Press releases

New PM implored to stand up for women and scrap rape clause threat

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Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, has written to the new Prime Minister, Theresa May, urging her to “stand up for vulnerable women and scrap the rape clause”.

Writing to Theresa May after the Government announced its autumn statement would take place Wednesday 23rd November, the Glasgow MP urged the Prime Minister to do the right thing and abandon the previous Government’s plans to restrict tax credits to two children and compel women whose third child was born as the result of rape to justify this to Department of Work & Pensions officials.

Ms Thewliss has been campaigning for the tax credit changes to be scrapped since July 2015, when they were first announced by the Government. Since then, she has:

This week, the campaigning MP has written to Downing Street, calling upon Theresa May to use the recent change in Government and forthcoming Autumn Statement to abolish the deeply flawed changes to tax credits.

In addition, Ms Thewliss was informed today (Tuesday) that she has been granted a Westminster debate, which she says she will use to “interrogate” Ministers on their proposed plans.

Commenting, the Glasgow Central MP said:

“Theresa May certainly wasn’t shy in weeding out many of the former Prime Minister’s allies in the cabinet, and she is obviously not afraid to do things differently from David Cameron.

“Given that she’s had the courage to do this and to review some of the previous Government’s key policy commitments, I am today calling upon her to scrap a very real and serious policy which is still frightening vulnerable women and welfare charities all over the UK.

“Since summer 2015, I’ve been pursuing the Government on their deeply flawed plans to restrict tax credit payments to two children per family.

“Equally worrying is their medieval plan to introduce a rape clause, whereby certain exemptions will be made – and tax credits paid – if a women can prove her third child was conceived as a result of rape.

“Earlier this year, I had an dreadful meeting with the Welfare Minister, Lord Freud, who struggled to answer basic questions and suggested that women in abusive relationships – where the majority of rapes still happen – should just flee. This showed the Minister to be completely ignorant of the very real dangers some women face.

“I am pleased to have secured a parliamentary debate on this issue to interrogate the Government on their cruel and unworkable policy. Over a year on from announcing it, they still don’t know how it could be implemented.

“A parliamentary debate, change in personnel in Government, as well as the forthcoming Autumn Statement, means that Theresa May has plenty of opportunities to do the right thing, stand up for vulnerable women and scrap the rape clause.

“This needn’t be about saving face for the Prime Minister. It’s about this Prime Minister standing up for other women, doing the decent thing and getting shot of this wicked policy agenda”.

MP in “certainty” plea to Government over Yemeni asylum seekers

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Alison Thewliss MP sitting at her desk in Parliament

Scottish National Party MP, Alison Thewliss, today pressed the UK Government to provide “safety and certainty” and grant refugee status to asylum seekers from Yemen.

Taking part in an exchange with Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood, regarding breaches of humanitarian law in Yemen, the Glasgow Central MP said the Government was failing woefully to help provide certainty to Yemeni asylum seekers.

With most of the debate between MPs and the Minister focusing on British arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Ms Thewliss seized on recent figures from the Home Office which show that in the second quarter of 2016 alone thirteen Yemenis were refused asylum in the UK and a further fifty-seven applications were still showing as pending. She called upon Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood, to help provide certainty to Yemeni asylum seekers.

Commenting, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“It beggars belief that the Foreign Office are aware of the awful humanitarian crisis in the Yemen, yet the Home Office – in their characteristically obtuse manner – still have their heads in the sand.

“The most recent Home Office statistics show that they’ve rejected asylum claims from thirteen Yemeni asylum seekers. Where exactly do they expect them to go if they don’t want to give them refugee status? Are they seriously suggesting they should return to Yemen which is quite literally a war zone?

“Equally as bad is the fact that the Home Office have kicked another fifty-seven asylum applications into the long grass with no decision. These people urgently need certainty; people are lying awake at night worrying whether they will be forced to return to a country suffering brutal conflict and severe humanitarian disaster.

“Ministers need to show some humanity and grant Yemeni citizens status in the UK, not leave them in fear of being returned to a war zone”.

MP praises Step Change debt charity

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SNP MP Alison Thewliss has praised a national debt advice charity based in her Glasgow Central constituency. The Westminster MP was visiting Step Change as part of her summer recess visits.

