All posts tagged: Scottish

Humanists UK calls on Scottish Parliament to legalise assisted dying

Humanists UK calls on Scottish Parliament to legalise assisted dying

Published by skeptic

A view of Scotland’s Parliament Building, located by Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. Humanists UK has responded to the Scottish Parliament’s consultation on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, urging it to adopt the most compassionate approach possible. Humanists UK fully supports efforts to legalise assisted dying in Scotland, and commends the comprehensive and thorough process that led to the development of the Bill. However, it believes the eligibility criteria could be improved to include people like Tony Nicklinson, who are incurably suffering but not terminally ill. Devolved matters pertaining to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government are generally dealt with by Humanists UK’s sister charity, Humanist Society Scotland (HSS). Humanists UK has agreed to also respond to this consultation as Scotland’s assisted dying legislation as their law will have a significant impact on the rest of the UK. Humanists UK also endorses HSS’s response. Humanists UK believes that being able to die, with dignity, in a manner of our choosing must be understood as a fundamental human right. Any assisted dying law …

Wigtown Book Festival to end Baillie Gifford partnership after 14 years

Wigtown Book Festival to end Baillie Gifford partnership after 14 years

Published by Sam

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Will Labour or the SNP serve Scots and their families better? | Scottish National party (SNP)

Will Labour or the SNP serve Scots and their families better? | Scottish National party (SNP)

Published by skeptic

Dani Garavelli says the Scottish National party has not eradicated child poverty in Scotland (The SNP’s woes are a boost for Starmer. But he’s not promising the change Scotland wants, 27 May). Maybe not, but it has made great strides in this direction, within the budgetary constraints imposed by Westminster. The Scottish child payment is the policy of the SNP-led Holyrood government and is paid to all families on benefits in Scotland at £26.70 per week per child. And all children in primary 1 to 5, at schools run by their local council or funded by the Scottish government, can get free school lunches in term-time. Moreover, money has been invested into this to ensure that the meals are of good quality. As Garavelli goes on to say, Keir Starmer will not even commit to abolishing the two-child benefit cap. Child poverty is a scandal in a rich country like the UK, but it is less of a scandal in Scotland than elsewhere. No one in Scotland who cares about this should vote Labour.Sue HawthorneHaddington, East Lothian Dani …

Kate Forbes elected Scotland deputy first minister despite Green opposition | Scottish politics

Kate Forbes elected Scotland deputy first minister despite Green opposition | Scottish politics

Published by skeptic

The Scottish Greens have voted against Kate Forbes becoming Scotland’s new deputy first minister in a fresh row over her conservative views on equality. Ross Greer said it felt as if Scotland ‘was going backwards’ on LGBT rights. Photograph: Duncan Bryceland/Rex/Shutterstock Ross Greer, a Scottish Green MSP, said that as a gay Christian he was unable to support a minister “who feels there is something wrong with us” and said all seven Green MSPs would oppose her appointment. During the vote on John Swinney’s cabinet nominations, the Greens were joined by Labour and the Conservatives in opposing her appointment. The Liberal Democrats abstained, giving Swinney a narrow majority because some opposition MSPs were absent. The dispute opens up a fresh rift between the Scottish government’s former coalition partners and the first minister, Swinney, the day after he confirmed Forbes would be his deputy and also deleted the post of minister for independence. Swinney appointed Forbes partly in return for her dropping her bid to stand against him for the Scottish National party’s leadership, but chiefly …

John Swinney to become Scottish first minister after vote by MSPs | John Swinney

John Swinney to become Scottish first minister after vote by MSPs | John Swinney

Published by skeptic

The new Scottish National party leader John Swinney will become Scotland’s seventh first minister after winning the backing of MSPs. As is traditional, opposition leaders stood against Swinney in the vote, which he won just eight days after Humza Yousaf dramatically announced his departure, with the backing of 64 SNP MSPs, while the seven Scottish Greens abstained. Accepting the nomination, Swinney spoke of how he had wrestled with the decision to stand for leadership, which he won unopposed on Monday. He reminded the chamber that his wife, Elizabeth Quigley, lives with multiple sclerosis. “She is indefatigable in trying to make sure that MS does not get in the way of her living life to the full, but, much to her frustration, she does often have to rely on her husband for support and assistance.” Speaking directly to her as she watched from the public gallery with his children, Swinney thanked her for “the sacrifices she is prepared to make to enable her husband to serve our country as first minster”. He also said he took …

Scottish parliament names John Swinney as new leader

Scottish parliament names John Swinney as new leader

Published by skeptic

John Swinney delivers a speech to confirm his victory to become the country’s First Minister, at Glasgow University, Scotland, May 6, 2024. LESLEY MARTIN / REUTERS Scotland’s parliament approved John Swinney as the country’s new leader on Tuesday, May 7, a day after he was named leader of the ruling pro-independence Scottish National Party. Swinney, 60, succeeds Humza Yousaf, who formally resigned from the role earlier in the day, following his announcement last week that he would step down after just over a year in charge. Swinney won the backing of 64 MPs in the vote that was all but a foregone conclusion, with nearest rival Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross picking up 31. Yousaf announced last Monday that he was resigning as he faced a confidence vote in the Scottish parliament that he was set to lose, having ditched his junior coalition partners, the Scottish Green Party, in a row over climate policy. Read more Subscribers only Resignation of Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf deepens crisis within pro-independence party Swinney, an old party hand …

Scottish salmon industry challenged over move to drop ‘farmed’ from labels | Animal welfare

Scottish salmon industry challenged over move to drop ‘farmed’ from labels | Animal welfare

Published by skeptic

Animal welfare campaigners are challenging the decision to allow producers of Scottish salmon to drop the word “farmed” from labelling. An application by the industry body claimed changing the protected name wording on the front of packaging from “Scottish farmed salmon” to “Scottish salmon” made sense because wild salmon was no longer sold in supermarkets, which consumers were aware of. But charities and chefs have criticised the decision by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), taken last month, to allow Salmon Scotland’s application, saying it facilitates greenwashing and will mislead consumers. Rachel Mulrenan, of WildFish, one of the organisations bringing the legal challenge, said: “As sustainability issues become increasingly important, this is a thinly disguised attempt by the Scottish salmon farming industry to pull the wool over consumers’ eyes, both in the UK and further afield. “More than ever, people need to know the true origin of the products they are buying and consuming, so that they can make informed decisions. This name-change is a step in the wrong direction.” The change …

Scottish singer drafted in to replace Olly Murs at Glasgow Take That concert thought offer was a ‘joke’ | UK News

Scottish singer drafted in to replace Olly Murs at Glasgow Take That concert thought offer was a ‘joke’ | UK News

Published by skeptic

A Scottish singer plucked from obscurity at the last minute to replace Olly Murs as the opening act for Take That in Glasgow has told Sky News he thought the life-changing opportunity was a “joke”. Daniel Rooney, 26, was playing at the Radisson Red hotel opposite the OVO Hydro when news broke that Murs was forced to cancel his support act on Friday due to transport issues. TV presenter Ross King, who was enjoying a family dinner at the hotel, was impressed with Mr Rooney’s vocals and recommended the singer to his friend and Take That frontman Gary Barlow. With 30 minutes to go before the show was due to start, Mr Rooney was quickly whisked to the arena and opened the festivities with a range of upbeat cover songs. Barlow later thanked him on Instagram. Image: Take That: Howard Donald, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen. Pic: PA Mr Rooney, from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, told Sky News he thought it was a wind-up at first. He said: “I was thinking, ‘right, who’s trying to …