Fairtrade Fortnight 2021

I am backing this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight campaign, which is highlighting how the climate crisis is threatening the future of food and those who produce it. In a show of support for Fairtrade, I participated in a virtual parliamentary event alongside other politicians to mark the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from 22 February … Read more

Margaret Ferrier MP joins call for disabled people to be given £20 lifeline

On Wednesday 17 February Margaret Ferrier, MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, heard how a decision to deny some disabled people £20 per week to help to survive the COVID-19 crisis has left growing numbers unable to pay for rent, food and heating1.  Margaret heard how for ten months the Government has refused to give emergency funding to over 2.2 million people on legacy benefits – including those on Employment and … Read more

Parliamentary Export Programme

I am delighted to invite businesses in Rutherglen and Hamilton West to an informative and interactive free webinar on how to take advantage of export opportunities and tap into demand for British products from overseas. Would you like to learn about how you can grow your business by finding new international customers? Do you want to find out … Read more

Cold Weather Payments

Cold Weather Payments have been triggered for postcode districts G44, G71, G72, G73 and G74 on 15 February. Cold Weather Payments are made to recipients of selected benefits. To trigger the payments, the average temperature at a specified weather station must be recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven consecutive days. … Read more

SME Brexit Support Fund

Today (Thursday 11 February) the UK Government has launched its SME Brexit Support Fund, intended to support small and medium enterprises in adjusting to rule changes in trade with European Union countries. As the UK Government writes on its website, “SMEs who trade only with the EU and are therefore new to importing and exporting … Read more