News Archive from Shetland Labour
Jamie Kerr : Scottish Labour Party candidate for Shetland
2011 Scottish Parliament election
Jamie is a Solicitor at a progressive law firm and he specialises in human
rights law.
He sits on the Law Society of Scotland’s Constitutional Law Committee and tutors human rights law to postgraduate law students at the University of Glasgow.
He has also previously been nominated "Up and Coming Lawyer of the Year".
Jamie has a reputation as a professional and hardworking fighter.
He offers a fresh perspective and stands for progress that is based upon our traditional and progressive Labour values.
e-mail : jamie@shetlandlabour.org.uk
Labour Candidate call to Progressive Voters
4 May 2011
Scottish Labour candidate, Jamie Kerr, has called upon "all progressive
people in Shetland to back the fight against Lib Dem and Tory cuts by voting
Labour on Thursday."
Mr Kerr said:
"Neither the SNP nor anyone else have the will or the ability to stand up to
the coalition’s Thatcher-ite agenda."
He also pointed out :
"Shetlanders have a historic opportunity tomorrow to dent the coalition by
toppling Nick Clegg’s man in Scotland, Tavish Scott.
"As can be seen from our efforts on the doorsteps across the isles, Labour
are the only team talking about the issues that really matter to ordinary
Shetland folk."
He concluded by calling on voters: "to give Shetland a strong voice by
voting Labour tomorrow".
Labour Candidate criticises North Sea Tax Raid
Tuesday 3rd May 2011
The Scottish Labour candidate, Jamie Kerr, has today again criticised the Lib Dem/Tory government’s controversial North Sea tax grab.
His comments followed a statement by the owner of British Gas, Centrica, saying that they may not re-open one of the UK’s biggest gas fields as a result of the recent tax hike.
He said:
"Jobs and investment in the North Sea is being put at risk by the Lib Dem/Tory Coalition government’s reckless tax plans.
"The effect on Shetland of companies like Centrica pulling out would be devastating with massive job losses."
He added :
"It is shameful that this tax raid on the North Sea has not been thought out.
"Like the Lib Dem’s VAT increase which increased the price of petrol by 3 pence per litre, this tax that has been rushed through without a thought or care for those ordinary folk that it hurts the most.
"In order that we protect investment in the North Sea and in Shetland’s local economy, I call on the Liberals and Tories to reverse this tax immediately."
News release : Labour express thanks to NHS Shetland
>>>
News release :
Labour express support for education in Shetland >>>
Jamie Kerr on the campaign trail >>>
Labour Express Fury over Theft of Posters
18th April 2011
The Scottish Labour party candidate, Jamie Kerr, has today expressed his
disappointment at the theft of a number of ‘Vote Labour’ posters from
lampposts around Lerwick.
Jamie and local Labour supporters put a number of Labour boards up throughout Lerwick and Mainland over Sunday afternoon and early evening.
On returning to Lerwick on Monday morning, 7 of the 9 put up around the Esplanade had disappeared.
Jamie said:
"It is obviously very disappointing.
"The theft of our posters is unlawful and those responsible have broken the law.
"These are low tactics from rattled people who do not like being challenged.
"My team and I are now even more determined that folk in Shetland hear the Labour message and that we will not be silenced when speaking out loud against Lib Dem and Tory Coalition cuts to local services.
"In the interest of maintaining free speech and democracy, I call for the other candidates to condemn this type of criminal behaviour and I call for our posters to be returned to us."
The Labour party have decided not to report the matter to the police on this
occasion in order that the focus of this campaign can be kept on the issues
that really matter to people: the cost of fuel, jobs and the future of the
Islands’ local economy.
Jamie Kerr : Scottish Labour Party candidate for Shetland
Jamie Kerr Pledges to Deliver Better Local Bus Services for Shetland
18 March 2011
Scottish Labour candidate Jamie Kerr today pledged to campaign for better local bus services for communities across the Shetland Islands if elected.
Jamie today supported Scottish Labour’s plans to regulate the industry to ensure passengers in Shetland get access to improved local bus routes and more frequent services.
Scottish Labour's plans will ensure bus operators are no longer allowed to cherry pick only the most profitable bus routes and would instead be required to operate in the best interests of the travelling public.
Local Labour candidate for Shetland, Jamie, said:
"Buses are a vital public service in getting people from A to B, be it to work, to visit family or to get the weekly shop. But there are far too many communities in Shetland where services are thin on the ground. I found this out earlier this week as I waited at Lerwick bus station for 2 and a half hours for a bus to come.
"Bus services in Shetland should be designed to meet the needs of local people, not cherry picked by bus companies. That’s why if elected I will campaign to ensure the way bus services are determined are overhauled.
"Regardless of where you live in Shetland, you should to be able to get on a bus that links up with the rest of the transport network, be it ferries or airplanes.
