New Zealand Greens co-leader barred from parliament for a week after Gaza speech
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
MSP demands Donald Trump pay up to cover costs of policing for Scottish visit
EXCLUSIVE: The ex-Nat MSP said there is "no justifiable reason for the public to subsidise the commercial activity of the President". An MSP has demanded Donald Trump stump up to cover the costs of policing the President's recent visit to Scotland. The Republican leader jetted into Prestwick airport on July 25 before spending the weekend at his Turnberry Hotel and golf resort, where he held a rambling 60-minute press conference with Keir Starmer. Trump then flew to Aberdeenshire where he dined with John Swinney and later formally opened a second golf course at his Menie Estate. An estimated 5,000 Police Scotland officers - working 12 hour shifts - were involved in policing the duration of the President's four day visit, which was classed as a "private" trip. The New Yorker will return to the UK again in September for a formal state visit, where he will be an official guest of the King. John Mason, an independent MSP, has now lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament claiming there is "no justifiable reason for either the Scottish or UK public to subsidise the private travel or commercial activity of the President". The controversial member for Glasgow Shettleston, who was booted out of the SNP last year over remarks about Gaza, said he "hopes to see the recovery of public expenditure from Mr Trump or his associated business interests". Mason's motion states that Trump's visit "focused on time at his golf courses in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire, required a substantial deployment of Police Scotland and other police officers, as well as other public service resources". It claims "as the visit was not undertaken in any official capacity, the significant costs involved should not be footed by Scottish or UK taxpayers". The motion has so far only been supported by two MSPs from the SNP, Christine Grahame and Kevin Stewart. The cost of policing Trump's visit became a major talking point last month after the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) warned response times could double as a result of the force being overstretched. Asked if the quality of policing will be impacted by the visit, SPF chief David Kennedy said: "It will be seriously affected, it has to be. There's not enough police officers for it not to be affected." He added: 'We want the president of the United States to be able to come to Scotland. That's not what this is about. It's the current state of the police service and the numbers we have causes great difficulty." Mason was ejected by the SNP last year for a social media post in which he claimed there was "no genocide" in Gaza. He previously caused controversy in 2017 when he suggested some people view IRA killers as "freedom fighters". The veteran MSP for Glasgow Shettleston will retire from the Scottish Parliament next year and currently sits as an independent. He previously admitted his stance of speaking his mind had got him "into a lot of trouble" during his career - but insisted "we could do with a bit more of it".
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Rape survivors go head to head with controversial mens' rights group outside Parliament
Members of Justice for Innocent Men Scotland (JIMS), who have been slammed for targeting women speaking out on abuse, are to be met with a counter protest at Holyrood. Rape survivors will go head to head outside the Scottish Parliament with a controversial mens' rights group accused of trolling victims. Members of Justice for Innocent Men Scotland (JIMS), who have been slammed for targeting women speaking out on abuse, are to stage a 'silent protest' outside the Scottish Parliament in the coming weeks - pledging support of 'innocent people caught in broken justice systems'. But the group is set to be met with a counter protest organised by JEMS - Justice for Exploited and Mistreated Survivors - after members hit out over being targeted online by supporters of the group. Ellie Wilson, who says she was labelled an 'attention seeker' for campaigning in the wake of her rapist's conviction, said survivors will stand up to those who seek to blame victims. The 27-year-old said: 'All of us survivors have come together because we've faced targeting by this group. 'They're gathering for their protest so we thought it was important that we show survivors solidarity. 'Our aim is to call out victim blaming and show survivors that we stand with them and stand together. 'We stand against any sort of behaviour that tries to blame them for what happened. 'It's so difficult in this country to get a guilty verdict in the first place. So to go through that then be told this didn't happen to you, in quite a public way as well, just isn't acceptable. 'It's bullying and it's public humiliation. It shouldn't be happening and we believe that the majority of Scotland does stand with survivors and we want to show that.' Ellie's ex-partner Daniel McFarlane was sentenced to five years in prison in 2022 for raping her twice while they were both students at Glasgow University. Ellie bravely waived her right to anonymity to fight for change in the justice system. But she has told how supporters of JIMS accused her of using her experience to 'gain fame' and make money. She said: 'It's obviously really difficult when you're a survivor and you've gone through the trauma of rape and domestic abuse and the justice system to then have people going on the internet saying you're a liar and calling you names. 