Latest news with #Stainbank
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Less than third of electric buses funded by SNP scheme built in Scotland as 400 workers lose jobs
Only 162 of the 523 - 31 per cent - buses ordered under the Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund were made in the country. Less than a third of buses funded by an SNP Government scheme were built in Scotland. Only 162 of the 523 - 31 per cent - vehicles ordered under the Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund were made in the country. Some 361 were made outside of Scotland, with 287 - 55 per cent - made in China. This is higher than the 183 made in the whole of the UK. Alexander Dennis, which is in the process of closing its factories in Falkirk and centralising down south, received orders for 153 buses (29 per cent). Labour's Falkirk MP Euan Stainbank said: 'The SNP talks a lot about a green industrial revolution, but when it comes to backing Scottish jobs, their recent record tells a different story. "We've got world-class engineers building zero-emission buses right here in Falkirk—but instead of supporting them, this government is sending public money and opportunity overseas. "Nearly three-quarters of the buses in these schemes weren't built in Scotland. That's an insult to the workers at Alexander Dennis and to everyone fighting to keep heavy industry alive in our communities.' Bosses at Alexander Dennis launched a consultation last month on plans to shutter the plants at Camelon and Larbert and centralise production in Scarborough. The move would end a century of bus building in the Falkirk district and comes just weeks after the oil refinery at nearby Grangemouth was shut down, with 400 jobs lost. Stainbank continued: 'This is about more than just numbers. Every bus built in Falkirk supports skilled manufacturing jobs, apprenticeships, and local supply chains. " Alexander Dennis, one of the last remaining heavy manufacturers in the region, recently entered a consultation affecting 400 jobs. The firm has repeatedly warned of the risks posed by an uneven playing field in procurement policy, concerns that I have raised persistently in my role as Co-Chair of the British Buses APPG 'We cannot continue with ministers leaving Scottish taxpayers are footing the bill to support overseas industry, while those same taxpayers here are facing redundancy. It's time for a serious shift in approach.' Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney - who obtained the figures through a written question - said: 'The numbers speak for themselves. Of the 523 electric buses funded through the Scottish Government subsidy scheme, more than two thirds, 340 buses, have been manufactured overseas, with 287 made in China by Yutong, while only 162 buses have been manufactured in Scotland by ADL and EVM. 'What is particularly concerning is that the Scottish Government does not even collect data on where the buses are manufactured. It is clear that the Scottish Government's social value weighting in public procurement is not fit for purpose, and it needs to be bolstered to support critical manufacturers in Scotland rather than subsidising foreign competitors trying to put hundreds of skilled Scottish workers out of a job." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We are exploring all viable options throughout the consultation period to allow the firm to retain their hard-working employees and manufacturing and production facilities at Falkirk and Larbert. 'Since 2020, ADL secured orders for more zero emission buses than any other single manufacturer through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund and its predecessor the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme. " ADL has received £58 million of Scottish Government subsidy for vehicles under these programmes. ADL have secured orders for more than 360 vehicles through Scottish Government zero emission bus funding programmes, compared to the 160 currently on order from Manchester.'
