Latest News – Martin Whitfield MSP
Martin welcomes new consumer rights campaign
Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed the launch of a new campaign from Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) aimed at raising awareness of consumer rights. The ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign has been launched following a poll by TSS which found that almost half of Scots have been targets of aggressive or misleading sales practices, impacting their mental and physical wellbeing. Victims of such practices are being encouraged to report rogue traders, seek support and to access trusted sources for reputable local traders via www.approvedtrader.scot. Fiona Richardson, chief officer of Trading Standards Scotland, said: “It is shocking that so many people in Scotland [...]
Supporting Love Your Local Market campaign
Martin Whitfield MSP and Douglas Alexander MP have backed this year’s Love Your Local Market campaign with a visit to Haddington Farmers’ Market. The Love Your Local Market (LYLM) campaign is a nationwide celebration of community, creativity, and commerce, proudly run by NABMA – The National Association of British Market Authorities. The 2025 campaign takes place from Friday 16th May to Saturday 31st May, with hundreds of markets across the country uniting to showcase the energy, creativity, and entrepreneurship that thrive at the heart of our high streets. This year’s campaign message – “Made by Markets” – reflects everything that [...]
International Workers’ Memorial Day
Today (Monday 28th April) is International Workers' Memorial Day (IWMD), the annual campaign to commemorate workers who lose their lives at work. Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most do not die of mystery ailments, or in tragic "accidents", they die because of the neglect of employers or because an employer decided their safety just was not that important a priority. Every 28th April IWMD commemorates those workers and puts the spotlight on campaigns to improve health and safety in workplaces and reduce the number of deaths at work. Martin Whitfield MSP said: "On Workers' [...]
Backing Independent Hospitality Week
Martin Whitfield MSP and Douglas Alexander MP are backing a campaign to support and promote local independent hospitality businesses. Independent Hospitality Week (IHW), which will take place from 5th-11th May, is a nationwide campaign designed to champion independent and family run bars, cafes, restaurants, pubs, street food vendors, and event traders that enrich local communities with their unique brands of hospitality. During the week, the campaign is asking people to come together and shout about how much their independent hospitality venues, mobile caterers and street food traders mean to them by eating local, drinking local and supporting independent hospitality venues. Martin [...]
Martin joins Easter family fun
Martin Whitfield MSP has attended this year's PSG Easter Family Fun Day and praised the continuing important work of the Fa'side and PSG Lunch Clubs. Mr Whitfield joined representatives from East Lothian Council, including , Cllr Norman Hampshire, Cllr Colin Yorkston and Cllr Shamin Akhtar, volunteers and supporters of the lunch clubs and families who have attended them at the event at Preston Lodge High School. Speaking after the event, Martin Whitfield MSP said: "I enjoyed this latest opportunity to join families, staff, volunteers and guests at Preston Lodge today for the PSG and Fa'side Lunch Clubs Family Fun Day [...]
Myanmar earthquake appeal launched
Following the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks that have devastated huge areas of Myanmar, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) charities have today launched an appeal to help those affected. Martin Whitfield MSP is joining cross-party colleagues to help promote the DEC appeal and encourage constituents to support it if they can. The Scottish and UK governments are both backing the appeal. Martin Whitfield MSP said: "Myanmar was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis with a third of the population in need of aid, but the impact of the earthquake has been catastrophic. "Hundreds of people are still missing and [...]