'It's retraumatising and it's not what people need after going through so much already. 'I've waived my anonymity and other survivors have done the same, but it's almost like people like JIMS think we shouldn't be heard or exist in public life. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'I think people feel more empowered to say or do things online, which is leading to a lot of this horrible behaviour. 'We definitely have lots of interest (in the counter protest), so I think it will be quite likely that we get more numbers than they do.' Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal said: 'The last thing survivors need after enduring heinous abuse is to be trolled when they bravely speak out about their ordeal. 'Abuse victims deserve to be listened to and supported, not have their trauma reignited by misguided activists. 'Survivors deserve to be at the heart of a Scottish justice system which currently panders to offenders rather than victims.' JIMS has publicly denied harassing victims. One of the group's arguments is that crucial evidence is being ignored by parts of the Criminal Procedure Act, which was designed to protect victims from intrusive questioning. In a statement on its social media yesterday, JIMS said it would hold its silent protest on September 9 - International Falsely Accused Day (IFAD). It said: 'IFAD is a global movement that began to support innocent people caught in broken justice systems. It is not just a Scottish issue. Our colleagues in London and international partners at DAVIA will be gathering too. The world will be watching. 'We stand for justice and fairness. We stand with everyone who has been failed by the system and all the people maintaining their innocence, and all we ask for is FAIR TRIALS - nothing more, nothing less. 'Together, we can raise our voices for change.' The Record contacted JIMS for comment.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
End Israel's weaponisation of Gaza aid, 100 humanitarian groups say
More than 100 organisations have signed a joint letter calling on Israel to stop the "weaponisation of aid" into Gaza, as "starvation deepens".Humanitarian groups, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), say they are increasingly being told they are "not authorised" to deliver aid, unless they comply with the stricter Israeli risk being banned if they "delegitimise" the state of Israel or do not provide detailed information about Palestinian denies there are restrictions on aid and says the rules, introduced in March, ensure relief work is carried out in line with Israel's "national interests". According to the joint letter, most major international non-governmental organisations (NGO) have been unable to deliver a single truck of lifesaving supplies since 2 say Israeli authorities "have rejected requests from dozens of non-governmental organisations to bring in lifesaving goods", citing the new rules. More than 60 requests were denied in July groups' inability to deliver aid has "left hospitals without basic supplies, children, people with disabilities, and older people dying from hunger and preventable illnesses", the statement Carroll, CEO of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), said: "Anera has over $7 million worth of lifesaving supplies ready to enter Gaza – including 744 tons of rice, enough for six million meals, blocked in Ashdod just kilometers away".The new guidelines introduced in March update the framework for how aid groups must register to maintain their status within Israel, along with provisions that outline how their applications can be denied or registration can be rejected if Israeli authorities deem that a group denies the democratic character of Israel or "promotes delegitimisation campaigns" against the country."Unfortunately, many aid organisations serve as a cover for hostile and sometimes violent activity," Israel's Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli told the Agence France-Presse news agency."Organisations that have no connection to hostile or violent activity and no ties to the boycott movement will be granted permission to operate," added Khalidi, Oxfam Policy Lead, said Israel had rejected more than $2.5m (£1.8m) of goods from entering added: "This registration process signals to INGOs that their ability to operate may come at the cost of their independence and ability to speak out." The warning comes as Israel steps up its bombardment of Gaza City, in preparation for a plan to take control of the says it will provide humanitarian aid to civilian populations "outside the combat zones", but has not specified whether that aid would be delivered by the Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).Israel says the system is necessary to stop Hamas stealing aid, an accusation Hamas UN this month reported that 859 Palestinians had been killed near GHF sites since May, a figure the GHF the joint statement, Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza, said that the "militarised food distribution scheme has weaponised starvation". The secretary-general of MSF, Chris Lockyear, told the BBC that GHF was a "death trap", and the humanitarian situation in Gaza was "hanging on by a thread". Hamas's 2023 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel, with 251 seized and taken into Gaza as offensive has since killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. It says that 235 people including 106 children have also died due to starvation and malnutrition.
