Latest news with #ChristineJardine
Scotsman
21 minutes ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Jardine urges UK Government to support Edinburgh hospitality ahead of summer season
Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has called on the UK Government to do more to support the hospitality sector in Scotland's capital, ahead of the busy Festival season. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Figures from UK Hospitality show that the sector contributes more than £198 million to Edinburgh West's economy, and employs more than 6,500 of Ms Jardine's constituents across 197 businesses. The trade body also estimates a loss of more than 69,000 jobs across the UK since Chancellor Rachel Reeves hiked National Insurance contributions (NICs) for employers last October. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Research from the Liberal Democrats earlier this year revealed hospitality businesses could face up to £370 million in extra NICs following the rise. Christine Jardine MP in the House of Commons Chamber Many businesses across Edinburgh West are struggling to cope with this tax hike, as well as the long-term impact of Brexit on trade, and Covid on visitor habits. Despite Minister Gareth Thomas highlighting business rates reforms, the Liberal Democrat MP reminded him that this would not apply in Scotland, leaving Scottish pubs, bars and restaurants at a disadvantage, and pushed for support for the sector across the whole country. This follows Ms Jardine's previous calls for hospitality venues to be exempt from Labour's jobs tax hike. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Christine Jardine MP said,'Hospitality and tourism are at the heart of the Scottish economy, and my city of Edinburgh benefits from hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and spending every year. 'But the sector is clearly struggling with the UK Government's jobs tax. With the Edinburgh International Festivals around the corner, we need this vital part of our economy to be strong. 'With more than 6,000 jobs in my constituency alone relying on hospitality, the UK Government must act now before more people lose out. 'Ministers must reverse these NIC hikes and do more to keep the thousands of my constituents who work hard in hospitality safe in their jobs.'
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Would a visitor tax on cruise ships help or hurt ports like Queensferry?
With the school summer holidays in full swing, and MPs taking our summer break from Westminster soon, thoughts are turning to summer in the capital. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... For me, it means a busy but exciting six weeks visiting businesses, helping constituents and seeing the issues people face every day across Edinburgh West. But like all of us in the city, it also means the bustle of the Festivals descends again. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Thousands come to Edinburgh to see some of the world's finest actors, writers and performers, and support our fantastic local businesses. Christine Jardine in South Queensferry In 2022 Edinburgh benefitted to the tune of £407 million, with around five thousand jobs supported. But too often recently it has seemed that the festival's future has been clouded by complaints about the number of tourists, which has in part spurred calls for a tourist tax. Edinburgh will soon introduce a 5% levy on accommodation bookings, which some estimates suggest could bring in £50 million per year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But this won't cover one part of Edinburgh's busy transport system, with potential to grow even further. Last summer, Edinburgh welcomed a record 118 cruise ships to its ports, including 36 to Queensferry. This may not be surprising, given that the United Kingdom's waters are visited by a third of the global cruising fleet every year. And, as I learnt from meeting the Cruise Lines Association recently, many who visit Scotland by cruise ship are from other parts of the UK itself. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For many, a cruise is also a fantastic opportunity to visit a destination for the first time, with most of them returning for another holiday in future. They will stop in Queensferry en route to the city, others will visit the high street, try some local produce, and admire the fantastic scenery, before returning to their journey at sea. This is the crux of the problem now facing the Scottish Government and councils – should cruise ships face the same tax as hotels? Many won't spend a night in the city, but they will provide an important boost to the small, family-run firms that are the backbone of our high streets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some areas around ports could see thousands of tourists every day, adding pressure to local services. For communities who rely on tourism, the tax could help keep these afloat. But many who work in tourism are also concerned about the impact the potential tax could have. They worry it could make Scotland less attractive or risk losing investment, reducing the number of people who come and support our local economy. Whatever the solution that comes out of the Scottish Government's consultation, it's critical we keep tourism sustainable for communities of all sizes, so we can enjoy many more summers to come.
