Latest news with #RhodaGrant
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
Majority of Scots want to see pimping websites banned
Rhoda Grant MSP is due to lead a parliamentary debate on commercial sexual exploitation. 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... The majority of Scots want to see pimping websites banned, according to a new poll. Seven in 10 Scots want to see websites which advertise the sale of women for sex outlawed - only one in 10 say they would oppose proposals to make this illegal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A higher proportion of women compared to men favoured making these sites illegal according to the Savanta poll, with the highest amount of support being amongst the over 35s. A cross-party group of MSPs are calling on the Scottish Government to ban online pimping, after an inquiry found commercial websites are facilitating sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is due to lead a Holyrood debate on the issue, where she will say 'Scotland is an attractive destination for sex traffickers' because of the pimping websites. Current prostitution laws in Scotland mean pimping websites are legal, however MSPs will soon be asked to consider a bill which would criminalise the buying of sex. Ms Grant will lead her debate on stopping commercial sexual exploitation on Tuesday afternoon, where she will brand prostitution 'a form of violence against women'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'It is vital that we take a stand against violence against women and girls and sexual exploitation is one of the forms such violence takes. 'Vulnerable women and girls are groomed and coerced into selling sex, often without realising the extent to which they are being manipulated. Rhoda Grant, Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands. 'In countries around the world where the buying of sex is criminalised and women are provided with safe exit routes, we see women's lives improving and their safety increasing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This poll shows that the public recognises the dangers posed to women in the sex industry and that more needs to be done to ensure their safety. 'Women's bodies are not a commodity.' The poll was carried out for CARE for Scotland - Jessica McDowell from the organisation said: 'Pimping sites are vile platforms allowing for the objectification of women, and their exploitation by human traffickers. 'In a dangerous online world where men are being encouraged to abuse and exploit women by people like the Tate brothers, they are even more dangerous than in years gone by.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Majority of Scots want to be pimping websites banned
Rhoda Grant MSP is due to lead a parliamentary debate on commercial sexual exploitation. 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... The majority of Scots want to see pimping websites banned, according to a new poll. Seven in 10 Scots want to see websites which advertise the sale of women for sex outlawed - only one in 10 say they would oppose proposals to make this illegal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A higher proportion of women compared to men favoured making these sites illegal according to the Savanta poll, with the highest amount of support being amongst the over 35s. A cross-party group of MSPs are calling on the Scottish Government to ban online pimping, after an inquiry found commercial websites are facilitating sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is due to lead a Holyrood debate on the issue, where she will say 'Scotland is an attractive destination for sex traffickers' because of the pimping websites. Current prostitution laws in Scotland mean pimping websites are legal, however MSPs will soon be asked to consider a bill which would criminalise the buying of sex. Ms Grant will lead her debate on stopping commercial sexual exploitation on Tuesday afternoon, where she will brand prostitution 'a form of violence against women'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'It is vital that we take a stand against violence against women and girls and sexual exploitation is one of the forms such violence takes. 'Vulnerable women and girls are groomed and coerced into selling sex, often without realising the extent to which they are being manipulated. Rhoda Grant, Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands. 'In countries around the world where the buying of sex is criminalised and women are provided with safe exit routes, we see women's lives improving and their safety increasing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This poll shows that the public recognises the dangers posed to women in the sex industry and that more needs to be done to ensure their safety. 'Women's bodies are not a commodity.' The poll was carried out for CARE for Scotland - Jessica McDowell from the organisation said: 'Pimping sites are vile platforms allowing for the objectification of women, and their exploitation by human traffickers. 'In a dangerous online world where men are being encouraged to abuse and exploit women by people like the Tate brothers, they are even more dangerous than in years gone by.