Step Change, which is headquartered in Leeds but has over 40 staff in its Glasgow base, assisted almost 7,000 clients in Scotland within the last year. Figures show that the average debt per Step Change client in Scotland is approximately £12,500. Now the SNP MP is calling for anyone worried about debt to get in touch with Step Change by calling on 0800 138 1111.

Commenting after her visit, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“I really appreciated the opportunity to visit Step Change’s Glasgow base and to learn more about the invaluable service they provide to those with concerns around debt and personal finance.

“People can fall into debt for a whole variety of reasons – a change in employment, reduced income or benefits, lack of budgeting or a relationship breakdown.

“Step Change is there to help people get back on their feet with practical help like putting a budget together, negotiating reduced payments with creditors or even just being a listening ear over the phone.

“I would recommend that anyone who feels they cannot cope financially gets in touch with Step Change by calling their free advice line on 0800 138 1111.”

Thewliss condemns “anti-foreigner” rhetoric from the UK Government

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Alison Thewliss MP at Buchanan Street Steps

SNP MP Alison Thewliss has condemned the UK Government for what she says is yet more “anti-foreigner rhetoric emanating from Downing Street”.

With newspapers recently covering a story that the Government is to launch an initiative to crackdown on student migrants, Ms Thewliss says that moves to do so would be deeply damaging to the city of Glasgow.

As well as being home to many college campuses, the Glasgow Central constituency includes Glasgow School of Art, the University of Strathclyde, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University – all of which have thousands of international students studying in the city.

The Glasgow Central MP has written to Prime Minister, Theresa May, urging her to abandon any proposals to deter international students.

Commenting, Ms Thewliss said:

“This continued anti-foreigner rhetoric emanating from Downing Street is deeply damaging for the city of Glasgow.

“Glasgow is enormously enriched by the thousands of talented international students who come to learn in our world class education establishments.

“Our universities work incredibly hard to attract students to the UK, who bring their skills as well as funding. Universities are already facing challenges in attracting international students due to the removal of the post-study work visa, and students are choosing to go instead to countries which make them make them more welcome.

“UK Government moves to further restrict international students will only serve to undermine the efforts of universities. This comes as yet a further blow to universities which are already set to lose crucial Horizon 2020 funding.

“The UK’s decision to leave the European Union in June – despite Scotland voting overwhelmingly to remain – has already caused concern for EU nationals currently studying in Scotland. Theresa May’s Government should be focussing on making people feel welcome – not digging a deeper moat, pulling up the drawbridge and adopting a little Britain attitude.”

Tories must live up to their rhetoric and scrap regressive policies against women

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Alison Thewliss MP joins supporters at the launch of her campaign to scrap the rape clause

Medieval two child policy has still not been scrapped.

The SNP has called on Theresa May to “live up to her rhetoric” of being on the side of ordinary people by scrapping her party’s regressive policies against women.

A report by Engender found that since 2010, £26 billion worth of cuts have been made to benefits, tax credits, pay and pensions and 85% of this has fallen on women’s incomes.

This week, the new Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green confirmed that as part of the delayed roll-out of Universal Credit, the two child policy will continue to operate – meaning a further hit to women’s incomes.

During Women and Equalities Questions in the House of Commons today, SNP MP Alison Thewliss asked what was being done to about women being disproportionately impacted by Tory welfare refoms – Work and Pensions minister Caroline Nokes failed to suggest any way of tackling the imbalance.

Alison Thewliss MP said:

“According to Engender, since 2010 there have been £26 billion of cuts made to benefits, tax credits, pay and pensions with 85% of this coming directly from women’s incomes.

“The Tories are determined to plough on with the roll-out of Universal Credit despite the new Work and Pensions Secretary revealing the roll-out has been delayed for another year and despite the new benefit already being plagued with delays and billions of extra costs.

“The continued roll-out of the Tories’ failed new benefit will also mean the frankly medieval two child policy has still not been scrapped even though it almost certainly breaches the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.

“It is not enough to simply have a female Prime Minister as there is still so much work to be done when it comes to gender equality – Theresa May must live up to her rhetoric.”

