Stuart C. McDonald is MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East

“We must apply common-sense. There’s nothing controversial or unreasonable in the contents of the Bill”

@CMonaghanSNP used her Ten Minute Rule Bill today to highlight the practical, financial and moral arguments of giving people seeking asylum the right to work👏🏽

#LiftTheBan

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland has already paid the price for not being independent.

❌ Westminster governments we didn’t vote for
❌ A damaging Brexit.
❌ Delivering deep austerity cuts

🤷‍♂️ So, what are the Tories scared of? Is it simply that they have run out of ideas to defend the union?

🚨 BREAKING: First Minister @NicolaSturgeon Scotland’s independence referendum will be held on the 19th of October 2023.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The campaign is on! Join over half a million people and pledge your support for Scottish independence at https://www.yes.scot/signup/

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @NicolaSturgeon is about to set out the roadmap to Scotland's independence referendum.

🗳️ Scotland's future is up to the people who live in Scotland, not Boris Johnson and Westminster governments.

⏰ Tune in at 2:20pm today on http://scottishparliament.tv.

Utterly shameful and completely counter productive. An act of brazen idiocy with only downsides. https://twitter.com/GerryHassan/status/1541532916899004417

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is delighted to see @Stuart_McDonald introduce the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill on 15 June 2022 in Parliament, which charities and families have been calling on for many years.

Read more: https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk/latest-news/rainbow-trust-response-to-the-neonatal-care-leave-and-pay-bill-introduced-in-parliament?utm_campaign=bill&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

The increase in deaths of ppl seeking asylum in the UK coincides with significantly increased use of institutional accommodation instead of community housing.
"Yet this is precisely the model that the UK govt is seeking to move towards” @Stuart_McDonald /1 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/25/asylum-seekers-deaths-home-office-housing-data

We remember those who lost their lives while navigating the asylum process

We remember 107 lost lives.

We welcome the Asylum Inquiry Scotland @AsylumInquirySC led by Baroness @HelenaKennedyQC
https://www.asyluminquiryscotland.com/

We continue to ask for a compassionate,humane&just system✊🏽🦋

Follow by a vigil in George Square with @sabir_zazai @pinar_aksu5 @ChrisStephens @PaulJSweeney @Stuart_McDonald @CeeGraham1 and experts by experience from #ParkInn Special thanks to @refugee4justice for their courage & tenacity. Compassion is not enough. Justice must be served.

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC launching the Independent Commission of Inquiry into Asylum Provision in Scotland with particular reference to failings in provision of care for New Scots during the Covid Pandemic

REVEALED📢

Dozens of asylum seekers who were officially recognised by the Home Office as vulnerable and potentially in need of protection have died in government accommodation.

Our latest investigation w/@ObserverUK

In a huge step forward, Neonatal Care (Leave & Pay) Bill was introduced to Parliament last week. Now, MPs need to go and support the Bill through its next stage.

Did your baby spend time in neonatal care? Tell your MP and ask them to attend the debate: https://buff.ly/3OeAL9X

📣 @NicolaSturgeon: "After everything that has happened - Brexit, Covid, Boris Johnson – I firmly believe that it is time to set out a different and better vision for our country."

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Together, let's build a wealthier, fairer Scotland with independence.

https://www.snp.org/its-time-to-make-scotland-wealthier-and-fairer/

We have the #RightsRemovalBill. It’s worse than I feared. Here are top lines from first read:
S(1) repeals obligation on courts to read legislation in a way that is compatible with human rights & attempts to take away judicial role in deciding balance of rights

It was telling that on this day, when asked by @Stuart_McDonald during @CommonsHomeAffs, what progress had been made on key elements of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review that the Home Office’s Permanent Secretary had very little to contribute beyond ‘we’ll get back to you’ https://twitter.com/ameliagentleman/status/1539591997681504257

The gambling white paper must push for a smart statutory levy on the gambling industry to fund research, education and support.

Nothing less is acceptable.

Who is calling the shots?

The @GOVUK or the gambling industry?

📈 Rising prices, soaring bills, tax hikes and welfare cuts for families - this is the price of Tory governments.

🚨 And to make things worse, Boris Johnson is ready to push the UK economy into recession.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Westminster is holding Scotland back. Let’s choose a better future.

🚨BREAKING

This is it. The Government's published its #RightsRemovalBill that:

Strips your rights away

Means authorities don't have to respect your rights

Makes it harder to challenge abuse of your rights

It's time to fight like your rights depend on it. #SaveYourRights https://twitter.com/guardiannews/status/1539352640236437504

Three new Private Members Bills I launched today... The first seeks to set up a Public Inquiry into the administration of the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation schemes. Root and branch reform of VeteransUK is needed but the govt has so far ignored calls for a inquiry.

