UK Tory Prime Minister Abandons Fishing Communities at Key European Council Summit

The SNP’s Westminster Leader has criticised the Prime Minister for abandoning fishing communities across the UK, after failing to raise their concerns over post-Brexit fishing rights at the key European Council summit.

When pressed by Ian Blackford MP over what representations the Prime Minister made to EU leaders to reverse the conclusions over the UK’s fishing rights during the Brexit transitional period, the Prime Minister failed to answer.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement today in Westminster, Ian Blackford MP said:

“Theresa May had an opportunity at the crucial European Council Summit to raise the concerns of fishing communities over the Brexit transitional arrangement. Her silence on the issue, and failure to raise the matter, is yet another example of the Tory government’s sell out of the industry they have previously described as ‘expendable.’

“Theresa May’s response today on the future of fishing rights was inadequate, and her silence at the EU meeting is deafening.

“It is incumbent upon the Prime Minister that fishing rights are secured and that the UK government rejects any deal that leaves our fishing communities hamstrung in any transition agreement.

“Time and time again, the Tory government thinks it can do whatever it wants to Scotland and get away with it. They are wrong.

“The Tory government needs to answer the very simple question that has been put to them countless times – will they guarantee that Scotland’s fishing rights will not be traded away in EU negotiations?"

Scottish Tories Must Support Fair Pensions for Women

SNP to Debate State Pension Age
The SNP has called on Scottish Tory MPs to support fair pensions for women who will be affected by changes to the state pension age.

The SNP will debate the issue today (Wednesday) as part of the party’s opposition day debate, and as part of a long standing campaign which calls for the UK government to step up and help WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality) who have been affected by changes to the state pension age and are due to lose out financially.

© See footnote

Tory MP for Moray Douglas Ross has yet to back a parliamentary motion supporting the campaign - despite signing a pledge to support WASPI women when he was seeking election.

Ian Blackford MP said:

“These women are guilty of nothing. They have had the misfortune of being female and being born in the 1950s and live under this UK government which refuses to do the right thing.

“We have long fought for the government to rectify this shambles and give the WASPI women the pension they rightfully deserve. I speak on behalf of these benches when I say we will not rest until this injustice has been rectified.

"This is an issue of equality. The UK government must take responsibility and do the right thing for these women who are missing out on their pension.

“Tory MP Douglas Ross, member for Moray, signed the WASPI pledge before the election and claimed he would be prepared to go against party orders on the issue. There has however been deafening silence from him on the matter since. In our debate, I will take the opportunity to remind Mr Ross of his duty to the 6,400 women in Moray constituency who are affected by his government’s legislative changes.

"And to the other Scottish Tory benches, I flag their attention to page 62 of the Scottish Conservative manifesto: “We will also ensure that the state pension age reflects increases in life expectancy, while protecting each generation fairly.”

“I sincerely welcome the backing of some 37 Conservative MPs who expressed support for the Women against State Pension Inequality before the general election. Including former Children’s Minister Tim Loughton and ex-Tory Chairperson Caroline Spelman.

“The Scottish Tories now must do the right thing and help deliver the generational fairness they pledged.”

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Footnote on copyright for photo of Mr Ross

© www.parliament.uk, 2017

This photograph is licensed under the Open Government Licence 3.0.

Blackford: Universal Credit Becoming Theresa May's "Poll Tax Moment"

SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford has said Universal Credit is becoming Theresa May’s “Poll Tax moment” – warning the Prime Minister to demonstrate empathy with ordinary people and halt the disastrous roll out, or ultimately risk destroying her own premiership.

The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber said the botched roll-out of Universal Credit is driving families into poverty, debt and destitution but instead of listening to the evidence, and accepting the policy is flawed, the Prime Minister is burying her head in the sand in the same way that Margaret Thatcher did with the Poll Tax.

Universal Credit is set to be rolled out across Scotland by September 2018. Earlier this week it was revealed that nine of Scotland's local authorities will spend almost £9million mitigating the devastating impact of the roll out - money which could otherwise be spent on schools and vital local services.

Commenting Ian Blackford MP said:

“Theresa May must stop burying her head in the sand and urgently face up to this Tory policy disaster by halting the roll out of Universal Credit now.

“In her first speech as Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to fight against the “burning injustice” of poverty but instead her government has pushed families further into crisis, debt and destitution – forcing thousands to rely on emergency aid and food parcels just to get by.

“Universal Credit is becoming Theresa May’s Poll Tax moment – and unless she demonstrates that she is capable of empathy with ordinary people, accepts this policy is flawed, and takes action fast, she ultimately risks destroying her own premiership.

“Instead of ploughing ahead with a flawed policy, in the same blinkered way that Margaret Thatcher did with the Poll Tax, she should listen to the evidence, and prove she is serious about tackling injustice by stopping the roll out of Universal Credit, and fixing the deep-rooted problems that have been known about since 2013.

“Families across the UK are already suffering as a result of this policy, and within a year Universal Credit is set to be rolled out across the whole of Scotland - hitting many more. Either Theresa May takes the time to fix the problems now, or she will forever be remembered as the person who stubbornly let hundreds of thousands of people be pushed into debt and crisis, when it could all have been avoided.”

Scottish Farmers Set to Lose Millions in 'Blatant and Shocking' Tory U-Turn

This became clear in a meeting between Secretary of State for Rural Affairs Michael Gove and SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP.

Despite promises to review it as far back as 2014 - reiterated in 2016 and 2017, Mr Gove said that neither he, nor the UK Government are committed to keeping those promises.

