Brendan O&#8217;Hara MP

15 hours ago

I am just on my way back from Reykjavik after a truly memorable first time attending the Arctic Circle conference. Held at the amazing Harpa Center over three days, the Arctic Circle Assembly is the largest annual international gathering on the Arctic and attracts more than 2000 participants from 60 countries. Despite being just two weeks before COP26 in Glasgow, our own First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among a number of heads of states and governments, who attended this year. From just about everywhere you could think of there came various government ministers, their officials and members of numerous parliaments. There were Polar experts, Arctic scientists, academics, business leaders, representatives of the Arctic’s indigenous peoples, and a host of NGO’s, environmental groups, students, climate change activists and whole lot more from the across the international community who share an interest in the future of the Arctic.Unfortunately there was no official UK Government representation at the Assembly. I had been invited to address two meetings, the first on the work of the All Party Group on Greenland - a session I co-hosted with the Polar Research and Policy Initiative. There was great interest in the APPG as it is the first such group to exist outside the Kingdom of Denmark. I explained why we were trying to promote a greater understanding of Greenland and build closer links, not just between parliamentarians but also business and organisations who want to work together to promote everything from tourism to school pupil exchanges. I was really pleased that the session was so well attended but I suspect many had heard that a Scottish politician was speaking and they turned up hoping it was Nicola, who earlier in the day had delivered a superb address to a packed main hall about the “practical necessity” of Scotland working ever more closely with our Arctic neighbours, particularly in tackling climate change. On Saturday morning I was delighted to accept an invitation to speak at a meeting organised by the West Nordic Council - which comprises Greenland, Iceland and the Faroes. I spoke broadly about the importance of Scotland’s ever closer relationship with our Nordic neighbours but mainly we talked about the shared challenges we all face. Those shared challenges include rural depopulation, the need for improved digital and physical connectivity, more and better rural housing, and the need to build a sustainable rural economy, one which will allow our young folk to stay in the communities in which they grew up, if they want to, while encouraging others to come and live, work and be part of our future. It really was a hugely useful meeting and I will certainly keep in touch with the contacts I made from Greenland, Iceland and the Faroes and look forward to meeting up with them again at next year’s conference, if not before. What came over loud and clear was that while not an Arctic nation, there is huge affection for Scotland among our Nordic neighbours and a genuine desire for Scotland to work closer with the nations of the Arctic to find common solutions to our shared challenges. ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford has said "Boris Johnson is more hostile to Scotland than any Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher" – as he warned that millions are suffering as a result of cruel Tory policies and their disastrous handling of Brexit.Ahead of the Prime Minister's speech to Conservative Party conference today - the same day that Tory cuts to Universal Credit will slash the incomes of around six million families by £1040 a year - Mr Blackford said "Boris Johnson cannot escape the fact that his Tory government has plunged the UK into crisis and left millions of families poorer and worse off"The SNP Westminster Leader said families need urgent support not more excuses from the Prime Minister - and warned independence is the only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts and the long-term damage of Brexit.The SNP has called for the Prime Minister to use his conference speech to commit to a multi-billion pound Brexit Recovery Fund and an emergency package to reverse Tory cuts to household budgets.Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said:"For all the bluster and empty rhetoric, Boris Johnson cannot escape the fact that his Tory government has plunged the UK into crisis and left millions of families poorer and worse off.“The people of Scotland didn’t vote for this Tory government, and they certainly didn’t vote for Brexit – yet we are now suffering the consequences of both. People are struggling to heat their homes, to get fuel for their cars and are becoming alarmed by empty shelves in supermarkets as winter approaches. "On Boris Johnson's watch, the UK has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north west Europe, the least generous social security system, and the highest levels of in-work poverty this century.“Today, the Prime Minister needs to set out a comprehensive plan to fix the mess that he has done so much to create. He must announce a multi-billion pound Brexit Recovery Fund, and an emergency package to reverse Tory cuts to household budgets - scrapping the Universal Credit cuts, ending the Tory public sector pay freeze, introducing an energy payment for low income families, and delivering a real Living Wage."“Scotland is one of the wealthiest, most resource-rich countries in the world. The only way to avoid more Tory cuts and the long-term damage of Brexit is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to regain our place in Europe and build a strong, fair and equal recovery." ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

