Brendan O'Hara MP

Member of Parliament for Argyll and Bute

Newsletter

Spring 2021 newsletter

Newsletter

The last few months have been tough for everyone but I am glad to see that with the easing of restrictions across Scotland, hope is on the horizon for an end to the pandemic and all the suffering and sacrifices it has involved. My latest newsletter is just a snapshot of some of my work […]

Winter 2020/2021 newsletter

News, Newsletter

Happy New Year and welcome to my new MP newsletter. Like most people my movements have been hugely curtailed due to the pandemic and I haven’t managed to be out and about as I’d want for several months. I am, however, still very busy with parliamentary business and I wanted to share with you some […]

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Brendan O’Hara MP

3 days ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
Thank you to constituents across Argyll & Bute who have been in touch to express their outrage at the sleaze scandal engulfing the Tory party, particularly Boris Johnson's dodgy flat donations.As SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford made clear at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Johnson should come clean before the police come calling.The SNP has called for Boris Johnson and Tory HQ to retain and publish all correspondence relating to the Prime Minister's dodgy donor flat renovation - after the Electoral Commission launched an investigation with “reasonable grounds to suspect” the law has been broken.It comes as UK government sources told The Times “the worry is that there could be a paper trail... There was a very limited number of people who knew about the funding arrangements at CCHQ. It’s not clear how this will end.”The SNP is concerned there could be a "Tory shredding operation" underway after Boris Johnson failed to publish his correspondence on Covid contracts - despite promising Parliament he would do so "immediately" at Prime Ministers Questions on 21st April.Commenting, my colleague SNP Westminster Deputy Leader Kirsten Oswald MP said:"The Tory sleaze scandal is getting worse every day. Boris Johnson now stands accused of impropriety and potential illegality, and could become the first serving Prime Minister to be interviewed under caution by the police and even prosecuted."It is crucial that the Prime Minister and Tory HQ retain and immediately publish all correspondence relating to the dodgy donor 'cash for curtains' flat renovation. There must be full disclosure, and officials must step in if required to stop any Tory shredding operation."Boris Johnson has already broken his word by failing to publish his text and email correspondence on Covid contracts after the James Dyson affair - despite promising parliament he would do so immediately. It begs the question - what else is Boris Johnson hiding?"This Tory government reeks of cronyism and it is clear they are only in it for themselves. Scotland can do so much better than this. Next week voters can show Boris Johnson's Tories that they are neither untouchable or above the rules we all have to obey."Scottish Tory Leader Douglas Ross has also admitted directing thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to a personal friend when he was an MSP. In an interview with the Herald, Douglas Ross confirmed he used Holyrood expenses - footed by the taxpayer - to cover £7,000 worth of rent on an Edinburgh flat which was half-owned by a refereeing colleague. The property in question - valued at £265,000 - was initially bought by Ross' referee chum Hugh Dallas and another individual in December 2016. While the SNP is focussed on getting Scotland through and out of the pandemic, with immediate plans to support the NHS, protect jobs and help our young people, the Tories cannot escape the stench of sleaze surrounding their contracts for cronies, donations for decorating, texts for tax breaks, or renting from referees. Scotland deserves better than this. Next Thursday (May 6) Scotland has the option to choose a different path – it is only with Both Votes SNP that Scotland’s future can be in Scotland’s hands. ... See MoreSee Less
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Brendan O’Hara MP