In January this year, in a parliamentary question, the then Tory agriculture minister George Eustice said ‘the Government is considering next steps on a review of the intra-UK allocation of the CAP budget.’

Now, Michael Gove has confirmed this is no longer the case. Ian Blackford has said this is a ‘blatant and shocking u-turn’ which shows that the Tories ‘are not to be trusted’.

In a letter to Michael Gove, Ian Blackford said it was extremely disappointing to hear that the UK Government will not keep the promise made to review the convergence uplift funding. He also sought clarity on comments made by Mr Gove that suggested that the money intended for Scottish farmers had in fact gone to Welsh, Northern Irish and English farmers instead – and he urged Mr Gove to reverse the decision, and end the injustice on Scotland's farmers.

Commenting, Ian Blackford MP said:

“Scottish farmers are set to lose £160 million in funding because the UK Government is breaking their its promise to review convergence uplifting funding.

“This is a blatant and shocking u-turn and totally unacceptable. It is another breach of trust from Michael Gove who must reverse the decision. He is once again showing the Tories are not to be trusted.

“The UK Government only received this convergence funding because the payment rates in Scotland were historically much lower than elsewhere in the UK and among the lowest in Europe. The money was provided to address this – it belongs to Scottish farming.

“Yet, when we met, Michael Gove suggested that the money had in fact been spent on Welsh, Northern Irish and English farmers and therefore now couldn’t be made available to Scottish farming.

“This is a shocking revelation. There is no doubt that farmers in other parts of the UK deserve their fair share of all EU funding too – but not at the expense of Scotland’s farmers and crofters for whom this convergence funding was originally intended.

“It is Michael Gove’s responsibility to find the money due to Scottish farmers and make good on previous UK Government promises. If not, how can rural Scotland possibly trust them to deliver a fair funding deal after Brexit.

“Indeed, this latest turn of events reinforces our call for powers and funding for agriculture and the environment to transfer to Scotland, so we can make decisions which are in the best interests of businesses, families and communities in our rural economy."

Mundell Cave-In on DUP Deal May Cost Scotland Cash

"Smoking Gun" Treasury Letter Reveals Other Departments Face Cuts
The SNP has condemned David Mundell for his failure to stand up for Scotland after it was revealed in a letter from the Treasury that there has been no increase in overall UK departmental spending as a result of the Tories' deal with the DUP.

The admission, by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss in a letter to the Scottish Government, means that other government departments face cuts, which would see reductions – so-called negative Barnett consequentials – passed on to Scotland.

This follows newly-elected Scottish Tory MPs failing to oppose the deal or to secure any benefit for Scotland, in contrast to the boats that they have made since the election.

SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said:

“This letter has let the cat out of the bag – David Mundell’s cave-in over the grubby deal with the DUP risks seeing Scotland’s budget cut.

“The Treasury’s admission that there has been no increase in overall UK departmental spending as a result of the deal has given the game away.

“It is a smoking gun, which exposes the fact that other departments now face cuts to pay for this Tory cash-for-votes stitch-up – and that means Scotland faces cuts too.

“So – far from standing up for Scotland as he promised – David Mundell’s craven surrender means Scotland could actually end up worse off.

“Mr Mundell’s role in this has been a fiasco – only a week ago he said he would not allow any extra cash go to Northern Ireland without similar benefits coming to Scotland.

“But he went back on that promise, and the result is Scotland’s budget now faces being slashed.

“David Mundell has shown he is not fit for the job of Scottish Secretary and his credibility lies in tatters.

"Why is it that 10 DUP MPs can extract £1bn for Northern Ireland but 13 Scottish Tory MPs are unable to extract one single penny for Scotland?

"This whole episode has exposed Ruth Davidson’s post-election boasts have been exposed as empty bluster.”

Blackford - Crucial Week Must See Humbled Tory Government Change Course

SNP Call for Consensus Against Hard Brexit
The SNP’s new Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said that the humbled Tory government must change course on Brexit.

With negotiations with the EU scheduled to begin in Brussels tomorrow, and the Queen’s speech expected to be delivered on Wednesday, Mr Blackford said that the electorate had delivered a mortal blow to the Tory hard Brexit and to further austerity – and the Tories now have no option but to change course and reach out to others.

Mr Blackford added that the negotiations must proceed on an all-party, all-government basis, with the involvement of the devolved administrations.

Commenting, Mr Blackford said:

“With Brexit negotiations set to begin, the election has made it crystal clear that the Tory position of a hard Brexit does not carry the support of the public, and any attempt to plough on regardless will have damaging consequences for Scotland and the UK.

“Theresa May asked the electorate to strengthen her hand, but instead they have cut the Tories down to size – voters gave a clear instruction that the Conservatives cannot govern alone and must now reach out to others.

“The Prime Minister must ensure that the Brexit negotiations are representative of all of the UK nations – something which is backed by Scottish business leaders – and that will aim for an outcome which protects Scotland’s interests, particularly our continued place in the Single Market.

“They must also change course on austerity, which is putting so much pressure on our public services, and pushing more and more working families and children into a life of poverty.

“Another parliament of Tory cuts is a political choice – not a necessity – and it has been decisively rejected by voters.

“The SNP has produced credible plans both for dealing with Brexit and an alternative to austerity – protecting our place in the Single Market and protecting public investment in our public services – and the Tory government must now give these plans serious consideration.

“SNP MPs stand ready to work constructively with the UK government to protect Scotland’s jobs, our economy and our public services – but the humbled Tory party must now put country before party and reach out to others.”