Latest news with #Poynton
Scotsman
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Political opinion: Poynton demands SNP u-turn on defence investment as Scotland risks missing out on billions
Scottish Labour MP Gregor Poynton has demanded the SNP Government reverse its opposition to defence investment, warning that Scotland risks being left behind as the UK commits billions to strengthening national security. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... In a direct challenge to Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Mr Poynton has called for urgent reform of the Scottish National Investment Bank's restrictive policies that prevent it from backing Scotland's defence companies. The intervention follows yesterday's announcement by Prime Minister Keir Starmer of massive new defence investments, including £15 billion for the UK's sovereign warhead programme and plans to build up to 12 new attack submarines. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Commenting, Gregor Poynton MP said: "This is student union politics at its worst. While Putin wages war in Ukraine and the UK Government prepares for the threats we face, the SNP is more concerned with ideology than protecting Scottish jobs and supporting our allies. Gregor Poynton MP speaking in the House of Commons. "Mairi Gougeon's comments lay bare the Scottish Government's warped priorities. They'll condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine but refuse to let Scotland's public investment bank support the very industries helping Ukraine defend itself. "This isn't principled, it's a dereliction of duty that will cost Scotland thousands of high-skilled jobs and billions in investment." Gregor Poynton's letter to the Deputy First Minister follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing that UK defence spending will rise to £79.7 billion by 2027/28, with plans to build up to 12 new submarines, create six munitions' factories, and support 30,000 defence jobs nationwide. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, Scotland risks missing out on this defence dividend due to the SNP's blanket opposition to backing companies involved in defence manufacturing via the SNIB, a position industry leader have described as a "no-brainer" to reform. Senior figures from Airbus, BAE Systems, and Babcock have all told Parliament that allowing defence investment in Scotland would strengthen the industry and boost the economy. In his letter to the Deputy First Minister, Mr Poynton directly challenges the Scottish Government's stance, asking Forbes whether she agrees with maintaining "blanket opposition to supporting defence-related projects, even when they would deliver thousands of high-skilled jobs and critical capabilities for Scotland." With global threats intensifying and the UK moving to "war-fighting readiness," Mr Poynton warns that Scotland's defence sector, which already supports thousands of highly skilled jobs, will be left behind while other parts of the UK surge ahead. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Gregor Poynton MP welcomes energy price cap reduction
Livingston constituency MP, Gregor Poynton, has welcomed today's announcement from Ofgem that energy bills will fall by £129 a year for typical households, providing much-needed relief for families across the constituency. 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... From 1 July 2025, the energy price cap will drop by 7% to £1,720 per year for a typical household using both electricity and gas and paying by Direct Debit. This means Livingston families will save around £11 every month on their energy bills. "This is fantastic news for working families in Livingston," said Mr Poynton. "At a time when household budgets are under pressure, this £129 annual reduction will make a real difference to people's finances. That's money that can go towards other essential family expenses or be saved for the future." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The reduction comes as global wholesale energy prices have fallen, with Ofgem's latest quarterly review reflecting these lower costs in the price cap that protects millions of households from excessive charges. Gregor Poynton MP visiting a windfarm in his Livingston constituency However, Mr Poynton emphasised that long-term energy security for Livingston and the rest of the country can only come through the Government's mission for clean homegrown power. "While today's news is welcome, we need to get off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets. That's how we bring down bills for good and give families the certainty they deserve." The UK Labour Government is taking action to support households beyond this price cap reduction: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad •Expanding the £150 Warm Home Discount to 6 million households next winter, helping the most vulnerable families with their energy costs •Upgrading thousands of homes this year to make them warmer and cheaper to heat •Reforming the energy market to ensure consumers are better protected from price volatility For Livingston residents, the new rates from 1 July will mean paying an average of 25.73 pence per kilowatt hour for electricity (with a daily standing charge of 51.37 pence) and 6.33 pence per kilowatt hour for gas (with a daily standing charge of 29.82 pence). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Every penny counts for families across West Lothian," added Mr Poynton. "This price reduction shows that the Government's approach is working, but we won't stop here. Our commitment to clean, homegrown energy will deliver the long-term security and affordability that my constituents deserve." Livingston residents who are struggling with energy bills are reminded that their energy supplier must help if they ask, and that switching tariffs or suppliers could potentially save even more money.
Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Livingston MP welcomes Ofgem's energy price cap drop
From July 1, the energy price cap will drop by seven per cent to £1,720 per year for a typical household using both electricity and gas and paying by Direct Debit. Livingston MP Gregor Poynton, has welcomed Ofgem's announcement that energy bills will fall by £129 a year for typical households, providing much-needed relief for families across the constituency. From July 1, the energy price cap will drop by seven per cent to £1,720 per year for a typical household using both electricity and gas and paying by Direct Debit. This means families will save around £11 every month on their energy bills. 'This is fantastic news for working families in Livingston,' said Mr Poynton. 'At a time when household budgets are under pressure, this £129 annual reduction will make a real difference to people's finances. 'That's money that can go towards other essential family expenses or be saved for the future.' The reduction comes as global wholesale energy prices have fallen, with Ofgem's latest quarterly review reflecting these lower costs in the price cap that protects millions of households from excessive charges. However, Mr Poynton emphasised that long-term energy security for Livingston and the rest of the country can only come through the Government's mission for clean homegrown power. He said: 'While today's news is welcome, we need to get off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets. That's how we bring down bills for good and give families the certainty they deserve.' For West Lothian residents, the new rates from 1 July will mean paying an average of 25.73 pence per kilowatt hour for electricity (with a daily standing charge of 51.37 pence) and 6.33 pence per kilowatt hour for gas (with a daily standing charge of 29.82 pence). 'Every penny counts for families across West Lothian,' added Mr Poynton. 'This price reduction shows that the Government's approach is working, but we won't stop here. 'Our commitment to clean, homegrown energy will deliver the long-term security and affordability that my constituents deserve.' Livingston residents who are struggling with energy bills are reminded that their energy supplier must help if they ask, and that switching tariffs or suppliers could potentially save even more money.
