Latest news with #GraemeDownie
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
SNP's 'outdated dogma' over armed forces spending is threat to national security
The SNP has been accused of putting 'outdated dogma' above the interests of national security in a dramatic escalation of a war of words over defence spending. Holyrood ministers have refused to back down from the party's policy against funding companies involved in munitions manufacturing. In a letter to the First Minister, Labour MP Graeme Downie, accused him of 'willing to place outdated SNP dogma regarding the UK armed forces and defence sectors above the security of our country' Downie, whose constituency is home to a number of UK defence contractors, said: 'If it is the policy of your government that public money should not be spent on ammunition and military equipment to defend our country, can I ask if you believe our armed forces should have equipment at all and, if so, how would you otherwise suggest this is funded? The row came after Sir Keir Starmer pledged to increase defence spending and make the UK battle ready, supporting more than 25,000 jobs in the sector in Scotland. But it emerged the Scottish Government was refusing financial support to a welding site in Glasgow because the project involved an 'attack submarine'. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon told the BBC Sunday Show that public money should not be spent on ammunition or military equipment. She was defending the Scottish Government's failure to support the creation of thousands of jobs by Rolls-Royce, adding that the SNP had a 'long-standing' policy against giving money to munitions companies. A major row ensued with Rolls-Royce disputing that it is a 'munitions' company, while John Healey, the Labour UK Government defence secretary, said he could 'hardly believe' a Scottish nationalist government would stand in the way of skills development in Scotland. Yesterday Scottish Labour deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, told the MSPs at Holyrood: 'The Scottish Government's position is frankly incoherent and their policy on state funded aid for defence is all over the place and applied selectively.' She pointed out that the Government-owned shipyard Ferguson Marine is carrying out subcontractor work for the Royal Navy's Type 26 frigate programme - arguing 'there are munitions on the frigate'. Dame Jackie asked: 'What does the Government believe the Army, the Navy and the air force should defend the country with? 'Pea shooters, bows and arrows, a telling off?' SNP business minister Richard Lochhead who was in the firing line said the SNP administration 'values the role of the defence sector' north of the Border and had allocated £45million of support to defence companies through enterprise agencies. He said governments must take into account 'ethical considerations' when funding the sector. Meanwhile, Mr Downie also raised serious concerns in his letter to the FM that Scottish ministers were routinely failing to acknowledge the importance of Scotland's defence industry and its workforce. He said: 'I am sure that these recent manoeuvres by your Ministers to undermine their work will be deeply felt and is something, I hope, you would wish to distance yourself from. 'A failure to do so would, sadly, lead me to the conclusion that you are and the opportunity to provide a pathway to highly skilled jobs across Scotland, particularly for young people from working class communities in constituencies such as mine.' 'I hope you will see the inconsistency and ludicrous nature of the position adopted by the Cabinet Secretary over the weekend. Last year we revealed how SNP Ministers had failed to meet Babcock for three years. One of the UK's largest engineering firms it works on the Royal Navy's Dreadnought Class nuclear submarines and runs a Naval yard at Rosyth, Fife. Both John Swinney and Kate Forbes neglected to attend the steel-cutting ceremony for the new HMS Formidable frigate - despite it representing a significant milestone in the construction of Type 31 frigates. Ministers were also absent from the steel-cutting ceremony for HMS Birmingham at BAE Systems' Govan yard in April 2023, part of the £4.2billion Type 26 frigate programme. The row over Rolls-Royce, which is ready to support an enormous submarine welding centre in Glasgow, came after it was revealed a £2.5million grant from Scottish Enterprise was withheld due to a party ban on 'munitions' funding. Steve Carlier, president of submarines at Rolls-Royce, warned the FM the project 'cannot continue' without the public funding. A Scottish Government spokesman repeated its long-standing policy position is that it does not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions. He added: 'We recognise the importance of the aerospace, defence and shipbuilding sectors for Scotland's economy, and are committed to ensuring Scotland is the home of manufacturing and innovation. Ministers continue to engage with industries across the country, including the defence sector, as part of this work. 'We have received the letter and will respond in due course.'
