Latest news with #MarkRuskell
Scotsman
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Why are less Scots having babies? The answer is very obvious
Making Scotland an easier place to be a parent could help tackle historically low birth rates. 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... Scots are not having enough babies. In 2023, statistics showed the birth rate had fallen to 1.3 babies per woman - a historic low. At this point, our population is being sustained by migration. There are a lot of reasons for this, but poor parental leave and extortionate childcare costs are glaringly obvious factors here. This has been a hot topic in Holyrood this week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Less Scots are having babies. On Thursday, Green MSP Mark Ruskell said he was 'embarrassed' at only being able to offer his staff two weeks of paternity leave. He said: 'I know the law is two weeks, but public institutions should go further. Reflecting on my own experience, two weeks is just not enough.' Two days earlier, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said too many women were being forced out of politics because of poor childcare options. She said: 'If we can't keep a hold of mums in politics, we lose a really strong voice for other mums out there struggling with childcare. If we can't do it for mums in Parliament, we can't do it for mums outside Parliament.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Two weeks ago the campaign group The Dad Shift demonstrated en-masse outside Holyrood demanding better parental leave policies. Most of these policies are reserved to Westminster, but it is clear there is a desire for change amongst Scots, including inside the devolved Scottish Parliament. Almost everyone - with the exception of UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch - will agree that maternity and paternity leave is far too low. Statutory maternity leave after the first six weeks is just £187.18 a week - for fathers, it is two weeks at the same rate. Considering the median weekly earnings in Scotland in 2024 was £738.70, it is obvious new parents are taking a massive financial hit here. But the length of time is a problem too, particularly for new dads. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An obvious flaw in the system comes when you look at something as common as Caesarean sections. It takes around six weeks to recover and yet, for four of those weeks, mums are expected to get on with things on their own. We also need to remember that if dads take more time off work, mothers are less likely to take career breaks, which in turn would help close the gender pay gap. The Dad Shift wants to see six weeks of paternity leave at regular pay as the norm. This is what has been recommended to Westminster's women and equalities committee. Across Europe, the average paternity pay is eight weeks and the UK is ranked at the bottom. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Let us look at another sticking point - childcare. Yes, in Scotland parents can get 1,140 hours of funded childcare, but for most this is only after the child turns three. It also works out at around 22 hours a week, somewhat short of the up to 40-hour working week for the average Scot. The campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed found 75 per cent of mothers paying for childcare say it does not make financial sense for them to work. One in three are in debt because of childcare and one in four say childcare costs are more than 75 per cent of their take home pay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Four in ten Scots who have an abortion cite spiralling childcare costs as one of their reasons.
The National
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
SNP 'working with Tories to weaken Land Reform Bill', MSPs say
The Greens' Mark Ruskell and Labour's Mercedes Villalba both told the Sunday National that the SNP Government was using Tory votes to keep effective measures out of the new legislation. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will this week pass 'stage two' at Holyrood, where amendments to the initial wording are proposed by MSPs and voted on for inclusion or rejection by members of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. However, last week, MSPs on the committee – which has three SNP, two Tory, one Labour, and one Green member – voted against measures including putting a public interest test on the proposed buyer of Scottish land. