Latest news with #Ruskell
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
MSPs consider plans to stop landowners 'blocking' community buy-outs
The Scottish Greens tabled the amendments to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill which would give communities greater powers to take back local land from 'absentee' landowners. Currently, communities are restricted from progressing with community buy-outs of neglected land if the landowner brings a small part of the area 'into use'. READ MORE: Plans submitted for 102-bedroom Premier Inn in Scottish city centre Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell brought forward the amendments which would mean landlords would have to bring at least 50% of a landholding into use, otherwise it would be classed as abandoned or neglected and would be eligible for community buy-out. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was tabled by the SNP Government and passed its first hurdle in the Scottish Parliament at the stage 1 debate in March. Part of the legislation aims to increase opportunities for community buy-outs of land, and also when large estates are put on the market, ministers could break up this land – in a process known as lotting – into smaller areas, if certain conditions are met. However, ministers have already been told by Holyrood's Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee that 'significant change' is needed to the bill if it is to deliver on the Scottish Government's 'ambitious policy objectives'. Ruskell's proposals are set to be debated and voted on at the same committee on Tuesday. Mark Ruskell Commenting, Ruskell said: 'For too long, people have been unfairly barred from bringing local land back into community ownership because of a tiny loophole in the law. 'It cannot be right that neglectful landowners are able to leave land ignored and derelict for many years, whilst communities are desperate to bring areas back into productive use. READ MORE: 'Evacuate Tehran': Donald Trump issues warning as he departs G7 leaders summit early 'The Land Reform Bill should be an opportunity to tackle this kind of inherent unfairness in Scotland's land ownership – and that's exactly why I've brought these proposals forward.' Ruskell added that he has been supporting locals in Largo, Fife, where he said that plans for the community buy-out of local land have been blocked by the landowner converting less than 10% of the holding into a horticulture business. He said that the rest of the site – which includes historic buildings and gardens – have been left 'abandoned and neglected'. Ruskell added: 'For folks in Largo, this ridiculous saga has gone on for too long – it's time to close the Largo loophole for good.'
The National
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Campaigners protest outside Holyrood demanding better paternity leave
'The Dad Strike', organised jointly by charities The Dad Shift and Scottish-based Dads Rock, is calling for the UK to bring its paternal leave laws in line with comparable countries. It comes after a parliamentary report published yesterday called the UK's paternal leave system 'one of the worst in the developed world'. Under the current system, fathers are entitled to two weeks of paid leave, with those eligible receiving £187.18 a week or 90% of their average earnings, whichever is lower. Thomas Lynch, chief executive of Dads Rock, said there is 'a huge disparity' in how people can access paternal leave in the UK. READ MORE: SNP minister responds to 'secret meeting to discuss John Swinney leadership' reports 'There's a whole range of families who are getting next to nothing [in paternal leave] and we know that ultimately that's not good for the child, relationships, or mental health,' he said. Lynch added: 'We believe that small change could make a huge amount of difference to families and get them on the right foot to begin with as opposed to the pressure that you feel at the moment to return to work or to go back to work.' (Image: NQ) Attending the protest with his baby daughter was César, from Spain. The country boasts one of the most impressive paternity leave systems, where all parents are guaranteed sixteen weeks of uninterrupted, full-paid leave. He has lived in Scotland for ten years and had to go through the UK's parental leave system when his daughter was born. Comparing his experience with that of friends and family in Spain, he found the UK system 'unfair'. César said: 'My wife had a C-section. That's a major intervention and the recovery time is six weeks.' 'After two weeks, I had to go back to work for five days. Everything after that was covered by my holiday allowance. Our extended family are in Spain, so it gets really difficult.' Also present at the protest was Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell, who called the current system 'completely unsustainable'. 'It's not just unfair on dads but on their partners as well. It is really outdated, and we need to be extending paternal leave to way beyond two weeks.' While the matter of paternal leave can ultimately only be changed by Westminster, Ruskell believed the Scottish government could 'set a positive example' by changing paternity leave rules for employees in bodies such as the Scottish Parliament, where Ruskell says he has been asking for better paternity leave for his parliamentary staff. (Image: NQ) The UK government is carrying out a review, which is due before mid-July, and would look at all current parental leave entitlements. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'While employment legislation - including maternity and paternity rights - is reserved to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Government continue to champion and support fair work practices. 'Scottish Ministers have called on the UK Government to enhance current paternal leave and pay provision as part of its wider Make Work Pay reforms and will continue to do so as the relevant legislation is developed.'
