Latest News –  Martin Whitfield MSP

Martin Whitfield MSP has hosted a reception at Holyrood in association with the UK Accreditation Service. The event, titled 'The Societal Benefits of Accreditation and Standards', brought together around 100 key stakeholders from across Scottish Government, local authorities, regulators, industry and the third sector to explore how accreditation and standards support consumer protection, innovation and public confidence. It included short presentations from the partner organisations and a case study, with the rest of the evening designed for informal networking. Commenting afterwards, Martin Whitfield MSP said: "I was delighted to host this important reception in association with the UK Accreditation Service. [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP joined volunteers at the unveiling of the Community Connections Memory Collage at North Berwick Library. In 2024, the charity, which works to combat social isolation and loneliness in the North Berwick Coastal area, commenced a year-long legacy project to create an incredible memory collage with people in the community through a series of workshops. The finished collage is more than a creative display - it’s a symbol of togetherness, understanding, and the healing power of shared memory, conversation and connection. It was on display in North Berwick Phone Booths on North Berwick High Street at the start [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has given his backing to a campaign against compulsory redundancies at the University of Edinburgh. Organised by UCU Scotland in partnership with other trade unions, the campaign is part of the unions wider #StopTheCuts campaign opposing cuts in Scottish Higher Education. Earlier in the week, Mr Whitfield raised the issue of redundancies at Edinburgh and other universities during topical questions and challenged the HE Minister on what the Scottish Government is doing to tackle the funding crisis in our universities. Martin Whitfield MSP said: "I'm standing with UCU Scotland and other unions to support the action they [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP is backing the Fostering Network’s 2025 #TickTheBox campaign which officially begins today. The UK-wide #TickTheBox campaign encourages people with care experience to ‘tick the box’ on their UCAS application to say they have spent time in care, so they can get the support they may need, to help them enter and thrive at college or university. From 2008 to 2022, the number of people ticking the box more than doubled, but there is still a long way to go. In Scotland, the latest data shows that less than three quarters (72.4%) of looked after pupils were in [...]

The Aviation Preservation Society of Scotland's recent award success at the Aviation Heritage UK AGM has been recognised at the Scottish Parliament in a motion tabled by Martin Whitfield MSP. The APSS were given the Organisation of the Year award at the AGM in Derby, recognising the group's remarkable commitment to its 24-year project to construct a WW1 Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter biplane. Martin Whitfield MSP said:  "I have been following the work of the APSS and its remarkable Strutter project for many years now and know how much dedication has gone into it.  "To have been recognised by their [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has hosted a parliamentary reception to help celebrate 70 years of Action for Children Scotland supporting children and young people in Scotland. The reception brought MSPs, supporters, partners and volunteers together to recognise and celebrate that over the past 70 years, Action for Children has supported hundreds of thousands of children, young people and families throughout Scotland. Action for Children’s vision is “that every child has a safe and happy childhood and the foundations they need to thrive". The charity currently delivers 90 services for children, young people and families across 30 of Scotland’s 32 local authority [...]