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon speaking to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee in a meeting held on June 17 (Image: Holyrood TV) The amendment, proposed by Villalba and rejected by the SNP and Tories, would have forced ministers to take into account things like a potential landowners' tax residence when deciding if a sale would be in the public interest. MSPs and the Government did support dropping the threshold for estates covered by the legislation from 3000 to 1000 hectares – but the SNP and Tories voted together to reject an amendment to push that down further to 500 hectares. There are around 2.5 acres to a hectare, and 1.6 acres to a standard football pitch. Villalba had tabled a more radical proposal that would have prevented anyone in Scotland from owning more than 500 hectares of land unless it could be shown to have environmental or community benefits. This was also voted down by the SNP and Tories. READ MORE: Rachael Revesz: The Land Reform Bill is only tinkering round the edges Changing the threshold at which estates are covered by the bill from 3000 to 1000 hectares means that the number of estates which will be required to publish Land Management Plans, support wild places, and comply with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code has been doubled to a total of about 700, covering just over 60% of Scotland's land, the John Muir Trust said. Villalba said that 67% of Scotland's countryside is owned by 'just 0.025% of the population' and that the 1000-hectare threshold would do nothing to change this. Further questions surround whether land must be contiguous to be considered a single 1000-hectare estate. The SNP put forward a rule saying that plots of land are a single holding if their borders are within 250 metres. The Greens had been set to table an amendment to make this 10 miles, but it was not moved. Ruskell said this was due to a shared understanding that the 250m limit was too low – and that it would be addressed at a later stage. However, Ruskell further said that the bill in its current state was 'fundamentally not going to lead to a solution to the growing inequalities in land ownership that we have in Scotland'. Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell in the parliament chamber (Image: Holyrood TV)'This bill does not tackle that, full stop,' he went on. 'It gives communities a bit more power, it provides a bit more scrutiny as to what landowners are currently doing, but it's not clear that this is going to make any major difference in terms of getting a more diverse pattern of land ownership and really changing the answer to 'Who owns Scotland?'. 'Things will continue broadly as they have been for centuries, but with a wee bit more community involvement. It's a bill that's tweaking around the edges of existing systems rather than having a big bold vision.' He told the Sunday National that the Scottish Government could 'easily put forward a more radical vision into this bill and get support from Labour and the Greens, easily'. 'Every amendment would pass. Every single amendment would be unchallengeable. So it's their call because they have the votes for it and they have the consensus on the left – but they don't want to play to that. 'So they're getting support from the Tories to defeat anything that's taking a bill into a more radical place.' READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: Scotland needs real action on land reform Villalba went a step further, saying the bill was not fit for purpose and would entrench inequality across Scotland. The Scottish Labour MSP went on: 'The SNP have demonstrated that their true allegiance is not with the Scottish people, but rather with wealthy private landowners who manage their property not in the public interest but to maximise their own profits. 'Scotland's land should belong to the people, and benefit both local communities and the natural environment. It's high time the SNP stopped deferring to lobbyists and empowered Scots to take back control of their land.' She added: 'By voting against the inclusion of a presumed limit on ownership over 500 hectares in the bill, the SNP risk allowing land to be sold or managed in ways that benefit private interests at the expense of the public good, entrenching the very problems their proposals seek to correct. 'What's more, by aligning with the Conservative Party to reject the inclusion of a robust public interest test, rather than stand up for Scots, they have rolled over for the wealthy – and not for the first time.' The SNP and Scottish Government were approached for comment.