The National
03-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish MPs panned over up to £3500-a-month taxpayer-funded homes
Tenants union Living Rent have branded it 'shocking'. According to Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority data, Scottish Labour MP for Glasgow East John Grady is spending the most on rent at £3500 a month. His fellow Scottish Labour colleague, Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie, is paying (and expensing) a hefty £3350 a month. READ MORE: Border checks on fruit and vegetable imports from EU scrapped Meanwhile, Scottish Labour MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow Kirsteen Sullivan is paying £3250 a month. Rounding out the top five are Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill and SNP MP Kirsty Blackman on £3200 a month. (Image: Image of John Grady by Colin Mearns, Newsquest)MPs are allowed to expense the costs of a second property to either have a base in their constituency or somewhere to stay when they travel to parliament, if their seat is outside of London. They can also claim up to £230 a night for hotel stays. But Aditi Jehangir, the chair of Living Rent, hit out at the amounts some are claiming. The average rent in London for a one-bedroom flat is £1500 according to the City of London, although that can vary depending on which borough. Although, even for the most prestigious areas in London, including Westminster, the average still sits around £2500 a month. Properties you can rent in London for £3500 a month include a 'stylish Manhattan-inspired apartment' near Waterloo station. According to the listing, it offers a "luxurious lifestyle with hotel-like amenities", including a 20-metre swimming pool, private screening room, executive lounge, golf simulator, wine cellar and thermal suite facilities. It could also secure a 'very spacious' four bedroom apartment in a mansion block close to the O2. "It's shocking to see Scottish MPs spending so much of taxpayers' money on renting second homes for themselves, while refusing to support rent controls for their constituents,' Jehangir told The National. (Image: AFP/Getty Images) 'Rents across the UK are skyrocketing to extreme, unaffordable levels, plunging tenants into poverty and pushing us out of our homes.' She added: 'Rather than fighting for a system that works for everyone, they are happy to claim back thousands of pounds in expenses and fob tenants off with distant promises of new builds instead of reigning in landlords' profits. 'MPs pay lip service to the housing crisis, but when it comes to their own expensive rents, it is taxpayers who foot the bill." A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: 'It is right that the rules around MPs' expenses are set and administered independently by the Parliamentary watchdog Ipsa. All claims have been made in line with Ipsa rules." The lowest claimants, in terms of rent at least, include Scottish Labour MPs Melanie Ward and Gordon McKee, who claimed £680 and £1365 a month respectively.
The National
03-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish MPs panned over up to £3500 a month taxpayer-funded homes
Tenants union Living Rent have branded it 'shocking'. According to Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority data, Scottish Labour MP for Glasgow East John Grady is spending the most on rent at £3500 a month. His fellow Scottish Labour colleague, Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie, is paying (and expensing) a hefty £3350 a month. READ MORE: Border checks on fruit and vegetable imports from EU scrapped Meanwhile, Scottish Labour MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow Kirsteen Sullivan is paying £3250 a month. Rounding out the top 5 are Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill and SNP MP Kirsty Blackman on £3200 a month. (Image: Image of John Grady by Colin Mearns, Newsquest)MPs are allowed to expense the costs of a second property to either have a base in their constituency or somewhere to stay when they travel to parliament, if their seat is outside of London. They can also claim up to £230 a night for hotel stays. But Aditi Jehangir, the chair of Living Rent, hit out at the amounts some are claiming. The average rent in London for a one-bedroom flat is £1500 according to the City of London, although that can vary depending on which borough. Although, even for the most prestigious areas in London, including Westminster, the average still sits around £2500 a month. Properties you can rent in London for £3500 a month include a 'stylish Manhattan-inspired apartment' near Waterloo station. According to the listing, it offers a "luxurious lifestyle with hotel-like amenities", including a 20-metre swimming pool, private screening room, executive lounge, golf simulator, wine cellar and thermal suite facilities. It could also secure a 'very spacious' four bedroom apartment in a mansion block close to the O2. "It's shocking to see Scottish MPs spending so much of taxpayers' money on renting second homes for themselves, while refusing to support rent controls for their constituents,' Jehangir told The National. (Image: AFP/Getty Images) 'Rents across the UK are skyrocketing to extreme, unaffordable levels, plunging tenants into poverty and pushing us out of our homes.' She added: 'Rather than fighting for a system that works for everyone, they are happy to claim back thousands of pounds in expenses and fob tenants off with distant promises of new builds instead of reigning in landlords' profits. 'MPs pay lip service to the housing crisis, but when it comes to their own expensive rents, it is taxpayers who foot the bill." A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: 'It is right that the rules around MPs' expenses are set and administered independently by the Parliamentary watchdog IPSA. All claims have been made in line with IPSA rules." The lowest claimants, in terms of rent at least, include Scottish Labour MPs Melanie Ward and Gordon McKee, who claimed £680 and £1365 a month respectively.
