Latest news with #StephenGethins
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Ian Murray accused of 'hypocrisy' after UK Government keeps 'damaging' post-Brexit law
EXCLUSIVE: Labour's Scottish Secretary said in 2020 that the Internal Market Act was "damaging" and undermined devolution. Ian Murray has been accused of "hypocrisy" after the UK Government said it was keeping a post-Brexit law which he had previously said should be removed. Labour's Scottish Secretary said in 2020 that the Internal Market Act was "bad and damaging" and undermined devolution. He also voted against it while in opposition. The law was introduced to create a single market across the UK after Brexit. But it has since allowed UK ministers to override the Scottish Parliament. This happened with the Deposit Return Scheme, where the Tory Government refused to exclude it from the act. SNP MP Stephen Gethins has written to Murray asking him to "repeal and replace" the law. The Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP said: "The Internal Market Act has stripped powers from the Scottish Parliament and has undone the work of its principal architect, Donald Dewar. "I am old enough to remember when Ian Murray stood against Brexit and voted down the Act which he described as damaging and that undermined the devolution settlement. "It is complete hypocrisy that now he has his feet under the cabinet table he now backs this legislation and endorses Brexit - picking apart the powers of Scotland's parliament. "This is yet another promise broken by the Labour Party and it is another blow to the devolution settlement - any politician from Scotland worth their salt must fight tooth and nail to see the Internal Market Act repealed." Holyrood twice voted against the Internal Market Act. Labour MSPs backed the most recent motion to scrap it in 2023. The UK Government published its review of the act on Tuesday. UK trade minister Douglas Alexander promised "improvements" to the law but made clear ministers have not considered scrapping it. He said "the review has not considered repeal of the Act or any of its provisions" because the UK Government has 'been explicit about the need for businesses to have certainty'. The UK Government is promising changes to the law, including the introduction of exclusions to the legislation. As well as considering economic impacts, issues of environmental protection and public health will also be looked at for exclusions – with the UK Government saying this ensures a 'balance of factors is considered'.
The National
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Motion would have aligned SNP foreign policy with Keri Starmer's
Normally, the policy formulation dimension represents tweaks to existing policy. On occasion, more pressing issues are debated. Last month's meeting was of the latter type. In the background, subsequently confirmed days later, was the prospect of the US weighing in on the Israeli side in its war with Iran. An act, as the secretary-general of the UN pointed out, that ran a coach and horses through the international rules-based order. In Perth, on the auditorium screen was a topical motion on the issue in the name of Stephen Gethins MP. Had it passed unamended, it would have upended SNP policy in several areas – not only on the party's position on international nuclear disarmament treaty architecture, but broader issues of national security and indeed adjacent economic policy. READ MORE: Protesters stage demonstration inside Reform UK's headquarters Unamended, it would have positioned the SNP group at Westminster behind Keir Starmer and David Lammy's position on the Israel-Iran crisis. It would have also represented a softening of the tone, possibly even the substance, of the critical statements made by other SNP parliamentarians at Westminster and in Holyrood. The unamended motion read: 'MIDDLE EAST SITUATION – National Council abhors the ongoing violence in the Middle East and recognises that destabilisation in the region is a threat to us all; calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and full access for humanitarian relief; further agrees that Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons but that the best means of stopping that and finding a sustainable solution is through diplomatic means.' The motion only mentioned Iran and not Israel and was presented in the name of a former professor of international relations. Stephen was not in attendance, so his motion was subsequently moved by another delegate. I proposed that three words – 'be allowed to' – be excised. In the end, my suggestion was acceded to and political embarrassment averted. Other amendments pertaining to the, frankly, barely condemnatory tone on what is going on in Gaza, would have been appropriate but timescales and procedures precluded that. (Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) At first, I wanted to accept the cock-up theory but after a few days of reflection and being faced with some irrefutable facts, the record needs to be put straight. This must be reflected upon by SNP spokespersons, particularly on matters of war and peace. It's interesting how in the repertoire of those who used to promote a 'rules-based order that's not the United Nations', they and the mainstream media are very quick to gaslight anyone who says historical context is important. However, when the historical airbrush is applied to the signature diplomatic achievement of Barack Obama, I must speak out. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal that ensured Iran gave up any notion of developing nuclear weapons, was ditched by Donald Trump. My 'textual amendment' reaffirmed SNP adherence to the spirit of the Obama plan. During his first term as president, Trump of course trashed the JCPOA. Now, bizarrely, he appears to want to bomb Iran into a JCPOA-without-the-safeguards. The SNP seek to achieve the restitution of a sovereign Scottish state. It will be a small state and, as such, on the journey to independence, the recognition of the UN will be indispensable. However, I am no naive idealist. The world is a dangerous and uncertain place, particularly when you share a border with the Russian Federation or Israel. Only politicians with links to the arms trade would want to use fear as a key electoral driver. Arguing that man-made global dangers and instability are uniform throughout the world is an understandable though rather unethical marketing tool for arms companies. The truth is, in the bigger scheme of things, some places are a bit safer than others, and Scotland is one of those – a fortunate reality that the independence movement should unapologetically make more of. Bill Ramsay SNP CND
The National
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
An SNP MP tried to align our party with Keir Starmer. Why?