Scottish Sun
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
‘You wouldn't risk the lives of cute Labradors,' campaigners demand greyhound race ban
The whole of the UK needs to come together, say campaigners. Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GREYHOUND rescuer has called on the Scottish Government to follow Wales' footsteps in banning 'horror' races. Activists want a nationwide axe on such events after 109 greyhounds died trackside and a further 4,238 were injured according to the last official UK figures in 2023. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell with former racing greyhounds outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Credit: PA 4 Lorraine Baker who runs the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary. Credit: Supplied 4 Racing can cause catastrophic injuries. Credit: Getty 4 They make brilliant pets when rescued. Credit: Getty It was announced in February the sport would be banned 'as soon as practically possible' in Wales after a mass petition led to a decision to outlaw the practice. Now campaigners in Scotland have called on decision-makers to curb what they view as barbaric animal cruelty — a stance backed by Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell who lodged a members bill in parliament proposing a ban last month. Lorraine Baker, who runs the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary, told us: 'Apparently we're a nation of dog lovers — unless it's a greyhound. If you took six Labradors and put them on a greyhound track with some food at the end, one of them would win. 'But nobody would think it's ok. For some reason it's different with greyhounds. 'The racing has only been happening for about 100 years and if you go back further than that it didn't exist. 'So it's a relatively short term aberration that needs to be ended.' Thornton Stadium in Kirkcaldy was the only operating track in Scotland in recent years. It closed until further notice in March, citing difficulties with finding a betting partner and concerns about the proposed ban. Meanwhile Shawfield, in Rutherglen, ceased operating in 2020 after 15 deaths and 197 injuries to greyhounds in the preceding three years. There were once more than 20 tracks in Scotland but the sport's popularity has dwindled since the middle of the 20th century. Has greyhound racing gone to the dogs? But it's understood there are still 19 licenced stadia across the UK and that Scottish dogs are often taken to England to race on weekends. Lorraine has saved greyhounds with catastrophic injuries and believes the only way to ensure their safety would be a UK-wide ban. She said: 'The impetus for it has gained momentum. I've been involved for 15 years and when I started there was not a great call for a ban. 'But anyone who works in rescue knows it's an unsustainable position. Racing dogs are the most needy. 'They haven't been socialised, 90 per cent are born in kennels. They've been through so much yet are often the easiest dogs to adapt to a new home. 'I think that's because they know they've been rescued and are happy to jump on the couch because they didn't have it before. 'Many dogs are injured and [it's worse] when they die. They often have heart attacks and broken necks. The injuries can be catastrophic.' Gill Docherty, of campaign group Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation, spent years protesting outside Thornton and other tracks. Her petition for a ban in 2019 was the most signed in Scottish parliamentary history with nearly 30,000 signatures. She said: 'We've been campaigning since 2017, when Shawfield stadium in Glasgow was still operating and had 15 positive drug tests. 'The level of death and injury on UK tracks was wholly unacceptable and our team are all hound owners and rescuers so we know how gentle this breed is, and how loving they are. 'There is no purpose to greyhound racing other than entertainment and gambling and for dogs to have to die for that is appalling.' If passed, Ruskell's Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill would create an offence of permitting a greyhound to compete at racetracks, with a maximum sentence of up to five years. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain said the bill had 'no relevance' to Scotland as no licenced racing was presently taking place. But Lorraine reckons Scotland joining Wales in enforcing a ban could force England — where Scottish dogs are allegedly still racing — to follow suit. She said: 'We need an outright ban across the UK. A majority want it banned and the polls seem to indicate that.' Ruskell agrees. He added: 'We are a nation who pride ourselves on being at the forefront of progressive fundamental rights, and that should extend to our dogs. 'We must end racing forever. Gambling on the lives of dogs is cruel, outdated and never worth it, and I urge my fellow Parliamentarians and our Government to back my Bill and give greyhounds a better life. 'The Welsh Government has shown that a ban is possible. It's time to follow suit and put paws before profit.'