The Courier
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Could Rosyth-Europe ferry set sail thanks to Brexit reset?
A new deal between the EU and UK could bring the Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry link a step closer to reality, according to a project supporter. The new optimism comes after a reset with Brussels agreed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The deal appears to remove the requirement for a border control post – necessary due to Brexit – where animals, plants and food arriving from Europe would be inspected. The cost of that post is estimated at around £3 million and finding cash for its construction has proved challenging. But since the deal emerged last week, Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie thinks a more simple solution is available. He thinks a simple change in the law could allow facilities in nearby Grangemouth to be used as a temporary border control post until the full affects of the deal become reality and no post is required. In a letter to First Minister John Swinney, Mr Downie explained: 'As you are no doubt aware, the recent Brexit reset has significantly reduced the requirement for agrifood veterinary inspections on imported goods entering the UK from the EU. 'As a result, the need for Border Control Post facilities is expected to diminish but while it may take some months for the relevant legislation to be amended and implemented, the eventual outcome will likely render these facilities redundant. 'Speaking to the people involved in the project, they believe there is no longer a compelling reason for the Scottish Government to insist on the construction of a new BCP at Rosyth. 'The Scottish Government could simply amend the required legislation to allow Grangemouth to be used as a temporary measure until the full EU-UK deal is implemented and no BCP is required at all.' A fire on board a vessel seven years ago terminated Fife's direct link to continental Europe – and campaigners have long called for a return. Businessman Derek Sloan, of Ptarmigan Shipping, is the driving force behind the recent proposals to revive the link – known as Project Brave. The old link sailed between Rosyth and Zeebrugge. Mr Sloan struck an agreement to call at Dunkirk but the plan was put on ice while talks continued with governments over remaining obstacles. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it supported the development on Scotland's ports. She added: 'As we await confirmed details of a UK-EU trade deal, we will continue to engage with port operators and others to explore how this might be delivered so that Scottish exporters have more direct routes to market.'
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Greedy fuel bosses are ripping off drivers and must be punished, say furious MPs
GREEDY fuel bosses are ripping off drivers and must be punished, furious MPs have warned. They accused petrol retailers of keeping pump prices high despite wholesale costs tumbling — and demanded urgent action be taken against them. 1 A group of five Labour backbenchers said: 'High fuel costs are where the public and businesses see and feel the pain of rising bills the most.' The average petrol price is now 132.5p a litre, with diesel at 138.8p, RAC Fuel Watch said. Earlier this month, the RAC warned drivers were still being short-changed — saying prices should be at least 4p lower based on wholesale costs. Back then, petrol was 134.1p and diesel 140.6p, meaning pump prices have hardly moved despite continued wholesale falls. Led by Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie, the Labour group urged the Competition and Markets Authority to 'immediately launch an investigation and consider fining or reprimanding retailers who are ripping off consumers'. They backed the Government's new PumpWatch scheme but warned: 'It will not bring down prices at the pump.' Labour has pledged to roll out a Fuel Finder app by the end of 2025 to help drivers track the cheapest prices near them. PM Sir Keir Starmer also promised Sun readers earlier this year he would 'drive down the cost of motoring'. The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty for more than a decade — saving drivers £100billion.
