Latest News –  Martin Whitfield MSP

Martin Whitfield MSP has launched the consultation on his "transformative" proposed Member’s Bill that would ensure every council provides youth work services. The Bill would seek to establish a robust legal framework ensuring that every young person, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to consistent and high-quality youth work opportunities. This landmark proposal reflects the critical importance of youth work in fostering social inclusion, tackling inequality, and empowering Scotland’s next generation. At its heart, the Youth Work (Scotland) Bill addresses the growing disparities in youth service provision, particularly in rural and economically deprived areas where resources are often [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP and Douglas Alexander MP are backing the Small Business Saturday campaign to support local firms across East Lothian and also urging local people and businesses to get involved. Returning on 7th December, Small Business Saturday celebrates small business success and encourages the public to 'shop local' and to support businesses in their communities. Small Business Saturday’s organisers are calling for the public to throw their support behind small businesses, particularly as many head into the crucial trading period. Mr Whitfield and Mr Alexander are joining the campaign’s nationwide effort to show support for small businesses and their [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has highlighted in parliament the number of households, including children, living in temporary accommodation in East Lothian and asked the First Minister if it meets legislation on the rights of children. Mr Whitfield raised the issue during First Minister’s Questions, pointing out that 354 households are in temporary accommodation in East Lothian, including 50 children. He asked Mr Swinney if such conditions meet the requirements of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child which was incorporated into Scots law earlier this year. In reply, Mr Swinney talked about working with councils to do more [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP and Douglas Alexander MP have visited the historic Belhaven Brewery to meet with management and tour the site to see some of the investment that has been made over recent years. Mr Whitfield has visited the brewery previously, and also helped celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2019 by tabling an Early Day Motion in parliament at the time. It was Mr Alexander’s first visit to Belhaven, Scotland’s oldest working brewery, since his election as the county’s MP in July. Martin Whitfield MSP said: “Belhaven Brewery is an iconic local business, brand and visitor attraction and I was pleased [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP and Douglas Alexander MP have welcomed the UK Labour Budget’s reversal of the historic injustice affecting hundreds of former coalminers in East Lothian. Across the UK, more than 100,000 former mineworkers will receive £1.5 billion of money that was kept from their pensions – boosting their pensions by nearly a third or £29 a week for each member. When the Conservative Government privatised British Coal in 1994, it struck a deal that entitled it to half the surplus cash from the pension scheme in return for a guarantee that miners’ pensions would rise in line with inflation. [...]