The National
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
MSPs consider plans to stop landowners 'blocking' community buy-outs
The Scottish Greens tabled the amendments to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill which would give communities greater powers to take back local land from 'absentee' landowners. Currently, communities are restricted from progressing with community buy-outs of neglected land if the landowner brings a small part of the area 'into use'. READ MORE: Plans submitted for 102-bedroom Premier Inn in Scottish city centre Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell brought forward the amendments which would mean landlords would have to bring at least 50% of a landholding into use, otherwise it would be classed as abandoned or neglected and would be eligible for community buy-out. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was tabled by the SNP Government and passed its first hurdle in the Scottish Parliament at the stage 1 debate in March. Part of the legislation aims to increase opportunities for community buy-outs of land, and also when large estates are put on the market, ministers could break up this land – in a process known as lotting – into smaller areas, if certain conditions are met. However, ministers have already been told by Holyrood's Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee that 'significant change' is needed to the bill if it is to deliver on the Scottish Government's 'ambitious policy objectives'. Ruskell's proposals are set to be debated and voted on at the same committee on Tuesday. Mark Ruskell Commenting, Ruskell said: 'For too long, people have been unfairly barred from bringing local land back into community ownership because of a tiny loophole in the law. 'It cannot be right that neglectful landowners are able to leave land ignored and derelict for many years, whilst communities are desperate to bring areas back into productive use. READ MORE: 'Evacuate Tehran': Donald Trump issues warning as he departs G7 leaders summit early 'The Land Reform Bill should be an opportunity to tackle this kind of inherent unfairness in Scotland's land ownership – and that's exactly why I've brought these proposals forward.' Ruskell added that he has been supporting locals in Largo, Fife, where he said that plans for the community buy-out of local land have been blocked by the landowner converting less than 10% of the holding into a horticulture business. He said that the rest of the site – which includes historic buildings and gardens – have been left 'abandoned and neglected'. Ruskell added: 'For folks in Largo, this ridiculous saga has gone on for too long – it's time to close the Largo loophole for good.'
Daily Record
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Perthshire MPs clash over short-term lets and second homes issue
The region has 1083 second homes and 1875 STL licences - 2958 combined or 3.89 per cent out of 76,136 dwellings. Perth and Kinross MSPs clashed this week over the issue of second homes and short term lets in the region which are more than twice the national average. Green MSP Mark Ruskell insisted tax rises on the wealthy would reduce the number of second homes and short-term lets and tackle the housing crisis, but Conservative Murdo Fraser said the solution was building more houses in rural areas and accused his Mid Scotland and Fife colleague of wishing to punish second home owners. According to Scottish Government 2024 figures second homes and short term lets in Perth and Kinross make up 3.9 per cent of all housing in the area - more than double the national average of 1.8 per cent. The region has 1083 second homes and 1875 STL licences - 2958 combined or 3.89 per cent out of 76,136 dwellings. As of March 2023 there were 3312 people on the application list for social housing in Perth and Kinross with an average of 1000 properties becoming available for rent each year. Mr Ruskell pointed out that tax rises on the wealthy would reduce the number of second homes and short-term lets in Perth and Kinross. He commented: 'The fact that we have just under 3,000 second homes and short term lets in Perth and Kinross, which is more than double the national average is a major reason why this crisis is so much worse locally. 'Wealthy people buying up properties they won't live in are pushing out young families in particular. 'These houses either lie empty for most of the year as holiday homes, or they are hoarded by landlords making a fortune from Airbnb-style short term lets. Either way, its first-time buyers who are pushed out by those with much more financial muscle. 'This is a crisis which can clearly be solved. We'll only do that by taking on the wealthy few, those who pay very little tax while hoovering up the houses which other people need. 'The Scottish Government must listen to us and act boldly to stop the hollowing out of our communities.' But Mr Fraser said: 'With their customary attachment to the politics of envy, the Scottish Greens want to punish second home owners by fleecing them for even more tax. 'This will do nothing to solve the housing crisis in rural areas, which can only be fixed by more house building in the private and social rented sectors - and this means a new policy approach in terms of planning, infrastructure and incentives. 'Sadly whilst the Greens were in Government in coalition with the SNP they did nothing to fix these fundamental issues, and instead now resort to cheap headlines.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said this week: 'Tackling the housing emergency remains an urgent priority for the Scottish Government and we are supporting local authorities to quickly identify properties and bring them back into use. 'We recognise that local areas have different housing needs, which is why we legislated to give councils the power to levy higher council tax on second homes and empty properties. 'Giving councils these levers can help create a fairer housing and taxation system and ensures they have the flexibility to strike the right balance in the use of housing to meet local needs and to support thriving communities. 'Our £3.7 million investment has so far brought almost 11,000 privately owned homes back into use since 2010 and we will invest a further £2 million next year to help councils unlock barriers and develop a targeted approach to empty homes.'
