25 Apr 2017

John Lamont, the MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, has announced his intention to resign from the Scottish Parliament.

The move will allow him to focus on the campaign to win Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk from the SNP at the forthcoming General Election.

John Lamont notified the Presiding Officer today that he will step down from Holyrood, with effect from May 4.

The Presiding Officer will set the date for the by-election shortly.

John Lamont said:

“It has been a great privilege to serve the people of the Borders in the Scottish Parliament for the last 10 years.

“During that time, I have worked as hard as I could to represent every community, no matter how small.

“I have held over 1000 local advice surgeries and assisted tens of thousands of local residents with problems and cases. I have always put local people before party politics.

“I want to continue that service to the Borders as a Member of Parliament and my approach to this important job will be exactly the same as it has been.

“This is one of the most important General Elections Scotland has ever had.

“In the Borders, it will be straight fight between myself and the SNP.

“I have decided to stand down as an MSP to allow me to focus all of my energy on this important contest and to ensure that the electorate have a clear choice between the two contenders.

“I’ve taken this decision because I believe that I am best placed to help increase the number of Scottish Conservative and Unionist MPs at Westminster so we can stop the SNP bandwagon in its tracks.

“With this decision, no one can doubt my commitment to representing the Borders to the best of my ability.”

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:

“During his 10 years in the Scottish Parliament, John has built up a formidable reputation as a dedicated community campaigner for the Borders and someone who will always put his constituents first.

“Voters in the Borders can either pick John Lamont, one of Scotland’s hardest working local campaigners, who will put the Borders first and who will oppose Nicola Sturgeon’s damaging plans for a second referendum or they can pick another nationalist who will continue to pursue the obsession with taking Scotland out of the United Kingdom.”

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25 April 2017

Responding to a speech by Keir Starmer, outlining Labour’s approach to Brexit negotiations if the Party wins the general election in June, Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West and the Party’s speaker on EU relations, said:

“A softer and more distinctive approach from Labour is welcome; to date Labour have danced to the Tories extreme and reckless Brexit tune, voting to trigger Article 50 without fighting for any conditions and effectively handing Theresa May a blank cheque.

“Greens would go much further than Labour and offer guarantees in areas not even mentioned by Keir Starmer.  

“We would not only guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals but defend free movement, especially for the young. We want young people to continue to enjoy the rights enjoyed by their parents and grandparents – the right to travel, study and work across Europe.

“Like Labour, we would ditch the great repeal bill, but replace it with more than just an EU rights and protections bill. We will push for a Great Reform Bill, to deliver a fair and proportional election system, reform of the House of Lords and a written constitution. Greens believe that the best way to protect jobs and workers’ rights is by remaining in the single market.

“Of course jobs and the economy are critically important in the negotiations with the EU, but by prioritising these above all else, there is a danger the environment gets side-lined. With the Tories plotting a bonfire of regulations that protect our air and water quality, safeguard valuable wildlife habitats and help tackle climate change, we need a new Environmental Protection Act and a new Clean Air Act to ensure environmental protections are maintained and enhanced.

“Labour’s call for parliament to be given a truly meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal is welcome, but their reluctance to give British people the same right shows a disregard for democracy. Greens believe that the people of the UK must be given an opportunity to accept or reject the future that is on offer at the end of the two-year Article 50 process through a ratification referendum.”

Notes:

1. http://mollymep.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Green_guarentees-2.pdf  

Molly Scott Cato is Green MEP for the South West of England and Gibraltar and is one of 50 Green/EFA MEPs in the European Parliament. She sits on the Economics and Monetary Affairs Committee, PANA committee investigating tax evasion and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. Molly is parliamentary candidate for Bristol West in the June 8th general election.

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2013 – present Serbia, EU Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation 2010 – 2013 Belgrade, Her Majesty’s Ambassador 2007 – 2010 FCO, Director, Russia, South Caucasus and Central Asia Directorate 2004 – 2007 Cairo, Deputy Head of Mission 2000 – 2003 Warsaw, Consul-General and Director for Trade Promotion 1996 – 1999 Moscow, First Secretary Political (External) 1993 – 1996 FCO, Head, UN Peacekeeping Section, United Nations Department 1990 – 1993 Warsaw, Second Secretary, Know-How Fund 1988 – 1989 FCO, Desk Officer, East Africa Department

The event, which takes place in Brussels between 25th and 27th April, provides an ideal platform to showcase high-quality Welsh seafood and gives Welsh producers a valuable opportunity to engage with over 30,000 buyers and suppliers from over 150 countries.

The important work of the Welsh Seafood Cluster will also be highlighted at Seafood Expo Global 2017. The cluster brings together fishermen, fishmongers and aquaculture businesses that have an ambition to grow and is dedicated to adding value to fish and shellfish caught or farmed on Welsh shores. 

Joining Rebecca Evans at the event will be Welsh Seafood Cluster businesses the Lobster Pot, Extra Mussels, Bangor Mussel Producers, WM Shellfish and South Quay Shellfish. 

Looking forward to her attendance at Seafood Expo Global 2017, the Minister said:

“We all know Wales has a wide range of world class food and drink producers who are really making their mark on the world stage. Our seafood is a hugely important part of our food and drink offer.

“The seafood industry makes a significant contribution to the Welsh economy. The latest figures show Aquaculture is worth £17.2M and the shellfish caught off the Welsh coast is worth £10.6M. The Seafood Cluster continues to grow in strength and ambition and I am sure it will play an important part in increasing the value of the sector even further. 

“Following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union it is more important than ever we continue to have a presence at trade events like Seafood Expo. By engaging with buyers and suppliers from around the world, our producers have the opportunity to cast their nets far and wide as they try and attract potential new customers and access new markets.

“We are already more than half way towards achieving our target to grow the Food and Drink industry in Wales by 30% to £7 billion by the year 2020. I hope attending events like this can provide an international platform to showcase the very best Wales has to offer, as well as raise the profile of our brand.”