Deidre Brock MP met with women from across the UK – including Edinburgh – who attended a mass rally outside Westminster for the WASPI (women against state pension inequality) campaign yesterday. Continue reading Brock calls for fair deal for women pensioners
‘ … we can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we can make this work.’ – Business Secretary Sajid Javid
The Westminster government is hoping speeches by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor George Osborne will calm the international money markets as they open this morning. The pound has plunged since UK voted to leave the European Union, wiping £ trillions off the value of stocks and shares. Continue reading UK government moves to steady markets
‘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.”
The UK Government has a stand at this year’s Royal Highland Show on 23 – 26 June 2016, showcasing all of our activity in Scotland, from delivering new powers to the Scottish Parliament to supporting the Scottish video game industry. Continue reading Join the Scotland Office team at the Royal Highland Show
Prime Minister is first political casualty of EU Referendum result
Prime Minister David Cameron made a statement in Downing Street following the outcome of the referendum for the UK to leave the European Union:
The country has just taken part in a giant democratic exercise – perhaps the biggest in our history. Over 33 million people – from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar – have all had their say.
We should be proud of the fact that in these islands we trust the people with these big decisions.
We not only have a parliamentary democracy, but on questions about the arrangements for how we are governed, there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves, and that is what we have done.
The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected.
I want to thank everyone who took part in the campaign on my side of the argument, including all those who put aside party differences to speak in what they believed was the national interest.
And let me congratulate all those who took part in the Leave campaign – for the spirited and passionate case that they made.
The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered. It was not a decision that was taken lightly, not least because so many things were said by so many different organisations about the significance of this decision.
So there can be no doubt about the result.
Across the world people have been watching the choice that Britain has made. I would reassure those markets and investors that Britain’s economy is fundamentally strong.
And I would also reassure Brits living in European countries, and European citizens living here, that there will be no immediate changes in your circumstances. There will be no initial change in the way our people can travel, in the way our goods can move or the way our services can be sold.
We must now prepare for a negotiation with the European Union. This will need to involve the full engagement of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced.
But above all this will require strong, determined and committed leadership.
I am very proud and very honoured to have been Prime Minister of this country for 6 years.
I believe we have made great steps, with more people in work than ever before in our history, with reforms to welfare and education, increasing people’s life chances, building a bigger and stronger society, keeping our promises to the poorest people in the world, and enabling those who love each other to get married whatever their sexuality.
But above all restoring Britain’s economic strength, and I am grateful to everyone who has helped to make that happen.
I have also always believed that we have to confront big decisions – not duck them.
That’s why we delivered the first coalition government in 70 years to bring our economy back from the brink. It’s why we delivered a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland. And why I made the pledge to renegotiate Britain’s position in the European Union and hold a referendum on our membership, and have carried those things out.
I fought this campaign in the only way I know how – which is to say directly and passionately what I think and feel – head, heart and soul.
I held nothing back.
I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the European Union, and I made clear the referendum was about this and this alone – not the future of any single politician, including myself.
But the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path, and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction.
I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months, but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.
This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but I do believe it is in the national interest to have a period of stability and then the new leadership required.
There is no need for a precise timetable today, but in my view we should aim to have a new Prime Minister in place by the start of the Conservative party conference in October.
Delivering stability will be important and I will continue in post as Prime Minister with my Cabinet for the next 3 months. The Cabinet will meet on Monday.
The Governor of the Bank of England is making a statement about the steps that the Bank and the Treasury are taking to reassure financial markets. We will also continue taking forward the important legislation that we set before Parliament in the Queen’s Speech. And I have spoken to Her Majesty the Queen this morning to advise her of the steps that I am taking.
A negotiation with the European Union will need to begin under a new Prime Minister, and I think it is right that this new Prime Minister takes the decision about when to trigger Article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the EU.
I will attend the European Council next week to explain the decision the British people have taken and my own decision.
The British people have made a choice. That not only needs to be respected – but those on the losing side of the argument, myself included, should help to make it work.
Britain is a special country.
We have so many great advantages.
A parliamentary democracy where we resolve great issues about our future through peaceful debate.
A great trading nation, with our science and arts, our engineering and our creativity respected the world over.
And while we are not perfect, I do believe we can be a model of a multi-racial, multi-faith democracy, where people can come and make a contribution and rise to the very highest that their talent allows.
Although leaving Europe was not the path I recommended, I am the first to praise our incredible strengths.
I have said before that Britain can survive outside the European Union, and indeed that we could find a way.
Now the decision has been made to leave, we need to find the best way.
And I will do everything I can to help.
I love this country – and I feel honoured to have served it.
And I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed.
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!
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
Today Arbroath, Blairgowrie, Forfar, Montrose and Perth join the rest of Scotland’s jobcentres in offering Universal Credit to single jobseekers. Nearly 25,000 Scots are claiming Universal Credit and over 9,000 have moved into work under the new system, according to the Department of Work & Pensions.
The DWP says Universal Credit is designed to ensure people will be better off in work and the latest statistics show that people claiming it are finding work faster and earning more.
Those on Universal Credit are significantly more likely to find employment than those on Jobseeker’s Allowance and, for the first time ever, support is being offered to claimants to progress in their careers and increase their earnings.
Today, single jobseekers will be able to claim Universal Credit in:
The DWP has produced a short video about Universal Credit (below)
Universal Credit will eventually replace 6 existing benefits:
See the list of jobcentre areas where you can claim Universal Credit.
What’s your experience of Universal Credit? Let us know!
New State Pension for millions of new pensioners
The ‘biggest reform of the State Pension since it was created more than a century ago’ is at the heart of a major package of reforms to tax, pensions and savings to help workers which is coming into effect today. Continue reading Dignity in retirement?
Yesterdays’ Budget statement was a perplexing mix of measures and raft of tax changes which pleased some and angered many more. Supporters hailed the budget as ‘historic’ but Labour leader Jeremy Corbin said the budget ‘has unfairness at its very core – paid for by those who can least afford it’ and the SNP’s John Swinney warned of ‘hidden cuts’. Continue reading Budget: sweet and sour for Scotland
