Latest news with #Robison
The National
4 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Scottish Government urges Chancellor to drop cuts in spending review
Finance Secretary Shona Robison urged the UK Government to abandon some of its 'damaging policies' such as cuts to welfare support for disabled people, to scrap the two-child benefit cap and to reinstate a universal Winter Fuel Payment, ahead of the review on June 11. She said the Scottish Government had not yet been provided with 'clarity' on spending priorities. READ MORE: Man arrested after Glasgow city centre incident which saw several roads shut She asked the Chancellor to award funding for the Acorn carbon capture project and to ensure Scotland receives a share of GB Energy funding that matches its contribution to UK clean energy goals. Robison (above) said: 'The UK spending review is an opportunity for the UK Government to abandon some of its damaging policies such as cuts to welfare support for disabled people, to scrap the two-child benefit cap and to reinstate a universal winter fuel payment. 'We are also aware of the huge impact of the increase in employer's national insurance, not least on public services. I hope UK ministers will use the spending review to fully-fund the costs of this tax hike on jobs to vital public services like the NHS. READ MORE: 'Joy, celebration and warmth' of Palestinian art to be showcased at Edinburgh Fringe 'The UK Government should also use the spending review to empower the devolved administrations with more flexible fiscal rules that can enable investment in public services. 'We need an end to spending that bypasses devolution so we can direct funds to best meet local needs. 'We called on UK ministers to involve us at an early stage of this process, but since they've refused to provide us with any clarity on their spending priorities it's clear that its business as usual for Westminster. 'We continue to call on the Treasury to use the spending review to change course, providing the funding we need to deliver for the people of Scotland.'
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
LGBT veterans will not lose other benefits after compensation
Veterans due to receive payments from the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will not lose out on other benefits after a change to legislation. The Scottish government has confirmed that 1,200 armed forces members who suffered under the ban on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) personnel have now applied to the UK government's payment scheme. The ban was in place within the UK military from 1967 to 2000 and, after years of campaigning, the UK government announced the payments last December. Up to £75m has been set aside to acknowledge hurt and discrimination, with affected veterans able to receive awards of up to £70,000 each. Some veterans currently receive financial help, on a means-tested basis, through the council tax reduction scheme. But Finance Secretary Shona Robison said regulations would be now changed to ensure any compensation payments do not affect eligibility for this. Ms Robison said: "As we mark 25 years since the lifting of the ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces, it is important to recognise the hardship that so many faced, with widespread homophobic bullying and harassment. "Nothing will make up for the difficulties that LGBT veterans faced, however, our action will ensure those in Scotland receive every penny that they are entitled to." Under the UK government scheme, those who were dismissed or discharged from the armed forces because of their sexual orientation or gender identity could receive £50,000. Former service personnel who suffered harassment, intrusive investigations or even imprisonment could receive further payments of up to £20,000. Peter Gibson, chief executive of Fighting with Pride, said the group had "campaigned for justice for LGBTQ+ veterans for many years, helping to secure reparations and financial recognition of their horrendous treatment prior to 2000". He added: "As we slowly see the UK government deal with those financial payments, protected from benefit and taxation impact, it is wonderful to see the Scottish government taking action to ensure other benefits such as council tax benefit is also protected too. "We continue to seek out veterans who were discharged or dismissed from the military to support them, and this news is one more step towards helping those in Scotland." Arrested at Edinburgh Castle for being gay in the Army Gay ban veterans to get up to £70K in compensation 'My partner hid and secretly waved off my ship': LGBT veteran monument revealed
STV News
a day ago
- Business
- STV News
Hundreds apply to compensation scheme set up after armed forces LGBT ban
More than 1,200 Scots have applied for payments from a compensation scheme set up to help members of the military impacted by a ban on LGBT personnel serving in the forces. The Scottish Government confirmed the figure as it vowed to act to ensure those who suffered under the ban – which was in place until 2000 – get 'every penny they are entitled to'. It comes after the UK Government announced in December last year that it was setting up the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme, with up to £75m set aside for payments. These could see former services personnel who were impacted by the ban receive up to £70,000 each. With veterans also potentially able to receive financial help through the council tax reduction scheme, Finance Secretary Shona Robison said regulations will be changed to ensure any compensation payments do not affect eligibility for this. Robison said: 'As we mark 25 years since the lifting of the ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces, it is important to recognise the hardship that so many faced, with widespread homophobic bullying and harassment. 'Nothing will make up for the difficulties that LGBT veterans faced, however our action will ensure those in Scotland receive every penny that they are entitled to.' Under the UK Government scheme, those who were dismissed or discharged from the armed forces because of their sexual orientation or gender identity could receive £50,000 in compensation. Former service personnel who suffered harassment, intrusive investigations or even imprisonment could also receive payments of up to £20,000. Peter Gibson, chief executive of Fighting with Pride, said it had 'campaigned for justice for LGBTQ+ veterans for many years, helping to secure reparations and financial recognition of their horrendous treatment prior to 2000'. He added: 'As we slowly see the UK Government deal with those financial payments, protected from benefit and taxation impact, it is wonderful to see the Scottish Government taking action to ensure other benefits such as council tax benefit is also protected too. 'We continue to seek out veterans who were discharged or dismissed from the military to support them, and this news is one more step towards helping those in Scotland.' 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
