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MP Urges Prime Minister to Address National Security Threats Posed by University Research Projects

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Stewart McDonald MP has raised serious concerns regarding the lack of action taken against national security threats uncovered during the UK Government’s recent audit of university research projects.

During Prime Minister’s Questions, McDonald confronted the Prime Minister with the conclusions of the audit, which highlighted that hundreds of programmes at UK universities were at high risk of exploitation by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in strategic and sensitive areas of interest. Despite senior ministers being briefed on these findings late last year, no tangible action has been taken.

McDonald expressed his dismay at the Prime Minister's response, which he found lacking in acknowledgment of the severity of the situation. Instead of addressing the specific concerns raised, the Prime Minister referred to the UK’s purportedly "robust and proactive" stance towards China, a stance that has been called into question by the Intelligence and Security Committee's observations on Whitehall's readiness to counter China’s strategies.

Highlighting the critical role of higher education in the UK, McDonald emphasised that universities have increasingly relied on Chinese partnerships, with some institutions having ties to activities such as espionage, repression of the Uighurs, nuclear weapons research, hacking, and other sensitive areas. McDonald stressed that this situation is untenable and requires urgent attention.

In his letter, McDonald called upon the Prime Minister to confirm personal knowledge of the audit's findings, elucidate reasons for the lack of action, and initiate an urgent and coordinated response involving both central and devolved administrations responsible for universities across the UK.

Commenting, Stewart McDonald said:

“The Prime Minister must explain why the government has chosen to take no action on the findings of its own audit of Chinese state linked research projects at UK universities.

“The findings of the audit demand urgent attention and a coordinated response. We cannot afford to ignore the risks posed by university research projects susceptible to exploitation by the CCP.

“Inaction in the face of clear and present national security threats is not an option. It is imperative that the Prime Minister works across government, and with devolved governments, to take decisive action to safeguard our national security."

Read the letter to the Prime Minster here 

Watch Stewart McDonald's question to the Prime Minister here

Glasgow MP leads debate on cost-of-living support

The SNP's Stewart McDonald MP today led a debate on how the Westminster-made cost of living crisis has led to a decline in living standards for people in Scotland, and called for the Westminster government to fix its mess by bringing in support for households paying the price.

MP presents Bill in House to ban unpaid trial shifts

SNP MP Stewart McDonald has presented a bill to Parliament calling for a new law to ban unpaid work trials.

A recent survey conducted by the Glasgow MP showed that across the UK, 94 of respondents found unpaid trial shifts unfair and 93% expressed support for the banning of the practice - shedding light on the widespread dissatisfaction with unpaid trial shifts in the recruitment process.

Bryan Simpson, Lead organiser for Unite the Union, has stated: "Unpaid trial shifts remain a dark stain on the hospitality sector. We have scores of members this year alone who have worked anywhere between 2-16 hours without pay, under the guise of a trial shift, only to find out they are simply being brought-in by unscrupulous employers to fill gaps in absence.”

The Glasgow South MP has long championed the ending of exploitative practices of unpaid work trials, and has previously introduced a Private Members Bill to ban it.

Commenting the SNP’s Stewart McDonald MP said:

“The banning of these exploitative unpaid work trials is long overdue. The UK government continues to drag its feet on this important issue, at the expense of people who are just trying to find employment.

“The law needs to change to ensure that no one is asked to work without pay as a condition for employment - the existing legislation does not go far enough. The UK government must ban unpaid trial shifts or devolve employment powers to the Scottish Government so we can.

“The current guidance is shrouded in ambiguity, leaving workers vulnerable and their rights uncertain. However, there should be no vagueness around this issue - a fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay."

Response to the Post Office Horizon Scandal

I am deeply troubled by the Horizon Post Office scandal, a miscarriage of justice that has unfolded under the watch of successive Labour, Liberal, and Tory Ministers. The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated, and the profound impact on the lives of sub-postmasters demands swift and decisive action.

The Horizon system, initially procured under the Major government, saw prosecutions initiated during Blair's first parliament. Today, we find ourselves under the eighth Prime Minister since its implementation. The prolonged duration to reach this point is unacceptable, and we must hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

The recent exposure of the management of Post Office Limited raises serious concerns about their continued stewardship of our post office network. Questions linger over the extent of the Post Office's cooperation with the inquiry and its relationships, both past and present, with Fujitsu. It is imperative that we get to the bottom of these issues to ensure justice prevails.

In response to the scale of the injustice faced by sub-postmasters in Scotland and across the UK, a scheme to pardon all those caught up in the Horizon IT scandal is under consideration. As your Member of Parliament, I am fully committed to supporting this initiative and ensuring that potential victims do not miss out on the compensation they rightfully deserve.

I applaud Angela Constance, the Justice Secretary for Scotland, for taking immediate action by reaching out to her Westminster counterpart. Together, we must ensure that anyone wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal has their convictions reversed and is entitled to compensation.

I welcome the Prime Minister's announcement regarding introduction of new primary legislation to make sure that those convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal are swiftly exonerated and compensated.

Furthermore, the decision by Paula Vennells to hand back her CBE is a step in the right direction. It is crucial that those involved in the mismanagement of this scandal take responsibility for their actions.

For years, the SNP has been calling for an independent inquiry into the Horizon Scandal, recognising it as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history. I stand in solidarity with these calls and will do everything in my power to ensure those responsible are held to account.

Rest assured, I am committed to fighting for justice, transparency, and accountability in this matter. The victims of the Horizon Post Office scandal deserve nothing less, and I will continue to advocate on their behalf.