Alex constituency work and important updates
All you wanted to know about Local Government Finance but were afraid to ask: Part One – Where the money comes from and where it goes This is the first part of a number of briefings that have been published by the Local Government Information Unit and the Author is George Black, LGiU […]
I would first want to congratulate Lesley Laird who was elected MP for the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency last week and Peter Grant who was elected for the Glenrothes constituency both of which sit in the area covered by the Fife Times. I will work with both on constituency issues and for the improvement […]
In 2017 poverty amongst children and adults is on the rise. This cannot be right – it is not right – and we need government to accept responsibility. Nelson Mandela once famously said: “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not […]
Tory austerity is having a devastating impact on those most in need of support. It is failing to support people to get to a point where they can access the labour market. It also targets those who are ill and unable to work. The cuts are not fair and the latest report from […]
Kinross-shire Day Centre spent the day visiting the Scottish Parliament as guests of local MSP Alex Rowley. The organisation which provides a welcoming, safe and homely atmosphere for elderly members took a day trip to learn about the workings of the Scottish Parliament and their local Mid Scotland and Fife MSP. The Deputy Leader […]
This week I joined with college lecturers in Fife as they undertook another day of action to make the case for college management to honour the deal that was signed more than a year ago. This is not a situation that should be allowed to continue as it is damaging to staff morale and […]
Last week I raised with the First Minster a report published by Age Scotland that showed around 8,680 people in Scotland wait longer than six weeks for a care assessment and that potentially 8,550 older people may have waited longer than the maximum waiting period for a care package to be put in place […]
This week I spoke in the Scottish Parliament in a member’s debate brought forward by my colleague Neil Findlay MSP. Mr Findlay had table the following motion for debate: Motion S5M-04708: Neil Findlay, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20/03/2017 Flawed Airport Consultation That the Parliament notes what it sees as the growing concerns about […]
This week in the Scottish Parliament the Air Departure Tax Bill had its Stage One reading. I am supporting the draft Bill at Stage One as it is an enabling Bill to give the parliament devolved powers over Air Passenger Duty as was agreed through the Smith Commission on further powers for Scotland. However, […]
The Tories brought about Brexit in order to try and sort out their own internal rows over Europe and deal with the UKIP threat to their vote. The Tories have created wider inequality and deeper poverty across our country since taking power in 2010. A Tory hard-brexit is a threat to workers wages, […]