Tag: Foysol Choudhury MSP

MSP calls for action on ethnicity pay gap and workplace racism

On Wednesday (24 April), Foysol Choudhury MSP chaired Holyrood Insight’s Anti-Racism in the Workplace Scotland Conference in Edinburgh.

The conference heard from Mr Choudhury and panels of other expert speakers on Anti-Racism, embedding Anti-Racism and Fair Work in Workplaces across Scotland, Utilising Data to Advance Anti-Racism at Work and many other important topics.

MSP Choudhury also used the Conference to address workplace racism and the ethnicity pay gap.

Mr Choudhury said: “So many people in business and public organisations across Scotland sadly feel unable to report racial abuse and discrimination, despite it being unfortunately widespread-the lived experience I saw at Wednesday’s conference showed that.

“Statistics show that ethnic minorities in Scotland face an almost 10% ethnicity pay gap-this is unacceptable.

“We must do more to create transparent, supportive reporting mechanisms which empower those affected by racial abuse and discrimination.

“We must also do more to ensure that ethnic minorities are given fair, equal pay.

“Only by doing this can we stamp out the scourge of racism from our businesses and public institutions and have true anti-racist approaches in our workplaces.”

Mr Choudhury also raised the issue with First Minister Humza Yousaf on Thursday’s First Minister’s Questions, asking what measures the Scottish Government is taking to empower people to report racial abuse in the workplace.

The First Minister says the Cabinet Secretary will write to Mr Choudhury with more details – something the MSP for Lothian Region says he looks forward to so he can keep pursuing this important matter for equality, safety and respect for all in Scotland’s workplaces.

Watch Foysol Choudhury MSP’s video of Wednesday’s Anti-Racism in the Workplace Scotland Conference here: https://youtu.be/cOdkrjcHcI8?feature=shared

MSPs join residents to demand a new Winchburgh Train Station

Foysol Choudhury MSP has joined Winchburgh residents outside the Scottish Parliament to deliver a petition addressed to Minister Jim Fairlie, calling on the Scottish Government to name a date for a new train station for Winchburgh.

Winchburgh is an expanding West Lothian community, with Winchburgh Developments Ltd delivering thousands of new homes and some new schools. However, a train station has not been delivered, as a new railway station was not a condition of planning permission.

As a result, homeowners in Winchburgh have been left without commuter links to Glasgow and Edinburgh, leading to a campaign to get the station built.

Foysol Choudhury, Labour MSP for Lothian, has been pursuing the issue on behalf of constituents for almost 2 years and has addressed the issue in the Scottish Parliament with Ministers, as well as making enquiries with other stakeholders such as the Council, local councillors and the Developers.

Yesterday the Labour Lothians list MSP joined the residents of Winchburgh outside the Scottish Parliament to call for action from the Scottish Government and deliver the petition addressed to Minister Jim Fairlie.

Following the rally outside Holyrood, Mr Choudhury said: “Winchburgh community have campaigned for many years for a much-needed train station and I have been raising this for almost 2 years at the Scottish Parliament.

“I was pleased to join the community today in delivering a petition for the Minister-it is time for the Scottish Government to take action, enough is enough.

“The Scottish Government needs to stop passing the buck and take responsibility for ensuring this much-needed and long-awaited station can finally be delivered.

“We must all work together to secure a station for the people of Winchburgh, who were sold homes on a belief it would be a commuter town.

“Instead, the Scottish Government do not seem to be taking these collaborative efforts to solve this important issue of clean and sustainable transport links for Winchburgh seriously.

“I am glad that other stakeholders, including MSPs, local councillors, the local community and the developers Winchburgh Developments Ltd, are instead taking this seriously where the Scottish Government are not.

“I am hopeful this petition and the clear strength of feeling from the community will lead to action from the Scottish Government – let’s get Winchburgh train station sorted!”

Mr Choudhury says he remains committed to continuing to pursue a new Winchburgh train station on behalf of all his constituents and will work with all relevant stakeholders possible to secure the station for his constituents.

Foysol Choudhury MSP’s video on the matter here: 

https://youtu.be/TeSkQ5ZuaSY?feature=shared

“We must improve patient strategy for Brain Tumours” – Foysol Choudhury

Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury has called for an improved Scottish patient strategy for brain tumours, following his Member’s Business Debate which marked March as Brain Tumour Awareness Month.

