Latest News –  Martin Whitfield MSP

Commenting on the announcement that ScotRail fares are set to increase by 3.8 per cent in April, Martin Whitfield MSP said: “Rail users experienced an 8.7 per cent fare increase last year, followed by the re-introduction of peak fares. This further fare hike will hammer rail passengers in East Lothian again and risk making trains a less attractive option for travellers. “The Scottish Government should be taking action to make rail more affordable and accessible, but instead it has hit passengers with painful fare rises time and time again. This latest increase is bad for local rail users, bad for [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP is encouraging any constituents worried about energy bills, debt or the cost of living this winter to seek advice and support from the Citizens Advice network via its Worried this Winter? Let's Chat campaign. Running in partnership with Home Energy Scotland until 28 February, the campaign is encouraging people to seek free and impartial advice on managing heating costs, energy debt and other financial pressures. The Citizens Advice network in Scotland offers a range of free, impartial and confidential advice. This includes face-to-face appointments in local CABs, online information and advice, and through its Help to Claim [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has returned to East Linton Primary School to speak to P7 pupils as part of their learning about our democracy and how the Scottish Parliament works. Former teacher Mr Whitfield was invited to visit the class to talk about his role as a Member of the Scottish Parliament and how decisions and laws are made at Holyrood, before hosting a Question & Answer session with the pupils. Following the MSP’s visit, the pupils will continue their democracy project with a visit to the Scottish Parliament for a tour of the building and to enable them to find [...]

Thursday 6 February is Time to Talk Day (TTTD), run by See Me, Scotland's national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination. We know that mental health stigma continues to be a major barrier for people in finding support and talking openly. In fact, this year's campaign has revealed that 29% of Scots are holding back from social opportunities and distancing themselves from those closest to them to avoid ‘awkward’ conversations about mental health. 28% of Scots have pushed friends and family away at times when they have not wanted to talk about their mental health, while 27% say [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has joined parliamentary colleagues in helping commemorate this year's Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday 27th January, which this year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The theme chosen for HMD 2025 is For a Better Future. It encapsulates our collective responsibility to shape a better future, imploring us to do everything in our power to create a brighter tomorrow – such as confronting Holocaust and genocide denial, challenging prejudice, and promoting education about the Holocaust and more recent genocides. Martin Whitfield MSP said:  "The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is a time [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed the news that several rural businesses from the South Scotland region are among the finalists in this year's Countryside Alliance Awards. The Awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food and farming, enterprise and heritage through our small hard-working businesses. The Rural Oscars are now in their 18th year and have become the definitive rural business award to win. They are set apart from other award schemes because they are driven by public nomination, offering customers the chance to tell us why their favourite businesses are worthy of national acclaim. Martin Whitfield MSP [...]