Irvine Times, 16 October 2018 Last weekend I attended the SNP’s Annual National Conference in Glasgow, which had ‘Hope’ as its central theme. Conference provides a wonderful opportunity to engage with party members, academics, businesses and charities. I was particularly pleased to chair a fringe event sponsored by Charities Aid Foundation and the Scottish Council... Continue Reading →

On Tuesday 2 October, Ruth participated in a cross party group on credit unions, in which she heard from the Scottish Government about the Credit Union awareness campaign, and in which she heard presentations from East Kilbride Credit Union, 1st Alliance (Ayrshire) Credit Union, and Pioneer Mutual Credit Union. On Wednesday 3 October, Ruth made a... Continue Reading →

Irvine Times, 9 October 2018 This week in parliament there was a strong Justice theme.  During FMQs I had the opportunity to question the First Minister on the impact of the Disclosure Scheme. The disclosure scheme for domestic abuse in Scotland, introduced after Clare Wood’s tragic death, has enabled more than 3,500 people to request... Continue Reading →

Irvine Times, 2 October 2018 Last Tuesday I was pleased to attend an event in Edinburgh to formally launch Garnock Connections, an exciting new venture which aims to connect people within the Garnock Valley to their local environment. It hopes to do so by enhancing the local natural habitat, by exploring the area’s rich industrial... Continue Reading →

Young People Challenged to Submit Designs Young people across Cunninghame South are being called upon to send in their fun and vibrant designs and concepts, to be a part of the team who will design the new generation of Baby Boxes. In partnership with Scottish Government and Children in Scotland, Young Scot are looking for... Continue Reading →

In a ministerial statement on Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley-Anne Somerville, confirmed that the new Social Security Scotland agency will determine eligibility for disability benefits with the support of public sector healthcare professionals, and not the private sector. Ruth followed the statement with a question, asking whether, given the stigma... Continue Reading →

Irvine Times column, 25 September 2018 Last week I contributed to a debate in the Scottish Parliament to tie in with the International Day of Peace 2018, for which the theme was “The Right to Peace—The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70”. I believe that the Declaration, adopted by the UN General Assembly in... Continue Reading →

Last week in the Scottish Parliament, Ruth contributed to three debates, and also asked a question at First Minister's Questions.  On Tuesday 18th September, Ruth spoke in a members business debate about the UN International Day of Peace 2018, which this year focussed on the theme “The Right to Peace—The Universal Declaration of Human Rights... Continue Reading →

Irvine Times column, 18 September 2018 Last Tuesday was the 21st anniversary of the day when the Scottish people voted in a referendum to authorise the re-establishment of our national parliament, after a gap of three centuries. At Holyrood, the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, Mike Russell, used the opportunity to give... Continue Reading →

Ruth Maguire MSP has been appointed as the new Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee. She replaces Christina McKelvie MSP within the role, following her recent ministerial appointment to the Scottish Government. As part of the Committee’s current business, Ruth will oversee consideration of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill,... Continue Reading →