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Disgraced Scots lawyer rubbed shoulders with MPs despite being unmasked as paedophile
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A DISGRACED lawyer rubbed shoulders with MPs at a key meeting — despite being unmasked as a paedophile. Alan Eccles, 44, met with clients affected by a legal firm's collapse just three days after he pled guilty in court to child sex offences. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Alan Eccles shared child sex abuse images and chatted online with other beasts Credit: Law Society of Scotland 2 Sex offender Eccles at front of public meeting with MP Mr Stainbank on left Credit: Supplied But he kept his conviction from the Victims of McClure Action Group, as well as MPs John Grady, Susan Murray and Euan Stainbank. There is no suggestion any of the MPs were aware of Eccles' court case when they went to Titwood Bowling Club in Pollokshields, Glasgow, on May 9. The Scottish Sun had told on May 6 how the pervert admitted admitted to sharing indecent pics of kids and a woman plus engaging in obscene chats about the sexual abuse of children. Incredibly, he was spared jail when sentenced this month. The predator worked with Glasgow law firm Jones Whyte, which took over the files of McClure Solicitors after it went under in 2021. Many of their customers claim they were mis-sold trusts meant to simplify inheritance. Dominic Grech, of the Victims of McClure Action Group, said: 'Eccles didn't say at the meeting that he had already pled guilty to these offences. 'Any ordinary person would have received a jail sentence. It is again indicative of the legal profession and criminal justice system looking after their own. 'Allan Eccles represents everything that is wrong with how certain elements of the legal profession perceive the public. 'Like McClure's, they think they are untouchable and to an extent they are, because no one in authority will challenge them and hold them to account.' Case against Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann 'may be tainted' by disgraced cop's arrest, says John Wayne Gacy's lawyer Labour's Mr Stainbank and Mr Grady plus Lib Dem Ms Murray had attended on behalf of affected constituents. Another four MPs sent representatives. Eccles previously claimed he had helped in more than 100 McClure clients' cases. He said the volume of customers the company had dealt with was 'unmanageable'. But he insisted McClures had been doing nothing 'unlawful'. The sicko, of Bearsden, near Glasgow, returned to Paisley Sheriff Court for sentencing on June 2. Law chief Bruce Erroch told him: 'Your behaviour was despicable.' But he sentenced him to 300 hours of unpaid work, and an eight-month tag. Eccles was also placed on the sex offenders register for three years. He is still registered as a solicitor on the Law Society of Scotland website. Ms Murray said: 'I was not aware of Mr Eccles, his conviction or his past.' A Scottish Labour spokesman said: 'Mr Grady and Mr Stainbank went to the public meeting at the invitation of the Victims of McClure group. MPs from all parties were invited. Neither has any relationship with Eccles.'
The National
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scottish Labour MPs hit out as man faces deportation
Falkirk MP Euan Stainbank said the Skilled Worker Visa scheme rules, introduced under Boris Johnson's premiership, were designed without 'fairness' or 'common sense' in mind. Stainbank said Farouq Ahmed, a graduate of the University of Stirling, has worked at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in a frontline role, helping to deliver child maintenance enforcement services. The Labour MP added that despite Ahmed's contribution to the public service, along with being an active member in his local community, and a record of following the rules, he now faces removal from the UK after his visa was refused due to not meeting the revised salary threshold. READ MORE: Labour 'block' vote on giving Scotland immigration powers 'Farouq's story is heartbreaking and infuriating. He has done everything right—he came here legally, studied hard, worked in public service, paid his taxes, and made a real difference to families across the UK while living and contributing to Falkirk,' Stainbank said. (Image: Euan Stainbank) 'To now be threatened with removal due to an arbitrary salary threshold is counterproductive. 'This is yet another example of the damaging legacy left behind by the Conservative Government's panicked reaction to their broken immigration system. These rules weren't designed with fairness or common sense in mind—they were driven by political expediency and a Tory Government who knew their policies were failing.' Ahmed is one of dozens of local DWP workers being represented by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in April demanding that the scheme's rules be addressed urgently. Stainbank added: 'Farouq and those like him are not a statistic—he's a hardworking civil servant who has worked tirelessly for children to receive the support they're due. He contributes to the system every day, and it is frankly disgraceful that the system is now turning its back on him.' Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman also met with representatives from the PCS union and heard directly from those affected by the changes to the scheme. (Image: Brian Leishman MP) He said it is 'baffling' that government rules are punishing people like Ahmed who work for DWP because their wages are 'lagging far behind' other departments. 'The Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship salary thresholds and criteria, introduced by the previous Tory government, should be changed to allow hard-working DWP staff to stay,' Leishman said. 'I have previously met with PCS officials as well as constituents of my own who are worried about their families' future in Alloa and Grangemouth – despite doing everything right. 'DWP workers such as Farouq have done so much to contribute positively to our society, yet they are now being denied the opportunity to remain working simply because their pay is lagging far behind other government departments. 'With the DWP facing a staffing shortage, it is baffling to see that the government's own rules will see hundreds of experienced staff dismissed.' He added: 'Farouq and others have sought to contribute meaningfully to our society, we should be grateful that they chose the UK to study, live and work. 'I stand firmly with the affected workers. The DWP and Home Office must do more to resolve the issue before families are removed from the UK.'
