Category: News in Lothian

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has highlighted Linlithgow Rose FC’s presence at the African World Cup Qualifying Games. In 2022 Fiona wrote to local football teams across her Constituency to let them know about a national campaign to send unused football strips to Malawi for local teams there to play in a full matching strip. Fiona was delighted when Linlithgow Rose Football Club replied to say they wanted to get involved. A number of strips and equipment arrived in Malawi in August 2023, teams at Ekwaiweni Tafika Sports Academy (ETSA) in the north of the country, and at Play Football Malawi (PFM) in the capital, Lilongwe were pleased to receive the Linlithgow Rose strips and equipment. Just this week, Fiona’s office received notification that the Linlithgow Rose…

Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop, is alerting Constituents to the Community Survey for the future of St Michael’s Hospital which is due to close on Tuesday 25th June. Fiona has repeatedly called for the future of St Michael’s Hospital to continue to benefit the community and has previously urged Constituents to fill out the survey which has been created and run by the Friends of St Michael’s Hospital Group and the Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Council. Fiona said, “Since the temporary closure of St Michael’s Hospital in Linlithgow there has been much discussion and speculation about what can and should be done with the buildings and its expansive grounds. “The site at St Michael’s Hospital was gifted by the Church to the Health Board in the 19th…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes Scottish Government action to eradicate child poverty. Cabinet Secretary for Social Security, Shirley-Anne Sommerville MSP, gave a statement in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 4th June following the publication of the Scottish Government’s annual progress report on child poverty for 2023-24. The report reflects the latest updates on the implementation of the “Best Start, Bright Future: Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-26” and the latest data on poverty levels, which were published by the Scottish Government in March. Commenting, Fiona said;                 “The First Minister has been clear that eradicating child poverty is one of the key missions of the Scottish Government.                                                                                                                                                                                  “I know my own Constituents in West Lothian are dealing with the impacts of the…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has marked Carers Week by visiting Carers of West Lothian, based in Livingston, and meeting with carers, staff and volunteers. Carers Week is a yearly campaign that aims to highlight the challenges faced by carers, and recognise the outstanding contribution that unpaid carers make to their families, friends and communities up and down the UK. This year it runs from the 10th - 16th June. Fiona, who is a keen supporter of Carers of West Lothian, commented; “Carers of West Lothian are invaluable in the advice and support they provide to the many carers who care for their family and loved ones. “They were one of the first organisations in Scotland to introduce Young Carers support services, which have now expanded across…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has welcomed three groups of young primary pupils from Linlithgow to Parliament following their success at the UK National Formula 1 in Schools Championships. Fiona invited the teams to Parliament and organised a tour of the building. F1 in Schools is a fully-resourced STEM and Design & Technology competition, engaging students through a truly cross-curricular activity. Teams aged 9-11 aim to compete at a Primary Class Regional Final, progressing on to a National Final. Three teams, two from Low Port Primary and one from Springfield Primary, won at cluster level, allowing them to attend the UK wide Competition. All three teams worked hard to fundraise to attend the event, including securing sponsorship from local businesses and organisations. Meeting the groups in Parliament, Fiona…

In her role as Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport, local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, announced an extension to the peak fare removal pilot on Scotland’s railways on Thursday 16th May. The pilot scheme which came into effect last October, was originally due to end on 28th June, however, this will now continue for a further three months until the end of September. Commenting Fiona said; “This pilot which has been subsidised by the Scottish Government has been successful with commuters and will be extended for a further three months until September. Removing peak fares since last October has saved West Lothian commuters hundreds of pounds helping with the cost of living. “Extending the pilot will allow for better understanding of its impacts in terms of encouraging…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, welcomes £1.5 million funding from the Scottish Government to West Lothian Council to wipe out school meal debt for families across West Lothian. The funding will support local councils to remove the impact of debt; making sure that no child in Scotland is penalised for being unable to afford to pay for school meals during the Tory Cost of Living Crisis. Commenting Fiona said; “I was pleased to see this announcement from First Minister, John Swinney. This one-off funding will help alleviate financial pressure on families in West Lothian who have been struggling with inflated food and energy bills. “While school meal debt is a matter for local authorities, this important emergency funding will give much needed support to empower Councils to…

“Since the temporary closure of St Michael’s Hospital in Linlithgow there has been much discussion and speculation about what can and should be done with the buildings and its expansive grounds. “The site at St Michael’s Hospital was gifted by the Church to the Health Board in the 19th Century to be used as a health facility and it is believed by many that there is a clear moral and potentially legal case for the land to be returned to the Church if it is not used by the Health Board for this purpose. “The future use of this facility needs to benefit the community and so it is only right that the community has a say in how this is shaped. I would urge any local person with an…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed John Swinney MSP as the new Leader of the SNP and Scotland’s First Minister. Fiona has worked with John Swinney in Cabinet under Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon’s Governments from 2007 until 2021. They also worked together as part of the opposition Cabinet from 1999 – 2007. Fiona commented, “John Swinney is an accomplished and deeply committed politician and I am very pleased to send him my congratulations as he takes up the role of the SNP Leader and, as of today, Scotland’s seventh First Minister. “John Swinney’s message in his first speech as Party Leader this week was one of unity, equality and dedication and he brings experience and a strong sense of public duty. “To lead your country…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, met with local businesses Kitchen International Ltd and MGM Timber Ltd, both based in Broxburn and owned by the Donaldson Group. The companies were among a number of businesses attending a Parliamentary Reception about Timber in Construction: A Driving Net Zero Awareness showcase. Commenting after the event, Fiona said; “Scotland’s Timber Industry leads the UK for timber frame construction, enabling a Scottish export contribution of over £1billion to the Scottish Economy in Scottish product alone. “I was pleased to meet the Donaldson Group who have businesses based in Broxburn in my Constituency in Parliament and hear more about their work they do and their drive to net zero.” ENDS