Alison Thewliss MP helps constituents get smart with energy

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Alison Thewliss MP meeting representatives from British Gas in Parliament.

Alison Thewliss MP is encouraging constituents in Glasgow Central to take advantage of smart meters to help save energy at home.

This week, Ms Thewliss attended a British Gas event at Portcullis House in Westminster, to see how constituents can save money on their bills thanks to innovative energy saving technology.

British Gas’ Smart Energy Experts, who install smart meters in homes, were on hand to showcase the technology and to talk about the benefits to customers, as well as explain the company’s new FreeTime plan, which offers customers free electricity on Saturdays or Sundays between 9am-5pm’.

In Glasgow Central, more than 2100 smart meters have been installed in homes by British Gas.

Ms Thewliss said: “Meeting British Gas’ Smart Energy Experts was a great way to learn how my constituents could benefit from smart meters and the new energy saving plan. I’d urge anyone to find out more about this fantastic technology. Homes can save energy and money on bills.”

British Gas Smart Energy Expert, Nicola Bush, said: “I’m proud to be part of the smart meter roll-out. Smart meters mean an end to estimated bills and the need to give meter readings. Customers can see how much energy they’re using in pounds and pence. It’s a really simple way for our customers to save energy.”

* British Gas smart meters replace standard meters and come with a smart energy monitor which helps people to better understand their energy usage, resulting in potential savings on bills.

* British Gas smart meter customers also benefit from an end to estimated bills, because the meters automatically send accurate readings to the supplier.

* British Gas customers with smart meters can benefit from ground-breaking new plan offering free electricity between 9am and 5pm on Saturday or Sunday.

For further information, visit www.britishgas.co.uk/smart

Energy-saving tips from British Gas Smart Energy Expert, Nicola Bush:

1. “Turn the lights out. If you leave a room, or don’t need the lights on, flick the switch and turn them off.

2. “Putting hot food in the fridge wastes energy and is bad for your appliance. So let it cool naturally first.

3. “Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need. There’s no point boiling a full kettle if you’re only making tea for yourself.

4. “If you can, do the week’s washing in one go and put a full load into the machine. And if you’ve got an eco-function, put that on too.”

“Shameless” Prime Minister condemned by SNP MP

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Alison Thewliss MP sitting at her desk in Parliament

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, today branded the Prime Minister shameless for shrugging off repeated international condemnation for his welfare policies.

Ms Thewliss was questioning Prime Minister David Cameron in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 6th July) about recent United Nations condemnation for UK welfare cuts.

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has published a damning new report on the UK’s implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. The Glasgow MP asked the Prime Minister how much more international condemnation was needed before he scrapped his regressive welfare policies, including plans to limit tax credits to two children and a rape clause mechanism.

Ms Thewliss commented:

“Yet again the Prime Minister has behaved in the most utterly shameless way possible by brushing off my calls to respect UN concerns about economic, social and cultural rights, which are clearly impeded by these regressive welfare policies.

“I’m appalled that the Prime Minister can casually dismiss major concerns from highly respected institutions such as the United Nations.

“The rape clause and two child policy, as well as many other welfare changes, take us down a deeply damaging path to social engineering and it will heap further misery on already vulnerable people.

“The Prime Minister needs to put his pride aside and scrap these cruel policies.”

Thewliss presses PM for assurances on EIB loan terms

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Alison Thewliss MP speaking in the House of Commons

SNP MP Alison Thewliss this week questioned the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, and lambasted his “hopelessly inadequate” reassurances for Glasgow following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

Questioning David Cameron in Parliament, Ms Thewliss asked the Prime Minister what reassurances could be provided for businesses and organisations in Glasgow who have benefited from EU Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants and European Investment Bank (EIB) finance.

Ms Thewliss said the Prime Minister bumbled his way through the answer and couldn’t give any guarantees to Glasgow.

Commenting from the House of Commons, Ms Thewliss said:

“The Prime Minister’s answer was hopelessly inadequate and will offer no comfort or reassurance whatsoever to companies and organisations in Glasgow worried about their future.

“Hundreds of millions of pounds from the European Investment Bank have led to major investment in Glasgow yet we still don’t know what Brexit will mean for the terms of those loans.

