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STV News
09-06-2025
- Health
- STV News
SNP MSP Maguire announces she is now cancer-free
SNP MSP Ruth Maguire has announced she is cancer-free and is preparing to return to Holyrood. The Cunninghame South MSP had said last year that she would not seek re-election at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election after she was diagnosed with secondary cervical cancer. She had initially been diagnosed with cervical cancer in May 2021 and returned to Holyrood a year later, but stepped back when her cancer returned. Speaking to Holyrood Magazine, she revealed her cancer treatment had been successful. PA Media Ruth Maguire has said she will not seek re-election at the 2026 Holyrood election (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media She said: 'I have had so many kind messages and cards and people telling me that they've been thinking of me and keeping me in their prayers. 'I've felt so supported and my family and friends have been magnificent, but constituents and community members have been just lovely. 'I'm looking forward to going out and proactively reconnecting with constituents and groups again.' She added: 'I have a long-standing interest in women's health, in particular with access to healthcare, and having more first-hand experience and talking with patients and staff over the past few months has given me another fresh insight and indeed impetus into work that may be needed in regards to women's health and wellbeing.' The MSP is set to begin constituency work in the coming weeks and will return to Holyrood after the summer recess. First elected in 2016, she is the deputy convener of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee and co-convener of the cross-party group on commercial sexual exploitation. 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
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
SNP MSP announces she is now cancer-free and ready to return to Holyrood
Ruth Maguire had been diagnosed with secondary cervical cancer. SNP MSP Ruth Maguire has announced she is cancer-free and is preparing to return to Holyrood. The Cunninghame South MSP had said last year that she would not seek re-election at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election after she was diagnosed with secondary cervical cancer. She had initially been diagnosed with cervical cancer in May 2021 and came back to Holyrood a year later, but stepped back when her cancer returned. Speaking to Holyrood Magazine, she revealed her cancer treatment had been successful. She said: 'I have had so many kind messages and cards and people telling me that they've been thinking of me and keeping me in their prayers. 'I've felt so supported and my family and friends have been magnificent, but constituents and community members have been just lovely. 'I'm looking forward to going out and proactively reconnecting with constituents and groups again.' She added: 'I have a long-standing interest in women's health, in particular with access to healthcare, and having more first-hand experience and talking with patients and staff over the past few months has given me another fresh insight and indeed impetus into work that may be needed in regards to women's health and wellbeing.' The MSP is set to begin constituency work in the coming weeks and will return to Holyrood after the summer recess. First elected in 2016, she is the deputy convener of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee and co-convener of the cross-party group on commercial sexual exploitation. Here you can get your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Record, Sunday Mail and Record Online. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. You can also check out our social media channels for live us on Twitter @Record_Politics for the latest news. Or you can catch all the action by following our team: @paulhutcheon, @andrewjquinn97 and @dennynews.
The Herald Scotland
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's religious groups divided on assisted dying bill
In a secular Scotland, one can't assume that one's religion, whether Catholic, Protestant, or other; will necessarily influence the votes of individual members. Yet, a survey of 53 MSPs carried out by Holyrood Magazine in 2023 found that 55% held religious faith and 65% believed they should have more freedom to vote with their conscience. Several high-profile politicians are members of religious groups; including Humza Yousaf, who is Muslim, Kate Forbes, who attends the Free Church, and John Swinney, who is a member of the Church of Scotland. Indeed, Scotland's religious communities have expressed a range of opinions on the legislation, orignally proposed by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, with many groups not coming to a settled position. Here's what some of them had to say ahead of the historic vote. One of Scotland's largest denominations, the Church of Scotland currently has 245,000 members and maintains around 1,100 churches. A spokesperson said: 'Our position on Assisted Dying is being reviewed as there is a diversity of opinion in the Church (as in wider society) and a report will be coming to the General Assembly on 19 May.' The report states: 'We acknowledge that [our position] moves the church away from a binary 'for' or 'against' approach. Some may argue that this ambiguity makes advocacy difficult, and that it may diminish the Church's public witness. "While these are valid concerns, we would respond that this approach more accurately reflects where we are currently as a Church on this matter.' The Church of Scotland General Assembly will discuss the issue later this month (Image: Getty) More than 676,000 people identify as Roman Catholic in Scotland. A spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland said: 'The Catholic Church remains steadfast in its consistent opposition to assisted suicide and invites MSPs to commit to improving palliative care, protecting the vulnerable and upholding the dignity of life by voting against Liam McArthur's