Category: Scottish Politics

By David Livey (SNP) The Tories are claiming a £820 million Autumn Statement giveaway to Scotland. To paraphrase the former Tory leader William Hague, it’s a bit like stealing someone’s car and coming back the next day with the hubcaps. The £820 million announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond is capital spending (in plain English that’s money that can be spent on things like big infrastructure projects like hospitals, schools and new roads) and is spread over the next five years. While welcome, here’s the bit Chancellor left out: this new…

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Our history with Europe. (Scot Govt Publication) A document outlining Scotland’s extensive historical engagement with Europe and its present democratic and constitutional position in relation to the UK, Europe and Brexit has been published today. The document, for an international audience, explains the historical, political and legal reasons why Scotland’s voice needs to be heard following the EU Referendum. In addition the Scottish Government has set out our intention to publish plans to maintain Scotland’s relationship with Europe in the coming weeks. Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs…

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Scotland is to benefit from significant EU funds Investment for vital projects to tackle poverty and inequality. Councils across Scotland are set to benefit from almost £13m of funding to tackle poverty in communities across the country. The money, made up from a combination of £5m of European Social Funds (ESF) and match funding from local authorities, will be targeted to projects that combat poverty and promote equal opportunity. The First Minister made the announcement as she visited Project Search, an initiative delivered by the local authority in Renfrewshire designed…

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Keith Brown calls for parliamentary consensus over single market membership. Article Source: http://news.gov.scot/news/scotland-must-remain-in-eu-single-market Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Fair Work, Keith Brown, will call for the Scottish Parliament to unanimously back Scotland’s continued membership of the EU single market at a debate in Holyrood later this week. Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Brown said: “The people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain within the European Union, and it is vital that any Brexit negotiation acknowledges and respects that choice. “This is why I am asking the Scottish Parliament to…

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ARTICLE SOURCE: >> news.gov.scot/news/scottish-government-will-intervene-in-article-50-legal-case RELATED LINKS: SCOT GOV WEBSITE >> www.scotland.gov.uk By Nicola Sturgeon on 08//16: First Minister confirms Lord Advocate will lead intervention. The First Minister has confirmed that the Lord Advocate will lodge a formal application to intervene in the UK Government’s appeal to the Supreme Court on the triggering of Article 50. The Lord Advocate – Scotland’s most senior law officer – will lodge the application as soon as the UK Government lodges its appeal against a High Court ruling preventing them from using the Royal Prerogative…

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ARTICLE SOURCE: >> www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37859595 RELATED LINKS: SCOT GOV WEBSITE >> www.scotland.gov.uk Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed as “hugely significant” a court ruling that parliament must vote before the UK can start the process of leaving the EU and triggering Article 50. The First minister also said the Scottish government was considering become an active participant in the case. The ruling by the High Court means the UK government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – beginning formal exit negotiations with the EU – on its own. It is appealing…

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ARTICLE SOURCE: >> news.gov.scot/news/living-wage-set-at-gbp-845 RELATED LINKS: SCOT GOV WEBSITE >> www.scotland.gov.uk SNP WEBSITE: >> www.snp.org 31/10/16: First Minister announces new rate that will benefit thousands of staff in Scotland. The First Minister today welcomed the new Living Wage rate of £8.45 an hour and urged more Scottish organisations to sign up as Accredited Living Wage Employers. The rise of 20 pence will benefit thousands of employees at Living Wage-accredited organisations in Scotland. The Living Wage that meets the real costs of living is reviewed every year using the best evidence…

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ARTICLE SOURCE: >> news.scotland.gov.uk/news/strong-support-for-single-market RELATED LINKS: SCOT GOV WEBSITE >> www.scotland.gov.uk SNP WEBSITE: >> www.snp.org FM NICOLA STURGEON “We will work constructively with all relevant parties to achieve the goal of retaining our place in Europe and Single Market membership.” 26/10/16 – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will today say the Scottish Government will work constructively to build an all-Scotland coalition to protect the country’s place in the European Single Market. The First Minister will open the annual National Economic Forum in Edinburgh later today (Wednesday, 26 October), which will discuss…

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ARTICLE SOURCE: >> news.scotland.gov.uk/news/russell-no-ukg-brexit-plan RELATED LINKS: SCOT GOV WEBSITE >> www.scotland.gov.uk SNP WEBSITE: >> www.snp.org Dedicated JMC sub-committee to meet for first time next month. (Article by Scot Govt. 26/10/16) The Scottish Government will continue to seek answers from the UK Government and fight for the best outcome for Scotland and those who choose to live here, Minister for UK Negotiations for Scotland’s Place in Europe Michael Russell told Parliament today. With only 18 weeks to go until Article 50 is triggered by the UK Government, Mr Russell updated Parliament…

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(Article by BBC Scotland) ARTICLE SOURCE: >> www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37667282 RELATED LINKS: SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WEBSITE >> www.parliament.scot SCOT GOV WEBSITE: >> www.gov.scot The Boundary Commission for Scotland is to outline its plans to reduce the number of Scottish MPs from 59 to 53 on Thursday. Here, BBC Scotland’s Andrew Kerr looks at the reasons for the changes – and what they could mean for Scottish MPs. This is a story as old as our parliaments, as old as representative democracy. Where do we get our officials from to represent us and how…

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