On Tuesday, Ruth watched a special screening of the documentary Nae Pasaran! at the Scottish Parliament, which tells the remarkable true story of the Scottish Rolls-Royce workers who managed to ground half of Chile's Air Force in the 1970s. At Portfolio Question Time on Wednesday, Ruth asked the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Derek Mackay, how... Continue Reading →

CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS GET HELP TO AVOID FRAUDSTERS MSP HOST SCAM AWARENESS SURGERY Canny Christmas shoppers are being invited to a special surgery organised by Ruth Maguire MSP to help them avoid falling for scams. The surgery is being held on Black Friday, 23 November, which marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season when... Continue Reading →

Irvine Times column, 6 November 2018 Delivering his budget last week the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that ‘austerity is coming to an end’, a statement which sadly did not bear up to scrutiny. The disastrous Universal Credit continues, the concerns of the WASPI women have been ignored, there was no progress on the Ayrshire... Continue Reading →

Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget announcement on Monday, Ruth asked Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, just how far the UK Government's promises on health funding consequentials have fallen from their NHS funding announcement just four months ago:   On the same day, Ruth contributed to a Member's Business Debate discussing a Ban... Continue Reading →

Irvine Times column, 30 October 2018 Last week the Scottish Youth Parliament visited Ayrshire for its 67th National Sitting, to discuss issues affecting children and young people. For much of my week in Parliament, children and young people were on my mind too. As Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee, for... Continue Reading →

SNP MSP Ruth Maguire has criticised the UK Government for failing the people of Cunninghame South, following this year’s Budget announcement. After promising to end austerity, the UK Government’s budget has in fact failed Scottish people, with Scotland’s resource block grant almost £2 billion lower in real terms next year than it was less than... Continue Reading →

This week Ruth visited St Mary's Kenmure Secure Unit in Bishopriggs, in her capacity as Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, on a fact finding session as part of the committee's scrutiny into the Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill. A huge thanks to staff and young people who took the time to share... Continue Reading →

As Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, Ruth had an opportunity on Wednesday 24 October 2018, to question the First Minister at the Conveners Group meeting within the Scottish Parliament. Noting that Scotland faces a number of significant challenges to Human Rights protections, including Brexit, Ruth asked the First Minister about her views... Continue Reading →

Irvine Times column, 23 October 2018 Last Thursday was Anti-Slavery Day, which shone a light on the growing problem of modern slavery and human trafficking within Scotland and across the UK.  Slavery is not something that has been consigned to history. Many people are trapped and exploited for their labour, whilst others are enslaved through... Continue Reading →

Ruth Maguire MSP pledges to back a law to end unsafe pavement parking The MSP for Cunninghame South helps raise awareness of the dangers of pavement parking Ruth Maguire MSP spoke with the charity Guide Dogs Scotland at the SNP conference about the challenges pavement parked cars create for blind and partially sighted people, who... Continue Reading →