Investment in addressing the deep-rooted causes of poverty would be greatly increased if the Scottish Government wasn’t being continually forced to spend money on tackling the negative impact of UK Government welfare cuts. That was the message from new Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman ahead of her first keynote address to the Child Poverty Action Group’s annual conference. Continue reading Poverty misery: blame Westminster!
Improving Scotland’s health and social care will remain a top Government priority, Health Secretary Shona Robison will tell Holyrood today. Continue reading Improving health ‘a top priority’ for Scottish Government
The Prime Minister sends his greetings to all Muslim communities for the holy month of Ramadan, in Britain and around the world:
Full Transcript:
It’s the holy month of Ramadan – a time when mosques open their doors, community centres welcome in their neighbours, and even churches and synagogues offer up their spaces as Muslims break their fasts – and people of all faiths and none are often asked to join.
Coventry Cathedral is holding its own multi-faith iftar. In Manchester, they’re combining an iftar with England’s European Championships appearance. And homeless shelters up and down the country are holding ‘Iftars with the Homeless’.
Of course, fasting is what comes to mind when we think of Ramadan. It’s part of the month that really puts Muslims’ faith to the test – especially during these long, warm days.
But there is much more to it.
There is all the energy and money people donate to those who are less fortunate and all the extra time spent in prayer and contemplation.
Uppermost in all our minds this Ramadan are those whose lives have been torn apart by the twin evils of Assad and Daesh, all those families spending this holy month in refugee camps mourning loved ones; yearning to go back to school or work; wondering when they’ll return home again.
Our thoughts – whatever our backgrounds or beliefs – are with them. And we must continue to support the people of Syria and the region, as we work towards a lasting political solution. Because that’s who we are as a country. We won’t walk on by. So this Ramadan, let’s renew our resolve to help those victims.
Let’s continue to come together for iftars and community events. Let’s celebrate the proud, multi-racial, multi-faith democracy we live in. To everyone in Britain and around the world – Ramadan Mubarak.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also wishes all Muslims ‘Ramadan Mubarak’, saying:
This Ramadan, I wish all Muslims, in the UK and around the world, ‘Ramadan Mubarak’.
Ramadan is a time for contemplation, reflection and acts of kindness and charity. Most Muslims will spend this Ramadan with their families, but poverty and conflict are keeping people apart. This includes the millions of Syrians who have been displaced and those in refugee camps.
The UK is acting tirelessly for a resolution to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. We will continue to work for a peaceful, secure world and support all those who need our help. I welcome calls for a nationwide truce in Syria during Ramadan and encourage all those with influence to take this opportunity to end the bloodshed.
Ramadan is a time for contemplation, reflection and acts of kindness and charity. Most Muslims will spend this Ramadan with their families, but poverty and conflict are keeping people apart. This includes the millions of Syrians who have been displaced and those in refugee camps.
The UK is acting tirelessly for a resolution to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. We will continue to work for a peaceful, secure world and support all those who need our help. I welcome calls for a nationwide truce in Syria during Ramadan and encourage all those with influence to take this opportunity to end the bloodshed.
Marking the start of Carers Week (6-12 June), Alison Johnstone MSP, Health & Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, has highlighted the findings of a survey showing that most carers in Scotland don’t feel valued by their community. Continue reading Carers Week: Johnstone calls for investment in respite
Scottish Green MSPs will use this afternoon’s (1 June) Holyrood debate on Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform to push the Scottish Government to be bolder on community energy, fracking and democratic ownership of land. Continue reading Be bolder, urge Greens
Holyrood has new powers from today
New powers for the Scottish Parliament will be used to create a fairer country, Constitution Secretary Derek Mackay has pledged. From today, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government receive new powers through the Scotland Act 2016. Continue reading Scotland has the power …
Queen’s Speech highlights ‘fundamental disagreements’
Yesterday’s Queen’s Speech set out the Conservative government’s agenda for the next session at Westminster, but Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the statement ‘could not demonstrate more clearly the divergent priorities of the two governments.’ Continue reading The Great Divide
‘This scheme would unnecessarily chew up yet more of our precious greenbelt when we should be protecting it’ – Alison Johnstone MSP.
Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, has urged Edinburgh city council to reject proposals for 1,320 homes on greenbelt land between the City Bypass and Gogar Station Road on the western outskirts of the city Continue reading Greens criticise green light for green belt development
Dear Editor
In my many letters over many years I have always highlighted social injustices imposed by our own politicians against working people, and urged the need for ordinary people to work together in resisting further attacks.
We have helped, and have been helped, bu all people in the European Union in passing laws:
All of these laws were minimum requirements, but could be improved on by individual nations’ own parliaments. Bear in mind it was ALL the member states of the EU who cooperated and agreed these regulations, covering approximately 500 million people.
The main threat posed by those who advocate leaving the EU is to do away with all these laws on social justice and replace them with their own legislation. Why?
Two questions immediately arise:
First, why not improve the existing laws if their intention is to pass better laws – this can be done by any nation in the EU.
And second: Why did they not do it years ago?
When the world is crying out for more cooperation to tackle pressing problems of unemployment, climate change, energy supplies, water and food provision, the depletion of natural resources, those people who want to leave the EU represent the most backward step the UK could take. WHY? And WHO are they?
A. Delahoy
Silverknowes Gardens
First surgery details announced
New MSP Ben McPherson was sworn in as the new member for Edinburgh Northern & Leith MSP yesterday, one of five new Edinburgh constituency MSPs voted in last week. Continue reading Ben Macpherson sworn in as Northern Leith MSP