5 days ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
The SNP has said figures showing a dramatic decrease in food and drink exports to the EU is the “grim reality” of Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit deal. According to figures by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), sales of milk and cream to the EU are down an incredible 96% - with chicken and beef exports down by almost 80%. Overall, export barriers created by Brexit have cost exporters more than £1.1 billion since the start of the year. The FDF are now urging the UK government to conduct “essential” talks with the EU as a matter of urgency or face severe consequences. Commenting, Scotland's Trade Minister and SNP candidate for Glasgow Provan, Ivan McKee, said: “These figures highlight the grim reality of Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit agreement and the immense damage it is having on Scotland’s economy. “Scotland has been completely ignored throughout the whole Brexit process, and we are now paying the price of Tory incompetence with a deal that hampers every aspect of our trade. “Our long-standing ties – cultivated with our European neighbours – have been ripped apart by a Brexit agreement that we did not vote for. Our rural areas are also crying out for help – yet the Tories remain silent. “And let’s not forget that Scotland’s six Tory MP’s and Labour’s only MP voted in favour of this deal – this is something that the people of Scotland will not forget. “The Tories have shown time and again that they cannot be trusted with Scotland’s food and drink sector - that is why it is vital that the people of Scotland give both their votes to the SNP in this upcoming election. “It is only by voting SNP on 6 May that we can truly protect the sector and put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands – not Boris Johnson and his band of Brexiteers." ... See MoreSee Less
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Brendan O’Hara MP

6 days ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
Best wishes to all businesses across Argyll & Bute re-opening today. I know recent months have been so difficult but every sacrifice made has helped to save lives. It will be great to see so many local shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs open again but we must continue to stay safe and respect staff asking us to take the necessary safety precautions.I am delighted that as we taken this first big step towards a greater normality, that Nicola Sturgeon will today commit to the establishment of a £25 million tourism recovery fund for Scotland.Tourism is one of the sectors hardest-hit by COVID-19, and I know that many businesses and attractions across Argyll & Bute will welcome this specific support, which also recognises the important contribution they make to local economies and their communities.Ms Sturgeon will highlight the 12 months rates relief available for businesses in those sectors - the most generous package in the UK - and set out plans to provide thousands of vouchers for short breaks and days out to carers, people with disabilities and families on low incomes as part of SNP plans to invest in economic recovery.The support for the sector contrasts with the Tories who are offering only 3 months rates relief in England, where they are in government, and who have threatened a return to austerity as we emerge from the pandemic.Ms Sturgeon will also warn that Scotland’s long-term recovery is in jeopardy if the key levers of the economy remain in the hands of a “austerity-obsessed” Westminster government. ... See MoreSee Less
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Brendan O’Hara MP

1 week ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
Yesterday afternoon I took part in a Westminster Hall debate on land rights for religious minorities including Baha’is in Iran and the Yazidi’s and Christian minorities in Iraq.The Bahai’s are a 350,000-strong community, the largest non-Muslim community in Iran, and have been subject to specific and systematic persecution for exercising their fundamental human right to practice their faith.Many are farmers who have been expelled from their land, had their homes demolished and the graves of their loved ones’ desecrated. We have a number of members of the Baha’is community in my constituency, including in Helensburgh, and I consider them my friends.The UK must use its foreign policy powers to do what it can to stop the oppression of ethnic minorities for their religious beliefs. This is not legally or morally acceptable; Baha’is are amongst the most community-minded, hard-working and generous people I know and they should be free to remain in their homes and to follow their faith.To hear my speech click the link. ... See MoreSee Less

