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Pedal on Parliament – POP#3
On the 26th April, I joined thousands of other cyclists in Edinburgh for Pedal on Parliament -; an event to highlight the benefits of cycling and to put pressure on the Scottish Government to prioritise making Scotland a safer place to cycle. People of all age groups attended the event, with organisers estimating a higher turnout than the 4000 that attended last year.Read more
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Learning the Lay of the Lawn – Craigmillar Park Bowling Club
Last month I attended Craigmillar Park Bowling Club’s Open Day. I met with the Club’s President and members over a cup of tea, and they showed me around the clubhouse and the great facilities they have there. I also had a go at bowls, with Team Murray winning 4-1!
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Sportsfest at Gracemount
I recently visited Gracemount High School for the third annual Sportsfest. The variety of the sports that were available was fantastic. The organiser, Stewart Laird, did a tremendous job in bringing such a mixture of sports to pupils at Gracemount High School, making connections between the school, pupils and sports clubs within and around the community.
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“Remember the dead; Fight for the living”
April 28th marked International Workers’ Memorial Day, a day to remember those who went to work and never came home.
I attended a service in Princes Street Gardens, where the Lord Provost laid a wreath and made a short speech remembering those who have lost their lives at work. Workers’ rights are incredibly important, and marking this day reminds us of their importance, and encourages us to continue to fight for improved conditions for all employees.
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The Grange Fair
On Sunday 11 May, I popped along to the Grange Fair which took place at Newington Library. It was good to see so many familiar faces. Congratulations to the organisers for such a successful event.
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Back of the Net for Cystic Fibrosis
Alongside other MPs, celebrities and sporting stars, I played in a charity football match earlier this month to help raise money for vital research to beat cystic fibrosis. I was delighted to get on the score sheet, which is a rare occurrence for me. Team mates have told me that it’s a contender for Goal of the Season!
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Delivering for Women
Last week, I signed up to support Scottish Labour’s Five Pledges for Women. I’ve seen first-hand how women’s rights have been won because of, and not in spite of, being part of the UK. From equal pay legislation to tax credits and maternity pay, Labour has always delivered for women and these pledges demonstrate how we will continue to do so going forward.
The pledges, which we will deliver in Government, are:
- More free childcare for working mums.
- Better pay for low-paid women.
- End discrimination against new mums at work.
- Tell companies to publish their pay gap.
- 50:50 on public boards.
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The Settled Will – A New Scotland Act in 2015
I was delighted that Labour leader Ed Miliband has announced a contract with the people of Scotland this month. With less than a year to go until the UK General Election, Ed Miliband outlined five measures which the next Labour Government will include in its first Queen’s Speech. This will include a new Scotland Act to enshrine in law the conclusions of Scottish Labour’s Devolution Commission. It’s time to reaffirm that belief in devolution.
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Contract with the people of Scotland:
- A new Scotland Act -; the new Scotland Act will put into law the conclusions of Scottish Labour’s Devolution Commission, including wide ranging new powers for the Scottish Parliament over income tax, housing benefit and the work programme.
- 50p Tax for those at the top and a 10p tax for low income earners -; Labour will reintroduce the 50p tax for those earning over £150,000. This will affect 14,000 top rate tax payers in Scotland.
- Freezing gas and electricity prices -; Labour will freeze gas and electricity prices for Scottish households, saving an average of £120 per household. For those in Scotland in rural areas, we will introduce new regulation for heating oil and move winter fuel payments earlier in the year to allow people to purchase heating oil at lower prices.
- Jobs Guarantee -; Labour’s jobs guarantee will provide Scottish young people have been out of work for 12 months or more with a six month long, paid job to give them a step back into the employment market.
- Banning exploitative zero hours contracts -; Labour will ban exploitative zero hours contracts and give workers on zero hours contracts who are working regular hours a right to a contract with fixed minimum hours. This would affect at least 90,000 workers in Scotland.
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Speaking Up…
Treasury Questions
At monthly Treasury Questions, I asked Ministers if they had any plans to cut further the top rate of income. At a time when many families are struggling, I believe that those with the broadest shoulders should carry a greater burden.
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Scottish Questions
During Scottish Questions on 7th May, I asked the Secretary of State for Scotland who the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee would take its instructions from if Scotland became independent: the UK Treasury or the Scottish Government.
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Zeroed Out
I was shocked to hear this month that in UK there are 1.4 million people on zero-hour contracts. This is a revised number from the previous estimates by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and is significantly higher than previously thought.
To tackle this problem, Labour has set out several proposals – which I’m backing – to ensure people are not exploited on zero hours contracts and there is a level playing field for the good businesses that do the right thing.
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The next step on the journey of the Minimum Wage
I can’t imagine a Britain without the National Minimum Wage. It was introduced to prevent extreme low pay and abuse. But today there is a different challenge to help hardworking people that earn above the minimum wage but are still living in poverty or dependent on benefits.
A report by former Deputy Chair of KPMG Alan Buckle launched this month, argues for a new framework to ensure that the minimum wage rises faster over the next five years than it has in the recent past. Labour will create a new economy that works for everyone instead of just a few at the top, and that begins with strengthening the National Minimum Wage.
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BIS Questions – Who benefited from the Royal Mail sell-off?
At the monthly question time to the Business, Innovation and Skills Department in April, I raised the question as to who benefited from the Government’s mishandled privatisation of the Royal Mail. It’s now been revealed that there were 16 “priority investors” who, despite supposed assurances, sold their shares off almost immediately to make a healthy profit.
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
34 Gilmour Road, Edinburgh
Saturday 7th June from 10am to 12 noon
For more information, visit http://www.cpbc.org.uk/index.html
St Peter’s Primary Summer Fete
Saturday 7th June, time to be confirmed
For more information, visit http://www.st-peters.edin.sch.uk/stpeters/
The Inch Summer Saturday
Inch Community Centre and Park
Saturday 7th June from 12.30pm to 3pm
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/ol9v625 or contact Pauline on 0131 664 2220 or Inch Community Centre on 0131 664 4710
Liberton Primary School Family Fund Day
Saturday 21st June, 11am to 1pm
For more information, visit http://libertonprimary.wordpress.com/
St Katherine’s Primary Summer Fair
Friday 20th June from 12 noon
Sportsfest 4
Liberton High School
Friday 20th June from 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Registration for the event will take place in Liberton HS with the first 250 young people to register receiving a FREE ‘Sportsfest 4’ wristband.
Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh
Blooming Great Tea Party
20th – 29th June
For those who enjoy tea and cake -; why not sign up to hold a Blooming Great Tea Party and see what you and a brew can do in support of local Marie Curie Nurses.
Annual Summer Fete
For those who enjoy ice cream, stalls and fun activities – why not come along to the Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh’s annual summer fete. Held in the gardens of our hospice in Fairmilehead, the fete will run from 10am-1230 and feature an amazing raffle, lots of homebaking, lovely stalls and a relaxed morning out for all the family.
Trek in Cambodia
October 2015
And finally for the more adventurous – why not sign up to trek Cambodia in October 2015 to raise funds for the Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh.
For information on any of the above, please call your local fundraising team on 0131 470 2291 or email supportedinburgh@mariecurie.org.uk
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