politcs – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Kirsty McNeill appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Scotland Office

Midlothian MP Kirsty McNeill has been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Scotland Office.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said: “It is an honour to serve in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Government to rebuild Britain and which has Scotland at its beating heart.

“Teaming up with Scottish Secretary Ian Murray in a resurgent Scotland Office, I will work across our country and far beyond to build a brighter future for all.

“Now for action and my absolute priority in the role will be to deliver the change and renewal that Scotland needs – to drive economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty.”

Holyrood launches inquiry into Additional Support for Learning

The services that schools and local authorities provide to children and young people with additional support needs will be scrutinised by the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee.

More than a third of children and young people in Scotland’s public and grant-maintained schools have an identified additional support need. Working under the direction of the Scottish Government’s policies, local authorities are responsible for identifying, providing and reviewing the additional support needs of children and young people.

The Committee is launching its inquiry with a call for people to share their experiences of how services are provided to people with additional support needs. The Committee is keen to hear from parents, teachers, support staff, carers, pupils themselves and support organisations.

The inquiry will consider how Scottish legislation that aimed to support children and young people, including 2004’s Additional Support for Learning Act, has been implemented and is working in practice.

The Committee is particularly interested in hearing views about the presumption that children and young people should receive a ‘mainstream education’, which aims to ensure they could be included alongside their peers; the impact of COVID-19 on the availability of additional support; and what happens when people are in dispute with their local authority over the services provided to a child or young person.

Sue Webber MSP, Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, said: “Earlier this year, the Additional Support for Learning Project Board told us about its role in improving the support that is available for children with additional support needs, but it acknowledged that there is not a quick fix to the recommendations laid out by the Morgan Review.

“We would like to hear what people with additional support needs, parents and carers, teachers and support organisations make of the current system and the services that local authorities and schools provide.

“If you have experience of accessing additional support for learning in mainstream education or a specialist unit, views on the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of additional support for learning, or have been involved in discussions about the support a child or young person receives, please get in touch.”

The Committee’s call for views, which is now open, will close on 31 December 2023. Variations of the call for views are available in an Easy Read format and British Sign Language.

Queen’s Speech raises fears over ‘no deal’ brexit

UK Government legislation puts the prospect of a damaging ‘no deal’ Brexit more firmly back on the table, the Scottish Government has warned.

The Queen’s Speech made clear the UK Government intends to bring forward legislation to ensure there can be no extension to the implementation period beyond 2020, even if no future partnership has been agreed.

According to Scottish Government analysis, the country’s economy would suffer significant damage under Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. A ‘no deal’ outcome would cause even more damage with profound consequences for jobs, investment and living standards.

Commenting on the Queen’s Speech, Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations Michael Russell said: “Once again the prospect of a disastrous ‘no deal’ Brexit is looming for Scotland if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal.

“The decision to remove Scotland from the European Union, which ignores the will of the Scottish people, is the most serious example of the democratic deficit in our post-devolution relationship with the UK Government.

“A ‘no deal’ Brexit would further and seriously compound the harmful effects of this decision and have a very damaging effect on our economy.”

House of Lords: ‘This private members’ club has got to go’

The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) has urged the Prime Minister not to fill the House of Lords with ex-MPs, amid rumours that several former MPs are tipped to ‘vote on our laws for life’. Continue reading House of Lords: ‘This private members’ club has got to go’

Holyrood 2016: factfile

The Scottish Parliament elections take place on Thursday 5 May – one week to go! See below for all the information you could ever wish for!

Your local constituency candidates are:

EDINBURGH CENTRAL

BETTSWORTH, Hannah (Scottish Liberal Democrats)

BOYACK, Sarah (Scottish Labour Party)

DAVIDSON, Ruth (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)

DICKIE, Alison (Scottish National Party (SNP))

JOHNSTONE, Alison (Scottish Green Party)

LAIRD, Tom (Scottish Libertarian Party)

EDINBURGH NORTHERN & LEITH

CALDWELL, Jack (Independent)

HINDS, Lesley (Scottish Labour Party)

MACPHERSON, Ben (Scottish National Party (SNP))

MCGILL, Iain (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)

VEART, Martin (Scottish Liberal Democrats)

Jack Caldwell Independent

Lesley Hinds Labour Party

Ben Macpherson Scottish National Party (SNP)

Iain McGill Conservative and Unionist Party

Martin Veart Liberal Democrats

EDINBURGH WESTERN

BATHO, Sandy (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)

COLE-HAMILTON, Alex (Scottish Liberal Democrats)

GIUGLIANO, Toni (Scottish National Party (SNP))

HEADLEY, Cat (Scottish Labour Party)

Other Edinburgh Constituencies:

Edinburgh Eastern

COOK, Nick (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)

DENHAM, Ash (Scottish National Party (SNP))

D’INVERNO, Cospatric (Scottish Liberal Democrats)

DUGDALE, Kezia (Scottish Labour Party)

Edinburgh Pentlands

FARTHING-SYKES, Emma (Scottish Liberal Democrats)

HEARY, Blair (Scottish Labour Party)

LINDHURST, Gordon (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)

MACDONALD, Gordon (Scottish National Party (SNP)

Edinburgh Southern

BRIGGS, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)

EADIE, Jim (Scottish National Party (SNP))

JOHNSON, Daniel (Scottish Labour Party)

SUBBARAMAN, Pramod (Scottish Liberal Democrats)

LIST VOTE

The names of the parties for the Lothian Region are listed below in the order that they appear on the ballot paper.

Seven candidates will be elected to the Lothian Region as Members of the Scottish Parliament, from the following list:

RISE – Respect, Independence, Socialism and Environmentalism

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Scottish Green Party

Scottish Labour Party

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Scottish National Party (SNP)

Scottish Women’s Equality Party

Solidarity – Scotland’s Socialist Movement

UK Independence Party (UKIP)

THE VOTING SYSTEM

The Additional Member System (AMS) is used to elect members to the Scottish Parliament.

How it works:

There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

There are two ways an MSP can be elected.

Each elector (voter) has two votes.

Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies and each constituency elects one MSP. These are known as constituency MSPs and are elected by ‘first past the post’ in exactly the same way as MPs are elected to Westminster. This is the elector’s constituency vote.

The regional vote is used to elect 56 additional members. Scotland is divided into 8 parliamentary Regions and each region elects seven regional MSPs.

In the second vote the voter votes for a party rather than a candidate. The parties are then allocated a number of additional members to make the overall result more proportional. The regional MSPs are selected from lists compiled by the parties. These MSPs are also sometimes referred to as List MSPs.

HOW DO I VOTE?

Always read the instructions for filling in the ballot papers carefully, even if you have voted before.

You will receive two ballot papers.

On the lilac coloured ballot paper you will vote for your constituency MSP. The ballot paper lists the name of each candidate along with their party name and party logo.

Simply put a cross (X) next to the one candidate that you wish to vote for.

On the peach coloured ballot paper you vote for a party or independent candidate competing for the seven regional seats for your region of Scotland. The ballot paper lists political parties and independent candidates.

Simply put a cross (X) next to the one party or independent candidate that you wish to vote for.

If you make a mistake then you can ask the polling staff to give you another ballot paper.

WHERE DO I VOTE?

Your polling place will be noted on your Poll Card, or you can check it online. You should go to your polling place to vote on 5 May, between 7am and 10pm.

Find your polling station