Brendan O’Hara MP

SNP Member of Parliament for Argyll and Bute

17 June 2021

Today in the House of Commons, I questioned the Trade Secretary Liz Truss on the UK…

Continue Reading ‘Golden opportunity’ for Australia but not for Scotland’s food & drink sector

Safeguarding a free press is essential to holding decision-makers to account

Editor

11 June 2021

Yesterday in the House of Commons I spoke in the debate on media freedom and made…

Continue Reading Safeguarding a free press is essential to holding decision-makers to account

Tory government’s decision to cut vital humanitarian aid is abhorrent

UK Government must do more to stop violence in Middle East

We must widen democracy not shut it down

Brendan O’Hara MP

23 hours ago

Australian farmers have hailed the Trade Deal with the UK as a huge victory. Scottish farmers see a betrayal. Yet my colleagues and I in the SNP are accused by the Secretary of State for Trade of "ludicrous scaremongering" just for asking her to explain how flooding the market with cheap, inferior imports can be good for Scottish farmers.brendanoharamp.scot/2021/06/17/golden-opportunity-for-australia-but-not-for-scotlands-food-drink-... ... See MoreSee Less

'Golden opportunity' for Australia but not for Scotland's food & drink sector | Brendan O'Hara MP

brendanoharamp.scot

Today in the House of Commons, I questioned the Trade Secretary Liz Truss on the UK government's rush to sign a trade deal with Australia which could see us flooded with cheap exports of beef, lamb an...

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Brendan O’Hara MP

3 days ago

This is a really good resource from advice.scot for anyone concerned about how the UK leaving the EU affects them. Visit the webpage for up to date information and details of the helpline number as well as a live chat function for anyone with concerns including their application for EU Settled Status. The helpful 'Knowledge Centre' section gives expert consumer advice on food & household expenditure, financial services, postal services, telecoms, how to deal with scams and unfair consumer contracts now that the UK has left the EU and the raft of protections it offered.Advice Direct Scotland is a charity based in Glasgow and Stornoway that operates consumeradvice.net, the country's national advice service launched in April 2019 with Scottish Government funding. It offers free and impartial advice to Scottish citizens on any consumer issue and has really helpful functions including a benefits calculator. ... See MoreSee Less

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Brendan O’Hara MP

1 week ago

Yesterday I took part in the House of Commons debate on press freedom and the importance of having a free and independent media where journalists are able to go about their work holding decision-makers to account without fear of intimidation, violence or censorship.You can hear my contribution here. brendanoharamp.scot/2021/06/11/safeguarding-a-free-press-is-essential-to-holding-decision-makers-... ... See MoreSee Less

Safeguarding a free press is essential to holding decision-makers to account | Brendan O'Hara MP

brendanoharamp.scot

Yesterday in the House of Commons I spoke in the debate on media freedom and made it clear that while we know countries like China and North Korea censor and control their media, it is important that ...

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Brendan O’Hara MP

1 week ago

Thanks to all of my constituents who have been in touch expressing concern over the UK Government's decision to make drastic cuts to the international aid budget.I agree this is totally unacceptable and a breach of international obligations, made worse by the fact it is being done during a global health pandemic.This is a link to the speech I gave in the House of Commons earlier this evening. Along with my SNP colleagues at Westminster we will continue to oppose this utterly abhorrent decision.brendanoharamp.scot/2021/06/08/tory-governments-decision-to-cut-vital-humanitarian-aid-is-abhorrent/ ... See MoreSee Less

Tory government's decision to cut vital humanitarian aid is abhorrent | Brendan O'Hara MP

brendanoharamp.scot

This evening in the House of Commons I made my views, and the views of many of my constituents, clear when I spoke about the UK Government's plans to slash the aid budget to some of the poorest and mo...

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Brendan O’Hara MP

2 weeks ago

With less than a month to go to apply, more than a quarter of a million applications have been made by EU Citizens to remain in Scotland.Europe Minister Jenny Gilruth has requested that the UK Government make a series of urgent changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) - including extending the 30 June deadline.In total 263,220 applications have been made by EU Citizens to Stay in Scotland, with 250,040 concluded – 141,220 people have been granted settled status, and 102,000 granted pre-settled status.Ms Gilruth is urging the UK Government to change the scheme so that status is granted automatically, successful applicants have the option of receiving physical proof of their status, and for the removal of the five-year residency requirement for settled status.She said:“Our message to EU Citizens remains the same: this is your home, you’re welcome here and we want you to stay. I am delighted and moved that so many of our fellow Europeans, who contribute so much in so many ways to our society, wish to stay with us.“However I remain deeply concerned for the remaining EU citizens who are at risk of losing their rights here – and that the deadline of 30 June is looming.“EU citizens have long lived with unacceptable levels of uncertainty about how Brexit will affect their lives, careers and families, and the COVID pandemic has exacerbated the difficulties faced to secure their rights and their future.“We have pushed hard for changes to the EUSS – and, even at this late stage, we believe there is no good reason why the UK Government cannot make them.”Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Scotland Derek Mitchell said:“The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is here to assist anyone, anywhere in Scotland, with their application to the EUSS.“Our team of specialist advisors can be contacted on our EU Citizens Support Service helpline, 0800 916 9847. We have supported over 12,500 EU citizens with their applications and will do everything we can in the remaining few weeks to help people apply.”For more information on the support available, visit www.mygov.scot/stayinscotland ... See MoreSee Less

Help and advice for EU citizens in Scotland - mygov.scot

www.mygov.scot

Information on Scottish Government help and advice services for EU citizens in Scotland.

