Latest news with #NeilBibby
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SNP must follow Labour's plans after UK Government winter fuel U-turn, says MSP
Readers may be aware of the welcome news from the UK Labour Government on Winter Fuel Payments for older people this week. The move means that more than three quarters of pensioners in England and Wales will receive the payment this winter. Households with a pensioner under 80 years old will receive £200, while those with one over 80 will receive £300. But by restricting it to those with an income of, or below, £35,000 per year, the UK Labour Government is also making sure that rich millionaires who simply don't need the payment won't get it. Pensioners in England and Wales with incomes of, or below, £35,000 a year will receive winter fuel payments after a U-turn by the UK Government - and Neil Bibby says the Scottish Government will have no choice but to follow suit for older people north of the border. (Image: Newsquest) This is a response to the many concerns raised that the threshold for eligibility was too low. It's not often governments listen and make changes when they get things wrong, but it is refreshing, and I am glad they have. This news is fantastic for pensioners south of the border who were worried about heating their homes this winter. But it is also great news for pensioners in Scotland because the SNP Government will now have no choice but to follow suit. This decision will bring even more money to Scotland - so there is no excuse not to pass it on. READ MORE: Inverclyde councillors rubber-stamp £600,000 fuel help to more than 1,000 needy pensioners The SNP Government also needs to follow Labour's plan because, since the payment was devolved in Scotland, many lower- and middle-income Scottish pensioners are due to get less money than they would elsewhere in the UK. The SNP's current plans mean that Scottish pensioners who are not in receipt of specific benefits will only receive £100. Since the UK Government's initial announcement on the Winter Fuel Payment last year, Scottish Labour has continued to call for a Scottish solution to the issue. READ MORE: 12,500 households in Inverclyde set to lose up to £300 to help keep warm this winter Indeed, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar stated last November that he would reinstate the payment and extend the eligibility threshold if elected into government in 2026. The UK Labour government's expansion of the Winter Fuel Payment is a game-changer and good news for pensioners. The SNP Scottish Government should now follow suit without delay to ensure that pensioners in Scotland get the benefit.
Daily Record
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
NHS bosses say previous proposals for new Paisley Health Centre under review
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde previously said Paisley was one of three communities which should benefit from a new health and primary care hub. A new Paisley health centre is being considered as part of a wider review of services in Greater Glasgow, NHS chiefs have confirmed. The town centre health hub was first mooted in 2019 when Paisley was identified by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) as one of three communities which should benefit from a new health and primary care hub to house GP surgeries and other specialities. The other two communities – Parkhead in Glasgow's East End and Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire – have had their mulit-million medical centres built. However, in a statement issued to the Paisley Daily Express this week, the health board said the Paisley proposal would now be considered against a host of competing demands. A spokesperson for NHSGGC said: 'A previous proposal for a new Paisley Health Centre, which would bring together a number of primary care services, was affected by the national pause on NHS capital projects, with insufficient funding available for it to be progressed. 'We are currently refreshing our primary care strategy which will revisit the prioritisation of our sites across all six health and social care partnerships. 'This review will inform our priorities going forward should further capital investment become available from the Scottish Government.' The Paisley-based MSP Neil Bibby said there was a strong case for a new health hub in the town centre. The Labour West Scotland MSP said: 'I know countless people struggle to get GP appointments in Paisley when they need them. 'This isn't the fault of doctors and their teams – there simply isn't the capacity locally. That's why a new NHS health centre in Paisley would be a fantastic and much-needed addition to our town. 'There is clear support for extra health and social care provision in Scotland's largest town, which could not only help relieve pressure on local surgeries but the Royal Alexandra Hospital, too, by allowing more local people to access the care they need. 'This proposal must be properly explored without delay, and I will do all I can to encourage NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Scottish Government to progress this.' The news comes weeks after Beyond Retail reaffirmed its desire to host a medical centre within its transformation of the Paisley Centre. The owners of the shopping mall are progressing plans to transform it into a mixed-use development with housing, retail units, a hotel and health hub. The former Allders Department store has specifically been identified as a possible home for a health centre. Richard Ford, partner at Reith Lambert – which manages the Paisley Centre on behalf of Beyond Retail, said: 'Beyond Retail remains committed to delivering a much-needed, state-of-the-art health and community hub within the former Allders department store. 'This hub is a key element of our transformational development, which will bring millions of pounds of institutional investment into Paisley town centre. 'The project will also include vibrant new residential accommodation, accessible retail space, and a globally recognised hotel partner — all set within a high-quality public realm. 'We will continue to work closely with Renfrewshire Council, the Scottish Government, and other stakeholders to bring this vision to life.' Beyond Retail completed the purchase of the Paisley Centre in November 2020 and later took ownership of the Marks & Spencer High Street unit after M&S confirmed its relocation from the town centre.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Forget Scotland in Europe. It is the UK which deals with Brussels now
