Colin Beattie MSP has called on Jeremy Balfour MSP to call out Kemi Badenoch’s “backwards” comments about UK Maternity Pay, saying it “lays bare their ignorance about the lives of families across the Lothians.”
 
Speaking to Times Radio on Sunday, the frontrunner in the Conservative Party leadership contest said the burden placed on businesses to support mothers on maternity leave was “excessive” and called for people to exercise more “personal responsibility.”
 
In the UK, statutory maternity pay is no higher than £172.48 a week after six weeks. The SNP has long called for an increase to paid maternity leave to one year, with support amounting to 100% of average weekly earnings for the first 12 weeks. The party also wants to see shared parental leave - currently 52 weeks – rise to 64 weeks.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh said:
 
“These comments from the Tory Leadership frontrunner will be deeply concerning for families in the Lothians and reveal incredible ignorance in the upper echelons of Jeremy Balfour’s party.
 
“We know that maternity pay across the UK is far from adequate, and instead of opening the doors to cutting it further the SNP is focused on how it can be improved so that families are better supported.
 
“I urge Jeremy Balfour to call out these harmful comments and, for once, stand up for families in the Lothians who have for too long suffered under a myriad of callous Tory policies.”
 
ENDS

The MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh has warned that Kirsty McNeill MPs broken election promise has seen energy bills across Midlothian North and Musselburgh go up by an average of £149 from today, saying “Scots cannot continue to pay the price for Westminster failure.” 
 
The Labour Party promised people during the election campaign that they would cut fuel bills - however today energy prices will go up by 10%, adding £149 onto the average household bill. 

The increase will be especially concerning for pensioners, most of whom have had their Winter Fuel Allowance taken away from them by the Labour government. Colin Beattie MSP SNP has warned "as is the case with all austerity measures, this will hammer the most vulnerable in Midlothian North and Musselburgh."

In stark contrast the SNP Government is working with energy companies on ambitious plans to create a social tariff - a policy which would slash energy costs for vulnerable households. 

SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:

"Today, households across Midlothian North and Musselburgh will feel the consequences of Labour austerity and broken promises – rising energy bills.
 
“These are the same households which have suffered for over a decade of bad decisions made at Westminster, whether it’s the two child benefit cap or now slashed Winter Fuel Payment – both of which are now Labour policies.

"Kirsty McNeill MP has broken her promise to the people of Midlothian, just as they have done with pensioners across Scotland. Such cruel betrayal has echoes of Tory rule. 

"Now is the time to change tact, back the SNP Government's efforts to introduce a social tariff and ensure those they represent in Midlothian are never priced out of heating their homes."

ENDS

The SNP MSP for Midlothian North & Musselburgh has encouraged residents to apply for newly available discounts for rail travel following the conclusion of Scotrail’s Peak Fare Removal Pilot.


From Friday 27th September, peak rail fares will be reinstated for those travelling at peak time, as will super off-peak fares on certain routes. A 12-month discount on season tickets and new “flexipasses” – allowing commuters to book 12 single journeys for the price of 10 – will also be rolled out.


Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:


“The SNP government remains committed to supporting our public services and boosting the use of sustainable modes of transport such as Scotrail trains.


“That’s why new discounts are being introduced from this weekend, making sure that rail services are accessible for passengers while providing adequate funding to ensure they meet the needs of the public.


“I continue to encourage people across Midlothian North & Musselburgh to make use of our fantastic, publicly-owned rail services and take this opportunity to utilise the new discounts available.”


ENDS

Colin Beattie MSP delivered a speech in the Scottish Parliament thanking the Scottish Government for the financial support they have offered to Ukraine and thanked the Ukrainian people for making a positive contribution to Scotland for however long they chose Scotland as their home.
 
Speaking in the Scotland Stands with Ukraine debate MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
"Thank you presiding officer.
 
As convenor of the cross-party group on Ukraine I am pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this debate on Ukraine and to highlight the hope and support the Scottish government has given and is still giving to Ukrainian refugees.

I doubt many Ukrainians who have come to our country are happy to be a refugee. so many have been separated from their country. their families. their friends. Their work. their education. Everything which is familiar to them. To be brought to a new country with a new culture and language must be difficult to say the very least.

Yet when we look at the situation where they have come from most of us are horrified. the invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine by Russia shocked the world. no one could have conceived the barbarity with which Russia would pursue its illegal war. the dreadful treatment of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war was far below that expected of a civilised nation. the fact that these acts, of what i believe to be war crimes, took place on an industrial scale – and worse……. continue to do so, must appal all the civilised world. Ukraine is at war with a rogue state which does not respect either human beings or civilian property.

It is no secret that the Russian state has little more respect for the wellbeing of its own people as it has for Ukrainians. no one really knows the casualties which Russia has sustained with its mad policy of using its own soldiers as cannon fodder.

The courage and resilience of Ukraine and its people will go down in history.

So where does Scotland come into this?

