MP Hails Gardenstown Habour Gala Success

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford performed the official opening at Gardenstown Harbour Gala at the weekend amid glorious sunshine.

Eilidh Whiteford MP with
Gardenstown Harbour Trustees
Chairman Michael Watt

The annual gala, held at the village harbour, is an important event in the local calendar and helps to raise a huge sum towards the upkeep of the harbour, which is entirely managed and maintained by local volunteers, and support for other community groups.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

“I’m really pleased that Gamrie scored with the weather on Saturday and saw a tremendous crowd turn out for this important event.

“It’s sometimes very easy to take for granted the work which must go on all year round in our local communities carried out by local volunteers, and Gardenstown is very fortunate to have a highly committed and dedicated team of individuals who work tirelessly to maintain the harbour, and other community amenities.

“I was honoured to be invited to open the gala and I’m delighted to hear that over £7000 was raised. My congratulations to everyone who helped make the day such a huge success.”

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MP Makes Early Call to First Event of Peterhead Scottish Week

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford made an early call to the first event of this year’s Peterhead Scottish Week when she visited the OAP Social Club’s annual buttery morning at their premises in Windmill Street.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

“Scottish Week is made up of a multitude of events, some of which are new some of which, like the OAP Social Club Buttery Morning, are a long-standing feature of the week’s events and I was pleased to be able to drop by and show my support for the volunteers there.

“The weather has helped get Scottish Week off to a great start and I hope that it continues throughout the week’s programme of events.”

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Charities Being Short-Changed as Westminster Fails to Deliver says MP

Commenting on reports that the Westminster government will give the Treasury a cash bonus because of an underspend in the 2012 Olympic budget instead of paying it back to charities as originally thought, local MP Eilidh Whiteford said:

“It is just not on that this money is going to the Treasury coffers in Westminster instead of to the charities that desperately need it - Westminster should give it back to hard pressed charities struggling to cope.

“Charities and community groups were hit hard when the Big Lottery Fund was raided to the tune of £425 million to pay for infrastructure and stadium developments for the 2012 London Olympics. They took a hit then, and they should be at the front of the queue now that there is some cash available to give back.

“The projected underspend has now been estimated and it now looks as if there is another £528 million pounds, in addition to an earlier announcement of £377 million. Rather than helping George Osborne out of a hole with his failed austerity programme, it should all go to charities and community groups struggling for funding. This is the wrong decision and should be reversed.”

In a written statement to Parliament the UK Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson has revealed that the projected cost of the Olympic Games has fallen by £528 million. This marks a further increase on the £377 million underspend projected in October 2012. In the build-up to the Games the last Government raided £425 million from the Big Lottery Fund to pay for stadia and infrastructure in London.

More information on the Big Lottery Refund campaign --can be found here www.biglotteryrefund.org.uk

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Local MP & MSPs to Visit New Deer Show

A previous New Deer Show

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford, East Aberdeenshire MSP Alex Salmond and Scotland’s newest MSP, North-east regional member Christian Allard will be supporting New Deer Show on Saturday. The SNP parliamentarians will be meeting constituents and touring the livestock lines and trade stands at this weekend’s event.

Commenting, Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford said:

"There is a tremendous amount of work goes into planning a successful show like New Deer and the Show President, Secretary and Committee deserve our thanks for pulling together what promises to be another excellent showcase for the best of Buchan and North-east livestock.”

East Aberdeenshire MSP Alex Salmond commented:

“I’m really looking forward to the New Deer Show. It’s an event I’ve had the great privilege to attend for many years now and each show seems to get bigger and better than the last.

“New Deer maintains the highest standards of a traditional agricultural show, with fantastic local produce on offer and plenty of activities to keep the kids amused too.

“With the great weather set to continue through the weekend, be sure to head for New Deer Show – one of the absolute highlights of Scotland’s rural calendar.”

North-east regional MSP Christian Allard added:

“Shows and Highland Games are great opportunities for parliamentarians like me to meet constituents from the North-east’s rural communities. They also showcase what Rural Scotland has to offer.”

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