To be clear from the outset, that may not be a consequence of political machination. It may simply be inevitable, a factor of political reality. It may even provide welcome clarity. That has not forestalled SNP protests. In the Holyrood chamber, Angus Robertson noted that the EU deal had been reached 'without the explicit agreement' of the devolved Scottish Government. That was, he said, 'an affront to devolution'. Responding, Labour's Neil Bibby said the External Affairs Minister was 'miserable, opportunistic and inconsistent.' For the Tories, Tim Eagle said the SNP would take Scotland back into the Common Fisheries Policy – an outcome he called a 'horror show'. Read more by Brian Taylor Mr Robertson's objection was that fisheries, as a topic, is devolved to Holyrood. Yet it had featured in the EU deal without any consultation with the Scottish Government. He listed the meetings, cancelled by Whitehall, when the topic could have been raised. UK Government sources say this is limp nonsense. They say the Scottish Government was consulted in generic terms, including at a meeting just prior to the talks, while conceding that there was no specific involvement in the negotiations, not least because the fisheries issue was concluded around midnight on the eve of the London summit. They say the Scottish Government has 'tied itself in knots' over the issue, contriving to end up on the same side as Nigel Farage. To examine this issue, we need to delve back into history – and catch the scent of that devolutionary fudge. As I recall, the aroma first arose in the run-up to the creation of the Scottish Parliament. Importance was attached to a role for the devolved legislature in the European Union. (The UK was, of course, still a member at that point.) The question was how to balance those devolved aspirations with the reality that it was the United Kingdom which was the EU member state. It was the UK which had an audience in Brussels. The result? Fudge. The 1997 White Paper which led to devolution stated that relations with Europe were 'the responsibility of the United Kingdom Parliament and Government'. There is no real role for the Scottish Government in Westminster's dealings with the EU (Image: free) However it added that 'the Scottish Parliament and Executive will have an important role' in areas where EU business affected devolved areas. There were encouraging words about the involvement of Edinburgh. There was talk of the 'spirit of collaboration'. But there was also emphasis upon the need for a common UK position. Upon ultimate UK sovereignty. In the early years of devolution, there was the Sewel Convention: that the UK would not normally legislate in devolved matters without Edinburgh consent. But that eroded over time – and the UK Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that the Convention was just that. A convention, potentially significant but with no justiciable force. Post Brexit, EU laws were repatriated to the UK. Scottish Ministers complained that this was done without the agreement of the Scottish Parliament. Which brings us to today. Fisheries are still devolved. But, arising from the 1998 Scotland Act, relations with the EU are reserved to the UK. (There was no room for fudge in statute.) The 1997 White Paper vaunted UK clout as an EU member state. The UK later left the EU. Politically contentious – but irrelevant to power. It is sovereignty which counts. You may say that EU access to UK (primarily Scottish) fishing waters was sensibly traded for other gains – including speedier market access for salmon and other seafood from our shores. You may say that it was a treacherous sell-out. Either way, it is clear that the lingering Sewel concept is now utterly consigned to history. It is clear that continuing relations with the EU – from outwith the EU – are, in practice, a matter for the UK Government. There will still be talk, as there was in that 1997 White Paper, of consulting and involving Holyrood. But, in the final analysis, little remains of the White Paper concept of collaborative endeavour. Read more Again, to be clear, that applies regardless of the content of the deal. For example, Angus Robertson only launched his attack on the UK Government – after welcoming aspects of the London agreement, other than fisheries. If anything, there is a sharper dilemma for the devolved government in Wales. Led by Labour's Eluned Morgan. Critics there also seized upon the constitutional question, saying that she had allowed the Senedd to be entirely sidelined. Of necessity, Baroness Morgan's response featured caveats. She welcomed the details of the deal, praising the efforts of her party colleague, the Prime Minister. She said it would bring Wales 'more opportunity for jobs and growth'. But she noted, obliquely, that she would have 'liked more discussion' between the Welsh and UK governments over the issue of fishing. Not going to happen, in practice. We are back to statute and sovereignty. Not White Paper fudge. External relations, including with the