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Over 100 Lib Dem activists demand reinstatement of Edinburgh MP Christine Jardine to frontbench roles
More than 100 Lib Dem activists from across the UK have signed an open letter to party chiefs demanding the reinstatement of Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine after she was sacked from the frontbench. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... She was removed as Lib Dem spokesperson on Women and Equalities and on Scotland after she voted against a Tory amendment to the Welfare Bill instead of abstaining, as instructed by the party whips. But the open letter voices "deep misgivings and extreme concern" at the move. And it demands: "This decision must be reversed." Christine Jardine MP in the House of Commons Chamber Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Jardine, who had performed the frontbench roles for the past three years, explained in a letter to Lib Dem leader Ed Davey that she had voted against the amendment because of her late husband, Calum Macdonald. She wrote: "As you know, my late husband Calum, was bipolar. Several people around me have mental health conditions the amendment dismissed as 'minor', and not worthy of support. I could not in good conscience do anything other than vote against another Conservative attempt to remove help from those who need it the most. "Regardless of my personal circumstances, as Equalities Spokesperson, this is an equalities issue and I could not let down those who are relying on people in power to speak on their behalf." The open letter, addressed to Mr Davey and chief whip Wendy Chamberlain, calls for Ms Jardine's immediate reinstatement and an unreserved apology, as well as a review of the party's whipping policy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It says: "At a time when equalities victories are being rolled back and progress is stopping on almost every avenue, the Liberal Democrats must be the party that stands up to be counted. "Christine has been a tireless fighter for equalities of all kinds, and has, as you have noted yourself in the not too distant past, served as the best equalities spokesperson we have ever had. "The whip to abstain on a repugnant Conservative amendment - that sought to politicise mental health support and harm the very people we claim to protect - should never have been issued. 'The Liberal Democrats have a brilliant record on mental health, and being the party to advocate for those with mental health issues - We should never be playing political games on such important issues."
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Scotsman
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Westminster: How often has your Scottish MP voted and spoken in House of Commons since the general election?
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland's MPs have now been in post for a year - but how much work are they actually doing in Westminster? The Scotsman has analysed how many times Scotland's MPs have voted and spoken in the House of Commons since the general election on July 4 last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We have looked at how many times each MP has voted, how many early day motions they have supported, how many spoken contributions they have made, and how many written questions they have submitted to the UK government. UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie. | Press Association The MPs who have voted the most times are Chris Kane (Labour MP for Stirling and Strathallan) and Brian Leishman (Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth), who have both voted 225 times. The MP who has voted the least is SNP Westminster leader and Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn on 66 votes. The SNP has a long-standing policy of abstaining on votes that do not affect Scotland. When it comes to speaking in debates, the MP who has spoken the most is Lib Dem MP for Edinburgh West Christine Jardine, who has made 146 spoken contributions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad By contrast, Imogen Walker (Labour MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley) has only spoken eight times, and Pamela Nash (Labour MP for Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke) has only spoken ten times. Early day motions are motions which are submitted for debate in the House of Commons and supporting them puts an MPs' point of view on record. Government ministers, whips and parliamentary private secretaries do not sign these. For example, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has not signed any as he is a government minister. Ms Jardine has signed the most early day motions on 321. From those who are allowed to support the motions, six Labour MPs have not supported any: Johanna Baxter (Paisley and Renfrewshire South), Alan Gemmell (Central Ayrshire), Chris Murray (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh), Ms Nash, Ms Walker and Melanie Ward (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Written questions can be submitted to ask government ministers about their work - therefore, government ministers will be answering rather than asking. The MP who has asked the most is shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) on 382. Ms Nash has asked zero questions, and Dr Zubir Ahmed (Labour MP for Glasgow South West) and John Grady (Labour MP for Glasgow East) have asked only one. Here is the list of what Scotland's MPs have spent the past year in Westminster