As the Tory and Lib Dem cuts begin to bite and the SNP fail to properly fund local services, communities across Scotland are losing vital bus services.
"The SNP are too close to private bus firms to stand up for what really matters to the people of Scotland – which is why they changed their draft manifesto in 2007 after a large donation from a bus tycoon.
"By stepping in to deliver better bus services for local people, once again Scottish Labour is the only party speaking up loudly for what really matters to the people in Shetland
Scottish Labour Leader, Iain Gray MSP, added:
"For many people across Scotland bus travel provides a lifeline, allowing people to travel to work and visit friends and family.
"Too many people don't have access to regular buses and we must strive to improve transport links for these communities.
"That is why Scottish Labour will take action to ensure bus routes are driven by the needs of local people, nothing else.
"There is the real choice in this election. A Labour Scottish government focused on what matters like good local buses and committed to improving the everyday lives of hardworking Scots, or the Nationalists distracted by separation and leaving hardworking people to shoulder the brunt of swingeing Tory and Lib Dem cuts."
Rhoda Grant MSP : Her speeches in the debate on her Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill 16/03/2011
Peter Peacock MSP : Speech in the debate on the Scotland Bill 10/03/2011
Peter Peacock MSP : Speech in the debate on the Reservoirs (Scotland) Bill 09/03/2011
MSP encourages people to get involved in local Fair Trade events 05/03/2011
Rhoda Grant MSP : Early Intervention - Speech in the Scottish Parliament 11/02/2011
Ed Miliband in Edinburgh - Fresh Ideas
click on the image above to view it
Rhoda Grant MSP : Speech on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 19/01/2011
Call for action over Fuel Poverty 18/01/2011
Peter Peacock urges Transport Minister on the problem of unregulated and unmonitored Hill Tracks 18/01/2011
Rhoda Grant welcomes Parliamentary Committee support for her Bill 13/01/2011
Rhoda Grant urges people to give blood over festive season 6/12/2010
MSP highlights need for affordable housing in petition 6/12/2010
David Stewart MSP : Call to back Labour’s plan to tackle youth unemployment 24/11/2010
Fair Trade in the Highlands and Islands
Latest Scottish Labour video
Labour's Living Wage : Fair Pay for All
single click on the video to view it
Hill Tracks campaign : Progress report sought from
Scottish Government 2/11/2010
Text of David Stewart's speech at Scottish Labour
conference in Oban : Bill to establish a Commissioner for Victims and
Witnesses 29/10/2010
News
Peter Peacock MSP : Support for Business speech 28/10/2010
Coalition Cuts : Labour MSPs brand Highland Lib Dem Minister as "Danny Axeander" 21/10/2010
Download copy of Inverness Trades Council letter to Danny Alexander 20/10/2010 >>>
Cost of unemployment in Shetland estimated at over £1.75 million a year
Current levels of unemployment in Shetland could be costing over £1.75 million a year.
In July there were 206 people in Shetland claiming unemployment-related benefits such as Job Seekers Allowance.
This figure breaks down into areas as follows :
| Breiwick | 7 |
| Burra/Trondra | 6 |
| Clickimin | 15 |
| Cunningsburgh and Sandwick | 10 |
| Delting East and Lunnasting | 14 |
| Delting West | 6 |
| Dunrossness | 7 |
| Harbour and Bressay | 14 |
| Nesting, Whiteness, Girlsta and Gott | 5 |
| North | 26 |
| North Central | 10 |
| Northmavine, Muckle Roe and Busta | 8 |
| Sandsting, Aithsting and Weisdale | 5 |
| Scalloway | 13 |
| Sound | 4 |
| South Central | 8 |
| Unst and Island of Fetlar | 17 |
| Upper Sound, Gulberwick and Quarff | 8 |
| Whalsay/Skerries | 12 |
| Yell | 7 |
Academic research from Bristol University suggests that the cost of unemployment per person is approximately between £8,000 and £9,000 a year.
David Stewart MSP said,
"People contribute to benefits through taxation and national insurance payments.
"The best way to tackle the deficit is to encourage growth by investing in jobs and not by cutting public expenditure too fast and too deep.
"This will produce increased tax revenues and so reduce spending on benefits.
" However, the UK Government’s measures of large cuts and the looming rise in VAT have severely hit demand in the private sector and threaten the recovery.
"Sustainable growth in the economy depends upon public investment.
"The TUC estimate that for every £1 spent on public services to create jobs or to purchase supplies and services generates a further 64p for the local economy."
Ed Miliband and Iain Gray : United in Our Values
single click on the video to watch it
click on the image above to join the Labour Party
Benefit cuts : Shetland could lose up to £1.6 million a year
A report by the Scottish Local Government Forum against Poverty has revealed that cuts in benefits by the UK Coalition Government could take away between £1.4 and £ 1.6 million a year from claimants in Shetland.