📆 A date for your diary: Tuesday next week at 2.20PM. https://twitter.com/ScotNational/status/1539237701056176128

Seeing the journeys of the incredible families in tonight's episode of Tiny Lives at @wishawneonatal brings home how important it is for parents to have paid leave so they can be by their baby's side. Thank you @Stuart_McDonald for helping us to bring this closer to reality!

Social Security Minister @BenMacpherson visited @NLDForum today.

He spoke with staff and service users about Adult Disability Payment, which is now open for applications in @nlcpeople @SouthLanCouncil @AngusCouncil

Find out more: https://bit.ly/ApplyForAdultDisabilityPayment

I need your help to defend freedom of information and win the release of the UK Government's secret union polls.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/secretunionpolls

📣 Today I'm publishing a paper from the @SNPDefence team outlining some recommendations for the NATO strategic concept. Focused on state, society and system, we make recommendations to enhance European security. Read our report here: http://www.stewartmcdonald.scot/news/news/snp-publish-nato-strategic-concept-recommendations/

This #WorldRefugeeDay, we want people fleeing war, persecution and human rights abuses to be welcomed and offered a place of safety.

What would you like to see?

#AyeWelcomeRefugees #RefugeeFestScot #RefugeeWeek2022

FPH and @Drug_Science have sent a letter to UK Government signed by nearly 100 organisations, calling for an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations to make it easier to pilot overdose prevention centres. Colleagues are invited to sign. #PilotOPCs https://www.fph.org.uk/news-events/fph-news/call-to-amend-misuse-of-drugs-regulations-to-make-it-easier-to-pilot-overdose-prevention-centres/

Labour is now joining the Tories in damaging opposition to free movement of people, which Scotland desperately needs. Scotland must re-join the EU and restore free movement as soon as possible, and will only happen with independence. #indyref2 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺 https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1538771495522078721

“The rule of law is anything but the preserve of the elite. It is the last, most precious protection of the weak against the whims of the strong. It is what stands between us and tyranny. And our prime minister poses a grave threat to it.” Latest column https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/17/britain-has-a-decision-to-make-the-rule-of-boris-johnson-or-the-rule-of-law?CMP=share_btn_tw

🗳️ The Scottish Government has a mandate for a referendum on Scottish independence, but don't take our word for it, listen to these pro-union politicians.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Pledge your support for independence and send them a message: http://www.yes.scot/signup

@alisonthewliss: "Rwanda policy is going to cost a fortune and is not going to help in anyway.

It really is quite abhorrent, to take people who have come here from warzones, who perhaps have family here and want to reunite, and the UK Gov't wants to put them on a plane." #bbcqt

The Tories haven’t won an election in Scotland since 1955 yet continue to try and dictate the terms of our democracy.

That’s the scandal.

Please take some time and look at this planning application. It will create a major safety issue for kids walking to school or getting the bus. If you object please make your objections viit this link. https://eplanning.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=RC48P2BAIXY00&activeTab=summary

The new analysis reinforces the clear mandate for #indyref2 from the 2021 election:

👉🏼 Increased majority of pro-independence MSPs
👉🏼 Record high pro-independence number of votes
👉🏼 Record high pro-independence vote share https://twitter.com/YesScot/status/1537402753152077825

Harnessed like dogs, transported like criminals: The harrowing stories of the men forced onto yesterday’s failed Rwanda flight

The plane may have been grounded at the 11th hour, but these people endured trauma that will be difficult to forget

W @Beltrew
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rwanda-flight-refugees-deportation-migrant-b2102064.html

So happy to see this introduced today and it has my full support.

Proper neonatal leave and pay was ditched from the Government's Employment Bill in the Queen's Speech, so I'm relieved Parliament is stepping up on this. https://twitter.com/Stuart_McDonald/status/1537095089348087813

Exc: Morale among Home Office staff at ‘rock bottom’ following failed Rwanda flight, source says

Staff frustrated at being seen to be 'going along with' policy despite it being 'purely ministerial led'. Says treatment of ppl yday 'shameful'

More to come
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rwanda-flight-home-office-staff-priti-patel-uk-b2101532.html

Yesterday in the Commons, I set out to defend @Channel4 from the Tories' attempt to privatise it. Naturally, #NadineDorries left the Chamber immediately.

The Smallest Things is delighted that @Stuart_McDonald will introduce a Neonatal Care (Leave & Pay) Bill today.

We know how important this change is for NICU families. No parent should be sitting next to an incubator worrying about work and pay.

http://thesmallestthings.org/neonatal-leave-and-pay

Today @Stuart_McDonald will be using his Private Members Bill to present a bill for paid leave for parents whilst their baby or babies are in neonatal care. This is the first step in making this bill a reality. Thank you @Stuart_McDonald - this will help so many families.

SNP’s @Stuart_McDonald commends lawyers involved in #Rwabda appeals “for their hard work, in the face of some utterly inappropriate commentary from gov’t”. Asks Patel to hear Law Society and Bar Council’s call to “stop attacking legal professionals for simply doing their job.”~AA