Tag: Tracy Gilbert

Tracy Gilbert calls for GB Energy satellite site to be based in Leith

Edinburgh North and Leith MP Tracy Gilbert has today called for the GB Energy Satellite Site due to be located in Edinburgh to be based in Leith.

The UK Labour Government was elected on a manifesto to establish Great British Energy, a publicly-owned energy generation company. Last month, the Prime Minister announced that GB Energy would be headquartered in Aberdeen with two satellite sites – one based in Edinburgh and another in Glasgow.

GB Energy is one of the key ways the UK Labour Government is decarbonising the economy while ensuring energy security and lower energy bills in the long term.

Today in the House of Commons, Tracy Gilbert MP called for the Edinburgh site to be located in Leith due to growing renewables sector that has already developed in the area.

In the House of Commons, Tracy Gilbert MP asked, “Can I welcome the actions outlined by my right honourable friend. In particular, I would like to welcome the announcement over the conference recess that GB Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen with satellite sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“Can my right honourable friend outline the role he expects the satellite sites will have and given the investment already underway at the Port of Leith, the number of renewables companies already based in Leith and the potential for supply chains and manufacturing nearby will he consider locating the Edinburgh site in Leith?”

Speaking after her question, Tracy Gilbert MP said, “The transition to renewables is already taking place across Edinburgh and Leith, from the multi-million pound investment at the Port of Leith to support renewable infrastructure as part of the Forth Green Freeport deal.

“Alongside the number of renewables companies and manufacturers based locally and with the proximity to research and academic Leith is the ideal place for a GBE satellite site.

“I look forward to working with stakeholders in Leith to make the case for Leith to be chosen as the location for the GBE satellite site.”

The full exchange between Tracy Gilbert MP and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero can be found here: 

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/e0174cdd-68ee-403d-9ace-4e128169c325?in=12:20:25

Edinburgh wakes up to three new MPs

LABOUR WINS THREE SEATS FROM SNP IN THE CAPITAL

The UK Parliamentary General Election results for Edinburgh’s five constituencies were announced at the Royal Highland Centre this morning (Friday 5 July).

The Members of Parliament for each constituency are:

Edinburgh East & Musselburgh: Chris Murray, Scottish Labour Party (majority 3,715) – LAB GAIN

Outgoing MP Tommy Sheppard said: “Thank you to everyone who supported me at this election and I’d like to congratulate Chris Murray and wish him well.

“It’s been the privilege of my life to represent East Edinburgh and I will continue to play a part in building a future as an independent Scotland.

UK_Parliamentary_Election_2024_East_MusselburghDownload

Edinburgh North & Leith: Tracy Gilbert, Scottish Labour Party (majority 7,268) – LAB GAIN

Outgoing MP Deirdre Brock said: “Thank you to everyone who supported me and all the wonderful people I met over the last nine years representing the best constituency in the country.

“I wish its new MP well in her new role.”

UK_Parliamentary_Election_2024_North_LeithDownload

Edinburgh South: Ian Murray, Scottish Labour Party (majority 17,251) – LAB HOLD

UK_Parliamentary_Election_2024_SouthDownload

Edinburgh South West: Scott Arthur, Scottish Labour Party (majority 6,217) – LAB GAIN

UK_Parliamentary_Election_2024_South_WestDownload

Edinburgh West: Christine Anne Jardine, Scottish Liberal Democrats (majority 16,470)

UK_Parliamentary_Election_2024_WestDownload

The results were announced by the Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence, who said: ’d like to sincerely thank our fantastic colleagues in the Elections team and across the Council for their hard work, dedication, and diligence in what has been a challenging election to deliver under tight timescales.

“This is truly public service at its very best and one of the most important duties that we’re bound to carry out. I’d also like to thank Police Scotland, the candidates, agents, and media for working alongside us to conduct proceedings properly and efficiently. 

“Our new MPs have my best wishes and I’m sure they will all be great representatives of our city and its people. 

“Finally, I’d like to thank our residents for making their voices heard and taking the time to cast their votes.”

In what was a historic night for Labour, Scottish leader Anas Sarwar said:

In a dreadful night for nationalists, Edinburgh finds itself with NO SNP MPs. Deirdre Brock, Joanna Cherry and Tommy Sheppard all lost their seats in the Labour landslide.

The party lost FORTY seats across the country – including all of their seats in Edinburgh and Glasgow -and has been reduced to just nine seats across Scotland.

SNP leader John Swinney acknowledged: “I am sorry for the valued colleagues who have lost their seats. We need to learn from this setback, listen to the public and pick ourselves back up.

“We have to do that because we want to do the best for Scotland.”

The sentiment was echoed by local SNP North and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson, who said on X (Twitter): “A difficult night for @theSNP. I’m particularly sad for my two excellent local colleagues @DeidreBrock & @TommySheppard, & their brilliant teams.

“Thank you to them & all of our great @snpenl activists.

“We will learn, reflect & respond. For me the work continues later. #Persevere.”

The SNP has just two years until the next Scottish Parliament elections.

STUC Disabled Workers’ Conference: Usdaw seeks to tackle gender-based violence and poverty

Retail trade union Usdaw has a delegation of reps and officials attending the annual Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Disabled Workers’ Conference in Glasgow, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December.

The union has submitted motions on tackling gender-based violence against disabled workers, along with building a movement of protest against poverty.

Tracy Gilbert – Usdaw Regional Secretary for Scotland says: “The number of disabled people living in poverty in Scotland has increased in recent years with more than half of all people in poverty living in a household with at least one disabled worker.

“We reject any suggestion that this is inevitable, poverty and the failure to tackle inequality are political decisions. The disability employment gap in Scotland remains high with disabled women facing even greater discrimination, larger pay gaps and higher unemployment.

“As well as taking action to offset the immediate impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on disabled people and their families; the Scottish and Westminster governments must also act to address the underlying historical inequalities experienced by disabled people including the disproportionate impact of austerity policies.”

Usdaw welcomes the important role the Disabled Workers Committee play setting the record straight and is asking the STUC to:

  • Support the efforts of unions and disabled people’s organisations to tackle disability discrimination and change the way disabled people are viewed, valued and included in Scottish and wider UK society.
  • Campaign for improvements to social security so that as well as protecting disabled workers from poverty, it also prevents poverty; takes into account the significant and additional costs of being disabled; and fully supports independent living.
  • Continue to build a movement of protest against the current cost of living crisis that highlights the specific impact of the current crisis on disabled people and puts their voices centre stage.

Tracy Gilbert continues: “Studies show that disabled women are disproportionately likely to experience gender-based violence but are far less likely to report it.

“Workplace trade union reps have a vital role in supporting women workers to recognise and recover from abuse and this is particularly the case for disabled women who are often less able to access appropriate support and to have their voices heard.

“Changes to domestic violence legislation to include coercive control are important in understanding how specific abuse against disabled women may manifest itself in a variety of ways, for example where the abuser controls someone through their impairment or support needs.

“We commend the work union reps are doing to support disabled survivors of domestic abuse.”

Usdaw is seeking greater recognition by employers of the challenges disabled women face in escaping abuse and is calling on the STUC to:

  • Support affiliated unions to negotiate domestic abuse policies with employers that recognise the specific needs of disabled women workers.   
  • Involve disabled women in developing the trade union and labour movement’s work on gender-based violence.