Brendan O'Hara MP

Member of Parliament for Argyll and Bute

Editor

Bute LGBT+ relaunches after lockdown

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Support and advice event held for island’s LGBT+ community ahead of PRIDE event It was great to be back on the Isle of Bute again and to take part in the PRIDE Bute relaunch out of lockdown drop-in event at The Bank of Ideas in Rothesay on Saturday afternoon. The event was designed to offer […]

£5billion cut to UK Foreign Aid budget will devastate developing world

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Walking away from international responsibilities, “fundamentally wrong and morally repugnant” Yesterday the Tories finally abandoned any pretence of a moral responsibility to the world’s poor by agreeing to cut £5 billion from the UK’s Foreign Aid budget. This is an utterly shameful decision and will literally lead to many of the world’s poorest people being […]

No promised ‘sea of opportunity’ for Scottish fishing industry

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Seafood businesses from Oban to Islay counting the cost of Brexit This morning I took part in a Westminster Hall debate on the ‘Fisheries Management after the UK’s departure from the EU’ and spoke about the direct impact of Brexit on four businesses across Argyll & Bute – Easdale Seafoods at Balvicar on Seil, Islay […]

Concerning rise in persecution of Christians in India

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New report highlights ‘existential crisis’ affecting India’s Christian minority Thanks to constituents across Argyll & Bute who have been in touch about the Open Doors ‘Destructive Lies’ event which I attended this morning (July 1). The event marked the launch of the Open Doors report into the escalating crisis facing persecuted Christians in India. The […]

Government should focus on Palestinian children’s safety & human rights

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School textbooks debate highlights clear agenda of partisan group This morning I took part in the Westminster Hall debate on the EU review into Palestinian children’s school books and accusations that these contain content designed to spark violence and hatred. While there are problems and concerns about some of the content of Palestinian textbooks, the […]

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Brendan O’Hara MP

1 day ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
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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Brendan O’Hara MP

2 weeks ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
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
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Brendan O’Hara MP

3 weeks ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
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
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Brendan O’Hara MP

4 weeks ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
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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Brendan O’Hara MP

4 weeks ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
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
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Brendan O'Hara MPFollow

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

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AvatarBrendan O'Hara MP@BrendanOHaraMP·
17 Oct

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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AvatarCiaran Martin@ciaranmartinoxf·
15 Oct

“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

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AvatarBrendan O'Hara MP@BrendanOHaraMP·
15 Oct

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.

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AvatarSir Lindsay Hoyle@CommonsSpeaker·
15 Oct

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.

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AvatarWASPI Argyll & Isles-1950s women in Argyll & Bute@ArgyllWaspi·
14 Oct

@magicroondaboot @helensburghadv @BrendanOHaraMP Story about local women (I'm one) in local paper. Here's their first article about me going to Westminster, meeting our supportive MP there, as aware pensions not devolved to SP. If google can see HA has covered WASPI group over 5 yrs: https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/14610733.burghs-ann-joins-pension-protest-at-westminster/

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