MORAY MP ENCOURAGES FAIR TRADE
Posted on Friday, May 11 2007
Speaking ahead of World Fair Trade Day which takes place tomorrow [Saturday], Moray Scottish National Party MP Angus Robertson has encouraged constituents to buy Fair Trade products to help protect developing world producers from being exploited.The theme of this year's World Fair Trade Day is 'Kids need Fair Trade'. The World Fair Trade Organisation states "that Children in developing countries are exploited by the mainstream international trading system. The system pays millions of parents a pittance for what they produce. This often means that children have to work rather than go to school, do not have health care when they need it, and are trapped in a vicious circle of poverty." This statement is borne out by many investigations by researchers journalists and others.Recently a BBC documentary highlighted the scandal of cocoa bean production in Africa where in many cases education is not accessible for children who are instead forced to work in remote cocoa plantations for little or no wage at all.It can often seem difficult to help people in developing countries but in many cases the simplest actions can be of huge benefit.Speaking from his constituency office the SNP's Mr Robertson said:" Buying Fair Trade products such as tea, coffee, chocolate and bananas amongst many others is a simple but effective way to help those who are being exploited." The simple fact is that if more folk can be encouraged to support Fair Trade then there will be ess producers exploited. For example, here in the SNP constituency office in Elgin we endeavour to buy Fair Trade coffee. It may not seem like much but if you add up your coffee, tea and other purchases over the year it can come to hundreds of pounds and if a few thousand folk can be persuaded to do the same the benefits start to become significant." As consumers of these products we have a responsibility to consider the impact on those living in the countries where they are produced." Children in many areas of the world are being badly exploited, losing their potential and, most importantly, their freedom. We must all do what we can to stop that."Ends.
UK GOVERNMENT CONGRATULATES SNP ON ELECTION VICTORY
Posted on Thursday, May 10 2007
SNP MP Angus Robertson today (Thursday) welcomed the Leader of the House commenting on the SNP's election victory. The Leader of the House, Jack Straw, made his comments in response to Mr Robertson during Business Questions where he congratulated Alex Salmond and the SNP on their electoral success and clarified that the Westminster Government would continue to work with all devolved administrations.Mr Robertson asked:“Can we have a debate in government time following the Scottish Parliament election result and the victory of the SNP so we can learn how the government is going to work constructively with the incoming SNP administration, and could he clarify the position of the Government bearing in mind the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he won’t work with the SNP leader. Perhaps the Leader of the House would like to take this opportunity to be the first Government Minister to graciously commend and congratulate the Honourable Member from Banff and Buchan?Mr Straw responded:“…But I will, but like anybody who wins election to any forum, it is an essence of our democracy - take that in the spirit in which it was intended. On the wider issue of course it is the duty of the British Government to cooperate with all institutions of Government across the country, and showing we do so in respect of local government and devolved administrations and that's nothing new and we will continue to do so.”Speaking afterwards Mr Robertson said:“I welcome this positive step towards a progressive working relationship with Westminster. This is the first congratulations the SNP have received from the British Government and we welcome their comments to cooperate with an SNP led administration. We look forward to the future success that the SNP can build for Scotland, working together and alongside the Westminster Government."ENDS.
SNP CALL FOR ALEXANDER RESIGNATION
Posted on Tuesday, May 8 2007
ELECTORAL SHAMBLES WAS RESPONSIBILITY OF SCOTLAND OFFICESNP MP Angus Robertson, who was the SNP’s campaign director for the Scottish Parliament elections, today (Tuesday) called for the resignation of the Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander, following Thursday’s voting fiasco.Mr Alexander was responsible for the ballot paper design which resulted in the disenfranchisement of thousands of people confused by the new voting system. The SNP had, on several occasions, raised concerns regarding holding both the local council elections (under an STV system) and the Parliamentary elections (on a first past the post and under a PR system) on the same day.Mr Robertson said:“The Secretary of State for Scotland is entirely responsible for the fiasco that hit Scotland’s elections on Thursday. The SNP are today calling on him to resign his position, and to take full responsibility for the thousands of people who lost their vote.“Concerns over the ballot paper, and over holding both elections on the same day have been raised by the SNP at various stages during the consultation. The fact that the original ballot paper had to be shrunk to fit into the electronic counting machines show how disorganised the entire process was, and led to many voters being unable to read the instructions.“The SNP stipulated that if both systems were to be used on the same day, then a great deal of voter education would be required. This did not happen and as a result we had great confusion amongst the Scottish electorate. We have already called for a full independent judicial inquiry.“The Secretary of State for Scotland refused to answer basic questions during Scottish Questions today: Did he take the final decision on a single ballot paper? Was there any further testing on the design of the ballot paper following that decision and will he publish all Ministerial correspondence regarding this issue and his department’s role?“It is ludicrous for the Secretary of State for Scotland to continue to be responsible for Scottish elections, and for the Westminster Government to deny that they are indeed responsible. We are calling for him to stand down, and for future legislation to fully devolve responsibility for elections held in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament.”ENDS.
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