Quite rightly the Scottish government has provided exceptional support. let me list a few: -

1. military aid. as part of the UK Scotland has shared in the contributing of hundreds of millions of pounds in assistance to the Ukraine military.
2. since February 2022 the Scottish government has provided more than £4 million funding for humanitarian aid.
3. the innovative super sponsor scheme which allowed thousands of Ukrainians to relocate to Scotland. Scotland has the highest number of total applications and arrivals per head of population of any of the four nations of the UK.
4. the Ukraine longer term settlement fund has contributed more than £ 50 million for registered social landlords to bring properties into use and to increase the supply of housing. by July 2024 nearly 1300 properties had been brought into use.
5. warm Scots future for Ukraine has provided £1.5 million to third sector organisations and £ 3.2 million to local authorities to support staffing of recruitment teams.

This is only some of the initiatives supporting Ukrainians in Scotland.

You do not have to look far to find other groups providing support in many shapes and forms. I could mention organisations such as PickUpsForPeace who specialize in securing and supplying unwanted four-wheel drive vehicles to Ukraine and as I look about at the composition of our CPG I recognise the extraordinary resilience of the Ukrainian people in their present adversity. I recognise the energy and the talent which they represent. Our Ukrainian guests do not simply sit back and wait for handouts to be doled out to them. They actively work together and with local partners to better their situation.

Yet however welcome our Ukrainian refugees might be made in Scotland – it is not the home they came from. It is hard to read of the atrocities carried out against the Ukrainian people and be unmoved.

One such which i have found especially concerning are the reports of the forcible removal of Ukrainian children to Russia where they are brain washed into becoming Russian. Where they are separated from their parents and adopted by Russian parents far from their own country.

I was sufficiently unhappy that i sought to pass a motion through this parliament condemning this. in this motion i mentioned the fact that Russian president Vladimir Putin and the Russian commissioner for children’s rights in the office of the president of the Russian federation, Maria lvova-belova were subject to an international arrest warrant issued in February 2023 in connection with war crimes relating to kidnapping of children and forced deportations.

Alas the chamber desk rejected this motion since the persons named were subject to GDPR and could not be named. This despite the fact that the arrest warrant had been reported widely in the international media.

One solution suggested was to obtain written permission from the two named persons to use their names in this context. Accordingly, i wrote to President Putin and to commissioner lvova-belova seeking their permission.

I wrote to them care of the Russian consulate general in Edinburgh and received a very prompt response from the consul general categorically refusing permission for the persons to be mentioned in any motion. I have respected that request, and they are not mentioned in any motion from myself by name as being subject to an international arrest warrant.

Helpfully the Russian consul general enclosed a bulletin from commissioner lvova-belova dated October 2023. It was heartwarming to hear how happy the Ukrainian children were at being in camps where they were placed for their security, well-being, and to protect them. medical and psychological support was being provided. Schooling was available at all levels.

I could go on but frankly i found it difficult read such crude propaganda.

I believe that Scotland must speak out against the actions of Russia in this war of aggression. it is too easy simply to stand by – yet Ukraine is not so very far away from our own shores.

I certainly feel threatened by what is happening around us yet too many seem to be complacent that nothing bad will come to our country. I hope that they are correct.

For the present i welcome the support which the Scottish government continues to give to our Ukrainian friends and wish them well in their new country however long they choose to remain."

​ENDS

Colin Beattie SNP MSP has encouraged those across Midlothian North and Musselburgh who have not already applied for pension credit to do so by 22nd September to ensure they receive the Winter Fuel Payment this year.  
 
Across the UK, 37% of those eligible do not claim pension credit, which is now a prerequisite for receiving the Winter Fuel Payment of £300 after the UK Labour government cut its universal provision as part of its austerity agenda.
 
16th – 22nd September 2024 is qualifying week for those who are eligible for the payment this year, however over 800,000 pensioners across Scotland are now set to lose out.
 
Commenting, Colin Beattie MSP said:
 
“The abhorrent decision by the Labour UK government to cut the Winter Fuel payment has put thousands of pensioners in an unimaginable situation.
 
“As a result, 15,201 in Midlothian and 19,575 in East Lothian will miss out on the payment altogether whilst some who are eligible are also in danger of missing out.
 
“The SNP are clear: this is a cruel and inexplicable decision by the Labour government that leaves pensioners across Midlothian North and Musselburgh out in the cold.
 
“If you have not already done so, please check your eligibility and apply for pension credit by the end of this week to ensure you don’t miss out on vital support this winter.”
 
ENDS

SNP MSP Colin Beattie has said that new figures show how action from the SNP Scottish Government has driven a major improvement in the condition of schools in Midlothian and East Lothian.
 
The 2024 School Estate Statistics released this week show that a record 91.7% of school buildings across Scotland are in good or satisfactory condition. This is an increase of 29 percentage points from 2007 when the SNP came to power.

In Midlothian 86% of schools are now in a good or satisfactory condition.

In East Lothian 82% of schools are now in a good or satisfactory condition.