Bill." A letter sent to parishioners across Scotland during mass last Sunday reads: 'The Bishops of Scotland are calling the Catholic community to a Day of Prayer to pray for our parliamentarians to cast their vote to care and not to kill; and to pray for Catholics across Scotland to reach out to their MSPs and MPs to urge them to work to improve palliative care and reject assisted suicide.' There are around 120,000 Muslims in Scotland. A spokesperson for the Scottish Association of Mosques pointed The Herald to a statement released in May 2023. The statement reads: 'We grieve with those who grieve and identify with those who suffer. We acknowledge the sincerely-held motivation of those seeking change, but do not believe thai is the correct approach to the alleviation of suffering. The ways in which similar laws in other countries are being applied, and the effect that its introduction would have on some of the most vulnerable in our society, including the disabled and the elderly, would be extremely detrimental.' Former First Minister Humza Yousaf has often spoken about his deep Muslim faithThe Scottish Episcopal Church has 23,500 members. A spokesperson said members of the church held a range of views on the issue. They noted that two of the church's committees made a joint response to the Scottish Government's 'Call for Views', adding: 'While the response reflects views and discussions on the matter of assisted dying within the Church, it does not represent the settled views of the Church as a whole. 'The submission raises concerns about specific aspects of the legislation were it to be introduced, and explores fundamental questions about 'dying well'. 'It offers partial opposition to the legislation, but does not firmly support or oppose the principle of assisted dying.' The spokesperson said the issue would be discussed at the church's General Synod in June. The Baptist Union of Scotland has 9,946 members across 156 churches. It opposes any change to the law. General Director Martin Hodson noted: "We share a deep compassion for people who experience terrible pain and fear in their dying months. However, there is widespread concern among our churches about the Assisted Dying Bill because it clearly crosses a line between viewing human life as a sacred gift and treating it as a possession we have the right to extinguish. 'Once this line is crossed there are deep misgivings about how the legislation will be used and be extended, posing increasing risks to vulnerable people who will feel pressure or duty to end their lives. I believe it would be wiser to make a greater investment in hospices and palliative care at this time.' Deputy FM Kate Forbes is a member of the Free Church (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) The Free Church of Scotland, who has 8,000 members across Scotland, also opposes the legislation. Rev Stephen Allison told The Herald: 'The Free Church of Scotland cannot support assisted suicide because true compassion is shown not by ending life but by offering the highest standard of palliative care and support to those who suffer. 'Every life matters—especially in its most fragile moments. Society should not answer suffering with death, but with love, dignity, and hope.' Allison added: 'Politicians need only look to countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal to see how the practice changes society for the worse. Teaching a culture that some people's lives aren't worth living devalues human life. 'We want to see a Scotland that champions the immense value of every life, created in God's image, which understands that every suicide is an incalculable loss.' Read more from Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco: 'A fantastic connection': Renfrew Bridge hailed by community at opening 'There's precious few left': Holocaust survivors race against time to preserve memory ScotRail booze ban called into question by union and alcohol charities Universal Studio projections light up Edinburgh Castle The Jewish Council of Scotland represents the 5,847 Jews living in Scotland. In a recent consultation, the Council told the Scottish Government that their members have a wide variety of views. The submission reads: 'Orthodox Judaism is unequivocally opposed to assisted dying, and sets great store by the dedicated care given to patients in their final illness by members of the medical and nursing professions. 'Reform Judaism is divided about assisted dying; it has no unequivocal position on assisted dying, and respects the differing views. 'However, there are a growing number of Reform Rabbis who believe that there are limits to the efficacy of palliative care, and who strongly assert that assisted dying should be permitted, providing that safeguards are in place to protect the vulnerable. 'Liberal Judaism has formulated a policy in support of legalising assisted dying, which states that, as people 'have had control over their life, they should also have control over their death in order to minimise the suffering of those dying in pain or indignity'.' Scotland's Jewish population is divided on the issue. (Image: Newsquest) There are around 1,000 Quakers in Scotland. Michael Hutchinson, clerk of the General Meeting for Scotland, said: 'In 2019 Quakers considered assisted dying in careful detail but did not reach a united position. 'Quakers embrace diversity in what we believe individually but hold the space for opposing views; we can have conversations, answer questions of ourselves and of God, work through our contradictions and support each other in difficulty. 'We uphold everyone concerned in this matter, knowing they are following the promptings of love and truth in their hearts.' Scotland is an increasingly secular nation, as the number of empty pews and boarded-up churches attests. Yeah the religious underpinnings of our society remains. MSPs of all faiths and none will be asked to make one of the most serious decisions of their political lives this week. They will hold the power to decide matters of life and death, literally. Let's hope they choose wisely.