Today is the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, set up by the UN to raise awareness of food waste. Globally one-third of all food produced is wasted, and if food waste was a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, after the US and China.To mark this day, and as part of FareShare’s #FoodOnPlates campaign to secure vital food waste funding, FareShare beamed thousands of falling carrots onto landmarks across London, including the Houses of Parliament.FareShare is a fantastic charity which does so much to help those in need. Over the course of the pandemic they distributed 165,600 meals across Argyll & Bute with the help of 12 local organisations.Two million tonnes of fresh, unsold food is wasted on farms and in factories across the UK every year, instead of being sent to charities supporting families in food poverty. Landmark funding that enabled farmers to redistribute this unsold food to frontline charities ended after just one year – and calls to renew it have been rejected. Without it, the charity says 53m meals worth of food a year will be needlessly wasted – thrown into biogas digesters, sent to landfill or simply ploughed back into the fields.At the height of the pandemic, FareShare distributed over 130 million meals’ worth of food to frontline charities and community groups supporting the most vulnerable – thanks to a campaign with ambassador Marcus Rashford.The charity is still seeing greatly increased demand in the wake of the crisis – particularly for charities supporting children and families, and for those providing emergency food aid. Nationally, the funding would enable to nearly double the amount of food they redistribute. I am have backed the campaign and on this, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, and in advance of COP26, and have signed a letter calling on the Prime Minister and his government to reinstate this vital funding, and get food onto people’s plates. It would show environmental and social leadership on this important issue.Wasting good food should never be cheaper than feeding people.For more information on FareShare and how it helps communities visit fareshare.org.uk/www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_jIc2NbsP8 ... See MoreSee Less

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FareShare is the UK's largest charity fighting hunger and food waste. We save good food from going to waste and redistribute it to frontline charities.

3 weeks ago

The SNP is urging Tory MSPs to put words into action and oppose cuts to Universal Credit during a debate in the Scottish Parliament today (Tuesday).The call comes after Tory MSP Alexander Stewart admitted in Holyrood last week that he and his colleagues were ‘lobbying’ their Westminster bosses to reverse plans to cut £20 a week from the most vulnerable.Tory MSPs will be given the opportunity to vote against the proposed cut today in a Scottish Government debate calling on the UK government to cancel plans to cut Universal Credit, which is due to come into effect next month.Commenting, SNP MSP and social security committee convener Neil Gray said:“Today’s debate on cancelling the callous and cruel Universal Credit cuts will be a perfect opportunity for Tory MSPs to find a backbone and put their words into action by standing up to their Westminster bosses in opposing the plans.“If they do not vote to oppose the cuts then they will show that they only exist to prop up a UK Tory government that imposes these brutal policies on some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland at a time when they need it most.“Soon people across Scotland on the lowest incomes will face a perfect storm as they face an incredible squeeze on their incomes. Alongside the cuts to Universal Credit, energy bills are skyrocketing, and food bills are going up.“If Tory MSPs do not vote against the cut then they will be culpable in plunging 60,000 families and 20,000 children in Scotland into poverty.“We cannot trust the Tories to protect the future of the people of Scotland. We need the full powers of independence to build a social security system built for the people of Scotland, not against them.” ... See MoreSee Less

UK pensions 'falling behind' neighbouring countries, warns SNP

4 weeks ago

Following a National Audit Office investigation that found the UK government underpaid 134,000 pensioners over £1 billion in State Pension - the SNP has demanded the Department for Work and Pensions ensure everyone affected is paid what they are owed.It is estimated that each pensioner affected missed out on a total of £8,900 and most pensioners affected are likely to be women.The billion pound blunder comes after 3.8 million women born in the 1950s were given little to no notice by the UK government that their state pension age would change, leaving them unable to prepare for a huge change that would hit their finances.The UK already has lowest state pension in Europe. UK pensioners currently receive just 28% of the average working wage when they retire – whereas in contrast, pensioners in Luxembourg and Austria receive 90% of the average working wage. Pensions in independent countries similar to or smaller than Scotland receive a much higher proportion of the average working wage (64%) than UK pensioners (28%) and more than the average of countries in north west Europe (62%).Commenting, my colleague, SNP Work and Pensions Spokesperson David Linden MP said:“This billion pound blunder is just the latest in a long line of failings from the DWP, with pensioners being left to pick up the pieces of a broken system.“It has only been two months since the Parliamentary Ombudsman published a damning report which found multiple instances of maladministration at the DWP over the mishandling of the change in state pension age for 1950s-born women and once again, exposed by this investigation by the National Audit Office, we see women disproportionately affected by the poor decisions and incompetence of Whitehall.“These mistakes and cruel policies along with the triple-lock manifesto promise betrayal put beyond doubt the fact that pensioners are being treated atrociously by this Tory Government. It is time for the Tories at Westminster to get a grip and make up for their multiple betrayals to our pensioners - including ensuring all those who have been underpaid their state pensions get the money they are owed.""The Better Together campaign said in 2014 that if Scotland stayed in the UK our pensions would be protected. We are now in a situation where the UK government offers the least generous pension of any country in north west Europe, and one of the lowest in the developed world, is increasing the pension age at a rapid pace and is undercutting pensioners to the tune of £1 billion. It is clear that only an independent Scotland can protect pensions."www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/uk-state-pension-falling-behind-24457391 ... See MoreSee Less

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

The DWP insisted comparing pension schemes was "complex" due to "fundamental differences" in the way they are run.

