Tag: Jackie Baillie MSP

The King’s Birthday Honours

First Minister congratulates Scotland’s Honour recipients

First Minister Humza Yousaf has paid tribute to Scotland’s recipients in The King’s Birthday Honours list, in the first round following his Coronation.

In recognition of exceptional contributions to public life and in keeping with the Coronation theme of “The Big Help Out”, this year’s awards celebrate recipients that have contributed to their community and undertaken voluntary services.

Jackie Baillie, the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, has been awarded a Damehood for political and public service, while those being awarded a CBE include, Thomas Evans, Professor of Molecular Microbiology, University of Glasgow, for services to healthcare during Covid-19 and Peter Lawson, Chair of Scottish Opera, for services to the arts.

Among those receiving an OBE is Fiona McKenzie, the founder of Centrestage, Kilmarnock, for services to the community in East Ayrshire. Gordon Reid, wheelchair tennis player, receives an OBE for services to tennis. The Head of Events and Exhibitions at the Scottish Parliament, Roy Devon, is recognised for services following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Those receiving MBEs include Sally Magnusson, broadcaster and author, for services to people with Dementia and their carers. Annie McSween DL, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (Ness Historical Society, Isle of Lewis), for services to the Scots Gàidhlig language, and Dr Inderjit Singh, for voluntary and charitable services, also receive MBEs. The founder of Finding Your Feet, Corinne Hutton, receives an MBE for her work raising awareness of sepsis and amputees.

Archibald Jenkins, for services to charity and to the community in Peebles, and Anne McCreadie, for services to the community in Merkinch, Inverness, are among those honoured with a BEM.

Malcolm Graham, Deputy Chief Constable, and Kenneth MacDonald, Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland, will receive The King’s Police Medal. The King’s Fire Service Medal will be awarded to Matt Acton, Area Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Julie Shields, Head of Service for the East Region, Scottish Ambulance Service will receive The King’s Ambulance Service Medal.

The First Minister said: “Those recognised have made outstanding contributions to communities across Scotland and beyond. Their service and dedication makes our country a better place for everyone and I am pleased to see this has been recognised.

“I also want to congratulate those personnel who have been awarded The King’s Fire, Police or Ambulance Service Medals. Scotland’s emergency services keep us safe every day of the year and serve our communities with distinction. Their hard work and dedication is deeply appreciated.” 

Scottish Secretary congratulates Scottish honours recipients

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “My warmest congratulations go to all the Scottish recipients of the King’s birthday honours.

“Scots are well represented in His Majesty’s first honours list, which showcases the best of Scottish talent – including sport, the arts, community and education.

“Footballing legend John Greig’s CBE is a fitting tribute to his lifetime contribution to Scottish sport, and his charitable work raising funds for veterans and supporting facilities for people with dementia.

“Broadcaster and national treasure Ken Bruce receives an MBE in recognition of his many decades of UK broadcasting. Bill Gray has been a stalwart of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland for many years, and played a key role in the organisation’s recovery from covid. And Councillor James Stockan receives an OBE for his unstinting work to improve the lives of island communities as the leader of Orkney Council.

“I also pay tribute to the many Scots who have been recognised for their selfless and unstinting charity and voluntary work. The length and breadth of Scotland, the commitment of so many unsung heroes keeps local communities not just alive but thriving. I am very pleased that so many of those committed citizens have been recognised today.”

