FORDYCE OPEN DAY SUCCESS HAILED BY GRAY & WHITEFORD

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and Banff & District councillor Ian Gray have hailed Sunday’s Annual Open Day at Fordyce as a tremendous success.

Eilidh Whiteford and Ian Gray joined the many hundreds of people who took the opportunity to tour the village and the beautiful gardens which were opened up to the public.

Commenting afterwards, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Fordyce really scored yesterday with the weather which allowed the gardens to be shown off at their best.

“I am really pleased that the organisers and the gardeners were rewarded with some excellent weather on the day.”

Councillor Ian Gray added:

“It was an excellent event and congratulations must go to everyone in this beautiful Banffshire village who pulled together to make it a really excellent afternoon while at the same time raising funds for local good causes.”

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WHITEFORD CONGRATULATES SNP MEP ON AGRICULTURE AWARD

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has congratulated her MEP colleague Alyn Smith on winning a prestigious award for Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Agriculture, as well as the Scottish Farmer "Champion of Champions" award chosen by the judges from amongst other agricultural award winners.

The SNP MEP was also presented with a silver salver from the National Sheep Association for outstanding service to the sheep industry.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“I am delighted for Alyn Smith, who has been a staunch defender of Scottish agriculture throughout his time as a member of the European Parliament.

“Along with Ian Hudghton, we are very fortunate in having two excellent representatives in Ian and Alyn working for Scottish interests at the heart of the EU, where more and more important decisions are made.

“Alyn’s award is richly deserved and I look forward to congratulating him personally on his next visit to Banff & Buchan.”

Speaking after the awards were announced Alyn Smith said:

"I'm just delighted by these awards, for a politician to be nominated at all was unusual, but to actually win, and then win the Champion of Champions as well was totally unexpected!

"As I said accepting the award, politics is a team game and I am proud to have such a good team working with me and the SNP government in Scotland as well as the great team in Scottish Agriculture to represent. Scotland has a lot going for us, and I'm firmly of the view that Scottish Agriculture has nothing to lose and everything to gain from engaging with the EU on every level.

"We certainly have a lot to do, with Common Agricultural Policy reform rocketing up the agenda in Brussels, as well as LFA reform, potential new rules on animal transport, animal by products, and a host of other issues to keep an eye on. I'll need all the support I can get in fighting Scotland's corner but I'm sure Scotland's representatives will have all the support we need."

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EURO-MP & CANDIDATE TOUR SMITH EMBANKMENT DEVELOPMENT

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and Member of the European Parliament Ian Hudghton visited Peterhead Port Authority on Monday and met with Chief Executive John Wallace.

After a tour of the facilities, including a trip on the pilot boat to see close up the construction work going on in the bay, the SNP representatives had a meeting with Mr Wallace to discuss current issues and were updated on developments in the port.

Speaking after the visit, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Having been brought up in a fishing community I know how important to the local economy the prosperity of its harbour is.

“I am delighted to see the progress being made with the Smith Embankment development, which has been made possible with the support of the Scottish Government.

“It is clear that Peterhead Port Authority has a strong management team driving things forward and securing the port’s future and I wish John and his team continued success.”

Commenting, Ian Hudghton MEP said:

"I am very impressed by the ambition and determination of the Port Authority to invest wisely in the development of facilities at Peterhead, and pleased to see the EU funding contribution being put to such good use.

“I am determined to do all that I can to help with forthcoming challenges and opportunities, such as radical reform of the CFP, so that Peterhead can continue to build up its excellent range of services around the harbour."

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WHITEFORD WELCOMES RETREAT ON ROYAL MAIL PRIVATISATION PLAN

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has described Lord Mandelson's admission that the UK Government will not progress legislation to part-privatise Royal Mail as a 'humiliating climb down' but sounded a warning that, if similar plans are introduced in the next Parliament, they would be disastrous for the postal service.

The SNP candidate has been vocal in her defence of Royal Mail and postal services.

Scottish National Party MPs have led opposition to the proposals at Westminster and kept up pressure on the London Labour Government to justify the proposals.

Commenting on the UK Government's decision to postpone their proposals, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"The Labour Government is quite simply wrong on this issue. The proposals to privatise bits of Royal Mail are both unworkable and unpopular. This is plain for all to see with the massive opposition it has stirred up.

"This climb down will be welcomed by both Royal Mail employees and the many service users all across the North-east.

"Privatisation would spell the beginning of the end for Royal Mail, and open the door to job losses, service cuts and a deterioration in the working conditions of postal workers.

"The proposal may be in the long-grass but it is still lurking around. The UK Government should dump this unwanted privatisation completely and concentrate on a positive agenda for our postal services."

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