Normally the policy formulation dimension represents tweaks to existing policy. On occasion though, more pressing issues are debated. The National Council meeting on June 21 in the Perth Concert Hall was of the latter type. In the background, subsequently confirmed days later, was the prospect of the US weighing in on the Israeli side in their war with Iran. An act, as the general secretary of the UN pointed out, that ran a coach and horses through the international rules-based order. READ MORE: Keir Starmer backs US strikes on Iran ahead of Nato summit In Perth, on the auditorium screen was a topical motion on the issue in the name of Stephen Gethins MP. Had it passed unamended it would have upended SNP policy in several areas. Not only on the party's position on international nuclear disarmament treaty architecture, but broader issues of national security and indeed adjacent economic policy. Unamended, it would have positioned the SNP Group at Westminster behind Keir Starmer and David Lammy's position on the Israel-Iran crisis. It would have also represented a softening of the tone, possibly even the substance, of the critical statements made by other SNP parliamentarians at Westminster and in Holyrood. The unamended motion read: MIDDLE EAST SITUATION National Council abhors the ongoing violence in the Middle East and that destabilisation in the region is a threat to us all; calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and full access for humanitarian relief; further agrees that Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons but that the best means of stopping that and finding a sustainable solution is through diplomatic means. Stephen was not in attendance, so his motion was subsequently moved by another delegate. I proposed that three words – 'be allowed to' – be excised. In the end, my suggestion was acceded to and political embarrassment averted. Other amendments pertaining to the, frankly, barely condemnatory tone on what is going on in Gaza, would have been appropriate, but timescales and procedures precluded that. At first, I wanted to accept the cock-up theory. However, after a few days of reflection and being faced with some irrefutable facts, the record needs to be put straight. This must be reflected upon by SNP spokespersons who speak on the members' behalf, particularly on matters of war and peace. Fact one: the motion only mentioned Iran and not Israel. Fact two: it was presented in the name of a former professor of international relations. Fact three: if passed unamended, the SNP position on the subsequent bombing would have been in lock step with Starmer and Lammy. It's interesting how in the repertoire of those who used to promote a 'rules-based order that's not the United Nations' they and the mainstream media are very quick to gaslight anyone who says that historical context is important. However, when the historical airbrush is to be applied to the signature diplomatic achievement of President Barack Obama I must speak out. US president Donald Trump (Image: Getty) The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal that ensured Iran gave up any notion of developing nuclear weapons, was ditched by Donald Trump. My 'textual amendment' reaffirmed SNP adherence to the spirit of the Obama plan. During his first term as president, Trump of course trashed the JCPOA. Now bizarrely, he appears to want to bomb Iran into a JCPOA-without-the-safeguards. The Scottish National Party seeks to achieve the restitution of a sovereign Scottish state. It will be a small state and, as such, on the journey to independence the recognition of the United Nations will be indispensable. READ MORE: Richard Walker: Good journalism has never had a more vital role However, I am no naïve idealist when it comes to matters of international relations. The world is indeed a dangerous and uncertain place, particularly when you share a border with the Russian Federation or Israel. Only politicians with links to the arms trade would want to use fear as a key electoral driver. Arguing that man-made global dangers and instability are uniform throughout the world is an understandable though rather unethical marketing tool for arms companies. The truth is, in the bigger scheme of things, some places are a bit safer than others, and Scotland is one of those places. A fortunate reality that the independence movement should unapologetically make more of it. Bill Ramsay is the SNP Trade Union Group convener and sits on the party's National Executive Committee.
