Photography contest showcases the best of Strichen

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford was on hand at the weekend to present prizes to the winners of a special photography contest.

Strichen Community Park challenged amateur photographers to snap the park looking at its best. The contest was a runaway success with visitors from as far afield as Australia submitting photographs via the Park's Facebook page. Over 100 entries were submitted and on Saturday at the Park, the winners were revealed as Debbie Breese from New Aberdour for 1st and 3rd prizes, with Lee-ann McLean of Inverallochy scooping 2nd prize.

Eilidh Whiteford, who presented the prizes to the lucky winners, commented:

"The Strichen Community Park is one of the real beauty spots in Banff & Buchan and has been increasingly popular in recent years.

"There were some beautiful shots of the Park through all the seasons and the winning entries were really quite special. What a fantastic advert for the Park and for the North-east."

Eilidh ranked one of Scotland's hardest working MPs

New figures from the House of Commons Library have revealed Eilidh Whiteford to be one of Scotland's hardest working Members of Parliament.

The SNP MP for Banff & Buchan ranks 9th out of 59 Scottish MPs for contributions to debates - making over 500 speeches and interventions since her election in 2010.

In the period 2010-2015, Eilidh has also asked over 700 parliamentary questions.

The statistics put the Banff & Buchan MP's parliamentary contributions well ahead of some high-profile Scottish MPs including the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the former Chancellor Alistair Darling and LibDem MP Charles Kennedy.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

"When I was elected in 2010, I promised to work my socks off for my constituents and that is what I have done to the best of my ability. I have spoken in a lot of debates and I have asked a lot of questions of this ConDem UK Government but that is exactly what Banff & Buchan needs and expects.

"Banff & Buchan is a diverse community and I have spoken on issues from farming and fishing to broadband and support for the vulnerable.

​"Being the MP for Banff & Buchan these last 5 years has been an immense privilege which I am keen to continue."

Eilidh urges women to use their vote in May

Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has pledged to support two of the UK’s leading women’s charities in their call for all women to use their ‘vital’ vote in this year’s General Election. Dr. Whiteford has pledged to listen to women, especially survivors of violence against women and girls in the constituency when campaigning and in Parliament.

Girlguiding and Women’s Aid, who together represent and support nearly one million girls and women across the UK, want to ensure all women’s voices are heard at the ballot box on May 7th. More than 10,000 girls in guiding will be first-time voters in May.

The joint plea came as the two charities hosted a cross-party event in Parliament on Wednesday, highlighting the issues that matter to women ahead of this General Election. Dr. Whiteford has signed the Women’s Aid pledge to Hear Her, See Her, Believe Her¸and is supporting Girlguiding’s Girls Matter campaign.

Speaking afterwards, Dr. Whiteford said:

“Women and girls are essential in my constituency, and we cannot make good political decisions without taking women and girls into account. I am pleased to support Women’s Aid and Girlguiding in urging all the women in my constituency to vote, and pledge to take their concerns and experiences into account in my work in the constituency and in Parliament.”

Women’s Aid are urging parliamentarians to ensure their constituency offices are a safe place for women to disclose domestic violence, and to include information from Women’s Aid on their websites about how to register to vote anonymously. Women’s Aid wants to see Parliamentarians to commit to supporting their calls for sustainable funding for specialist needs-led domestic violence services and widen the legal aid gateway as these are two of the things that matter most to survivors.

Women’s Aid Chief Executive, Polly Neate, said:

“Survivors of domestic violence often feel like they are in an invisible prison: that no one sees the violence or believe them if they speak out about it. So many women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a partner or ex-partner, so it’s essential their voices are listened to. We’re urging all survivors to vote, and most of all, urging every politician to see, hear, and believe the women in their constituencies who are being abused.”

UK spending lowest proportion of its wealth on supporting children than at any time since 1977

Research showing that Britain is spending a lower proportion of its wealth on supporting children than at any time since 1977 has been condemned as a demonstration of Westminster’s failure to act on child poverty.

Research by the House of Commons Library has revealed that the proportion of GDP spent on child benefit has fallen to 0.6 per cent – the lowest level it has reached at any time since 1977.

The Child Poverty Action Group has previously estimated that up to 100,000 more children in Scotland risk being pushed into poverty by 2020.

Commenting, SNP Work and Pensions Spokesperson and Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford said:

“The fact that the UK is spending less of its wealth on child benefit than at any time since 1977 is an appalling indictment of the lack of importance the Westminster Government attaches to reducing child poverty.

“It shows that there is a complete lack of will amongst the Westminster establishment to tackle the increasing child poverty being driven by their austerity agenda.

“Only a powerful voice for Scotland with a strong team of SNP MPs can achieve change, and help deliver progressive policies across the UK. And the Scottish Government must have the opportunity to step in. That is why Scotland needs far greater welfare responsibilities than have thus far been proposed – again, something only a vote for the SNP can secure.”

Eilidh shows her green fingers with student entrepreneurs

Eilidh joined students from the Fraserburgh campus of North East Scotland College as they took a green approach to demonstrate their effective money management skills. The second year class invested a grant of £200 in a “Mad about Plants” enterprise, creating and selling a wide variety of planters and arrangements in the local community.

Janice Smith, Horticulture lecturer said:

“The Money for Life Challenge is a chance for the students to develop their financial skills and see how money can literally grow! We are hoping to get the message across that it doesn’t cost a lot to grow plants, anyone can do it and that plants contribute to a good healthy environment.”

The students welcomed the support of Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, who joined the students at Fraserburgh Campus to look at some of the creations on offer. Dr Whiteford commented:

“I was impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of the students and wish them luck in their bid to win the national competitions that they have entered. This project is really equipping the young people with the skills and qualities that they will need to draw on in working life and I commend them for their hard work.”

The Mad about Plants team have raised over £300 in sales to date and, in true entrepreneurial spirit, this will be ploughed into the next green fingered project on the horizon.

The Money for Life Challenge is a national competition which provides grants for 16 to 24 year olds to run a project to improve money management skills in their communities. The most inspiring and impactful projects progress to the National Finals and the UK Grand Final.

Dismay at UK Government's rejection of LGBTI rights envoy

The SNP has today voiced disappointment at the UK Government’s rejection of the creation of a special Foreign Office envoy to promote the rights of LGTBI people throughout the world.

Responding to a Parliamentary Question from SNP MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford, Foreign Office minister David Lidington said that the UK Government did not support the creation of such an envoy – and said creating a new post would be “ticking a box”.

Last month, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced her support for an envoy – and said that a team of SNP MPs elected at the General Election would support the creation of such a post "to promote the rights of LGBTI people throughout the word, as an integral part of UK foreign policy".

Commenting on today’s developments, Dr. Whiteford said:

“It is deeply disappointing that Foreign Office Minister David Lidington has rejected proposals for the creation of an LGTBI envoy."

"As the First Minister stated last month, there is cross-party support for an envoy – just as there is support for such a post in the United States – and the SNP is prepared to work across party boundaries to ensure the role is established. For Mr Lidington to refer to the role as a “ticking a box” is extremely insulting."

“Too many LGBTI people in too many countries still face the most extreme forms of prejudice and hate - our voice must be one of those arguing and advocating for equality, tolerance and love."

"That is why a team of SNP MPs elected in May will continue to push the case for the establishment of a special envoy - a diplomatic post within the Foreign Office - to promote the rights of LGBTI people throughout the word, as an integral part of UK foreign policy."

"By voting for a strong team of SNP MPs in May, the people of Scotland can achieve change to deliver policies that are right for this country - and advance the cause of progressive policies across the UK."