Mr Choudhury, whose Member’s Business Motion on Brain Tumour Awareness Month achieved Cross-Party Support this week (26th March 2024) opened the debate on that Motion and shone a light on the importance of increasing funding for brain tumour research and improved patient outcomes, which he says have changed little in over a generation.

One in three people know someone affected by a Brain Tumour and this prevalence of the disease,  Mr Choudhury argues, is why brain tumours must be treated as a clinical and strategic priority by Government, with increased funding for research into brain tumours.

Mr Choudhury said: “Brain Tumours are a cancer of unmet need- despite poor outcomes, funding for brain tumour research remains at just a percentage of research funding for other cancers.

“Money must be ring fenced to support the discovery science that could transform patient outcomes in the field. More investment in research can lead to more clinical trials, new knowledge, and improved options and outcomes for patients.“

MSP Choudhury also shared the experience of Rayhan and Theo, who both had to eventually attend A&E where a scan diagnosed their brain tumours after these went unnoticed by GPs.

Mr Choudhury said: “The saddening experiences of Rayhan and Theo are unfortunately not unique-many other patients have to struggle with misdiagnosis or their brain tumours going undetected for some time.

“The Brain Tumour Charity found 41 percent of people suffering from a brain tumour had to visit their GP three or more times before being diagnosed.

“This must change if we are going to achieve early and successful treatment for brain tumour patients.

“That’s why it should be a priority to develop new clinical pathways informed by specialist knowledge and clinical training to identify Brain Tumours.”

Thomas Brayford, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said of the debate: “We come together every March to mark Brain Tumour Awareness Month and to raise awareness of this deadly disease, which kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

“And, only 12% of brain tumour patients survive beyond five years of their diagnosis. These outcomes can and must improve. But this will only happen if the Government prioritises brain tumours and declares them a clinical priority.”

Mr Choudhury says that Brain tumours have been left ignored for too long and that following his Member’s Business Debate, he will continue to argue for increased funding and clinical development to tackle the devastating outcomes for brain tumour patients.

Foysol Choudhury MSP’s Member’s Business Debate for Brain Tumour Awareness Month on 26/03/34 can be watched here: https://www.scottishparliament.tv/

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Lothian list MSP Foysol Choudhury yesterday – the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade – reaffirmed his commitment to campaigning for Scotland to address the legacies of slavery and colonialism in its past.

Mr Choudhury attended a Remembrance Ceremony in Edinburgh’s St. Andrew Square Gardens, where the Melville Monument stands to Henry Dundas. A replacement plaque, which explains Dundas’ role in slavery and recognises those who suffered enslavement as a consequence, has recently been installed on the Monument after the original was taken in September 2023.

Also in attendance were the Councillor Robert Aldridge, the Rt.Hon. Lord Provost, Councillor Cammy Day, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, Irene Mosota and Professor Sir Geoff Palmer.

Mr Choudhury says the Remembrance Ceremony and its link to the recent replacement of the plaque was a reminder of the importance of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

MSP Choudhury said: “Today, we remember those who were the victims of slavery, including the more than half a million Africans whose enslavement was a consequence of Henry Dundas’ actions in deferring the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade.

“This day should be a reminder of the horrors of the past and a resolution to never let this past repeat.

“Sadly, we are clearly still facing people who are trying to silence history and who removed the original Melville Monument plaque which exposes Dundas’ actions and remembers victims of slavery.

“In removing the plaque, a site of education and remembrance was removed-we must be resolute in maintaining these education sites to address historical prejudices and educate the public on parts of Scottish history which have caused decades of hate, racism and discrimination.

“I am glad that the replacement plaque was in place for today’s poignant and important Remembrance Ceremony, as a mark that we must take strides forward in our fight to address Scotland’s historical role in slavery and colonialism and build trust from the communities who this past has affected.”

Mr Choudhury also noted his support for Councillor Cammy Day’s comments that “we will not allow the actions of a minority to derail the important ongoing work to address the legacies of slavery and colonialism in our city”.

MSP Choudhury said he would continue to work on highlighting the importance of education to address historical injustices such as slavery and colonialism perpetrated by Scotland and the effects of this, such as racism, which still exists in modern-day Scotland.

Mr Choudhury concluded: “I hope that this important work continues to build a more equitable, just future for Edinburgh and Scotland which addresses past wrongs and their modern-day consequences.”

Sir Geoff Palmer, the Honorary President of Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC), of which Mr Choudhury is the Chair, played a significant role in the installation and the replacement of the Plaque which is dedicated to the slaves who were enslaved by Henry Dundas’ gradual abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade.  

