New Deal for Railways Great News for North East Passengers and Rail Staff

Whiteford welcomes new franchise announcement
Dr Eilidh Whiteford, MP for Banff and Buchan, has welcomed the announcement by Scottish Government Transport Minister of a new deal for Scotland’s railways, with a new franchise agreement that will see reduced fares and better working conditions for staff.

Operator Abellio, which will take on the running of the £6billion franchise from 1 April 2015. Abellio will move their UK HQ to Glasgow creating 50 new jobs alongside 150 jobs secured from First.

As a result of the new deal, passengers and staff will enjoy a range of benefits including: advance fares starting at £5 between Scottish cities; a commitment to earnings of at least the Living Wage for all staff and subcontractors; at least 100 apprenticeships; a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies; rail staff pensions and travel rights protected; free wifi on all trains; a new approach to cycling with more than 3,500 parking spaces and bike-hire at a number of stations; 80 new trains due to arrive at start of December 2017; 23 per cent more carriages across the network.

Commenting, Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford said:

“The new contract is great news for passengers in the North-east.

“The new deal will rejuvenate our rail service and deliver a first class service that will rival any public transport system in Europe.

“A large investment in new trains in the coming years is a welcome development in shortening journey times, and the pledge of £5 fares between Scotland’s major cities is a great step towards making public transport an affordable alternative to taking the car on long journeys.

“The pledge to pay Living Wage to all employees including subcontractors and the commitment to no compulsory redundancies is welcome news for those railway workers and with all staff to have their rail staff pensions and travel rights protected, this really does represent a better deal.

“The establishment of a new Scottish training academy will also help build a better rail industry for the future – and the commitment to 100 apprenticeships will help get things off to a flying start.”

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MP & Local Councillor on Official Opening of MACBI Centre

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford and Central Buchan SNP councillor Lenny Pirie have hailed the opening of the new MACBI Centre in Mintlaw.

Dr Whiteford and Cllr Pirie attended the official opening of the MACBI (Mintlaw & Central Buchan Initiative) community facility yesterday (Saturday), which attracted a large crowd of local people.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

“This really is a fantastic facility and credit must go to the hard-working local committee who have pushed this project forward over the past ten years.

“The Centre will be a real boost for Mintlaw and Central Buchan and provide facilities for a range of organisations and community groups. Indeed, I’ve already held one of my surgeries in it a few months ago and can vouch for the facilities.

“I’m delighted for the committee that their hard work has paid off so handsomely and I’m sure they now look forward to seeing the building being very well-used by the local community.”

Cllr Lenny Pirie added:

“It was a great pleasure to attend the official opening and see just how well-received the new building has been by the local community.

“It boasts a great range of facilities from fitness areas to meeting space and will be a tremendous asset to the growing communities of Mintlaw and Central Buchan.”

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Charities Attack Tory Welfare Policies as "Deeply Cynical & Senseless"

EXPERTS VIEW ON IMPACT OF TORY POLICIES MUST BE HEEDED
The SNP’s Welfare and Pensions Spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford has said that the UK Government must listen to the voices of leading charities and poverty experts who have spoken out about the deeply damaging effect of their welfare policies on Scotland’s poorest families.

The intervention follows George Osborne’s announcement at this week’s Tory conference that a further £3bn is to be cut from the welfare bill, with benefits frozen for two years. These cuts are expected to hit 1 million families in Scotland. But when Mr Osborne made this announcement it was met with cheers from Tory delegates.

As reported in today’s Sunday Herald a wide range of organisations including Shelter Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland, Shelter Scotland, the Child Poverty Action Group, SCVO, the Poverty Alliance, Positive Action in Housing, Barnardo’s in Scotland, the Poverty Truth Commission, the Big Issue and the Trussell Trust, have spoken out and raised their concerns.

Commenting Dr Whiteford said:

“The warnings of these respected experts on poverty and welfare issues must be heeded before increasingly damaging Tory policies drive more into poverty. 100,000 more children in Scotland already face being pushed into poverty as a result of the Tories’ sustained attack on hard working and vulnerable families. Reports today that George Osborne’s benefits freeze will hit 1 million families in Scotland are deeply worrying.

“As their intervention shows this is no longer just a debate between politicians - now those people and organisations who work daily to help tackle poverty and deprivation are giving a stark warning which both Westminster and the wider Scottish society must heed.

“Westminster has proven time and time again it cannot be trusted when it comes to welfare. It is time for the Scottish Parliament to have the powers we need to make Scotland a fairer, more equal country and address the causes of inequality."

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YES Vote Prevails in Banff & Buchan

AMAZING SCENES IN NEW DEER TODAY AS FIRST MINISTER ARRIVES FOR MEETING WITH CAMPAIGNERS
Yes campaigners in Banff & Buchan have taken heart from the fact that a Yes vote topped the poll locally.

While there are no official figures for the referendum result broken down by constituency, information gathered by the Yes Campaign’s Counting Agents at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre point to a clear Yes vote in Banff & Buchan.

Commenting, a spokesperson for YES Banff & Buchan said:

“The Westminster establishment has made extravagant promises to the people of Scotland that they will find hard to keep. The 'new powers' promised will need to go much further than the lowest common denominator of 'devo-nano' if they are to meet the expectations of the people of Scotland. It's our job now to hold them to account, and make sure they keep their pledges.

“Although we are disappointed that we failed to secure a Yes vote last week, we can take great heart from the fact that 1.6 million people, 45% of the electorate, voted Yes. And we’re proud that in every age group except our older citizens, the Yes campaign won a majority of votes.”

The positive YES campaign has galvanised a whole new generation of activists which was in evidence today at New Deer. A scheduled meeting of the local Constituency Association of the SNP had to be hastily turned into an outdoor rally when around 300 people turned up to greet First Minister Alex Salmond on his arrival after hearing about the meeting on Facebook.

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Alex has served the people of Scotland with passion, vision and immense dedication. His role in shaping the Scottish political landscape over the past 25 years has been immeasurable, and in the last seven years he has transformed the role of First Minister.

“Alex continues to be an outstanding MSP for East Aberdeenshire. Anyone who knows Alex, knows his extraordinary willingness to make time for his constituents, his determination to improve the lives of our people, and his desire to build a better future for Scotland.

“I am very sad that Alex is stepping down as First Minister. One of the supreme ironies of this campaign is that all along the No campaign tried to make the Referendum all about Alex. And on Friday, that's exactly what happened, and instead of focussing on defeat, the agenda focussed on him.

“But Alex’s departure as First Minister leaves Scotland with unfinished business in terms of the new powers promised to our parliament, but the seeds of hope and expectation he has helped to plant in the hearts and minds of the people of our country will flourish in the years to come, and will make Scotland a better place for all of us.”

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