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Political opinion: Gregor Poynton MP: 'Baffling' SNP are against deal backed by NFU Scotland and food industry
Gregor Poynton MP welcomed the new UK-EU agreement announced by the Prime Minister on Monday, calling it a 'huge step forward' for Scottish exporters and hit out at the SNP in a Commons debate today for opposing it. 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... In a statement in Parliament following the Business and Trade Committee's report on strengthening UK-EU relations, Mr Poynton highlighted that the new deal is backed by key Scottish industry voices, including Scottish Salmon and NFU Scotland. 'Our report covered how we could help agri-food businesses export into the EU and I was delighted to see Scottish Salmon and NFU Scotland come out in support of the deal this week. Therefore, does my Right Honourable friend agree with me that it was baffling to see the SNP stand with Reform and the Tories in opposition to the deal?' The new UK-EU agreement includes: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gregor Poynton MP at a business roundtable. - A permanent SPS agreement, reducing red tape for food exporters and cutting costs for consumers. - A deal to link UK and EU Emissions Trading Systems, protecting British industry from EU carbon taxes and boosting energy security. - New protections for UK steel exports, saving the sector £25 million annually. - A 12-year agreement on fishing access that secures UK rights and delivers £360 million for coastal communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad - Reintroduction of pet passports and access to EU eGates for British travellers. - Progress on a youth experience scheme, which could reopen work and travel opportunities across Europe. - Enhanced security cooperation, including talks on facial recognition data-sharing. - A commitment to tackle illegal migration, including joint efforts to disrupt Channel crossings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The deal is forecast to boost the UK economy by nearly £9 billion by 2040 through reduced trade friction and stronger energy cooperation. Responding, Committee Chair Liam Byrne MP said the proposals were 'practical, hard-headed and common sense,' and noted that they had received overwhelming support from business groups across the UK, including Scotland. 'This agreement doesn't just fix what Brexit broke; it delivers a stronger, forward-looking UK-EU partnership that puts growth, jobs and security first,' Mr Poynton added. Read the full Business and Trade Committee report here:
The National
21-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish Labour MP in 'secretive' private healthcare lobbyist talks
Gregor Poynton, a former lobbyist and now the MP for Livingston, met with representatives from WA Communications under 'Chatham House rules'. WA Communications' clients include Camurus, Novo Nordisk and Astellas Pharma, private bus companies Arriva and First and private healthcare company Simplyhealth. READ MORE: I visited Europe's first museum of Palestinian art. Here's what it was like 'Chatham House rules' refer to meetings at which participants are free to use the information imparted but not who said what. Cameron Wall, a senior account director at WA Communications, posted on LinkedIn about the meeting saying that 'businesses around the table were in consensus on the key enablers of growth and what issues Gregor [Poynton] and the wider committee should focus on when it comes to scrutinising and advising [the Treasury] and [the Department for Business and Trade's] modern industrial strategy'. (Image: PA) Poynton is a member of Westminster's Business and Trade Committee, which is currently taking evidence on Labour's plans for an industrial strategy ahead of making recommendations for the Government's spending review. Before entering politics, he worked as a lobbyist for Headland Communications, which counts BAE Systems, Iberdrola, Greene King and Tata Steel among its clients. The Scottish Greens called the meeting 'secretive' and said it showed 'how Westminster is designed to serve and protect elite interests, not the public'. MSP Ross Greer told The National: 'Lobbyists are allowed unacceptable, secretive access to MPs with no transparency or accountability. READ MORE: Scottish Government says publishing Israel meeting details could be 'antisemitic' 'It's no surprise that Labour MPs make the most of the shocking lack of transparency to work alongside industries such as private healthcare. 'This shows exactly why we need to build a modern democratic nation with proper transparency and accountability for elected representatives, starting with an effective register of all lobbyists and mandatory reporting of their discussions with MPs.' (Image: PA) Poynton said: 'It's a sign of how unserious the Scottish Greens have become that a roundtable discussion about economic growth is treated like a conspiracy theory. 'I literally posted about the meeting on LinkedIn, the idea that it was 'secretive' is laughable. READ MORE: Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves in 'open warfare' on tax 'If Ross Greer thinks listening to employers about how we create jobs and grow the economy is suspicious, it says more about him than it does about me. Labour is focused on delivering economic growth, fixing our economy for working people and creating good jobs, not chasing headlines or peddling student union conspiracies. 'The truth is: The Greens don't want to grow the economy, and they're outraged someone else might.' WA Communications was approached for comment.