Sir Geoff commented at the event: “Today you’re witnessing a wonderful act of democracy, a wonderful act of equality and fairness because our Government decided an individual had no right to remove a memorial plaque for people who suffered the most profitable evil the world has known.”

Sir Geoff concluded by quoting Robert Burns, saying that enslavers are “Hands that took but never gave. And we had today, hands that gave and did not take.”

Choudhury: “Strengthen Bill to provide a true Circular Economy”

Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury has rang alarm bells that the Scottish Government’s Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill does not go far enough to tackle overconsumption and create a true circular economy, to meet climate change targets.

Mr Choudhury spoke in the debate in the Scottish Parliament’s Chamber yesterday (20th March 2024), to highlight the need for a more thorough and detailed plan. 

MSP Choudhury said: “The current Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill does not go far enough and seems more like a recycling bill, rather than a full circular economy bill.

“It does not provide a thorough enough framework for action for the Bill’s aims to be successfully implemented, monitored and evaluated across all areas of a Circular Economy, in particular on carbon consumption reduction targets, to ensure Scotland meets important climate targets.

“The Scottish Government also needs to show it has embedded climate justice approaches into its circular economy plan, upskill workers with reuse skills to create more sustainable economic opportunities and enable more robust monitoring of exported materials to ensure that Scotland doesn’t simply move its waste to other countries, shifting the climate burden in its mission to meet its own waste targets.”

Mr Choudhury pointed out in particular the need to work with businesses and local authorities on the Bill to avoid the mistakes of the failed Deposit Return Scheme.

He said: “If we have learnt anything from the Deposit Return Scheme debacle, it is that the Scottish Government must create thorough, actionable policies which have been thought out in partnership with businesses and local authorities and do not place significant bureaucratic burdens on small and medium enterprises.

“Some sectors have already been able to take steps to re-use materials and the Scottish Government should build on that by helping local businesses improve their reuse/recycle processes.

“The Scottish Government will also need to work alongside, and properly resource, local authorities.

“Instead, there has so far been a significant underestimation of funding needed to enable our local authorities to deliver on a Circular Economy-leaving our local authorities with yet another funding crisis they will have to precariously juggle.”

Mr Choudhury says he will continue to scrutinise the Bill as it progresses through Parliament, to ensure that Scotland’s commitment to climate action is progressed and a more sustainable planet can be built for all.

Foysol Choudhury MSP speech on 20/03/24 on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/DgEJp04Uu5Q

Choudhury: ‘Now’s the time to prioritise cultural democracy’

Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson for Culture, Foysol Choudhury MSP, has today emphasised the need for Scotland to re-focus on engaging with community culture organisations.

Mr Choudhury was speaking following a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Culture and Communities which he convened on Wednesday 28th February.

The CPG saw presentations from groups Science Ceilidh, Art27 and Development Trusts Association Scotland and focused on the matter of Cultural Democracy in light of the ongoing Local Governance Review and Democracy Matters conversations.

Key themes which emerged from the presentations and subsequent Q & A were the needs to encourage communities to participate in their local culture and use it to address current topics by transmitting the community’s standpoint on local, domestic and international affairs.

Mr Choudhury says this is something he will continue to support community cultural groups in doing: “Culture is so important-it is the means by which we can understand our history, preserve our languages and traditions, and share our diversity with others in a vibrant multi-cultural society.

“That’s why it’s so important that communities are encouraged to engage in cultural endeavours-both to explore and transmit their own culture and to socially engage with a multitude of issues from their own cultural perspective.

“However, we must prioritise cultural democracy and make it easy for communities to engage with cultural exploration – this was made clear from the CPG meeting this week.

“I will continue to work hard as Convener of this CPG to reach out to grassroots cultural community groups and progress words into action, to ensure that the discussions we have at Holyrood can be translated into actual opportunities for communities.”

MSP Choudhury, who is also chairperson of community organisation ELREC, says he looks forward to hosting more CPG meetings soon and will invite the Minister for Culture to give all cultural community organisations an opportunity to have their voice heard by those in Holyrood.

‘Let’s increase language learning education’ – Foysol Choudhury

Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury has this week given a speech at an International Mother Language Day event in Edinburgh City Chambers, highlighting the importance of language learning education and calling for more investment and partnership work to deliver the Gaelic Language Plan.

International Mother Language Day, proposed by Bangladesh and memorialised by UNESCO on 21st February each year, focuses on promoting linguistic diversity and the importance of sharing our differences in culture and languages to foster tolerance and respect in our multi-cultural communities.