EU, rest with the UK. Which, to repeat, offers clarity. John Swinney said this week that the only way to protect Scottish fishing now lay with independence. Critics say that rejoining the CFP would involve further concessions. There is, then, a fundamental dispute. Independence versus the Union. Equally, though, there is practical co-operation within the devolved structure. Only this week, the Scottish Secretary Ian Murray announced increasing borrowing powers for Holyrood. He published a report setting out the efforts of UK Departments, such as HMRC and the DWP, to ease devolved tax and benefits functions. In return, the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations work closely and daily with Whitehall, in the common public interest. A straightforward constitutional choice, then. Ian Murray says 'working collaboratively with the Scottish Government' is a key part of the Starmer plan for change. John Swinney says he will govern sensibly and consensually within devolved powers – but invites us to consider how much more could be achieved under independence. All clear? Brian Taylor is a former political editor for BBC Scotland and a columnist for The Herald. He cherishes his family, the theatre - and Dundee United FC
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Plans to axe Paisley police station shelved but future remains 'under review'
The facility on Mill Street will now be subject to the 10-year Estates Masterplan review. Plans to find a new police station for Paisley cops have been kicked into the long grass 18 months after chiefs announced proposals to close Mill Street station. Police Scotland has confirmed it has no active plans to relocate officers from the town-centre building which is deemed no longer 'fit for purpose'. The news comes just days after the force said it will dispose of the town's Ferguslie police station, which officers vacated in September last year. Both Mill Street and Ferguslie Park were listed among 29 police stations across Scotland which management said in October 2023 were no longer fit for purpose and should be closed. It confirmed in January 2024 that it was looking at sharing space with a partner agency such as Renfrewshire Council. But a spokesperson confirmed no such agreement had been made and the Mill Street site is now being reviewed as part of the 10-year Police Scotland Estates Masterplan – which has identified neighbouring Greenock police station as a priority. The Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'The future of Paisley police station is currently under review as part of the estates masterplan. 'We recognise the need for a local policing service for the people of Paisley and its surrounding towns and a police presence in the area will continue. 'We are committed to creating an estate that is best for our officers and staff, meets our operational requirements and supports for the communities we serve. 'Until a replacement solution is identified, Police Scotland will make any necessary repairs to the current station in Paisley to ensure it continues to meet health and safety requirements.' The estates masterplan outlines a complete new model for policing going forward. It would see frontline police officers based in 'deployment hubs' from where they will collect their cars and equipment before starting shifts in the community. Individual communities would then each have a community policing base or touch-down point. This could be anything from a drop-in at a community centre to a retained police station, depending on need. But Neil Bibby MSP said Police Scotland must commit to a dedicated police station in Scotland's biggest town. The Paisley-based MSP for West Scotland said: 'I have been clear from the outset that the closure of the Mill Street Police HQ would be completely unacceptable unless it was replaced on a like-for-like basis, which included 24/7 public counter access, a CID base and a town-centre location. 'Clearly, underinvestment from the Scottish Government has driven the closure of Ferguslie Park station and is preventing a new or revamped police station in Paisley town centre too. 'Meanwhile, the SNP government is spending £1 billion on a new Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow after costs for that project have spiralled out of control. 'The police are doing the best job they can in difficult circumstances but aren't getting the support they need and the people of Paisley are paying the price for the SNP's incompetence and wrong priorities.' The Paisley Daily Express revealed in March 2024 how police chiefs spent more than £350,000 upgrading facilities at Mill Street police station before earmarking it for closure. Thousands had been spent addressing leaks in the 1980s prefmises, with serious leaks reported in the roof, radiators and toilets, while electrical issues were also a major concern, with money spent on lighting, air conditioning and water and fire risk assessments. Outlining the reasons for the disposal of the similarly dilapidated Ferguslie police station, Divisional Commander, chief superintendent Rhona Fraser said: 'Ferguslie Park is two miles from Paisley police station and three miles from Johnstone police station. 'Maintaining three buildings so close together is not necessary for operational requirements or financially sustainable. 'By merging resources, we can ensure our focus remains on delivering frontline policing and enhancing community safety, rather retaining underutilised buildings. 'Disposing of a building does not mean a withdrawal from the community. 'It is a key step in our estate masterplan, modernising and investing in police facilities to better support the needs of modern policing. 'Our commitment remains the same, with officers continuing to provide a visible and high-quality service.'
