Issues - My policy positions
Statement - PMQs Walkout
Last night the UK Government ploughed ahead with legislation that takes responsibility of 24 devolved policy areas back from the Scottish Parliament, without debate and without Scottish MPs being able to speak.
This was also in spite of all parties in the Scottish Parliament – with the sole exception of the conservative party – refusing a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) for the UK Government to legislate on these devolved areas.
As we have had a mere 15 minutes of debate in which only the Conservative Government Minister could speak, Scotland’s MPs have not been heard.
It is unthinkable that we could allow that to happen without the bat of an eyelid, and carry on as normal.
In highlighting this today at Prime Ministers Question Time, the House of Commons Speaker suspended the SNP Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford. I joined my colleagues in walking out of the Chamber with him at that point.
With devolution being completely squeezed out of the debate, it is clear the UK Government intends to treat the SNP with the same braying and disrespect that we receive on a continual basis. Scottish Conservatives told us sit down, but I was not elected to sit back and allow such a piece of constitutional vandalism go unchallenged.
I accept that walking out in this way is not normal, and is not a decision that I took lightly. But my job as a Member of Parliament is to defend Scotland’s interests, and it cannot be in our interest to override the will of our Parliament in Edinburgh, and re-write the constitution after a 15 minute speech from a Conservative government minister at the exclusion of every single Member of Parliament from Scotland.
All of Scotland’s MPs have a duty to stand up against the betrayal that has taken place with the Tories' unprecedented power grab. Conservative, Labour and Liberal MPs have chosen to register no objection or protest whatsoever. I don’t believe that is how the job is done in the face of an extremely arrogant UK Government.
Gaza Border Violence
Like other Members, I am absolutely appalled by what is happening in Palestine right now.
It is important to note that we in the SNP support the European Union position of a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. We firmly encourage Israel and Palestine to reach a sustainable, negotiated settlement under international law, based on mutual recognition and the determination to coexist peacefully. I, and other SNP MPs, will continue to engage with the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities through visits to the region and encourage them to work towards this.
What is crucial is that international law must be upheld and human rights must be respected.
The killing of demonstrators, including children, is both appalling and completely unacceptable. The heightened tensions in this long and protracted conflict has not been helped by the reckless move of the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Whilst I welcome the UK Government’s call for UN probe into deadly Israeli live fire against Palestinians, the UK Government really needs to find some more backbone. The Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, didn’t even bother to come to the House to outline what the UK’s response would be. He, and the rest of the Government, need to make it clear to the government of Israel that its deadly actions against protesters will not be tolerated by the international community, and I will continue to press the Government on this matter.
Carers credits
New figures show that 4,000 people claimed carers credits in 2016/17 out of the 160,000 who could have done so.
If you are under state pension age and care for someone for at least 20 hours a week, you can claim a credit to help to ensure you get a full state pension when you retire.
One year of credits could fill a gap that could mean an extra £237 a year on a state pension if your pension contributions record is inadequate. Or it could boost a pension, in some circumstances, even if you already have 35 years' contributions.
To get these credits you must be caring for at least 20 hours a week for someone who gets one of the main non-means-tested disability benefits, such as attendance allowance or personal independence payment at the standard or enhanced rate.
Visit gov.uk and search "carer's credit".
EU Withdrawal Bill - Committee Stage
Whilst I still maintain it is wrong that Scotland be taken out of the EU against its wishes, and we should be working hard towards retaining our place in the Single Market, we still have important work to do to ensure the Brexit Bill protects everybody’s interests.
I have received a lot of messages from constituents regarding the Grieve amendments and delegated powers. These are extremely important, and several of my SNP colleagues across the House have sponsored these amendments.
We in the SNP are extremely concerned about the potential power grab the Brexit Bill throws up. The Bill is going to be an unprecedented legislative task, aiming to convert 80,000 items of EU law into UK law in preparation for Brexit, and we want to make sure that the Government does not use antiquated, backdoor measures – the so-called Henry VIII powers – to escape parliamentary scrutiny. We also need to ensure that the Great Repeal Bill does not turn into the ‘Great Power Grab’ and the Tories need to make it unequivocally clear that devolved matters will be returned to the Scottish Parliament after Brexit.
Should the Bill present such threats and the amendments address these concerns, I will vote in favour of the amendments, continue to hold the UK Government to account and continue to defend the interests of Scotland.
I myself have added my name to amendments and new clauses. As SNP Spokesperson for Defence, I aim to ensure our common foreign and security policy with the EU is not compromised as a result of Brexit and have added my name to amendments that address such issues. Additionally, as I was previously member of the Transport Select Committee, I have also added my name to an amendment that would ensure the UK Government outlines how we retain access to EU Emissions Trading System markets – as this is crucial to our environmental protection and safeguards.
These amendments, along with the UK Government's bizarre attempts to enshrine the date and time of Brexit into UK law, which could result in this Tory Government blundering its way to no deal, deserve to be heavily scrutinised, and I shall be doing my up-most to protect the interests of Glasgow South and Scotland as a whole.
Pension Credits
It's come to my attention that some constituents could be missing out on Pension Credit, with an average claim being worth about £2,000 a year.
Whilst each family entitled to the benefit, the DWP have said up to 1.4 million people on low income are missing out on a top-up to their state pension, with £3.3bn of Pension Credit still going unclaimed.
With around 1.9 million pensioners in the UK in poverty, it is deeply troubling that such a large number of these benefits remain unclaimed.
I would therefore urge people to talk to friends, relatives and neighbours to ensure they are claiming Pension Credit.
To check your full entitlement it's best to call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 991 234, Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm, or visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit, where a calculator can establish whether you may be eligible and how much you could receive.
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