Category: News in Lothian

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, calls on the UK Government to end austerity and reverse their decision to cut the winter fuel payment in their upcoming budget. In a vote on Tuesday 8th October, in the Scottish Parliament, SNP MSPs across Scotland voted to demand that the Labour UK Government urgently reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment this winter. Commenting Fiona said: “This decision from the UK Government, who were elected on a promise of change, has let down pensioners in West Lothian and across Scotland. "In West Lothian in 2022/23, 28,955 people were in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment and now many of these people will stand to lose this vital support. “The Scottish Labour party refused to join calls for the UK Government to scrap…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, calls on West Lothian Council to rethink plans to have Management Committees of Community Centres take on ownership and responsibility of the buildings. West Lothian Council are proposing Community Asset Transfers for 34 Community Centres and Village Halls in West Lothian, with a consultation with Management Committees on the future provision of Community Centres and Village Halls currently under way. Commenting Fiona said: "I have been contacted by local Management Committees who are concerned following the announcement of West Lothian Council's proposals to have Management Committees take on responsibility for Community Centres and Village Halls. "The proposals would see the ownership and responsibility of 34 community centres in West Lothian transferred to Management Committees, with 17 of these in my Constituency.  "I…

Local MSP, for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop is raising awareness of the challenges posed by housing poverty, and highlighted the difference made by the SNP Government in improving access to housing in West Lothian. Since coming to power in 2007, the SNP Scottish Government have a strong track record of introducing measures to improve the availability of housing in Scotland. This includes; the abolition of Margaret Thatcher’s Right to Buy Scheme, ending fixed-term private lets, and improving tenant’s rights. Commenting Fiona said: “The Scottish Government has overseen the construction of 133,409 social and affordable homes since 2007 with 6251 in West Lothian since 2007. “This shows the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring that people across West Lothian have a safe, secure, warm and sustainable home. “We know the difference…

Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has demanded that Labour use next month’s Budget to U-turn on its austerity agenda and finally come good on its election promises of ‘change’ and ‘read my lips, no austerity under Labour’. Austerity is a political choice, and it is the wrong choice – Labour should finally listen to the experts and change course. Despite promising ‘change’ during the general election, the new Labour UK Government have announced not the end of Tory austerity – but an intensification of Tory austerity. Families in Scotland are estimated to have lost £341 million due the two-child limit since its inception in 2017 – a policy Labour refuses to abandon. And cutting the Winter Fuel Payment for 860,000 Scottish pensioners is the very definition of austerity. The SNP…

Local MSP for Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, attended the Scottish Parliament's 25th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday 28th September. The Scottish Parliament was reconvened in May 1999, with the Scottish Parliament building officially opening in 2004. To mark the important occasion, Fiona attended the celebration with Keith Macleod, who was nominated as a Local Hero. Keith Macleod is the Chair of Broxburn and Uphall Development Group and Broxburn and Uphall Growers Society, as well as treasurer of Broxburn Community Council. Commenting Fiona said: "I was pleased to attend the 25th Anniversary of the Scottish Parliament on Saturday 28th September. The Scottish Parliament has, and continues to be, transformative for the lives of the people that live here, and it is only right that the people of Scotland are placed at the…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the news that the Scottish Government will enshrine in law the requirement to increase social security payments each year in line with inflation. In the last year the Scottish Government have provided £370 million to uprate payments - £5 million above the amount required by law and by making it a legal duty it guarantees that support like the winter heating payments receive a financial boost – especially while the UK Labour government cuts winter fuel payments. Commenting Fiona said: “I am pleased to see the Scottish Government will enshrine in law the requirement to increase social security payments each year in line with inflation. “Scotland has a social security system which is rightly rooted in dignity, fairness and respect…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has raised over £660, with donations still coming in, for Macmillan Cancer Support at her coffee morning in aid of the charity held at Armadale Methodist Church Hall on Monday 23rd September.  Fiona said: “I was pleased to see so many local people come along to have a coffee with me in support of the great work of Macmillan Cancer Support. “Macmillan is an important charity that supports those with cancer and their families and I am delighted to have raised over £660 for them from our coffee morning in Armadale, with donations still coming in. “I would like to thank all of those who came along and so generously gave their time and money to charity. Also, a huge thanks to…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has given a cautious welcome of the decision from RBS to delay the closure of their Bathgate branch.   RBS announced their intention to close the Bathgate branch effective from 25th September 2024, however, this closure has now been temporarily delayed. Commenting Fiona said: “I understand that RBS have notified their Bathgate based customers of their need to remain open beyond their initial proposed closure date of the 25th September 2024. While I welcome this short-term reprieve, I would urge RBS to rethink their decision to eventually close the RBS Bathgate Branch, which I believe will disproportionately impact elderly and more vulnerable customers. “I have previously written to RBS to urge them to rethink their decision to close the Bathgate branch and…

In her role as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, local MSP Fiona Hyslop, has announced new investment in vital rail links. This follows the announcement that procurement will begin to replace Scotland’s High Speed Intercity Trains which serve passengers between Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, beginning the process of upgrading the fleet of trains serving these routes. Commenting Fiona said: “Resilient, reliable ScotRail services are key to encouraging more people to choose to travel by train rather than car, to cutting our transport emissions and to helping to move people around Scotland for work, leisure and learning. That is why we must build on our investment in Scotland’s railway infrastructure by investing in the services and trains which connect our key cities. “Over 4 million passenger journeys were made on InterCity…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop MSP, visited the Bathgate factory of Genius Bakery. Genius employs over 200 staff at their manufacturing facility in Bathgate where they make a wide range of gluten free products. Commenting Fiona said: “Genius is committed to ensuring there is a good range of high-quality gluten free goods available in Scotland and I was pleased to see around their manufacturing facility in my Constituency. More people than ever are recognised as needing a gluten-free diet and being able to buy bread, pancakes, muffins and cakes in their local supermarket is a growing need. “The team at Genius are committed to ensuring that those who have to eat a gluten-free diet are able to access the same products as the rest of the market…