Daily Record
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Call made to stop rich "hoarding" Stirling properties
An MSP has claimed too many young people are forced to leave the communities they have grown up in due to housing shortages and high house prices - caused by second homes and holiday lets. Reducing the number of second homes in Stirling could help to tackle the housing crisis says a local MSP. Mark Ruskell, Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, says making it harder for the wealthy to 'hoard' homes by increasing their tax is crucial to tackle the issue in Stirlingshire. The most recent data from the Scottish Government shows that second homes and short-term lets make up 2.5 per cent of all housing in Stirling. This is higher than the national average (1.8 per cent). At the same time, a housing emergency has been declared across Scotland and over 10,000 children are in temporary accommodation. Second homes are more common in areas of natural beauty, including Callander, Aberfoyle and Bridge of Allan. In many cases young people are forced to leave the communities they have grown up in due to housing shortages and high house prices caused by second homes and holiday lets. Mr Ruskell says the Scottish Greens have already taken action to reduce the spread of holiday homes and short term lets, doubling the tax paid when buying a home for these purposes and giving councils the power to double council tax on these properties. This reduced the number of second homes by 2455 in Scotland last year compared to 2023 and raised tens of millions of pounds for public services like the NHS and schools. Speaking in Parliament last week, Mr Ruskell raised concerns about the expansion of second home ownership, and called for action to protect communities and help first time house buyers by reducing the number of holiday homes. He said: 'Scotland is in a housing crisis. Everyone in Parliament agrees on this, but it's only the Scottish Greens delivering the changes needed to tackle it. 'The fact that we have hundreds of second homes and short term lets across Stirlingshire, outstripping the national average, is a major reason why this crisis is so much worse locally. Wealthy people buying up properties they won't live in are pushing out young families in particular. 'These houses either lie empty for most of the year as holiday homes, or they are hoarded by landlords making a fortune from Airbnb-style short term lets. Either way, its first-time buyers who are pushed out by those with much more financial muscle. 'There are 10,000 children stuck in temporary accommodation, but 49,000 second homes and short term lets. This is a crisis which can clearly be solved. We'll only do that by taking on the wealthy few, those who pay very little tax while hoovering up the houses which other people need. 'The current Housing Bill is a watershed moment in the Scottish Parliament. Thanks to the Scottish Greens it will deliver controls on rent increases and new rights and protections for renters. 'However, it must go further to tackle the vast inequality gap that we see between the rich and the vulnerable in Stirlingshire. 'The Scottish Government must listen to us and act boldly to stop the hollowing out of our communities.' In his speech, Mr Ruskell said his area's communities welcomed people who come to make their lives in permanent homes, but that more second homes were artificially inflating the housing market and pricing out locals, particularly families taking their first steps in the housing market. 'Adult children often have to stay in the family home while saving for a deposit or even to move out of their community, away from friends and family, at a stage in life when support networks are incredibly important. 'I also see older people struggling. They can become trapped in unsuitable housing because there are few properties available to downsize into and they sometimes end up in precarious tenancies in poorly serviced park homes. There are few options for people in many rural communities. 'It is in those hotspots that we can most clearly see the impact of second home ownership. Shops close because of a lack of regular custom, schools have dwindling numbers of young people, leading to their eventual closure, and residents no longer have neighbours.'