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
East Texans react to failure of STAAR test bill
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) — The Texas Senate and House failed to come out of their closed-door negotiations with a compromise on House Bill 4, a bipartisan plan to eliminate STAAR testing in Texas Public schools. Lindale FFA member among 10 selected for scholars program 'The Senate and the House had a conference committee, which is ample people from House and the Senate, and they couldn't come to agreement, unfortunately,' State Rep. Joanne Shofner (R), Nacogdoches, said. The bill died after both chambers couldn't agree on a final version before the session deadline. 'Not only am I disappointed, but my granddaughter is very disappointed,' Shofner said. State Rep. Jay Dean / (R) Longview said the bill still has a chance to be brought back to life. 'I believe in trust that we'll end up going back to special session and get it fixed,' Dean said. Representative Dean said House Bill 4 was included as part of an overall education package and hopes this isn't the end. 'I'm going to do my best to, you know, try to persuade him to, hey, let's get this fixed,' Dean said. 'Let's get this straight.' East Texas Food Bank kicks off Summer Food Program in Tyler However, one organization in support of ending STAAR testing said the proposed changes made by the Texas Senate would actually make things worse than the status quo. 'The Senate rewrote the bill near the end of the session and made it worse than we have now,' Texas State Teachers Association, Clay Robison said. The association supported the proposed changes made by the Texas House, which included switching from one test to three tests throughout the year, with a shorter grading process. 'We're glad that the Senate bill died,' Robison said. He said the Senate's version gives too much power to the TEA's education commissioner, Mike Morath, allowing him to amend school grading standards without needing approval from the state legislature. 'If school districts contested the change in the grading standards or contested their accountability ratings, they would have been subject to state sanctions, including takeover by the state,' Robison said. Robison said the Texas State Teachers Association will not support the bill in its current version from the Senate. Lindale Fire Department welcomes new chief, officers 'We think we're better off with the bad, flawed system that we have now than we would have been with the new Senate version,' Robison said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Michael Tilson Thomas takes his final bow with San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Civic Center was awash in blue, from City Hall to Davies Symphony Hall, where various shades of the color could be seen throughout as fans donned the favorite color of San Francisco Symphony Music Director Laureate in honor of his 80th birthday. Every seat in the full house even had a blue bandana for attendees, who enthusiastically waved the souvenir in the air once Thomas walked onstage Saturday, April 26 — which San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declared 'Michael Tilson Thomas Day' — to be feted for his 51 years and contributions to the classical music scene locally and beyond. The bandana featured a quote from Thomas himself, reading in part: 'There are two key times in an artist's life. The first is inventing yourself. The second, the harder part, is going the distance.' The lobby bar even served a special 'Bolinas Breeze' cocktail — made with vodka, limoncello (Thomas and Robison grow Meyer lemons) and Blue Curacao — named for the West Marin town where Thomas and his husband Joshua Robison have a home. 'I can't believe that now this is the culmination,' said John Goldman, a past president of the Symphony and friend of Thomas and Robison, who remembered that when the couple first came to the city his family would attend synagogue together. 'You can't think of the San Francisco Symphony without thinking of Michael Tilson Thomas. They are institutions joined together forever.' Thomas, one of the most acclaimed conductors of the past 50 years, joined the San Francisco Symphony as music director in 1995 and retired from the position in 2020, with his final season truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Thomas revealed he was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and underwent surgery and treatment at the UCSF Brain Tumor Center. In February, he announced that his brain tumor had returned, and that his 80th birthday concert would be his farewell to performing. 'There are treatment options, but the odds are uncertain,' Thomas shared in an email last month addressed 'Dear Friends.' 'Now is the time to wind down my public appearances.' It was a night of big feelings for many in attendance. Aly Geller of San Francisco wore a blue cardigan over a T-shirt she had made with a blue heart containing the words 'Thank you MTT' on the front and an excerpt of Gustave Mahler's Symphony No. 6 on the back, a piece he is renowned for conducting. 'I've loved him since I was in the sixth grade when he conducted the Ojai Music Festival,' said Geller. 'He made me fall in love with Mahler, he's such an amazing teacher to all of us.' The two act program was produced by Robison, general manager of MTT Inc., and featured new arrangements of works by Thomas as well as sentimental favorites from his long career, including Joseph Rumshinsky's Overture from 'Khantshe in Amerike,' (which has a familial significance for Thomas whose grandmother Bessie Thomashefsky played the title role in the play's world premiere in New York) and the finale of his mentor Leonard's Bernstein's 'Chichester Psalms.' Thomas' proteges Teddy Abrams and Edwin Outwater shared conducting duties with the maestro, who, if not at the podium, sat stage left during much of the evening. 'We saw Michael at his happiest. There's nothing like the joy he was expressing on that podium,' Abrams, music director of the Louisville Orchestra, told the Chronicle after the concert. 'He was where he was meant to be, on the stage sharing music.'