The figures come from a report from the Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty and from Rights Advice Scotland entitled "People, Councils, The Economy".
It details the effects of the UK Government’s changes in the benefit system from now until 2014/15 for every local authority area in Scotland.
The major benefits were selected for study were :
Housing Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, and Incapacity Benefit/ Severe Disablement Allowance
It forecasts the following annual losses in Shetland -
Housing Benefit
More than 75% of 40 claimants will be affected by total annual losses of approximately £18,000
Disability Living Allowance
Total number of claimants (920) will be cut by 20% leading to annual losses of £737,584
Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance
Total number of claimants (610) will be cut leading to annual losses in the range of £340,850 - £592,107
Annual losses to Shetland residents = £1,096,434 - £1,347,690
Other losses arise from the change in the calculation of the amount of benefit using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than the RPI (Retail Price Index)
These are :
206 Jobseekers Allowance recipients will lose £9,925 annually
270 Carers Allowance recipients will lose £12,776 annually
560 Attendance Allowance recipients will lose £31,262 annually
2,645 families receiving Child Benefit for 4,835children will lose £652,285 (£413,969 if CPI used) over the course of 3-year freeze (pro rata £217,428 each year)
150 Employment Support Allowance recipients will lose £8,736 annually
350 Income Support recipients will lose £20,384 annually
530 Incapacity Benefit recipients will lose £31,714 annually
These annual losses to Shetland total = £332,226
And so the overall total annual loss for Shetland is between £1,428,660 - £1,679,916
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart said: "The Lib Dems are on a collision course with public opinion in the Highlands and Islands when their leader Nick Clegg says that the poor must accept benefit cuts.
"Many Lib Dem supporters and members will be dismayed and angry to see their party establishment at Westminster act as a political shield for the Tories, behind which Cameron and Co. seek to deprive "dependent" people of a decent income.
"It beggars belief that the Tory-Lib Dem government can significantly slash the household income of vulnerable struggling families in the Highlands while shamelessly claiming that 'we’re all in this together' "
Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour conference as Labour Party leader
single click on the video to view it
click on the image above to join the Labour Party
Peter Peacock criticises Lib Dem support for scheme that will cut housing benefit for thousands in the H&I 27/08/2010
Highlands and Islands Broadband campaign taken to London 26/08/2010
Download the consultation paper on David Stewart MSP 's proposals to establish A Victims' Commissioner For Scotland link
More information on the proposed Bill >>>
Sign the petition in support of David Stewart's proposed Victims and Witnesses Commissioner (Scotland) Bill to safeguard and promote the rights of victims and witnesses. >>>
Domestic abuse must lead to jail, says Rhoda Grant MSP 23/07/2010
MSP contacts H&I councils on Child Trust Fund payments 14/07/2010
Labour : No Room for Complacency on Domestic Abuse 14/07/2010
Fuel costs : Peter Peacock criticises Liberal Democrats for watering down pledges 07/07/2010
Peter Peacock MSP speech : Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill 01/07/2010
Iain Gray for Scotland
click on the image above to view the video
Rhoda Grant MSP : Speech in the debate on the Alcohol etc.(Scotland) Bill 10/06/2010
Crofting "Bureaucratic Nightmare" In The Making 10/06/2010
More Nats Fewer Nurses
single click on the above video to view it
enlarged version of the video >>>
Sign Labour's petition in support of Labour's campaign to defend NHS jobs >>>
Rhoda Grant MSP : Scottish Parliament speech on the National Health Service 03/06/2010
More Nats, Fewer Nurses
Click on the image above to view an enlarged version
Sign Labour's petition in support of Labour's campaign to defend NHS jobs >>>
click on the image above to visit the website of Iain Gray, Labour leader in the Scottish Parliament
Peter Peacock MSP : Fears that Commission budget deficit will be funded by fees 03/06/2010
Rhoda Grant lodges protection from domestic abuse bill 03/06/2010
Iain Gray's letter Working Together for a Better Future
>>>
MSP’s welcome for pledge for national debate to prevent road deaths among the young 19/01/2010
Peter Peacock sets out opposition to key aspects of Crofting Bill 13/05/2010
Tory-Lib Dem coalition criticised over Heathrow runway decision 14.05/2010
Peter Peacock MSP : Speech on the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill 14/05/2010
Battle over Crofting Future set to continue 07/05/2010
David Stewart MSP : Speech on the Living
Wage
MSP backs report into future of Scottish
football 26/04/2010
Rhoda Grant MSP : The Economy - speech in
the Scottish Parliament 22 April 2010
The Highlands and Islands Broadband
Deficit Download the submission to the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills consultation on proposals for a Next Generation Fund from Highlands and Islands Labour MSPs Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant and David Stewart and Councillor Donald John MacSween >>>
Demand for more support for apprentices 21/04/2010
Alcohol misuse imposing substantial burden on NHS in Shetland 19/03/2010
Peter Peacock speech : Inquiry into Future Support for Agricultural in Scotland
25/02/2010Rhoda Grant speech: Inquiry into Future Support for Agricultural in Scotland 25/02/2010
Peter Peacock speech : Highlands and Islands Airports (Car Parking Charges)
24/02/2010Rhoda Grant speech : Preventing Obesity 24/02/2010
Rhoda Grant : Sharp rise in anti-obesity drug use in Highlands and Islands 24/02/2010
Out of hours GP cover is not in the best of health 18/02/2010
MSP welcomes pledge of time off for blood donations 13/02/2010
Peter Peacock speech : Marine (Scotland) Bill 04/02/2010
Peter Peacock speech : Broadband Availability 03/02/2010
03 November 2009
Alzheimer numbers to double in Shetland over the next two decades
The number of people in Shetlands likely to be diagnosed with dementia
is predicted to double over the next two decades from its present level
of 306 to 641.
Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands MSP, who obtained this information from
Alzheimer Scotland , has given her support to the recent Charter of Rights for
People with Dementia in Scotland.
She is calling on the Scottish Government to give the same level of support to
dementia care as recently announced by the NHS in England
She said,
" As more and more people survive into older age, there will be a greater need
for the caring services to ensure that the quality of life is raised for those
with dementia, their carers and their families.
"Earlier this year, the NHS in England introduced a new £150 million investment
for the first two years of a five year plan that will provide early diagnosis
and treatment of dementia , raise public awareness of dementia , and improve the
standard of care for those with the condition .
" Alzheimer Scotland has called for £15 million of funding to increase care
provision for dementia in Scotland.
" The Scottish Government should commit itself to this new investment that
Alzheimer Scotland are proposing to match the corresponding increase in
resources in the NHS in England."
Figures for those estimated by Alzheimer Scotland likely to be diagnosed with
dementia in the Highlands and Islands in 2009 and the projected numbers for
2031.
Local authority area :
Highland 3,258 (2009) 6,969 ( 2031)
Argyll and Bute 1,500 ( 2009) 2,844 ( 2031)
Western Isles 461 ( 2009) 771 (2031)
Moray 1,248 (2009) 2,507 (2031)
Shetland 306 ( 2009) 641 (2031)
Orkney 307 ( 2009 ) 675 ( 2031)
Total for H&I 7,080 (2009) 14,407 (2031)
Rhoda
Grant signs up to groundbreaking study into the causes of breast cancer
23/06/2009
David Stewart MSP : Criminals should pay for Victims' Commissioner
22/06/2009
Fiddling with Bureaucracy while Crofting Burns 15/04/2009
Rhoda Grant MSP : Call for Prescription Charges for Cancer
Patients to be abolished 01/04/2009
SHETLAND TO BENEFIT FROM MASSIVE BUT VERY WELCOME U TURN ON CROFTING BULL
HIRE SCHEME 10/02/09
Peter Peacock MSP :
Labour’s Budget Deal will bring New Jobs to Shetland
05/02/2009
Fight for Shetland Crofters' Access to Bull Hire Scheme Continues
17/01/2009
Iain Gray's New Year Message >>>
Rhoda Grant MSP pays tribute to carers on Carers' Rights Day 05/12/2008>>>
Peter Peacock MSP : Shetland Council to pick up charges for school meals
28 November 2008
MSPs call for Crofter Solidarity to Oppose Ending Historic Bull Scheme 11 November 2008 >>>
David Stewart : MSP calls for action on Ferry Fares 10 November 2008 >>>
Shucksmith Report : Third Letter from MSPs 29 September 2008 >>>
View Iain Gray : A Better Scotland >>>
Peter Peacock MSP : Minister refuses to restore HIE Budget 22 September 2008 >>>
David Stewart MSP :
Video on the petition for Reduced Ferry Fares 23 July 2008>>>Sign the petition >>>
David Stewart MSP :
Petition for Reduced Ferry Fares Launched 7 July 2008>>>Sign the petition >>>
Rhoda Grant MSP :
Speech on Remote and Rural Health Care 05/06/2008 (PDF download)
Peter Peacock MSP : Speech on Investment in Local Government Infrastructure 05/06/2008 (PDF download)
Rhoda Grant MSP : Labour calls for Honesty over Funding Effects to Rural Health Services 05/06/2008 (PDF download)
Rhoda Grant MSP : Online applications create barriers to crofters 29/04/2008 (PDF download)
Rhoda Grant MSP : Future of Shetland Health Services 19/04/2008 (PDF download)
Peter Peacock MSP :
The true cost of the SNP Tax for Shetland 17/04/2008 (PDF download)
Speech in the Scottish Parliament in debate on Local Income Tax 17/04/2008 (PDF download)
Share
this website