MP Opens Cruden Bay Gala

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford officially opened Cruden Bay Gala on Saturday. The event was organised by Cruden Bay Community Association and was making a welcome return to the village after an absence of a number of years.

Eilidh Whiteford MP with Gala Prince and Princess Josh and Emma
escorted into Mill Park by the Cruden Bay Coastguard.

Speaking at the event at Mill Park in the village, Eilidh said:

“It’s an honour and a pleasure to be able to declare Cruden Bay Gala officially open.

“The organisers have put a huge amount of work into arranging the event and are to be congratulated on their efforts to bring the gala back to the village. Judging by the support shown by local people on Saturday, their efforts have been greatly appreciated and the day was a tremendous success.”

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Westminster Threat to Scots Pensions Shows Why Yes Vote is Essential

LABOUR PROPOSING LOWER PENSIONS IN SCOTLAND THAN LONDON
SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford MP has pointed to Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls’ interview in which he could not rule out including pensions in his new regional welfare cap - which would mean different levels in different parts of the UK and Liam Byrne’s interview where he refused to rule out cuts to pensioners TV licences – as being a real threat to pensioners’ standard of living unless there is a Yes vote in next year’s referendum.

Commenting, the local MP said:

"This has been a dreadful period for Labour as they abandon their long held commitment to the principle of universality, and propose having lower welfare benefits in Scotland and the regions of England than London. Now Ed Balls quite strikingly refuses to rule out including pensions in his new cap proposals - meaning lower pensions in Scotland than London, despite the fact the Scotland more than pays its way in the UK.

"Nothing better illustrates the need for a Yes vote than this threat from Westminster to pensions in Scotland. The reality is that spending on pensions and welfare takes up a lower share of Scotland’s economy than it does across the whole of the UK, which means that they are more affordable for Scotland.

“Already a majority of people in Scotland believe that welfare and pensions policy, and taxation, should be decided by Holyrood not Westminster - and this Labour-Tory alliance on welfare cuts shows why it is essential.

“Labour have now joined with the Tories in supporting cuts and abandoning the principle of universality – it is no surprise that Alistair Darling got a rousing ovation at a Tory conference this weekend. The only way to safeguard the welfare state in Scotland is to vote Yes next September."

YouGov/SNP Poll (Fieldwork: 20th-22nd March 2013)

Which government do you think would be best at deciding welfare and pensions policy for Scotland?

The UK Government: 34%
The Scottish Government: 53%
Don't know: 13%
Sample size: 1105 Scottish adults

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Housing Policy 'Should be Devolved to Scottish Parliament'

All housing issues should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and the Department of Work and Pensions is interfering on housing in Scotland, according to Dr Mary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. Dr Taylor was speaking as an expert at the Scottish Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons today (Tuesday).

The Committee was discussing the impact of the Bedroom Tax and other changes to housing benefit in Scotland. The Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland asserted that the Scottish administration has only limited powers to mitigate the impact of the welfare changes, and these powers were being used effectively by the Scottish Government.

Commenting SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“The committee experts today recognised the dire effects Westminster’s welfare reform is having on Scotland’s most disadvantaged people- and the Scottish Government’s inability to act, due to housing issues being reserved to London, rather than devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

“The Bedroom Tax is an inherently unfair policy. People on the lowest incomes are paying the price for structural problems affecting the supply of affordable housing in London. The Bedroom Tax is also unworkable - instead of addressing the underlying problems, it undermines the ability of social landlords to invest in the kind of affordable housing that is so badly needed.

“The Tory/Lib Dem coalition are hitting the poorest and most disadvantaged in our society with their austerity measures, while the richest receive a cut in taxes.

“The Bedroom Tax will be imposed on Scotland despite over 90 per cent of Scottish MPs voted against it.

“In Scotland we have an opportunity to change, so that we make our own democratic decisions. To vote No in next year’s referendum would mean leaving Scotland at the mercy of the Westminster system, which on any measure is failing. With independence we have the opportunity to do things differently and better - and we will scrap the Bedroom Tax in an independent Scotland."

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MP Hails Fraserburgh 'Super Saturday' Event

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has hailed yesterday’s Fraserburgh ‘Super Saturday’ event as a great success for the town.

The local MP attended the event during the morning and toured the street stalls before calling in at some of the local shops and visiting the Fraserburgh Lifeboat, which was open to visitors. She was accompanied by local councillors Hamish Partridge (Troup) who was also one of the organisers of the days events and was acting as a steward, and Charles Buchan (Fraserburgh & District).

Commenting on the event, Eilidh said:

“This was a tremendous event for Fraserburgh and I congratulate the organisers and all those involved with it.

“Luckily, the rain subsided and didn’t put too much of a damper on things. There seemed to be a good large crowd of people when I was there and I hope that both stall-holders and local businesses have had a good day.

“I think this idea has got the potential to be really good for the town centre and for bringing in new people and customers to Fraserburgh. I wish it every success for the future.”

Troup councillor and one of the co-organisers of the event Hamish Partridge said:

“I was delighted to have the support of the local MP for the first Fraserburgh ‘Super Saturday’. It meant a lot to the organisers to have her support.

“I’m very pleased with how the day went. We had a terrific range of stalls ranging from crafts and plants, to jams and seafood, along with street entertainment. The weather wasn’t too kind to us in the morning but that didn’t seem to deter the large crowd of people who contributed to making today’s event such a success.”

Broch councillor Charles Buchan added:

“There was a real buzz about the Broch today. I think this was a fantastic initiative and add my congratulations to all involved in the hard work setting it up.

“I hope that this can become a regular event aimed at attracting people back into the town centre.

"I'm very pleased that the event was such a success. The crowds enjoyed the various musical events, and the other entertainments. Sales were very good, with some of the stall-holders selling out completely.

“Thanks are due to the organisers, and the many participants, including the Business Association, Fraserburgh Development Trust, Aberdeenshire Council, and Ann Bell, as well as the fishing industry contributions, the Lifeboat Service, and all the musicians, and the many people who contributed their time, and equipment, and who allowed the use of their property on the day.

“I look forward to the next set of Super Saturdays, and hope that even larger crowds turn out."

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