STV News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant announces decision to stand down to 'make way for others'
Long-standing Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has announced that she has made the 'difficult decision' not to seek re-election at the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. Grant announced her decision to step down from representing the Highlands and Islands on Thursday. The MSP was elected to Holyrood in the first Scottish Parliament election in 1999, and has gone on to serve in five of the six parliamentary terms since then. Grant has served on a number of cross-party groups, including the crofting group and co-convened groups on human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Her members' bill on domestic abuse was adopted and became an act in April 2011, which made it an offence to engage in an abusive course of conduct against a current or ex-partner. She is currently Labour's rural affairs spokesperson and has previously been the party's spokesperson for women's equalities and justice and finance. 'Unfortunately, after thinking long and hard about the demands of this role, I do not feel I can continue to give the time and commitment required to do it justice and therefore hand on the baton to others and will not stand at the next Scottish Parliament elections,' she said. 'I have loved representing my region alongside people, too many to mention, who have worked with me, challenged me and supported me. 'I do not think it is possible to entirely switch off from representing the region that I love, and I will continue to push for improvement to our services and opportunities whenever that opportunity arises.' As she prepares to step back as MSP, Grant said the Scottish Labour Party has already selected a number of candidates in the region. 'It makes it easier for me to step back when I know there is such talent waiting in the wings,' she said. Grant joins a growing list of approximately 30 other MSPs who have already announced that they won't seek re-election in 2026. The list includes some of the biggest names in Scottish politics, including former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf. Several Scottish Government Ministers are planning to step back next year as well. Some MSPs are leaving due to age, including MSPs James Dornan and Bill Kidd, who are both in their 70s. Others have said it's time to step back and prioritise other aspects of their lives. Regardless of the various reasons, the resignations will pave the way for a new generation of Scottish politicians to rise through the ranks. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Ferries for Clyde and Hebrides 'in chaos' as cancellations soar
In 2015, technical faults only accounted for around one in every ten cancellations – but it is now almost four in ten, according to recent analysis of figures obtained in a Freedom of Information request. It comes as, for several years now, the SNP has faced heavy criticism for its failure to modernise Scotland's ferry fleet, including the notorious delays to the Ferguson's Marine ferries. Historically, weather cancellations have been the main cause for journeys on Scotland's ferry fleet not taking place. However, over the past ten years, this has begun to distribute with the cause due to technical faults becoming more prominent on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. For example, in 2015, 6,822 ferries were cancelled across these routes with 5,510 weather cancellations making up the vast majority of this total (80%) and technical faults only accounting for 10%. However, in 2024, 12,100 ferries were cancelled across the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service with approximately 6,700 of these (55%) a result of weather, and 4,475 as a result of technical faults (37%). Scottish Labour has said the SNP's ferry fiasco is causing 'misery' for islanders as cancellations soar. Rhoda Grant, the party's spokesperson for Rural Affairs and Islands, said: 'The SNP's ferry fiasco is causing misery for Scottish islanders as well as costing taxpayers millions. 'Behind these stark figures are islanders cut off from loved ones, missing NHS appointments and struggling to keep businesses afloat. 'Island communities have been abandoned by this out-of-touch SNP government and lifeline services have been plunged into chaos." READ MORE: ScotGov agrees to give CalMac new contract to operate ferries Users aghast as CalMac gets uncontested ferries contract 'by default' The MSP who represents the Highlands and Islands added: 'Islanders cannot keep dealing with the consequences of SNP incompetence – a Scottish Labour government will set out a real plan to deliver the reliable, modern lifeline ferry service Scotland needs.' Scottish Ministers have said they are investing in six new major vessels to serve Scotland's ferry network by 2026, which they say will 'alleviate the need for extensive repairs on older vessels' and improve reliability. Contracts were also recently signed for a further seven new smaller vessels. A Scottish Government spokesperson added: 'To improve service in the short term, we have also purchased the MV Loch Frisa and chartered the MV Alfred. We continue to work with operators and CMAL to improve resilience across our networks." Ferry operator CalMac has said the arrival of 13 new vessels by 2029 will reduce technical issues. A CalMac spokesperson said: "Between 2015 and 2024 we've operated over 1.5 million sailings, with just 5.2% cancelled. "Of those cancelled sailings, 22% were for technical reasons whilst almost three times as many were due to the weather at 62%. "We're delivering services with an ageing fleet and in increasingly challenging weather in winter. "The arrival of 13 new vessels by 2029, which started with MV Glen Sannox in January this year, will reduce technical issues and these modern vessels should also be able to operate in more challenging weather and sea conditions." Last week, Ferry operator CalMac was given a direct award of the contract for routes on the west coast, in what the Government has said will create a 'change of ethos' for the service. It means that rather than a competitive tender process, the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract will go straight to the publicly-owned operator. While unions have welcomed the move, concerns have been raised about accountability for promises to improve services. It is the first time a direct award has been granted for the ferries contract and it is expected to last 10 years at a cost of £3.9 billion. Island communities have long complained of unreliable ferry services and the Scottish Government had pledged to introduce six new major vessels into the network from 2025. The first of these, the long-awaited Glen Sannox, began carrying passengers in January. Commenting on the directed award to CalMac, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: 'This direct award fundamentally changes the ethos of the service by shifting from a commercial arrangement to a model more focused on the delivery of a public service engaged on the particular needs of the communities it serves. 'I fully expect the direct award to be a catalyst for positive change across the Clyde and Hebrides network, based on a more efficient, flexible model of delivery that fully reflects community interests. 'Discussions will continue with staff, island residents, businesses and communities and trade unions on the arrangements to ensure the services can best meet local needs and wants.' Transport Scotland said there would be regular performance reviews in the ferry contract. Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, said: 'This is a tremendous victory not just for our members on CalMac ferries but also for the island communities who are best served by lifeline ferries that are in public ownership. 'The Scottish Government has made the right decision and now the union will work with all stakeholders to ensure that CalMac ferries are affordable, well-resourced and reward seafarers properly for their work going forward.' Opposition parties said the SNP had failed to invest in the ferry fleet. Conservative transport spokeswoman Sue Webber said: 'While this announcement provides continuity, the bottom line is that CalMac will continue to carry the can for the SNP's dire mismanagement of the ferry network. 'Islanders have been betrayed by the SNP time and time again, and any ferry provider is only as good as the fleet it has to work with.' Liberal Democrat West of Scotland MSP Jamie Greene said: 'The big concern people have with this direct award is that without a competitive tender process, there is no way to hold the incumbent operator to account on its many promises to improve services. 'The entire network desperately needs new ferries and faces endless disruption due to technical faults and cancellations. 'The SNP rarely ever consult islanders and businesses on what's best for them or what they want, as evidenced by the changes introduced to the Cumbrae route.'