The Herald Scotland
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
River City row: Here's one way to save BBC Scotland soap
There was much shock and disappointment when the announcement was made in March. A petition to save the soap was organised, a debate was held in the Scottish Parliament, and that was about it. Oh, and my description of the move as cultural vandalism was called 'somewhat hyberbolic' by a BBC heid yin. Apart from keeping an eye on the petition's progress, my work there was done, or so it seemed. But no. On Tuesday, in a report by The Herald's arts correspondent Brian Ferguson, BBC Scotland accused Equity of punting misleading claims about River City viewing figures. The actors' union said half a million people watched each episode on average, but the figure is in fact 200,000. The corporation was also reported to be upset at suggestions River City's £9 million budget would be 'funnelled into cheap reality or factual TV', and used to make new drama series that would import cast and crew from England. A BBC spokesperson said: 'This is about value for money for the audience. We are not cutting our drama spend in Scotland – in fact, we will increase it to around £95m over the next three years.' Now, at the risk of adding hyperbole to the mix again, may I just sidle into this latest twist to have a look around? Equity did indeed use the 500,000 figure, as did Scottish Labour's culture spokesman Neil Bibby when he led the Holyrood debate on River City. Equity has since corrected – or as it says 'updated' – the figure on its website to 200,000. Read more The mistake was unfortunate, but in a strange way it might have done River City a favour. An audience of 200,000 an episode is still a pretty decent figure. Moreover, one assumes River City is cheaper to make. Here is something else to consider. As a Herald reader pointed out on our letters page, if BBC Scotland had to find money for new programmes it could look instead at its current affairs shows. As he said, does anyone watch News at Seven and Debate Night? So I asked BBC Scotland for the numbers and this was the reply: 'Since launch Reporting Scotland: News at Seven has a weekly reach of 80,000 and over the past 12 months Debate Night's weekly reach has been 121,000. Measuring news consumption by reach is a Barb standard and the definition of reach for news is watching for at least three minutes.' In short, they reach fewer people than River City. Now, you can argue, and the BBC does, that the audiences for news and drama are completely different, and comparing the two is not so much the stuff of apples and oranges as apples and trains. But I still think our reader had a point. If you can choose one drama over another, why not apply the same rule to current affairs? Keep the flagship, question the rest. It happened to The Nine after all. The BBC says Reporting Scotland: News at Seven has a weekly reach of 80,000 (Image: free) The row over River City was never just about numbers, though. Much more is going on here. There is unfairness, for a start. River City was hammered by the decision to show blocks of episodes with long gaps between. Fans of the soap, many of them elderly, could not keep up. One week Bob and Angus were there, doing their odd couple thing, the next they had slipped into some Bermuda triangle near Shieldinch. Can you imagine if that happened with Coronation Street or EastEnders? River City is important in other ways. As actor-writer Tom Urie told BBC Scotland's Scotcast: 'It feels like part of Scotland's story.' He's right. Like any long-running drama, River City has had its good weeks and bad, stories that worked and some that didn't. But like the country it came from, River City kept on going. It has tackled difficult subjects, most recently domestic violence, and helped more than a few people along the way. So no, it's not just about gangsters, though I'll admit there has been too much of that. Where River City has been truly invaluable is in bringing working-class voices on to our screens. They've been present in other soaps, but usually the character is there for comedy value, or to play a gangster. It is rare to have so many authentically working-class voices in a drama, far less attach them to ordinary, everyday characters, but River City does that. Read more Working-class voices are not heard nearly enough on television (and radio) and it matters that they are. As the saying has it, if you can see it, you can be it. What goes for actors goes for writers, directors, camera operators, sound technicians, and every other job you can think of on a set. If there's no River City there's no way into these professions for a lot of very bright youngsters from less than privileged backgrounds. With dramas taking years to get from page to screen, commissioning editors need to think ahead, anticipate the next big thing. I get that, and I understand why BBC Scotland is backing the new trio of dramas by Scottish writers. Short series are in demand, particularly after the success of Adolescence, but fashions change. What is never going to be out of favour is authenticity, particularly now AI is knocking on the door, and River City opens the door to more of that. For authenticity, for the training opportunities it offers, for laughs and tears, for just being there and giving enjoyment to so many, River City matters. And as every soap actor knows, once you get in that cab and leave, it is near impossible to come back. Please, BBC Scotland, think again. Alison Rowat is a senior politics and features writer on The Herald. Contact
