The SNP has said the Tory government must urgently scrap the Benefit Cap to avoid more families and children being pushed into poverty - after stats revealed that the number of households hit by the ‘cruel’ policy has shot up. New figures revealed that the number of Scottish households affected by the Benefit Cap has nearly... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire Hits Out at UK Gov’s Decision to End VAT Suspension for PPE
SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, has branded the UK Tory government’s decision to allow the temporary suspension of VAT on personal protective equipment (PPE) to expire as “shocking”. VAT on PPE was cut to 0% in May following a campaign from trade union groups and opposition parties, with the cut applying to items... Continue Reading →
“Perfect Storm” Brewing for Job Losses With One Month Left Of Furlough Scheme
Ruth Maguire MSP has reiterated calls from the SNP for the UK Government to extend the furlough scheme. Today marks exactly one month until the scheme ends which has prompted warnings of ‘a perfect storm’ of job losses, business closures and households affected. In a letter to the Chancellor - signed by all SNP MPs... Continue Reading →
Decision to Scrap UK Budget Shows Contempt for Scottish Government
Ruth Maguire MSP has today criticised the UK Government’s decision to abandon its Autumn budget which allows Scotland to set its own spending and taxation plans. The announcement was made in a statement by the UK Treasury which said: “Now is not the right time to outline long-term plans - people want to see us... Continue Reading →
Scottish Government Has Not Ruled Any Action Out to Oppose Internal Market Bill
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed confirmation that the Scottish Government is weighing up its options to prevent the UK Internal Market Bill from passing into law. This confirmation came today in the Scottish Parliament as the MSP for Cunninghame South asked about the latest engagement between the UK and Scottish Governments on the proposed bill.... Continue Reading →
‘Harmful’ Tory Benefit Cap Hits Over 200 Families in North Ayrshire
The number of households in North Ayrshire hit by the Tory government's 'harmful' benefit cap has soared by 46 per cent since the Covid-19 pandemic started. New statistics show that as of May this year, a total of 6,034 households in Scotland were hit by the benefit cap - an increase of almost 76 per... Continue Reading →
Brexit Used as Cover for Power Grab on Holyrood
Ruth Maguire MSP has repeated calls from the Scottish Government for Westminster to scrap a proposed law which has been described as an effort to undermine devolution. Constitution Secretary, Michael Russell wrote to the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, to urge the UK Government to shelf the proposed enshrinement of the “UK internal market”. Concerns... Continue Reading →
50% of North Ayrshire Workers Ineligible Under Tory Immigration Plans
The UK's proposed new immigration system could halve the number of people coming to Scotland, risking labour shortages in key sectors, an independent expert group has warned. New research shows that 50% of migrants who want to work in North Ayrshire would be ineligible to come to the UK under Westminster proposals - shutting the... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire Adds Support to Call for Help for People With No Access to Public Funds
Ruth Maguire MSP has added her support to the Scottish Government’s call for support to be provided for people classed as having No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). People who have lived and worked across the UK for many years face significant financial hardship under this immigration rule, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic which has... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 