doing. Figures are correct as of July 9. Dr Zubir Ahmed - Glasgow South West Labour 198 votes, two early day motions, 33 spoken contributions, one written question Douglas Alexander - Lothian East Labour Business and trade minister and Cabinet Office minister 150 votes, zero early day motions, 28 spoken contributions, zero written questions Dr Scott Arthur - Edinburgh South West Labour 216 votes, 66 early day motions, 103 spoken contributions, 171 written contributions Richard Baker - Glenrothes and Mid Fife Labour 230 votes, 33 early day motions, 47 spoken contributions, 40 written questions Johanna Baxter - Paisley and Renfrewshire South Labour 228 votes, zero early day motions, 103 spoken contributions, 26 written questions Kirsty Blackman - Aberdeen North SNP SNP chief whip, work and pensions spokeswoman, and equalities spokeswoman 85 votes, 45 early day motions, 67 spoken contributions, 89 written questions Andrew Bowie - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie Conservative Shadow energy minister and shadow Scottish secretary 167 votes, two early day motions, 71 spoken contributions, 382 written questions Maureen Burke - Glasgow North East Labour 184 votes, 40 early day motions, 14 spoken contributions, 21 written questions Irene Campbell - North Ayrshire and Arran Labour 227 votes, ten early day motions, 28 spoken contributions, 19 written questions Alistair Carmichael - Orkney and Shetland Lib Dem 146 votes, 54 early day motions, 95 spoken contributions, eight written questions Wendy Chamberlain - North East Fife Wendy Chamberlain MP Lib Dem Lib Dem chief whip 143 votes, 260 early day motions, 92 spoken contributions, 73 written questions John Cooper - Dumfries and Galloway Conservative 170 votes, seven early day motions, 102 spoken contributions, 84 written questions Torcuil Crichton - Na h-Eileanan an Iar Labour 219 votes, four early day motions, 56 spoken contributions, seven written questions Harriet Cross - Gordon and Buchan Conservative Opposition assistant whip 197 votes, three early day motions, 114 spoken contributions, 142 written questions Dave Doogan - Angus and Perthshire Glens SNP SNP defence spokesman and economy spokesman 86 votes, 64 early day motions, 96 spoken contributions, 101 written questions Graeme Downie - Dunfermline and Dollar Labour 198 votes, 28 early day motions, 86 spoken contributions, 219 written questions Patricia Ferguson - Glasgow West Labour 196 votes, 109 early day motions, 67 spoken contributions, 34 written questions Stephen Flynn - Aberdeen South SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn | House of Commons/UK Parliament SNP SNP Westminster leader 66 votes, 24 early day motions, 50 spoken contributions, nine written questions Alan Gemmell - Central Ayrshire Labour 224 votes, zero early day motions, 40 spoken contributions, four written questions Stephen Gethins - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry SNP SNP Scotland and international affairs spokesman 84 votes, 74 early day motions, 59 spoken contributions, 122 written questions Tracy Gilbert - Edinburgh North and Leith Labour 224 votes, 28 early day motions, 53 spoken contributions, 79 written questions John Grady - Glasgow East Labour 220 votes, nine early day motions, 48 spoken contributions, one written question Christine Jardine - Edinburgh West Christine Jardine MP Lib Dem 142 votes, 321 early day motions, 146 spoken contributions, 39 written questions Lillian Jones - Kilmarnock and Loudon Labour 173 votes, 14 early day motions, 34 spoken contributions, four written questions Chris Kane - Stirling and Strathallan Labour 225 votes, 25 early day motions, 22 spoken contributions, 25 written questions John Lamont - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Conservative 185 votes, four early day motions, 119 spoken contributions, 25 written questions Chris Law - Dundee Central SNP SNP business, international development and trade spokesman 76 votes, 275 early day motions, 72 spoken contributions, 139 written questions Graham Leadbitter - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey SNP SNP science, innovation and technology, transport, and energy security and net zero spokesman 79 votes, 169 early day motions, 63 spoken contributions, 92 written questions Brian Leishman - Alloa and Grangemouth Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth | Michael Gillen/National World Labour 225 votes, 170 early day motions, 74 spoken contributions, 65 written questions Seamus Logan - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East SNP SNP environment, food and rural affairs, and health and social care spokesman 80 votes, 77 early day motions, 96 spoken contributions, 74 written questions Angus Macdonald - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire Lib Dem 143 votes, 432 early day motions, 41 spoken contributions, 171 written questions Douglas McAllister - West Dunbartonshire Labour 217votes, 32 early day motions, 77 spoken contributions, six written questions Martin McCluskey - Inverclude and Renfrewshire West Labour Government assistant whip 225 votes, zero early day motions, 13 spoken contributions, six written questions Blair McDougall - East Renfrewshire Labour 186 votes, 26 early day motions, 59 spoken contributions, 118 written questions Gordon McKee - Glasgow South Labour 207 votes, 26 early day motions, 25 spoken contributions, six written questions Frank McNally - Coatbridge and Bellshill Labour 200 votes, 15 early day motions, 34 spoken contributions, nine written questions Kirsty McNeill - Midlothian Scottish Minister Kirsty McNeill | Press Association Labour Scottish minister 202 votes, zero early day motions, 27 spoken contributions, zero written questions David Mundell - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Conservative 122 votes, nine early day motions, 101 spoken contributions, 40 written questions Chris Murray - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh Labour 223 votes, zero early day motions, 83 spoken contributions, 23 written questions Ian Murray - Edinburgh South Scottish Secretary Ian Murray Labour Scottish secretary 187 votes, zero early day motions, 29 spoken contributions, zero written questions Katrina Murray - Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch Labour 198 votes, 23 early day motions, 34 spoken contributions, four written questions Susan Murray - Mid Dunbartonshire Lib Dem 152 votes, 79 early day motions, 34 spoken contributions, 88 written questions Pamela Nash - Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke Pamela Nash MP | John Devlin/National World Labour 220 votes, zero early day motions, 10 spoken contributions, zero written questions Brendan O'Hara - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber SNP SNP Cabinet Office, culture, media and sport, and Middle East spokesman 84 votes, 54 early day motions, 65 spoken contributions, 46 written questions Gregor Poynton - Livingston Labour 218 votes, 18 early day motions, 68 spoken contributions, 40 written questions Joani Reid - East Kilbride and Strathaven Labour 195 votes, one early day motion, 27 spoken contributions, 11 written questions Martin Rhodes - Glasgow North Labour 222 votes, 52 early day motions, 36 spoken contributions, 16 written questions Michael Shanks - Rutherglen Energy Minister Michael Shanks |Labour Energy security and net zero minister 192 votes, zero early day motions, 72 spoken contributions, zero written questions Euan Stainbank - Falkirk Labour 232 votes, 65 early day motions, 58 spoken contributions, 107 written questions Kenneth Stevenson - Airdrie and Shotts Labour 191 votes, three early day motions,17 spoken contributions, six written questions Elaine Stewart - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Labour 180 votes, 14 early day motions, 31 spoken contributions, two written questions Jamie Stone - Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Lib Dem 151 votes, 80 early day motions, 74 spoken contributions, 19 written questions Kirsteen Sullivan - Bathgate and Linlithgow Labour 179 votes, 72 early day motions, 63 spoken contributions, 16 written questions Alison Taylor - Paisley and Renfrewshire West Labour 138 votes, eight early day motions, 20 spoken contributions, 42 written questions Imogen Walker - Hamilton and Clyde Valley Labour 187 times, zero early day motions, eight spoken contributions, six written question Melanie Ward - Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy Labour 217 votes, zero early day motions, 84 spoken contributions, 58 written questions Pete Wishart - Perth and Kinross-shire
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Edinburgh MP Christine Jardine sacked from Lib Dem frontbench after rebelling on benefits vote
Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has been sacked from the Lib Dems' front bench at Westminster after she rebelled in a vote on welfare benefits. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The party had instructed its MPs to abstain on a Tory amendment to the Welfare Bill which would have slashed payments to some people with mental health conditions. But Ms Jardine voted against the amendment and said it was because of her late husband, Calum Macdonald, who was bipolar. Christine Jardine was sacked after voting against a Tory amendment Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She was then sacked as Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Women and Equalities and Scotland, roles she had held for the past three years. In a letter to Lib Dem leader Ed Davey following her dismissal, she said: "It is not a surprise to you that I have been unhappy about how we have voted in some instances in recent months, but my loyalty to the party meant I would not, and did not break the whip. I have always understood we are asked to do things we don't agree with, but this vote was personal to me in a way which meant I could not abstain. "As you know, my late husband Calum, was bipolar. Several people around me have mental health conditions the amendment dismissed as 'minor', and not worthy of support. I could not in good conscience do anything other than vote against another Conservative attempt to remove help from those who need it the most. "Regardless of my personal circumstances, as Equalities Spokesperson, this is an equalities issue and I could not let down those who are relying on people in power to speak on their behalf. The expressions of support I have had from members of the public, the membership and members across the House, have reassured me the choice I made was right, and I am content with that." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Jardine spoke of her 'sadness' at her removal as spokesperson, but added that the Lib Dems "remain my political home" and said her sacking would not diminish her commitment. "I will continue to work hard on the issues I care about." First elected as an MP in 2017, she was re-elected in 2019 and in 2024, with increased majorities each time. Her husband was a journalist with The Herald and died of a heart attack during the 2017 election.
