Edinburgh North and Leith MP Deidre Brock has claimed that the UK’s Brexit plans are a threat to our food supply. Continue reading Deirdre Brock: UK’s Brexit plans a threat to our food supply
Tag: SNP
The cost of Brexit
EDINBURGH TO LOSE OUT ON OVER £670m OF FUNDING WHEN UK LEAVES EU
A new publicly accessible database has laid bare the financial impact that leaving the EU will have on areas around the UK, with the Edinburgh area facing funding losses of over £36,460,000. Continue reading The cost of Brexit
Tories approach to immigration is damaging Scottish life, says MSP
SNP: RETIREMENT AGE DOES NOT NEED TO BE RAISED
The SNP has called for the devolution of immigration powers to the Scottish Parliament – warning the UK government’s hostile approach to immigration is damaging Scotland’s economy and public services. Continue reading Tories approach to immigration is damaging Scottish life, says MSP
SNP welcome shock collar ban commitment from UK Government
PUBLIC PRESSURE BRINGS END TO “UNNECESSARY AND CRUEL” PRACTICE
Reports suggest that electric shock collar devices used on dogs will be banned by Westminster “within weeks”, following sustained public pressure and a campaign led by the SNP. Continue reading SNP welcome shock collar ban commitment from UK Government
Taking a lead: SNP take shock collar campaign to Tories at Westminster
SNP politicians are calling on the Tory government at Westminster to use its reserved powers to ban the sale of electronic shock collars across the UK. Continue reading Taking a lead: SNP take shock collar campaign to Tories at Westminster
Deidre Brock is SNP’s Westminster spokesperson on Fair Work and Employment
Edinburgh North and Leith MP Deidre Brock is part of the SNP’s new Westminster Group leadership team, announced ahead of today’s Queen’s Speech by new group leader Ian Blackford MP. Ms Brock will be frontbench spokesperson on Devolved Government Relations and Northern Ireland and Fair Work and Employment. Continue reading Deidre Brock is SNP’s Westminster spokesperson on Fair Work and Employment
It’s all about the Union as Edinburgh elects new council
Continue reading It’s all about the Union as Edinburgh elects new council
Ben Macpherson: Scotland must choose it’s own path if all attempts to compromise are rejected
Tuesday’s statement by the Prime Minister’s made it clear the UK is heading for an ‘economically disastrous hard Brexit’, according to local MSP Ben Macpherson. He said Scotland voted overwhelming to remain in the EU – with Edinburgh voting 74% to Remain – and the Scottish Government is doing all it can to make sure the Tories cannot ignore and act against Scotland’s interests. Continue reading Ben Macpherson: Scotland must choose it’s own path if all attempts to compromise are rejected
Brock joins Scottish Affairs committee
North and Leith MP Deirdre Brock has been appointed to sit on Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee. Continue reading Brock joins Scottish Affairs committee
Westminster bypass: First Minister moves to seal Scotland’s place in Europe
‘a second independence referendum is clearly an option’ – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
Talks will take place with EU institutions and member states to protect Scotland’s place in Europe, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday.
The First Minister chaired a meeting of the Cabinet to discuss the Scottish Government’s next steps following the EU Referendum result.
In addition, regular contact will continue with the EU and, as was planned, Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, will be attending the AGRIFISH Council in Luxembourg on Monday and will meet EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan where he will raise the concerns of farming community in Scotland. He will meet with other EU Ministers to demonstrate that the EU remains a priority for Scotland
Following the meeting, the First Minister said: “We have had a very full discussion about the result of the EU referendum, its implications for Scotland and the steps we need to take in the days, weeks and months that lie ahead to protect Scotland’s interests.
“Cabinet expressed its pride in the vote in Scotland, the emphatic vote in Scotland, to remain in the European Union. The Cabinet also shared the deep disappointment at the UK-wide result that is clearly felt by a majority of people across this country, and we are determined to act decisively but in a way that builds unity across Scotland about the way forward.
“As I said yesterday a second independence referendum is clearly an option which requires to be on the table, and it is very much on the table. To ensure that option is a deliverable one in the required timetable steps will be taken now to ensure that the necessary legislation is in place and Cabinet this morning formally agreed that work.
“However most of our discussions this morning centred on what we can do in the here and now and in the negotiations that lie ahead, to protect Scotland’s relationship with the European Union and our place in the Single Market. Cabinet agreed that we will seek to enter into immediate discussions with the EU institutions and the other EU member states to explore all possible options to protect Scotland’s place in the EU.
“In doing so, we are determined to draw on as much support and advice from across Scotland as possible and I confirm today that over the next few days I will establish an advisory panel comprising a range of experts who can advise me and the Scottish Government on a number of important matters – legal, financial and diplomatic. It will also seek to encompass voices from across the political spectrum in Scotland and indeed different views on Scotland’s constitutional future. I will say more early next week about the membership of this expert advisory panel.
“Lastly, Cabinet discussed this morning the very important work that we need to do to reassure people across Scotland who are concerned about the implications of this result. An intensive programme of engagement is already underway with stakeholders, especially our business community, to emphasise that Scotland is and Scotland will continue to be an attractive and a stable place to do business.
“One particular group that we are anxious to reassure is the community of EU citizens living here in Scotland. I said yesterday that people from other EU countries that have chosen, done us the honour of choosing to make Scotland their home are welcome here and I repeat that again today. I want to make sure that that is a message we get across strongly in the weeks and months ahead. To that end, I will be inviting the consul generals of all EU member states to a summit here in Bute house over the next two weeks to discuss how we engage with their communities here and make clear how highly we value the contribution they make to Scotland’s economy, to our society and to our culture.
“The final point I want to make this morning is this one. The Scottish Government will be working hard to protect Scotland interests in the period ahead and in the wake of the referendum result. But as we do this we will not be taking our eye off the ball of the day to day business of government. As Westminster is engulfed in political turmoil and as a vacuum of leadership develops, I want to make clear that Scotland is led by a stable and effective government. We are focussed on making sure that Scotland’s interests are protected but we are also determined to continue our work to further improve our schools, our hospitals and our economy.
“As First Minister I am focused entirely on governing this country in the interests of all the people of Scotland, that is my overarching priority.”