Martin McCluskey MP on the importance of Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day are opportunities to pause, reflect, and honour the memory of the fallen, ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten.

The importance of remembrance lies not just in recalling past wars, but in its role in ensuring that the lessons of those conflicts are not lost. For younger people, it provides an opportunity to learn about the sacrifices made by previous generations and to increase the awareness of the devastating impact of war.

Martin McCluskey MP places a small memorial cross in the garden of remembrance at Westminster in tribute to those from Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West who died on active service. (Image: Contributed) In Inverclyde, where many families have deep connections to the merchant navy and military service, the ceremony is a personal remembrance, as well as a collective one. It reminds the community that the price of peace and defending our values is often paid with lives, and that the responsibility to preserve peace rests with everyone.

Greenock, Gourock, and Port Glasgow all played an essential role in the war efforts, contributing through both industry and military service. The impact of the world wars on Inverclyde was profound, shaping not only the local community but also the character of our area.

The contribution made by Inverclyde’s shipyards during the world wars was significant. The experience of wartime service, and the lasting loss felt by families, became part of the region’s collective memory and identity.

Martin McCluskey MP's small memorial cross lies alongside others placed by MPs from across the UK outside the Palace of Westminster. (Image: Contributed) Earlier this week, I had the privilege of placing a memorial in the Garden of Remembrance at Parliament – a small act on behalf of our community. On Sunday, I will be attending remembrance services at the Wellpark in Greenock and at the Free French Memorial on Lyle Hill.

As ever, services will be happening across our area, and I would encourage you to head along to your local event this weekend. 

New leader, same old story

Scotland and the UK sent the Conservatives a clear message at the general election in July, and after 14 years of failure demanded a change.

They could have spent the last four months reflecting – listening to the public, taking responsibility for the mess they created and changing their party.

Yet the election of Kemi Badenoch as the leader of the Conservative Party shows the party have learnt nothing. Her leadership will continue the chaos, division and reckless governance that has plagued our country for too long.

Kemi Badenoch was named the Conservatives' new leader last weekend. In her victory speech she called on the Conservatives ‘to be honest’ and admit to the mistakes under the last Conservative Government. If she means it, then the new Conservative leader must be clear on where she stands on the Budget.

If she doesn’t support Labour’s plans, Kemi Badenoch needs to say what her Tory Party would do instead. Would they cut investment in the NHS and public services? Or impose austerity? It’s not credible for the opposition to attack Labour’s plans but refuse to set out their own alternative. 

For all of Kemi Badenoch’s talk of honesty, the new Conservative leader said nothing during her campaign about policy or about actions she would take in government. Nor did she accept or acknowledge the dire economic inheritance her party left behind for Labour to deal with and make the tough but right decisions in the interest of the country.

She has been silent about the the state of public services, about the consequence of austerity and about the behaviour of her former colleagues who hosted parties in Downing Street while the rest of us obeyed lockdown rules.

Four months on from the election, it appears the Conservatives have learnt nothing and seem convinced that if they just keep saying the same thing louder then people will start agreeing with them.

When Labour faced its worst defeat in a generation after the 2019 election, we reflected and changed our party to return it to the service of working people. In doing so, we created the foundations for our election win in July.

The Conservatives, in stark contrast, seem to have learned nothing.