The National
23-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Warning issued over 'severe' environmental impact of Scottish wildfires
Over the last several weeks, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has battled dozens of wildfires across the country, with evacuations taking place in some areas. Just yesterday, firefighters were at the scene of a forest wildfire for a fourth day. The blaze in Culbin Forest, near Forres in Moray, has affected an area the size of some 900 football pitches. READ MORE: Tories told to 'come clean' after sharing call to abolish Welsh parliament 'Images of the recent wildfires across Scotland are harrowing,' Mark Ruskell told The National. The Scottish Greens MSP added: 'Forests ablaze, scorched earth stripped of its nature, and homes and businesses put at risk. The impact to our environment, its fragile ecosystems, and the plant and wildlife that rely on it, is severe.' Ruskell also highlighted the particular danger in Scotland given our extensive amount of peatland. Scottish peatlands store a gigantic 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon, equivalent to 140 years of Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions. (Image: Peter Jolly) 'In 2019, a wildfire on Europe's largest peatland in Caithness and Sutherland doubled Scotland's climate emissions for the days it burned, highlighting the special risks posed in Scotland,' Ruskell said. 'We must redouble our efforts to restore and rewet peatlands, minimising the risk of flooding and wildfires while locking up emissions. 'Record heat, sun and lack of rainfall have all contributed as climate breakdown moves from warnings to reality. Without fundamental change, the threat, and the cost of dealing with it, will only become more severe.' Academics have warned that wildfires are simply 'the new normal' in Scotland and will become a more frequent occurrence as a result of climate change. Already last month, the area of the UK burnt by wildfires was already higher than the total for any year since 2012, according to satellite data. More than 29,200 hectares (292 sq km or 113 sq miles) was burnt as of April 27, according to figures from the Global Wildfire Information System.
Scottish Sun
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Greyhounds forced to undergo security checks and wear visitor passes during Holyrood visit
Holyrood sources said it was "no joke" MUTTS BE JOKING Greyhounds forced to undergo security checks and wear visitor passes during Holyrood visit Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GREYHOUNDS yesterday had visitor passes put round their necks by jobsworth security staff after they were led into Holyrood for a photocall with an MSP. Parly guards at the public entrance even put the pooches' beds through metal scanners normally reserved for items like rucksacks and handbags. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Dogs were given visitor badges 3 The move has been branded bizarre 3 Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell wants to end greyhound racing They allowed the dogs to keep their collars and coats on as they took part in their checks. But their beds were then passed through scanners. Staff at the reception then wrapped visitor passes around the necks of the hounds, which they were seen wearing throughout their visit to Holyrood. A Holyrood source said: 'Security staff were robust with the dogs. The visitor passes were no joke.' The checks were mocked by parliamentary sources, with a Scottish Tory insider joking: 'People will find this bizarre approach by Parliament staff as somewhat over the top or even barking mad. 'Here's hoping they show some common sense if dogs visit Holyrood again in support of other legislation, such as Maurice Golden's plans to crackdown on dog thefts.' The bizarre checks came despite security staff having prior knowledge of the animal's arrival to the Scottish Parliament, for an event to tie in with the launch of Mr Ruskell's member's bill. A Scottish Green spokesman told us: 'As far as we knew they were guests so they had to have passes. 'They may have gotten a lot of attention, but they were very well behaved guests.' Parly chiefs last night admitted they had searched the dogs 'like all visitors' — but insisted the visitor passes were a 'bit of fun'. However, this was disputed by our insider who said staff insisted on the dogs wearing the lanyards. A Holyrood spokesman said: 'Like all visitors, the greyhounds and their baskets were searched by our security staff. 'But the wearing of 'visitor passes' was a bit of fun initiated by the photocall organisers to help promote the Bill.' Lewis Hamilton's beloved dog Roscoe diagnosed with pneumonia as carer gives health update Some sources said they were surprised to see dogs in parliament, having believed they were not allowed in unless they were guide dogs or other working dogs. But Holyrood will welcome more mutts to the Scottish Parliament on Monday for the annual 'Dog of the Year' contest, run by the The Kennel Club and the Dogs Trust. Mr Ruskell's rescued greyhound Bert, is in the running for top dog, alongside SNP MSP David Torrance's golden retriever Buster and Scottish Tory MSP Craig Hoy's black lab Roma. Two bills around dogs are going through Holyrood, with Mr Ruskell's ban on greyhound racing being introduced to parliament on Wednesday and Scottish Tory MSP Maurice Golden's bid to make dog theft a specific criminal offence also being considered by MSPs. Nats chiefs came under fire last year as they refused to bring in a ban on XL Bullies, only to u-turn months later and follow England and Wales by making it illegal to own the dogs without a permit.