4 weeks ago

Last night I led for the SNP in the ongoing Elections Bill Committee and in the debate, talked about the sleekit move by Tories to insert an extra clause into the Bill late and after expert witnesses had spoken, leaving no time for MPs to ask them for their views. Why should we accept that a party when it's in power, can get away with giving themselves every conceivable, unfair advantage in order to remain in power by changing the voting system at a whim? One which undermines the electoral watchdog, introduces barriers to voting, particularly amongst those folk who would see hell freeze over before they vote Tory.I compared it to a casino where the owners cheated the public by marking cards, loading dice and hiding Aces up their sleeve. Why are Tory MPs, once again turning a blind eye to this full-on attack on democracy. I asked if, in their deal with the devil, have the Conservative party given themselves over completely to UKIP? ... See MoreSee Less

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4 weeks ago

The SNP has said the Chancellor "must not pull the rug out from under the economy" by cutting support for jobs and businesses abruptly and prematurely - as new analysis shows the hospitality and service industry could be hardest hit when the Tory government ends furlough support at the end of this month.Analysis from the House of Commons Library, using the latest HMRC data, has revealed that 259,100 jobs in accommodation and food services remain furloughed at the latest count - representing 15% of eligible jobs in the industry.In total 1,563,600 jobs across the UK remain furloughed at the last count. That includes 224,500 jobs in wholesale and retail (5%), 161,500 in administrative and support services (7%), 155,900 in manufacturing (7%), 120,400 in transportation (9%), 114,200 in construction (9%), and 73,900 in the arts and entertainment (15%).With ten days to go until the Tory government ends the furlough scheme at the same time as raising taxes and cutting Universal Credit payments by £1040 a year, my colleague and SNP Business spokesperson Stephen Flynn MP warned the UK government is creating a "perfect storm" that could result in rising unemployment, poverty and inequality.Stephen Flynn MP said: "The Chancellor must not pull the rug out from under the economy by cutting support for jobs and businesses - risking a Tory unemployment and poverty crisis in the winter."By ending the furlough scheme prematurely, increasing taxes, and cutting Universal Credit by £1040 a year, the Tory government is creating a perfect storm that could result in thousands of unnecessary redundancies and rising levels of poverty and inequality across the UK. "Brexit has already hit the economy hard and the UK already suffers from the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north west Europe. It makes no sense for the Tory government to starve the economy of support and threaten people's jobs and livelihoods."Too many people have been left behind by the UK government during the pandemic, and it is increasingly clear that there will be no fair recovery at Westminster. The only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to build a strong, fair and equal recovery." ... See MoreSee Less

World leaders must 'get it right' at COP26 | Brendan O'Hara MP

1 month ago

I was very pleased to secure a debate in the House of Commons chamber this afternoon on the role of the devolved administrations in COP26.This will be the most important COP ever and it is vital the world's largest economies do all they can to heed the stark warnings of the UN 'code red' report and cut global emissions to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, and to give the world a fighting chance in the war against climate change. They must also commit to doing all they can to helping the developing world which is the worst affected by climate change and give everyone a voice in the negotiations. The UK Government should also involve all the devolved nations and learn from their much more ambitious approach and commitment to tackling climate change. brendanoharamp.scot/2021/09/16/world-leaders-must-get-it-right-at-cop26/ ... See MoreSee Less

brendanoharamp.scot

UK Government should engage with devolved administrations and ensure global climate summit is a 'people's COP' I was very pleased to secure a Back Bench Business Debate on the Role and Response of the...

Avatar Michael Alexander @C_MAlexander·

Brendan O'Hara MPFollow

Member of Parliament for Argyll & Bute. SNP Spokesperson on International Human Rights

Bit of a long shot tweet this but if anyone has lost a dog at Glenan Woods walk at #Portavadie in Argyll and Bute, this one is currently looking lost and without an owner in the car park area. Other people here say it’s been hanging about them for at least an hour... #lostdog

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Avatar Brendan O'Hara MP@BrendanOHaraMP·

15h

Heading home from Reykjavik. Thanks to @_Arctic_Circle for a superb conference. Delighted to speak about work of APPG Greenland on Thursday and yesterday to West Nordic Council on our shared challenges of depopulation, physical and digital connectivity and rural housing.

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Avatar Ciaran Martin @ciaranmartinoxf·

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“What I really object to however is the casual vandalism of the Northern Ireland peace process, something a previous generation of British politicians on both sides spent decades constructing”

Sad to read but devastatingly accurate from ⁦@jnpowell1⁩ https://www.ft.com/content/bb92d141-ccbb-4ac8-9ebe-aec0a13c1ef4

Avatar Brendan O'Hara MP@BrendanOHaraMP·

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The news that Sir David Amess has been murdered while performing his duty as a constituency Member of Parliament is truly, truly shocking. Sending my thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences to David’s family at this dreadful time. Requiescat in Pace.

Avatar Sir Lindsay Hoyle@CommonsSpeaker·

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I am shocked and deeply distressed by the killing of Sir David Amess. Our thoughts and prayers are with David’s family, friends and colleagues.

Avatar Nicola Sturgeon@NicolaSturgeon·