Author: Rhoda Grant

I and other Labour colleagues are horrified by the appalling scenes in Gaza including images of starvation, desperation and suffering of children and babies.

Scottish Labour’s direct priority is to continue to call for immediate humanitarian aid and relief – on the ground and at scale. We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered UN aid to Gaza, and the immediate release of hostages.

This UK Labour government was elected by the British people with a commitment to recognise the state of Palestine. It has always been a question of when, not if.

Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. It is also essential to the long-term security of Israel.

The UK Government announcement sets out a pathway to recognition of a Palestinian state in September before UNGA. It is part of a wider plan for peace aimed at ending the suffering and re-establishing a pathway to a two-state solution. As we have consistently said, Hamas must immediately release the hostages, agree to a ceasefire, commit to disarmament and have no role in the future governance of Gaza.

It is vital that the international community demonstrates to the Israeli government that we will not allow a two-state solution to be prevented. Given the situation on the ground, there is a historic, moral and diplomatic imperative to take this action now.

We continue to support the US, Qatari and Egyptian governments in their attempts to bring about a ceasefire and demand an immediate ceasefire to stop the slaughter, that the UN be allowed to send humanitarian assistance into Gaza on a continuing basis to prevent starvation, and the immediate release of the hostages.

We are committed to working together with our international partners to develop a credible peace plan for the next phase in Gaza that establishes transitional governance and security arrangements and ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid at the necessary scale. This must be accompanied by the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the removal of Hamas leadership from Gaza as key steps towards a negotiated two-state solution.

The SNP Government must ensure that Scottish hospices are given enough cash to address the financial crisis facing the sector, Scottish Labour has said.

Hospices in Scotland play a crucial role in our healthcare system and support families through some of the most difficult times of their lives – however, the sector is under significant financial pressure due to underfunding by the SNP.

This funding shortfall has made it difficult for hospices to match NHS pay for its doctors, nurses and hospice team without cutting services. This has also caused retention and recruitment difficulties for staff.

Sector bosses in Scotland have warned that at least £8.6 million is needed to keep pace with NHS pay awards.

It comes after the UK Government announced that the remaining £75 million from the £100 million additional funding for hospices in England will begin making its way to hospices.

Scottish Labour Health Spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP said: “While the UK Labour government is investing in hospices, the SNP is sitting on cash rather than giving this vital part of our health system the resources it needs.

“The SNP committed to £5million in this year’s budget to cover salary rises for last year, yet so far this has not been delivered.

“Last week, Scottish Labour announced we would support this important sector by funding pay for hospice teams in line with NHS staff with an extra £3.6million this year and £3.3million next year.

“The SNP must give hospices the money they are owed and match Scottish Labour’s pledge on pay so that staff are treated fairly and patients get the specialist support they deserve.”

At the budget approved in February 2025, the Scottish Government committed £5m for hospices, and alignment of pay uplifts to NHS pay awards – which is estimated to cost a further £3.6m this year.

In June 2025, the Scottish Government made an NHS pay award of 4.25% for most staff. Hospices face increased pressures if they are to extend this pay award to their doctors, nurses and specialist support staff.

I am happy to support the Carers UK State of Caring Survey 2025, which is open until 10 August 2025.

This annual survey is the UK’s most comprehensive insight into the lives of unpaid carers. It provides vital evidence that informs national and local policy, helping to shape the support and services carers rely on.

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QN5QWF7

I am encouraging all unpaid carers to take part and share your experiences. Your voices are essential in driving change and ensuring that carers’ needs across Scotland are recognised and addressed.

There has been rising concerns and reports from communities across Scotland over the illegal use of off-road bikes and other mechanically propelled bikes including mopeds, e-bikes and e-scooters.

Complaints often centre around off-road bikes becoming a threat to the public as the bikes are ridden recklessly in residential areas, town centres, on pavements and in green spaces – with no concern from the
riders for their own safety or that of the public.

I am happy to support Crimestoppers summer campaign that aims to support communities in reporting anonymously to their charity and providing information on where people can safely and legally enjoy riding their bike.

Riding off-road bikes illegally in public green spaces can cause serious injury to other people. Know who’s riding an off-road bike in parks or recreation grounds? You can tell independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously about who’s involved and where it happens. You can also get more
info on how you can report to local partners and where you can legally and safely ride an off-road vehicle.