The initiative is significant in preserving heritage through language and maintaining multilingual education policies to promote lifelong learning of languages. 

This year, the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) in partnership with The City of Edinburgh Council, Thistleshapla Cultural Group and Heriot-Watt University celebrated International Mother Language Day in the City Chambers in Edinburgh.

Foysol Choudhury MSP, Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson on Culture, attended this event and afterwards commented: “Language is important for culture, it is a medium though which culture is learned, appreciated, preserved and celebrated.

“It is important to celebrate this day to understand the significance of mother language which not only keeps us connected to our own culture but also allows sharing of knowledge and culture among different communities.

“This sharing of culture and language makes us more tolerant, understanding and helps us to build a more diverse and multicultural society.

“For the past few years the community has been asking for a permanent monument to commemorate International Mother Language Day and all those who have fought to preserve their right to speak their mother tongue-I’ll continue to support them in pursuing this.”

Mr Choudhury further highlighted the importance of language learning in Scotland: “It is important that children are given the opportunity to learn their mother languages at a young age, to allow them to connect to their roots and preserve their heritage, values and traditions throughout generations.

“In Scotland we are sadly seeing low numbers of Gaelic speakers-we must see more investment and partnership work between Bòrd na Gàidhlig and local authorities to revitalise the Gaelic language plan, support the learning of Gaelic and promote it as a living language to encourage the youth to stay connected to the language for generations to come.”

MSP Choudhury has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament to celebrate International Mother Language Day 2024 and says he will continue to support the initiative, to encourage people to take pride in their mother language and learn other languages to support life-long learning and cohesion in our multi-cultural society.

Choudhury: ‘Let’s work together and get new station done!’

Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury has called for sustained action to secure a train station for Winchburgh.

Winchburgh is an expanding West Lothian community, with Winchburgh Developments Ltd delivering thousands of new homes and some new schools. However, a train station has not been delivered, as a new railway station was not a condition of planning permission.

As a result, homeowners in Winchburgh have been left without commuter links to Glasgow and Edinburgh, leading to a campaign to get the station built.

Foysol Choudhury, a Labour MSP for Lothian, has been pursuing the issue on behalf of constituents and has addressed the issue in the Scottish Parliament with Ministers, as well as making enquiries with other stakeholders such as the Council, local councillors and the Developers.

Mr Choudhury has raised concerns that he has written to THREE successive Ministers for Transport – Jenny Gilruth MSP, Kevin Stewart MSP and Fiona Hyslop MSP – to ask them to meet with him and other interested MSPs so that they can all work together to try and find a solution for constituents.

Mr Choudhury says he was disappointed to have only received a response on the 10th January 2024, which referenced the correspondence sent to Ms Gilruth, Mr Stewart and Ms Hyslop and said that as Winchburgh is in Ms Hyslop’s constituency, she has recused herself from this project. The letter said that the issue now lies in the Ministerial Portfolio of Patrick Harvie MSP, who says he cannot meet with Mr Choudhury at this time. 

Mr Choudhury has written back to Mr Harvie highlighting the importance of meeting to discussing this issue, for the sake of constituents, and has asked to be invited to an upcoming meeting with the relevant stakeholders.

Mr Choudhury said, following issuing this response to the Minister: “It is incredibly disappointing that I have had to write to so many Ministers, only to finally receive a response which did not offer a meeting.

“We must all work together to secure a station for the people of Winchburgh, who were sold homes on a belief it would be a commuter town-I cannot understand why the Scottish Government has ignored my requests to this extent so many times.

“I even previously invited the Minister to come and see first-hand why a railway station is needed and the importance of clean and sustainable transport links for Winchburgh, yet the Scottish Government still do not seem to be taking this seriously.

“I am glad that other stakeholders, including MSPs, local councillors, the local community and the developers Winchburgh Developments Ltd, are instead taking this seriously where the Scottish Government are not.

“We were able to come together earlier this week to have a very productive conversation on how we can work together towards a new station for Winchburgh and I am hopeful that together, we can get this done!”

Mr Choudhury says he remains committed to continuing to pursue a new Winchburgh train station on behalf of all his constituents and will work with all relevant stakeholders possible to secure the station for his constituents. 

“Scotland must address the devastating effects of colonialism”-Foysol Choudhury

Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, raised concerns about maintaining pressure in this area following an event at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow earlier this week, which marked the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations made in the report by the Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s Museums Steering Group.