The Independent
24-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
We cannot claim to be untainted by austerity after benefits cuts
A Labour MP has said the party cannot claim it is not bringing back austerity after the benefit reforms announced last week. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced plans to reform disability benefits that would save £5 billion, a move which has been criticised by charities and the Scottish Government. Dissent has also been voiced within Labour, with Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman saying the decision will 'impoverish' the most vulnerable and 'shows a basic lack of humanity'. Speaking to Holyrood Magazine, the MP, who has been critical of the UK Government response to the impending closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery, said: 'There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that these cuts are going to impoverish already vulnerable, disadvantaged people living in our society today. 'These are the people that we should be throwing our arms around and helping. 'It's a measurement of any society how the government treats those who are in need, and by cutting that much from the welfare budget there is no doubt in my mind that we cannot claim there is no austerity under Labour if we are going to cut that much money from welfare.' During a televised debate ahead of last year's election, which saw Labour sweep to power, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'Read my lips: no austerity under Labour.' The quote has repeatedly been used to attack Mr Sarwar following a number of decisions taken by the UK Government in its first months in office, but the Scottish Labour leader has stressed in recent days that the policies do not amount to austerity. Speaking to journalists in Glasgow on Friday, Mr Sarwar said: 'You're asking about austerity. Austerity means that public spending goes down. 'Public spending is going up – the very opposite of austerity.' While a party spokeswoman insisted people who can't work 'will always be supported to live with dignity under Labour', but that the party will 'work to provide opportunities to those who can' and urging the Scottish Government to support employability services and 'fix the chaos in our NHS'. Mr Leishman has been outspoken in his criticism of the party's handling of the closure of the refinery at Grangemouth, which will see about 400 workers lose their jobs when the facility closes in the second quarter of this year. The decision was announced by owners Petroineos last year, citing financial pressures at the facility, and was met with criticism across the political spectrum. But since then, both the Scottish and UK Governments have been unable to force the decision's reversal. Before the election, multiple Scottish and UK Labour politicians said they would work to save jobs at the yard, including Mr Sarwar, but Mr Leishman said the party has not done enough for workers at the site. The MP suggested using the redevelopment of Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium as a bargaining chip. The club is owned by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is charman and chief executive of the site's part-owners, Ineos. Plans for the new stadium were announced earlier this year, but the club is looking for Government support to regenerate the surrounding area. The money for which, Mr Leishman says, should be withheld if the refinery closes. 'When we look at the regeneration needed around Old Trafford, why would we not say you can have that money, but you need to keep Grangemouth open? That's just negotiation in my opinion,' he told the magazine. 'I have asked those questions of why we haven't done this, and the answers have been underwhelming.' A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We took immediate action following Petroineos' confirmation on the closure of Grangemouth, and have committed to leaving no stone unturned in supporting an industrial future at the site. 'Project Willow has recently identified credible long-term industrial options for Grangemouth, while our £200 million investment will support jobs and drive growth. 'We will build on Grangemouth's expertise and industrial heritage to attract investors, secure its clean energy future, and deliver on our Plan for Change.'