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Brendan O’Hara MP

2 weeks ago

It was great to join my SNP Westminster colleague Drew Hendry MP and Ann Ballinger of Scottish CND on the Scotland's Choicepodcast to discuss why there’s no moral, military or economic reason for having nuclear weapons, and the important role Faslane will have in a nuclear-free independent Scotland.You can hear the podcast here scotlandschoice.scot/podcast/episode-5-nuclear-weapons/ ... See MoreSee Less

Episode 5: Nuclear Weapons - Scotland's Choice

scotlandschoice.scot

In this episode of Scotland's Choice, Drew discusses Nuclear Weapons with Ann Ballinger of the Scottish CND and Brendan O'Hara MP.

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Brendan O’Hara MP

3 weeks ago

Tourism organisations across Argyll & Bute will be able to apply for a share of funding to promote key visitor destinations in a responsible and sustainable way, helping the sector to recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Administered by VisitScotland, the £3 million Destination and Sector Marketing Fund will support eligible groups develop strong visitor marketing campaigns that position Scotland as a year-round destination to the UK and Irish markets.The fund opens for applications on Tuesday (June 1) and will be split into three tiers, focusing on city, regional and national tourism groups. It is part of the £25 million investment in the tourism sector and will help deliver the post-Covid recovery programme developed by the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG) and the Scottish Tourism Recovery Task Force.Scotland's Tourism Minister Ivan McKee said:“It’s been an incredibly difficult year for our tourism and hospitality sectors but, as we begin to reopen the economy and domestic travel resumes, this new fund will help to promote some of Scotland’s most scenic beauty spots to our closest markets.“The fund stems from the work of the Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce and demonstrates our commitment to getting the sector firmly back on its feet again – a commitment backed by £25 million investment. Scotland is one of the world’s most iconic destinations and we must work together to deliver a sustainable recovery.”Director of Industry & Destination Development at Visit Scotland and Chair of STERG Riddell Graham, said:“The Destination and Sector Marketing Fund has been designed to help accelerate the recovery of Scottish tourism in the immediate to medium term by focusing on the domestic market.“By using the latest insights, groups across Scotland will develop and promote visitor experiences both sustainably and responsibly to help stimulate demand in the domestic market all year-round. “VisitScotland is focused on the recovery of the industry, building a destination and visitor experience which allows tourism and events to flourish now and in the future. We’ll continue to work with, and support, businesses to ensure we rebuild this vital part of Scotland’s economy.”www.visitscotland.org/supporting-your-business/funding/destination-sector-marketing-fund ... See MoreSee Less

Tourism Destination & Sector Marketing Fund | VisitScotland.org

www.visitscotland.org

Find information on the Destination & Sector Marketing Fund, available to destination & sectoral groups across Scotland. Including details, advice & guidance.

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Brendan O’Hara MP

3 weeks ago

The SNP has said that only with the full powers of an independent country will Scotland be able to secure a fair, strong and equal recovery, after new statistics revealed a plunge in trade between the UK and the EU due to the impact of Brexit and the pandemic. The latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that between Oct-Dec 2020 and the first quarter of this year, trade between the UK and EU, excluding precious metals, fell by 20.3%. Meanwhile, imports of goods from EU countries, excluding precious metals, fell by a staggering £14 billion - while exports plunged by more than £7 billion over the same period. It also found that total trade in goods with EU countries decreased by 23.1% in the first quarter of 2021, compared with the same quarter in 2018. Commenting, the SNP's Shadow International Trade Secretary Drew Hendry MP said: "The Covid pandemic coupled with the damaging impact of an extreme Tory Brexit has delivered a real blow to the economy, businesses and jobs. "The latest ONS figures revealing a plunge in trade between the UK and the EU must serve as an urgent wake-up call for the Tory government which is pursuing all the wrong priorities with its plans to inflict another round of damaging austerity. "The Tories' plans make clear that Westminster cannot be trusted with Scotland's recovery, and that the only way to secure a strong, fair and equal recovery is for Scotland to become an independent country, with the full powers to invest in our economy and build the fairer society we all want to see. “This pandemic has exposed the deep inequalities that exist under the broken Westminster system. Once this crisis is over people in Scotland must have the choice of a fairer future with independence."www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/internationaltrade/articles/theimpactsofeuexitandthecoron... ... See MoreSee Less

The impacts of EU exit and the coronavirus on UK trade in goods - Office for National Statistics

www.ons.gov.uk

An analysis of UK trade in goods in the context of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period on 31 December 2020.

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‘Golden opportunity’ for Australia but not for Scotland’s food & drink sector

Safeguarding a free press is essential to holding decision-makers to account

Tory government’s decision to cut vital humanitarian aid is abhorrent

UK Government must do more to stop violence in Middle East

We must widen democracy not shut it down

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