The Courier
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Dundee snubbed by home secretary as immigration changes hit university
An invitation to see the impact of tighter immigration rules on Dundee University has been rejected by home secretary Yvette Cooper. Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP Stephen Gethins had invited Ms Cooper to the city after the UK Government announced a series of proposed changes to immigration rules. This includes further restrictions on fee-paying international students – seen as critical to the survival of universities – that many fear will lead to a further reduction in recruiting. Dundee University's financial crisis was prompted by a sudden reduction in foreign students. The institution's coffers faced a multi-millon hit last year due to a significant fall in international recruitment. Mr Gethins says he wanted to bring the home secretary to the City of Discovery to see 'first hand' the damage of the UK Government's so-called hostile environment. But the invite was snubbed by Ms Cooper and migration minister Seema Malhotra. The Courier also requested an interview with UK Scottish Secretary Ian Murray on the topic, but this was declined. In a written response to SNP MP Stephen Gethins, the minister said: 'This government continues to welcome and value the contribution that is made to our society, our economy and our higher education institutions by those overseas students who want to come to the UK. 'Our country has some of the best universities in the world, and we want the best minds in every country to aspire to complete their educations here. 'However, immigration must be properly controlled and managed, so that the system is fair and works for the UK.' Mr Gethins says he is disappointed his offer was not accepted. He told The Courier: 'The challenges that Dundee University is facing are driven by Westminster policies such as Brexit and the hostile environment with the Scottish Government expected to pick up the pieces. 'I wanted the home secretary to come to Dundee and see first hand not just the damage of those policies but see first hand an international university that benefits us all through the excellence of its research and teaching. 'That is something we should all get behind.' Mr Gethins has also sought clarity on whether the Scottish Government's budget could be penalised as a result of the new levy being placed on international student income at universities in England and Wales. While ministers say the policy won't be forced on Scotland, where education is devolved, Mr Gethins fears the block grant for the Scottish Parliament could be reduced as a result.
The National
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Anti-immigration policies 'cutting jobs at Scottish universities'
A House of Commons Library briefing shared with the Sunday National showed that policies such as banning students from bringing over family members will put off people from abroad from studying in the UK. It comes after Dundee University, which relies on income from foreign students, announced it was cutting 300 jobs as it attempts to tackle a financial crisis which will also rely on it seeking increased public funding. The Sunday National understands that Dundee recruits overseas students from countries like Nigeria, where the ability to bring over family members is highly attractive. For students from places like the US, this has less of an impact. (Image: NQ) The Tories changed immigration rules in 2024 by shutting off routes to the UK for the dependents of international students unless they are studying for a PhD. It was part of a wider crackdown on immigration which also made it harder for health and social care workers to bring over family. Labour have maintained the rules, despite calls for a reprieve in light of the impact they are having on universities. Research from the House of Commons library showed that the Migration Advisory Committee had advised the UK Government early last year that clamping down on students bringing their families to live with them would 'mechanically reduce the number of graduate visas'. It also highlighted that the most recent data, published in February 2025, showed that student visa applications had dropped by 13% last year while there was an 84% fall in applications from the dependents of students. SNP MP Stephen Gethins, a former St Andrews University academic, said Labour's tough stance on immigration meant Scottish universities were paying the price. He said: 'Higher education in Scotland has been impacted disastrously by the decisions that are taken at Westminster, decisions that have led to the hostile environment, Brexit and other areas which act as a counterweight to the internationalisation agenda that has been pursued by our universities in recent years that has put them in positions of excellence in terms of research and in terms of teaching. 'What we know from Dundee and the acting principal has highlighted, for example, the detrimental impact that this is having on jobs, and in some of our institutions in Scotland. 'In Dundee, for example, the drop in postgraduate students coming along has had a very significant impact on the institution and a significant on their income. That's something that should concern us all.' (Image: Newsquest) Scotland's status as a home of 'world-leading' universities was at risk, unless the UK Government changed course, Gethins (above) warned. He said: 'Having institutions that are internationally competitive is why our higher education sector, our universities are world-leading. There's no other word for it, they are world-leading. 'And if we want to remain world-leading, we must tackle, we must challenge Westminster on some of its damaging policies that are having a material impact right now on some of these institutions.' A Dundee University spokesperson said: "The changes to visa regulations have undoubtedly impacted on international student recruitment across the higher education sector in the UK. "The downturn in international recruitment has been one of the significant factors in the financial challenges facing the university. We are working intensively with partners around the world to bring students to Dundee.' Scottish Higher Education Minister Graeme Dey said: "International students are welcome in Scotland and they make an important contribution to our campuses and local communities. 'We recognise the issues raised by the sector around a decline in international student numbers and damaging UK migration policies which is why we have proposed a Scottish Graduate Visa. This would act as a bridge between the existing Graduate Visa and a Skilled Workers Visa, allowing us to attract international students and retain international graduates from Scottish institutions.' The UK Government was approached for comment.
