance even when it is obvious to everybody else that political times have changed drastically but the NEN has not. It’s refusal to take a close look at the lack of affordable homes and local employment on the new jerusalem that was the Waterfront was an indictment of their political stance and may have signed their death warrant.

The Pilton Equalities project has ten vehicles on the road and it is very hard to see how this can be justified as costs for this project have escalated out of all proportion to the population it serves.

Why a list has not been issued to let the Community know who gets what is a mystery to us but it’s possibly something the NEN could get a hold of and print for public consumption and understanding.

Certainly on the face of it we are to receive a massive cut but we wonder if the grants that were available had been more evenly spread around and a ceiling put on who got what would we be facing such a crisis as we appear to be.

Then of course there is the thorny problem of whether or not Drylaw/Telford are within the catchment area that is the Forth Ward. From what we can see they are not but we are open to correction and the politicians must be clear on this issue and the repercusions of it.  

All in all there is much to be cleared up and the candidates in the up-coming by-election have a duty to clear the muddy waters and tell us how the land lies.

From the limited political communication we have received so far and we have only had communication from the Lib Dem candidate whose party is part of the ruling coalition she said nothing at all regarding the not so Fairer Scotland Fund perhaps she knows what the majority of this community knows which is nothing at all.  

We were going to revise the odds later in the week but due to the responce we have had we will revise them today.

In no particular order

1] S-Downie-Lib Dem candidate 15/1

2]C-Day-Labour candidate 25/1

3]G-Gordon-SNP candidate 2/1

4] J-Loughton-Independent candidate 500/1 

5]A-nother Tory candidate 50/1

6] All other candidates 1000/1

We will revise the odds again later in the week.

This is the first political communication we have received for the up coming by- election to be held on November 6th in the Forth Ward.

We at Pilton Sucks take  a neutral stance on political candidates and hope to receive all the various literature from other candidates.

So we will give you Pilton Sucks view and opinion on the Lib Dem Focus news sheet.

Within this news sheet is a crime survey which is freepost and encourages people to complete, with their views and opinions on the crime level in our community.

Crime has played a large part in all types of elections in this community with Politicians potential and incumbent trying to capture votes on the strength of what they would do to combat crime levels.

Ms Dijkstra-Downie is no different using crime as a weapon of fear to get votes,citing the usual cliches of more police on the street and tougher sentencing. What we don’t see is the link between unemployment and crime and what measures she would take to attract more employment to this community. This community has been plagued with generational unemployment and all the social ills associated with it. Papering over the cracks won’t help the problem just hide it away for a short time.

She tells us she lives locally well if that’s the case then she dosen’t need a survey to tell her what she should know already,so it’s more of a gimmick to win votes than to listen and act on peoples opinions.

Since three pages of the four are devoted to crime which as a research manager she should know and probably does is less based on actual crime but rather on the fear of it.

So it’s difficult to judge Ms. Downies stance on other important issues such as local employment, affordable housing both for renting and buying,public transport and how the trams will effect this community, post code bias when applying for employment,and why our nearest casualty unit is the Royal Infirmary at Little France when our population clearly warrants a closer unit at the Western for example.

Ms. Downies lack of comment on any of these issues and her desire to frighten people into voting for her will we fear backfire,as in the real world rather than in the world of research people still have to pay bills live,work and eat,and try to heat their homes this winter.

The lack of any kind of substance in the Focus is a real mistake and using crime as a weapon to capture votes is a cheap shot. 

Ms. Downie has to address some or all of the issues we mention if she is to make any impact in this election and not rely to much on Labours misuse of this community for their own benefit.

So we rate the Focus out of ten for content -2-. The fact that the Lib Dems is the first news sheet we have had and in actual fact is the second in total,we rate -6-.

For Ms. Downies lack of comment or anything else on other very important issues surrounding this community-she gets the minimum -0-

So out of a total of 30 Ms. Downie receives 8,and you don’t have to be a research manager to realise that you won’t win elections with marks like that.

We will mark the content or lack of it with the other literature we receive,and we will also tell you if we don’t receive any. All literature will be marked out of thirty and we will post the final results on November 1st giving our readers time to digest our view of the candidates and their literature.

So the Lib Dems are first up with 8 0ut of a possible 30.        

If this story is true then this is real progress in what one manager has said is mass bullying of staff. The deliberate cover up which we have uncovered is a disgrace and puts all staff at risk of workplace bullys as it is clear those appointed to make sure the workplace is safe have ignored that responsibility,and are at a loss on what to do about workplace bullys.

Simple sack them,as they should have done in the Muirhouse case where at least 5 members of staff reported bullying of a serious nature by a known serial bully and his former yes man assistant.

We have told you that a senior manager detailed to investigate one of these victims allegations dismissed the victim and said bullying did not exist,only months later to reverse that opinion saying that action had to be taken and would be taken against bullys.

What action was taken and was this victim given an apology after being called a liar,yet a short time later found to be telling the truth. 

It is now clear even to those that tried to cover up serial bullying at this centre in Muirhouse,that inappropriate behaviour was taking place,and staff were being subjected to abuse, or in Head Honcho Michelle Millers case say the right thing but do nothing,this after saying abuse of staff was okay. She should have done the honourable thing and resigned immediately,but honour does not exist amongst these back stabbers.