“It beggars belief that Downing Street had no plans in place in the event of Brexit. Contrast this, for example, to the Scottish Government’s weighty white paper which was in place long before the Scottish independence referendum.

“Leaving the EU was always, sadly, a possible outcome when the UK Government legislated for a referendum. The Prime Minister is only now, belatedly and hurriedly, setting up a new department in Whitehall to plan for Brexit. That’s just not good enough; a degree of certainty is crucial for all organisations to plan for the months and years ahead.

“The Prime Minister must make it a top priority to get around the country, visit the businesses and organisations who’ll be affected by Brexit, and obtain answers about what this dreadful decision will mean for them”.

A transcript of the exchange:

Alison Thewliss MP: The Prime Minister said that we are entitled to all the benefits of EU membership up until the point at which we leave. Can I clarify if there has been any discussions about access to EU funding, such as Regional Selective Assistance which has created and safeguarded 10,000 jobs and been worth £83 million to Glasgow since 2010 and the terms and conditions of loans issued by the European Investment Bank, which also provided significant amounts of money and require some clarity for local authorities involved in the loans.

Prime Minister: What I can say is that any contract entered into before Britain leaves the EU should be honoured in full in terms of EU funding for research or for regions of our country. The status we have with respect to the European Investment Bank will have to be determined as part of the negotiations and that is the sort of technical issue that the [dedicated] Whitehall unit can look at now and see what the options are so that we can discuss them in this House.

City MP demands reassurance on financial service industry jobs

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Alison Thewliss MP sitting at her desk in Parliament

SNP MP, Alison Thewliss, has written to UK Chancellor, George Osborne, demanding urgent reassurance and support for jobs in Glasgow’s key international financial services district.

Following yesterday’s decision for Britain to leave the European Union – despite all of Scotland voting overwhelmingly to remain – there are now major concerns as to what this decision will mean for jobs in the financial services sector.

On Friday, Morgan Stanley announced that it was moving 2,000 jobs from London to Dublin and Frankfurt.

Commenting, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“Thousands of high value jobs in Glasgow City Centre are dependent on the financial services industry. Such is the strength of the industry that a large part of the city centre is actually designated as the international financial services district, which was built with EU cash.

“Since polls closed and pointed to a leave vote, we have seen the pound plummet and UK economy stall. At least one company in London has already announced that it is moving jobs out of the UK and into another EU member state. I am deeply concerned about the consequences of yesterday’s vote for our city and the local economy.

“The Chancellor needs to step in immediately and give support and urgent reassurance to Glasgow – his party has caused this mess. It needs cleaned up without delay.”

MP hails 40 years of “inspirational” work of Rape Crisis Centre

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Alison Thewliss MP with Mhairi Black MP and representatives of Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, has hailed forty years of “inspirational” work from the Rape Crisis Centre in Glasgow.

This week, along with Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Mhairi Black, the SNP duo visited Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre to hear about their work and the challenges they face. 2016 marks the charity’s fortieth year since being established in Scotland’s largest city.

Commenting after visiting the organisation which is based in her constituency, Ms Thewliss said:

“For the last forty years, Rape Crisis has been doing inspirational work to support women survivors of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse. So much of this work goes totally unrecognised and happens under the radar, but it is vital in supporting vulnerable women in Glasgow from all kinds of backgrounds.

“Getting the opportunity to spend some time with the staff at the centre this week was hugely valuable in terms of getting an insight into the complex challenges they face in supporting women through unimaginably horrific situations.

“It’s a bittersweet moment to celebrate forty years of an organisation that shouldn’t have to exist in this day and age. However, the figures show that too many rapes still go unreported and the conviction rate is still far, far too low. We need to remember that, although the majority – 97% – of rape cases don’t result in conviction, it’s still absolutely imperative the survivors of rape and sexual abuse are given sensitive and confidential support as they try to rebuild their lives.

“The work that Rape Crisis staff and volunteers do from their Support to Report project right down to their first response helpline is absolutely vital, and I very much look forward to taking forward a number of issues they raised with me to day which I, in turn, will be taking up with the Scottish and UK Governments.”