The Scottish recipients include:

  • Jackie Ballie MSP, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. For political and public service.
  • John Greig (former Rangers and Scotland player), CBE: For services to football and the community in Scotland.
  • Ken Bruce (broadcaster), MBE: For services to radio, to autism awareness and charity.
  • Gordon Reid (professional wheelchair tennis player), OBE. For services to tennis. Gordon is a Paralympic gold, silver, and bronze medallist
  • Sally Magnusson (broadcaster and author), OBE: For services to people with dementia.
  • Councillor James Stockan (Leader of Orkney Islands Council), OBE: For services to local government.
  • Paul Little (Principal and Chief Executive of City of Glasgow College), OBE. For services to education.
  • Bill Gray (former chair of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland), OBE. For services to agriculture, charity and the community in Scotland. Bill has served the RHASS for a number of years as director and chair. He helped the organisation – and the Royal Highland Show – recover after covid. Bill is also active in developing farming education and skills.
  • Jen Hardy (cancer campaigner), OBE. For services to cancer support. Jen, herself living with cancer, has become an inspirational campaigner for cancer treatment and support services. She successfully lobbied for the life-extending drug Pertuzumab (Perjeta) to be made available on the NHS in Scotland. She also founded the charity Cancer Card.
  • Jim Stewart (former chair of Hamilton Sound talking newspaper), OBE: For services to visually impaired people. Jim set up the Hamilton Sound talking newspaper in 1983, distributing audio recordings of the local paper to local visually impaired people. He ran the service for 39 years, only standing down as chair in 2022.
  • Jill Lauder, (hairdresser), OBE: For services to the community. Jill owns Lady J’s Unisex Hair Salon in Grangemouth and provides a free service for cancer patients. Jill set up the Feel Good Project, which, on the first Monday of every month, offers beauty treatments, support, advice, information and friendship to women who are experiencing hair loss due to treatment for cancer.

The King’s Birthday Honours 2023.

Ne’er Day campaign escalates as Usdaw makes the case for closing large shops on 1 January

Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has published the results of an extensive survey of Scottish retail staff, who overwhelmingly back the closure of large shops on New Year’s Day, and is calling on all MSPs to support the motion tabled by Jackie Baillie MSP in the Scottish Parliament.

Usdaw’s survey of over 1,000 shopworkers in Scotland found that:

  • Three quarters feel they spend too little time with friends and family over New Year.
  • 72% have come under pressure to work on New Year’s Day or 2 January.
  • Four in ten don’t receive any premium pay for working on New Year’s Day.
  • 79% are not happy to work on New Year’s Day or 2 January.

The full survey results can be viewed at: www.usdaw.org.uk/NYDSurvey

Stewart Forrest, Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer says: “This survey clearly demonstrates the strength feeling among our members. We have today written to all MSPs asking them to support Jackie Baillie’s motion calling for a decent break at New Year after the busy Christmas period.

“I have also written to the Scottish Retail Consortium urging them to reconsider their opposition to large stores closing on New Year’s Day. Usdaw does not accept that giving retail workers in large stores just one more day of guaranteed time off would have a negative impact on our high streets. 72% of our members who worked on New Year’s Day 2019 said that their store was either very quiet or fairly quiet.

“Usdaw is fully supportive of efforts to revitalise Scotland’s high streets. The livelihoods of our members depend on a thriving retail sector. That is why we are calling on the Government to implement an industrial strategy for retail and to take action on a whole range of issues, from business rates to parking charges and public transport, in order to breathe life back into the industry. We are seeking to work with the Scottish Retail Consortium, so we can tackle these issues together.”

Jackie Baillie MSP, (Scottish Labour, Dumbarton) said: “Retail staff work incredibly hard all year round, and are often on their feet for long shifts. Christmas and New Year is a time which should be spent with family, and there are few days in the year when families are off at the same time.

“The results of Usdaw’s survey show that the overwhelming majority of respondents want to spend more time with their families during Christmas and New Year.

“I hope that all of my MSP colleagues will recognise that everyone deserves a day off for New Year and will support the motion that I have tabled in the Scottish Parliament.”

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “We are very grateful to Jackie Baillie MSP for the support she is giving to our members and this campaign. New Year is a special holiday in Scotland, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers.

“Under the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007, Scottish Ministers may, by statutory instrument, ban large shops from opening on New Year’s Day, subject to consultation.

“On behalf of Scotland’s retail workers, we are urging the Scottish Government to open that consultation and for MSPs to listen to shopworkers concerns about their work/life balance.”