Commenting, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie, said:

“The SNP is committed to delivering a world class education for all pupils and high-quality learning environments play a key part in this.

“These record figures show the major improvement that has been made to the school buildings since the SNP has been in government.

“In the face of yet more austerity from the new Labour government at Westminster, the SNP is continuing to invest in the school estate through the £2 billion Learning Estate Programme.

“The SNP Scottish Government has made investing in public services one of its top priorities and will continue to invest to ensure that all pupils learn in the best possible environment.”
​
ENDS 

SNP TAKING ACTION TO TACKLE HOUSING EMERGENCY
 
MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh Colin Beattie has welcomed the SNP Scottish Government announcement of £40 million for councils across Scotland, including Midlothian and East Lothian, to boost the supply of affordable homes. 

First Minister John Swinney outlined in the Programme for Government that £600 million would be committed to affordable housing in the current financial year and allocating this £40 million will allow for the purchase of properties in order to reduce temporary accommodation and bring vacant buildings back into use.

Across Scotland councils have been supported to purchase almost 1,500 properties in 2023-24 for use as affordable homes and the allocation of this £40 million will accelerate that work to ensure that families across Midlothian North and Musselburgh have a safe and warm place to call home. 

Commenting, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie, said:

"Tackling the housing emergency is one of the key issues in Midlothian North and Musselburgh and one of the keyways we can solve it is by bringing empty and vacant buildings back into use.

"This £40m fund, introduced by the SNP Government as part of the £600m affordable housing budget, will ensure that we can build on the 1,500 properties that were brought into use for affordable housing in the past year. 

"Every family in Midlothian North and Musselburgh deserves to have a safe and warm place that they can call home and with the SNP in government that is exactly what they will get."
​
ENDS

​KIRSTY MCNEILL PUTS PARTY BEFORE PENSIONERS IN KEY COMMONS VOTE 
 
Midlothian’s MSP has called out [LABOUR MP] for voting with the UK Labour government in favour of cutting the Winter Fuel Payment, accusing the politician of putting party before pensioners.
 
This follows calls from several political parties, including the SNP, and third sector organisations to u-turn on the decision – which looks set to see almost 900,000 pensioners across Scotland miss out on the £300 payment this winter.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“Kirsty McNeill was elected on the promise of change, but instead put party before pensioners, who are now paying the price for Labour’s dishonesty and ridiculous commitment to matching Tory fiscal rules.
 
“Every single SNP MP rightly voted against this Labour austerity and will continue to oppose further cuts while using our very limited powers to support those who need it most.
 
“Kirsty McNeill must now apologise for voting in favour of slashing the Winter Fuel Payment; and I reiterate SNP calls on the Labour government to see sense and reverse this decision before Scottish pensioners are forced to endure a winter without it.”
 
ENDS

SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie has challenged local Labour MSP Kirsty McNeill to back ending the two-child benefit cap after they united with the Tories to vote against a motion calling for action in the UK Budget to consign the hated policy to history. 
 
In a vote on a motion on the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, which has an acute focus on eradicating child poverty, Labour and Tory MSPs joined forces to reject the proposal that the two-child benefit limit must be fixed by Westminster.
​
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:

“Kirsty McNeill must now come clean on whether they support ending the two-child benefit cap which condemns thousands of children to poverty.

“The Better Together coalition united once more this week as Labour and Tory MSPs washed their hands of responsibility to end one of Westminster’s most damaging policies.

“The policies of the SNP Government are keeping 100,000 children out of poverty, while Labour accelerates austerity at Westminster - hampering the considerable progress of the Scottish Government to eradicate child poverty. 

“This week, First Minister John Swinney outlined his Programme for Government, where the clear priority is to end child poverty in Scotland. The sum of the opposition is to point the finger and avoid the blame while our kids suffer. 

“Sir Keir Starmer says things can only get worse - but the SNP has a far greater ambition for our nation, which is rich in energy, resources and talent. Only with independence can Scotland escape the austerity agenda of Westminster control.”

ENDS

​SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh has said “the SNP remain committed to delivering for Scotland and protecting households from more Westminster cuts” in the face of Labour’s “betrayal of Scotland’s priorities.”
 
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament today, SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison emphasised the “impossible situation” that the Scottish Government has been put in, forced to act within a budget largely set at Westminster that now looks set to be cut by a Labour government.
 
Commenting, Colin Beattie MSP said:
 
“Under this SNP government, Scotland has some of the best performing public services in the UK, are lifting 100,000 children out of poverty and have made university tuition and prescriptions free.
 
“Though we are determined to continue to improve the lives of all Scots in Midlothian North and Musselburgh, this will be increasingly difficult under Labour’s plans for up to £22 billion worth of public spending cuts.
 
“By making the choice to pursue a policy agenda steeped in austerity, Westminster is once again harming families, public services, and Scotland as a whole.
 
“Only by properly investing in communities like Midlothian North and Musselburgh will we build a more prosperous Scotland, and we can only do that with the full powers of independence.”
 
ENDS