Latest News –  Martin Whitfield MSP

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. [...]

Martin Whitfield MSP has lauded the vital work that One Parent Families Scotland does each year providing advice, support and advocacy for families throughout Scotland. Speaking during a member's debate on the charity's 80th anniversary, Mr Whitfield described it as having been 'a beacon of hope and support for countless single-parent families across our nation'. For eight decades, the organisation has dedicated itself to ensuring that single parents and their children have the resources, the guidance and the advocacy that they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. Mr Whitfield went on to state his belief  that what makes One [...]

Whisky stills made in the traditional manner at McMillan Coppersmiths in Prestonpans will form the central part of a modern distillery under construction at Inverkip on the west coast. The two copper stills – a wash still and a spirit still – were loaded this morning ready for the 85 mile journey west to Ardgowan Distillery, under the watchful eyes of the craftsmen and women who made them. The firm employs 35 people in the East Lothian town and is now part of the Briggs Group. Martin Whitfield MSP, who attended the shipping out, said: “This company is well known [...]

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Poppyscotland’s largest fundraising event – raising over £2 million every year – and Scotland’s biggest annual street collection. This week Poppyscotland held a reception in the Garden Lobby of parliament to mark the launch of this year's appeal and to recognise its position as the only officially recognised charity of the Scottish Parliament and engage with Members, Poppyscotland volunteers and other stakeholders about the charity’s vital work supporting our Armed Forces community. Speaking after the reception, Martin Whitfield MSP said: "It was great to join parliamentary colleagues, Poppyscotland volunteers and other stakeholders at this reception [...]

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, has visited Prestonpans Group Practice alongside Martin Whitfield MSP to discuss the issues facing the surgery. The conversation focussed on the loss in funding to the Practice which was raised by practice GPs earlier this year and continues to be an ongoing concern for the Practice. The Cabinet Secretary agreed to discuss these funding cuts with NHS Lothian and praised the Practice for their exceptional standards of care. Following the meeting, Martin Whitfield MSP said: “It is essential that GP Partners are able to make the decisions that are right for [...]