We reported how the very same Michelle-staff abuse is okay-Miller was asked by Forth Ward Councillor Elaine Morris to investigate a local project. Ms. Morris got a reply which was a pack of lies and distortion.

These people are so full of themselves they think it alright to try and fool an elected member who in Ms Millers eyes is inferior to herself.

Pilton Sucks told this Community about serial workplace bullying and stands by it’s claims which we have over whelming evidence for.

We have pushed consistently for an independent outside investigation which would show up lies cover ups and serious abuse of staff.

We would as the rumours doing the rounds suggest that an investigation team look back at least 5-6 years more if required.

On Friday of last week we were contacted by another employee who told us that he wrote to the then director of Social Work outlining his concerns on another just as serious matter.

This employee resigned and made his feelings known about the reasons he was forced to leave.Serious allegations were made in the letter he wrote which involved alleged fraud.

Was this investigated?unlikely but once again it puts this infamous centre right at the heart of cover up after cover up. Although some years ago this employee kept a copy of his letter and would be happy to be involved in any independent investigation.

Pilton Sucks wrote an open letter to the current director of Health and Social Care outlining our concerns about what was going on at this centre at the taxpayers expense.

Whether that was ignored as well we do not know but it is still available to view on Pilton Sucks and we suggest the Director has a look at it.

We will continue our anti workplace bullying campaign and have posted our concerns to other Social Work Centres including the centre in Dalkeith.

Remember friends and readers bullys can run but they cannot hide,nor should they be allowed to.   

In no particular order.

1] G. Gordon SNP Candidate 2/1

2] S-Downie Lib Dem Candidate 11/1

3] J Loughton Independent 250/1

4] C.Day Labour Candidate 20/1

5] A.nother Tory Candidate 25/1

All other named candidates 500/1

Remember friends and readers,all candidates have to follow election rules and that means the Labour candidate as well. Pilton Sucks will be following the election campaign for you bringing you all the exciting news and any underhand tactics that are used by any candidate,for example if you tried to use people you were employed to help then that would be underhand and possibly illegal as well. Or when the time comes ripping down another candidates poster from the lamp post or dodges like that. Pilton Sucks will be out on the campaign trail following the candidates as they try to capture your vote,but we will be watching closely to see if anybody attempts to cheat,and if they do we will put them on the spot. Pilton Sucks misses nothing,so play fair or be named and shamed.     

This is ,if accurate is a positive move forward and adds weight to the argument for an independent outside investigation into what took place at that Centre.

Pilton Sucks is only to glad to assist if required and the first move must be to suspend the two characters who carried out the bullying which damaged a number of members of staff.

We are also informed that the investigation if and when it takes place would include the four previous managers of the Criminal Justice team including the most recent. 

We would also say that a couple of senior managers must be questioned on their part of what has become a vast cover up. Again Pilton Sucks is happy to assist.

Pressure must be applied to get to the truth of just who knew what and why it was covered up. Just this week our associate George who broke the story of the harassment and intimidation that was taking place at this centre was approached through Helen another of our associates who told George that she was contacted by yet another previous employee who alleged violent threats were made to him and that when he reported it,no action was taken,this former employee is more than happy to come forward and tell of his experience. He also tells us that due to his experience at the hands of bullys his life changed and is now suspicious of everyone.

And this from an employee who was at this centre for a short time. This if remotely accurate is nothing short of scandalous and must be made public, the stories of bullying that have come out of that centre are now overwhelming and demands an outside look at things and not internal cover ups.

Pilton Sucks is shocked that such behaviour is not only tolerated it is encouraged and we again repeat our demand for workplace bullying to be outlawed and made a crime against the person.

This type of cowardly behaviour is completely unacceptable in the workplace or anywhere else. Pilton Sucks has lead the way in asking for an independent outside investigation into what happened at this centre in Muirhouse and how long it has gone on unchecked. There may have been two bullys at work but there are others who stand just as guilty for doing nothing to prevent this disgusting behaviour.   

But wait is it those greedy bastards that will suffer the fallout of this mess?Why of course not it is you and i that will suffer and have to pick up the tab for others greed.

Job losses, home repossessions,misery for many while those that caused this problem will be well insulated against this economic chill. These greedy bastards paid themselves massive amounts of money while presiding over terminal decline.

Why should the taxpayer bail them out and then pay for it again in the inevitable tax rises that will surely follow. Communities up and down this nation will suffer and few will escape.

We are heading back to the days of high unemployment and mass poverty and that’s before we have to switch on the heating to combat winter.

Our people friendly Government tells us it is not of their doing,but did they not turn a blind eye to the greed that was rampant in the last decade. while they are happy to bail out banks and building societies,they choke on the idea of helping those most at risk with their heating bills.

They don’t think twice about throwing billions at these failing institutions but don’t give a dam if people die of the cold this winter.

That’s our Government let the people suffer and them make them pay for the pleasure and if a few should die because of the cold or they cannot afford to eat properly it doesn’t really matter,because at least capitalism will be saved and the greedy bastards that grabbed what they could can rest easy that they will be looked after.