MAUD FIREFIGHTERS PRAISED FOR CHARITY EFFORT

Buchan firefighters boosted the coffers of a Scottish childrens' charity at the weekend.

Firefighters from the retained station at Maud held a charity car wash in aid of the Scottish Burned Children's Club. Over 100 cars were washed on the day by the volunteers, who had given up their spare time to help.

Grampian Fire & Rescue Service Joint Board member Cllr Stephen Smith paid a visit on the day along with the SNP's Westminster candidate Eilidh Whiteford and firefighters took the opportunity to lobby them on the threat to the retained duty system posed by the ending of the opt-out from the EU's Working Time Directive.

Commenting, Cllr Smith said:

"This was a tremendous effort for a very worthwhile cause by the Maud crew and I congratulate them on their efforts.

"It is this sort of community spirit which is under threat from the EU's wish to have the Working Time Directive apply to our part-time fire crews. If the proposals go through in their current form, the whole system of retained firefighters in rural areas will cease to function. Opinion is being mobilised against this measure and I am confident we can succeed."

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford added:

"The crew were certainly being kept very busy at their car wash and it is obviously that their efforts were being well supported by local people who clearly value the contribution each and every one of them make towards keeping our communities safe."

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BIG TURNOUT FOR SNP BURNS SUPPER IN CRUDEN BAY

The Scottish National Party held a Burns Supper in the Red House Hotel, Cruden Bay on Saturday. Organisers were delighted with a turnout of over 60 guests for the event which saw the Immortal Memory delivered by Euro-MP Ian Hudghton.

Also speaking was Banff & Buchan Westminster candidate Eilidh Whiteford who delivered the Toast to Scotland. Local farmer Ferg Stephen said the Selkirk Grace and Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson Addressed the Haggis. Former Banff & Buchan activist and now Westminster candidate for Glasgow South Malcolm Fleming recited Tam O'Shanter.

Commenting, SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford said:

"I was absolutely delighted with the turnout for the Burns Supper. The SNP has held a Burns Supper in the Cruden area for many years now and I was pleased to renew my acquaintance with local people, having delivered the Reply from the Lassies at the same event last year.

"All credit must go to the hotel management and staff for their efficiency on the night and of course the excellent meal they provided.

"The SNP branch in Peterhead and District is going from strength to strength thanks to the efforts of our hardworking local councillors and their team. I've been campaigning in and around Peterhead and Cruden for over a year now, most recently with a visit to Boddam Hall's fundraising Coffee Morning last week where it was my pleasure to meet with the hall committee."

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BIG TURNOUT FOR SNP BURNS SUPPER IN CUMINESTOWN

The Scottish National Party held a Burns Supper in the Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown on Saturday. Organisers were delighted with a turnout of over 130 guests for the event which saw the Immortal Memory delivered by local MP Alex Salmond.

Also speaking were Banff & Buchan Westminster candidate Eilidh Whiteford, Gordon Westminster candidate Richard Thomson and Professor James Mitchell of Strathclyde University. Cllr Ian Gray said the Selkirk Grace and Cllr Bob Watson Addressed the Haggis.

Commenting, SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford said:

"I was absolutely delighted with the turnout for the Burns Supper. It was the first time we've held one in the Commercial Hotel and to get over 130 people there was just fantastic.

"All credit must go to the hotel management and staff for the efficient way they coped with such a huge number, and of course the excellent meal they provided.

"The SNP branch in Turriff and District is going from strength to strength thanks to the efforts of our hardworking local councillor Sandy Duncan and his team. I've been campaigning in and around Turriff for over a year now, most recently with a visit to Dawson Court last week where it was my pleasure to meet with staff and residents there."

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SNP SLAM TORIES FOR NOT SUPPORTING WHISKY INDUSTRY

IMPORTANT BANFFSHIRE INDUSTRY LET DOWN BY CONSERVATIVES

Conservative MPs have come under fire for letting down a key Banffshire industry in the House of Commons.

With Banffshire being the pre-eminent whisky-producing region, the issue is relevant for local jobs and the wider economy at a time of growing recession and uncertainty.

Tory MPs on the Delegated Legislation Committee controversially abstained on the important vote which was dealing with the record tax increases proposed by the UK Labour Government. Not a single Scottish Labour MP attended the important Delegated Legislation committee meeting. Their English and Welsh Labour MP colleagues voted the measures through.

The SNP which stood up for the industry in the vote has described the Tory abstention as "a reminder why local people had turned their back on this anti-Scottish Party".

Local SNP candidate Eilidh Whiteford condemned the Tories lack of support for the whisky industry:

"It is unbelievable that the Tories have failed to back the whisky industry and everyone who works for it Banffshire.

"It is bad enough that the London Labour Government has had plans to raise duty on whisky by a record 40 year high. Quite why Tory MPs sat on their hands and failed to vote against these daft plans is beyond me, particularly at a time when we are seeing locally the first expansion of the industry in the form of the re-opened Glanglassaugh Distillery.

"More than ever, in these tough economic times, it is crucial that the Treasury commit to a fairer spirits duty regime.

"The whisky sector is one of Scotland's key industries both in export, earnings and employment terms, and the failure to secure a fair tax regime will undermine investment and competitiveness as well as damaging international trading conditions.

"The SNP will continue to stand up for the whisky industry in Banffshire and the rest of the country. It's a shame that both the Tories and Labour have in contrast let it down.

Note: The Members of the Delegated Legislation Committee are as follows:

Atkins, Charlotte (Staffordshire, Moorlands) (Lab)
† Blizzard, Mr. Bob (Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty's Treasury)
† Carmichael, Mr. Alistair (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)
† Challen, Colin (Morley and Rothwell) (Lab)
† Chaytor, Mr. David (Bury, North) (Lab)
Clarke, Mr. Tom (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)
† Coffey, Ann (Stockport) (Lab)
† Crabb, Mr. Stephen (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con)
† Duddridge, James (Rochford and Southend, East) (Con)
† Eagle, Angela (Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury)
† Greening, Justine (Putney) (Con)
† Greenway, Mr. John (Ryedale) (Con)
† Holloway, Mr. Adam (Gravesham) (Con)
† Owen, Albert (Ynys Môn) (Lab)
† Robertson, Angus (Moray) (SNP)
† Stewart, Ian (Eccles) (Lab)

† denotes attended the Committee

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