The Scottish Government accepted the six recommendations from the group, which include amongst others that ‘Museums should ensure anti-racism is embedded in their workplaces and public spaces’ and that the ‘Scottish Government should demonstrate their support for restitution and repatriation of looted or unethically acquired items in Scottish collections’.

Mr Choudhury said the move is most welcome, but added that the acceptance of the recommendations should only be the beginning and that the hard work to implement the recommendations is still to come.

Following the event, which was held on Monday (22nd January ), Mr Choudhury said: “I am glad that the Scottish Government has accepted the recommendations and I congratulate the Steering Group and Sir Geoff Palmer for leading the important work.

“However, the Scottish Government should act on their words and, to facilitate these recommendations, they must ensure sustained funding and a focus on anti-racist education and culture.”

Professor Sir Geoff Palmer OBE, who Chaired the Steering Group which provided the recommendations, said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government initiated this project and has accepted the recommendations.

“Museums and education go together and the recommendations are based on the education and actions required to improve inclusion and equality in our diverse society.”

After the event, Mr Choudhury visited Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, facilitated by Museums Galleries Scotland, to see a brand-new exhibit from Curator Nelson Cummins entitled Glasgow: City of Empire.

Mr Choudhury, Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson for Culture, said that this exhibition is a great example of how museums could, in practice, implement the recommendations of the Steering Group.

Mr Choudhury said: “One of the recommendations of the Steering Group, which the Scottish Government accepted earlier that day, was to ‘research, interpret, and share the histories of Scotland’s links to empire, colonialism, and historic slavery’, with another recommendation being to ‘involve the people of Scotland in shaping their work through co-production, to promote cultural democracy and participation for all’.

“This exhibition at Kelvingrove is an excellent example of how this can work in practice-it has been developed alongside local communities and youth to tell the stories of empire, and uses interactive education as a way to address the effects of this past, such as racism in Scotland today.

“This should be used as an example of what Museums across Scotland could achieve, highlighting the importance of sustained funding from the Scottish Government so that the Steering Group’s recommendations could be put into practice.”

Mr Choudhury said that he will continue to work alongside the cultural groups and campaigners who work towards implementing these recommendations, to share their work at Holyrood and hopefully help to facilitate partnerships which Mr Choudhury hopes will see more Museums around Scotland adopt exhibitions in line with the recommendations.

MSP: Post Office Horizon scandal is “catastrophic miscarriage of justice”

Scottish Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury yesterday (9th January 2024) raised concerns in the Scottish Parliament about the “catastrophic miscarriage of justice” that is the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses  were convicted after Fujitsu’s faulty Horizon software used by the Post Office made it look like money was missing.

Many maintained their innocence and after decades of campaigning, won the right for their cases to be reconsidered. The scandal is now back in the public spotlight after an ITV drama depicted the case.

In 2020, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) wrote to at least 73 potential victims of the Horizon scandal in Scotland. However, as of the end of 2023, reportedly only 16 of those had come forward to ask for a review of their conviction. 

Mr Choudhury questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Angela Constance, on how the Scottish Government will ensure that all others potentially wrongfully convicted are supported in coming forward if they wish for their conviction to be overturned.

Mr Choudhury said afterwards: “There are many people potentially affected by wrongful convictions in this scandal who have not yet come forward to ask for a reconsideration. 

“There are many more who were not convicted but for whom the false accusations severely impacted their reputation, career, relationships and mental health.  

“The Scottish Government must continue to liaise with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) regarding the number of people in Scotland who were prosecuted and how a Scotland-specific response can be established by COPFS, who hold sole responsibility for prosecutions in Scotland .

“When I asked the Cabinet Secretary today, she dodged the question about whether the Scottish Government expects to be liable for the compensation costs, instead referring to the UK Government compensation scheme. 

“The Scottish Government must urgently consider what liability Scottish authorities hold for victims in Scotland who were wrongfully prosecuted.“

Mr Choudhury also asked the Scottish Government if it has held discussions with the UK Government regarding the responsibility of Fujitsu in this scandal, highlighting that Fujitsu have not faced any financial repercussions and have reportedly been awarded more than 150 Government contracts since the scandal.

The Lothian list Labour MSP says he will continue to fight for justice on behalf of his affected constituents.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the government will bring in a new law to “swiftly” exonerate and compensate victims of the Post Office scandal.

He told MPs at PMQs today that, as part of this, there will be a new up-front payment of £75,000 for 555 former postmasters who brought a group lawsuit.