Whiteford Says UK Government Failing NE Fishermen

The UK Government has been accused of failing to address problems facing fishermen in the North-east and across Scotland. Following a statement on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Richard Benyon, SNP MP for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford says there are other challenges facing Scots fishermen than the CFP and the UK Government is failing to act.

The local MP also says that while Scottish Fisheries Secretary and Moray MSP Richard Lochhead treats fishing as an industry of critical importance in European talks the ultimate say still lies with UK Ministers who continue to use fishing as a bargaining chip.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Whilst the agreement in Brussels is welcome, the fishing industry still faces problems such as the cost of quota and fuel and the market conditions have continued to be poor in recent months.

“Fishing related industry is one of the mainstays of the economy of the North-east and if the UK Government backed the Scottish Government’s position on fisheries in its European negotiations they could get our coastal communities a far better deal and help ensure a positive future for the sector.

“The UK Minister, Mr Benyon, instead decided to attack independence for Scotland, claiming there was only a deal due to being part of the UK, despite the UK selling Scots fishermen down the river for 30 years. It was also an act of sheer hypocrisy given that he represents a party most of whom want to take the UK out of the EU.

“Ignoring the issues is an unacceptable position from the UK Government and there is a continuous failure by successive UK Governments to recognise the economic importance of fishing to Scotland. Too often fishing continues to be a bargaining chip to the detriment of our fishermen and fishing communities.

“Ireland is just about to conclude its term of the EU Presidency proving the importance of small nations within the EU. With independence, Scotland would have its own seat at the top table, reflecting the importance of fishing to Scotland and building alliances with member states in the interests of a true, regionally based sustainable fishery.”

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Portsoy Boat Festival Success Praised by Whiteford

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has praised the organisers of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival on yet another highly successful event.

The MP paid a visit to the event on Sunday and met with Chairman Roger Goodyear. New North-east MSP Christian Allard attended on the Saturday, his first visit as an MSP.

Commenting, Dr Whiteford said:

"The organisers deserve our praise for delivering another spectacular Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in this, their twentieth year.

"The weather on Sunday unfortunately wasn’t the best we’ve ever had at the Festival but it didn’t dampen the tremendous atmosphere and there was a real buzz, not only around the event but also the whole town.

“Portsoy can be rightly proud that it has a visitor attraction of national importance which draws visitors from not only the length and breadth of the country but also internationally."

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Westminster Offers Only More Austerity and More Cuts

As the Tory/Liberal Democrat coalition prepares to outline its latest round of massive public spending cuts on Wednesday in the Comprehensive Spending Review and lays out the next ten years of Westminster austerity and cuts - which Labour now support – Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford commented:

"The Comprehensive Spending Review will be the perfect opportunity for this downgraded Chancellor to get some desperately needed growth back into the economy. But we know that will not happen. George Osborne has staked the entire reputation of the UK Government on aggressive deficit reduction - regardless of the dreadful economic and social cost but he has categorically failed - and on some measures borrowing is actually rising. He refuses to listen to the IMF amongst others about easing off on Westminster's aggressive cuts programme.

"In Scotland, we have lower unemployment than the UK, higher employment, and we now have one of the lowest youth unemployment rates anywhere in the EU. The Scottish government is now taking decisions that are creating real opportunities , including major infrastructure projects at colleges in Glasgow, Inverness and Kilmarnock - the new South Glasgow Hospital development and of course the new Forth Crossing . Meanwhile George Osborne talks about shovel ready projects but fails to deliver.

"If the Chancellor and his government spent his time looking at what is happening in Scotland rather than lecturing and scaremongering, perhaps the rest of the UK might see some improvements too. On Wednesday Mr Osborne will continue down his chosen road of cuts, cuts and more cuts with a lost decade of austerity facing us all, and depressingly Labour's Ed Balls has signed up to the Osborne vision by vowing to keep the Tory cuts and add to them in the unlikely event Labour are ever re-elected. Labour's Cuts Commission want to remove the bus pass for over-60s and free personal care.

"The Scottish Government is delivering important measures right now within their limited powers which are helping, but the way to get Scottish businesses moving again and get real growth back into the economy is to have the economic and financial powers of an independent Scotland - which is why a Yes vote in the autumn 2014 referendum is so important."

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Whiteford Stands up for Green Jobs in Narrowly Lost Vote on Clean Power Law

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford has voted to support renewable energy and jobs across the North-east by backing a move to clean up UK power and tackle climate change.

Dr Whiteford voted for an amendment to the Energy Bill, currently in Parliament, that would set the Government a legal target to remove carbon emissions from the UK’s power supply almost entirely by 2030.

Businesses argue the move would reassure companies looking to make long-term investments in the green economy that could bring new jobs to Scotland. It would end the country’s heavy reliance on gas and would also stop rising gas prices from driving up fuel bills.

267 MPs voted for the proposal, including the Labour Party, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the DUP, the Green Party, and 16 Liberal Democrat and 8 Conservative backbenchers who defied the UK Government. The vote was lost by just 23 votes: the biggest MP rebellion on a whipped vote since tuition fees in 2010.

Lord Alan Sugar, from TV’s The Apprentice and a member of the House of Lords, warned that unless the UK Government commits to clean power the UK risks busting its climate change targets and losing business and jobs abroad. Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, Campaign Ambassador for Friends of the Earth’s Clean British Energy campaign, said that it was a fantastic opportunity to revive UK manufacturing and boost green growth.

A clean power target is expected to be a key issue when the Bill is debated in the House of Lords later this month.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“Green is working – the green economy supports almost a million jobs already and it is helping to stop dangerous climate change.

“But green companies and their supply chains will only make long-term investments in the North-east if there’s a clear pathway for renewable energy in the future.

“That’s why I voted for a target to cut the carbon from our electricity by 2030 – it would help stabilise the climate and provide much needed jobs, as well as keeping bills as low as possible in the long-term.”

Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

“Eilidh Whiteford MP should be applauded for standing up for action to tackle climate change and create new jobs in Scotland.

“George Osborne’s reckless dash for gas power would send fuel bills rocketing and jobs overseas, and punch a gaping hole in our climate targets.

“With so many MPs rebelling and voting for clean power, the issue will not go away – the battle will now go to the House of Lords, where the Government’s slim victory has a real chance of being overturned.”

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