MP’s Surgery Easdale 6th August 11 AM To 12 PM

Brendan O’Hara MP

2 days ago

Scottish Tory MPs have further enabled the UK government's plans to dismantle devolution after they backed proposals to allow the UK government to override decisions of the Scottish Parliament – despite an overwhelming majority of Scottish MPs voting against it.

A vote on Clause 46 of the Internal Market Bill last night - which the SNP has warned will allow the UK government to bypass Scotland’s Parliament and allow Westminster to take control of devolved spending in key areas such as education, infrastructure, economic development and sport - passed by 340 votes in favour to 51 against.

Scottish Tory MPs rejected opposition amendments to exempt Scotland from provisions that infringe on the devolution settlement - despite Douglas Ross’ pledge to stand up for Scotland and to stand up to the UK government.

Commenting, my colleague SNP Shadow Chancellor Alison Thewliss MP said:

"With the support of Scottish Tory MPs, the UK government has moved closer to its aim of dismantling devolution, stripping spending powers away from the Scottish Parliament, and centralising powers in Westminster.

“The SNP has repeatedly warned against the power grab bill which would ride roughshod over devolution and allow UK government ministers to take control of key devolved areas such as education, infrastructure, economic development, culture and sport.

"The Tories want to take control of devolved spending and replace the priorities of the democratically elected Scottish Parliament with their own. The Tories are attempting to orchestrate the biggest power grab in the history of devolution.

"Despite an overwhelming majority of Scottish MPs voting against the move, once again the Scottish Tory MPs obeyed their Westminster bosses, rejected amendments to exempt Scotland, and sold out Scotland's interests.

“From running the line to running out of excuses – it’s obvious that rather than standing up to his Westminster bosses, Douglas Ross is proving to be nothing more than Boris Johnson’s man in Scotland.

"It's clear beyond any doubt that the only way to protect the Scottish Parliament's powers is through independence." ... See MoreSee Less

Brendan O’Hara MP

3 days ago

Extending the furlough scheme by eight months could save 61,000 jobs in Scotland, according to new research.
A Scottish Government report estimates that the direct cost of extending the furlough scheme in Scotland to June is around £850 million – and wider economic benefits, such as increasing GDP, mean that it could pay for itself.
It comes as the Business Impact of COVID-19 Statistics, also published today, found that of all Scottish firms surveyed, over two thirds were still furloughing their workforce to some extent. The new data also estimated 15% of the workforce were still on furlough.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:
“The UK Government must think again about withdrawing blanket support and they must urgently implement some form of extension which would continue to provide help for the sectors that have been most heavily affected.
“Extending the Job Retention Scheme for eight months would save 61,000 jobs in Scotland and help secure a stronger economic recovery from coronavirus (COVID-19). Unlike the Scottish Government, the UK Government has the borrowing powers necessary to fund the extension of the Job Retention Scheme and they must act now to protect jobs and livelihoods.
“New furlough statistics for Scotland published today show wide variation between different sectors of the economy. Even though in some sectors a significant number of people have gone back to work, the outlook is much bleaker in other sectors. In accommodation and food services an estimated 34.4% of staff were still on furlough, and this rises to 57.5% of staff in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector.
“Of course, the furlough scheme cannot continue indefinitely, but an extension would help keep people in jobs while sectors of the economy currently unable to fully open recover and will lead to sustained economic benefits at a relatively small cost.” ... See MoreSee Less

Brendan O’Hara MP

5 days ago

The UK government must do more to support struggling families, including through extending the furlough scheme, after a damning new report forecast a "61% increase in food parcels” in the coming months – equating to “six parcels given out every minute.”

The report published today (Monday) by the Trussell Trust also found that –

- In April, there was an 89% increase in the number of emergency food parcels given out compared with the same month in 2019. This included a 107% increase in the number of parcels given to children, compared to the same period last year.
- There is likely to be at least an extra 300,000 emergency food parcels distributed by food banks in the Trussell Trust network in the last quarter of this year – an increase of 61% compared to the previous year.
- In the second quarter of this year, the need for food parcels remained “much higher than normal, at 81% above last year’s levels.”
- And, that “removing the current temporary increase in the Universal Credit standard allowance rate could increase use of food banks in the Trussell Trust network by almost 10%.”

In its conclusions, the network backed calls made by the SNP on the UK government to protect people’s incomes by making permanent the £20 uplift to Universal Credit and to “rethink the impending cliff edge of the Job Retention Scheme coming to an end.” ... See MoreSee Less