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Brendan O’Hara MP

1 week ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
I am so grateful to everyone involved in running and supporting foodbanks across Argyll & Bute. Unfortunately, they are more necessary than ever now and I know that for many people they are literally a lifeline. Shocking new statistics provided by the Trussell Trust show that Tory cuts have led to a 63% rise in food bank parcels handed out in Scotland over five years - with one emergency food parcel handed out to a child every seven minutes this year.Trussell Trust food banks in Scotland have handed out around 220,000 emergency food parcels between April 2020 and March 2021 - a parcel every two-and-a-half minutes. More than 77,000 parcels went to children.Across the UK, the Trussell Trust network gave out a record 2.5m emergency food parcels in the last year. More than 980,000 of these went to children - almost two parcels on average every minute - and a 128% rise compared to this time five years ago. It is the first time the number of food parcels distributed has topped 2 million.These figures do not include the demand on any of our independent foodbanks, so, in reality the figure is far higher, but these foodbanks run by volunteers and supported by local communities, cannot and should not have to continue to pick up the pieces left as a result of this Tory government’s cuts and gaps in support.Even before the pandemic hit, a worrying number of families across the UK were struggling to get by because of a decade of Tory austerity. The figures published today make for dire reading, and we must not forget that behind these statistics are families in desperate need of support.The SNP in Government has done its best to tackle poverty here by bringing in game-changing policies like the Scottish Child Payment, which we will double if re-elected, extending free school meals through the holidays, investing more than £1.96 billion in targeting support at low-income households last year, and mitigating the callous Tory bedroom tax.But whilst employment powers and the vast majority of welfare spending remains reserved to Westminster, Scotland will always be tackling poverty and hunger with one hand tied behind its back. We cannot continue to wait for the UK government - who dithered and delayed on extending free school meals and supporting low-income families through this pandemic - to act. Scotland’s future must be in Scotland’s hands - so we can build a better and fairer society. “With the limited powers we have, we have already built a social security system based on fairness, dignity and respect and are promoting a Real Living Wage. We can continue that work with Both Votes SNP on May 6th. A vote for Labour or anyone else will only see the Tories continue with their brutal austerity cuts.The poster shows the new opening hours for Helensburgh & Lomond Foodbank. If you need help please don't hesitate to get in touch with your local foodbank. They can also point you in the right direction for any other help you may need. ... See MoreSee Less

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Brendan O’Hara MP

2 weeks ago

Brendan O’Hara MP
On my way to the Post Office this afternoon to cast both votes for the SNP, when I bumped into our outstanding candidate for Dumbarton constituency, Toni Giugliano, who decided to accompany me to the post box... just in case 😜 ... See MoreSee Less

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AvatarBrendan O'Hara MP@BrendanOHaraMP·
15h

End of a hugely positive day in Oban. Very best of luck to ⁦@jenni_minto⁩ our outstanding ⁦@theSNP⁩ candidate who is looking to fill the extra large shoes of ⁦@Feorlean⁩ as the MSP for Argyll & Bute. #BothVotesSNP

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AvatarBrendan O'Hara MP@BrendanOHaraMP·
19h

Another cracking day campaigning for #BothVotesSNP in Soroba. As always in Oban, we got a great response from local folk when leafleting for ⁦@theSNP⁩ ⁦@jenni_minto⁩ ⁦@ArgyllButeSNP⁩ ⁦@SNPObanandLorn⁩

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AvatarDavid Linden MP | #BothVotesSNP@DavidLinden·
30 Apr

🗳 Managed a bit of #SP21 leafleting in #Sandyhills earlier. Good to see lots of window posters starting to go up too! Less than a week to go - make it #BothVotesSNP on 6 May.

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AvatarScottish Sea Farms@scotseafarms·
30 Apr

VACANCIES | We're on a recruitment roll:

SCALLOWAY Processing, Night Hygiene, Quality Monitor; ORKNEY Critical Equipment Specialist; NEVIS Senior Net Support Technician; MULL Fish Husbandry; SOUTH SHIAN Processing, Night Hygiene, Filleting.

Details at https://bit.ly/3xEvLn8

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AvatarAlison Thewliss #BothVotesSNP@alisonthewliss·
30 Apr

Astonishing how far the amazing team at @KatrickTech have come since I visited them last February before lockdown - from the drawing board to speeding ahead with their innovative sustainable energy technology. Very exciting developments ahead of COP26. #innovation #COP26 #energy

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AvatarStephen Gethins@StephenGethins·
29 Apr

Quite the list of signatories from around Europe arguing Scotland should be welcomed back into the EU. It is an argument I have heard from politicians around Europe too. You can find the signatories here - https://europeforscotland.com - and an article here https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/29/eu-should-hang-out-welcome-sign-for-independent-scotland-letter-signed-cultural-figures

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