Riding off-road bikes illegally on farm and private land damages crops, wildlife, and countryside. Often repair costs run into thousands. Know who’s riding an off-road bike on farmland and fields? You can tell independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously about who’s involved and where it happens.

Riding an off-road bike illegally in pedestrian areas can cause serious injuries to people and the rider. Know who’s riding an off-road bike illegally? You can tell independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously about who’s involved and where it happens. You can also get more info on how you can
report to local partners and where you can legally and safely ride an off-road vehicle via our website.

You can also get more info on this link on how you can report to local partners and where you can legally and safely ride an off-road vehicle. Illegal off-road bike activity across Scotland | Crimestoppers

Anyone can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 – 100% anonymous. Always

It is essential that the Scottish fishing industry is sustainable, and that our marine environment is protected.

Scottish Labour supports protecting our marine ecosystems but this cannot be at the expense of the livelihoods of our coastal communities.  Local fishers have been safeguarding our seas for generations – a Scottish Labour government would be working with them, not against them.

Thriving seas, with healthy fish populations and resilient habitats depend on an effective planning system at sea, so that Scotland’s seas support species, habitats and communities, as the health of our seas is vital for communities who rely on the marine environment.

Scotland’s Marine Assessment 2020 identified climate change, seabed-contacting and open water towed fishing activities as the key pressures facing marine biodiversity.  While the majority of Scotland’s fishers do not use these methods, Scottish Labour believes high intensity fishing practices like these and bottom trawling should therefore only be permitted in the right locations, where they do not risk damage to biodiversity. Coastal, island and fishing communities must be closely involved in the process of designing fisheries planning, and work must be done with all marine users to develop a clear consensus on how to balance the need to protect our marine environment and safeguard the tens of thousands of jobs that rely on it.

Success will depend upon a collaborative approach with all stakeholders, including local communities, fully involved, and engaged with support, access to advice and scientific evidence and independent scrutiny.

Labour will always back our great Scottish fishing industry, and recognises the challenges the fishing sector has faced over the past few years which is why we are engaging with industry to create more secure, sustainable, and economically successful fishing and aquaculture sectors, which will in turn support local communities. Effective fisheries management is key to addressing the contribution of commercial fishing to the climate and ecological crisis, and improving economic resilience to its impacts, and Labour will work to ensure we can meet both our goals.

The Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, reiterated this afternoon that the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) will begin a phased switch off on 30 June 2025. The switch-off will not be widespread in the first instance and will progress in a controlled fashion with oversight by both Ofgem and government.

• Ministers have confirmed that a widespread switch-off of Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters will not happen on 30 June – with this summer marking a limited start of a phase-out process.
• Industry will pursue a phased approach beginning with a very small number of homes and businesses in carefully targeted local areas, with government monitoring suppliers’ performance to ensure the process is smooth and working families are protected.
• Affected customers will be contacted in advance, and are urged to respond to energy suppliers and book appointments to have their meter replaced.

Thousands of people with a Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meter will not face any unexpected disruption to their heating or hot water at the end of this month, as the UK Government confirms there will be a cautious and targeted phase out to the service, protecting energy consumers.

The Radio Teleswitch Service uses radio signals to switch older electricity meters between different tariffs such as peak and off peak, and can also be used to turn heating and hot water systems on and off at specific times of the day.  The service was introduced in the 1980s and, as planned, is now reaching the end of its life.

Ofgem has been continually monitoring the industry’s efforts to replace RTS meters. Last year they decided more needed to be done so convened the sector to form an RTS Taskforce and made clear to suppliers they have to move faster. Following that intervention, the rate of meter replacements has increased from around 1,000 a month to more than 1,000 a day.

But unacceptably slow progress to replace these meters has left around 314,000 households still using them as of last month – equal to around 1 per cent of British households.

The phase out will now begin on a significantly smaller scale, in accessible areas with very few RTS customers, meaning energy suppliers will be ready to respond rapidly to protect households who most need support.

In advance of any phase out activity in their area, households will be contacted by their energy supplier to inform them well ahead of time, before their meters are affected.

Government and Ofgem have been clear that they also expect suppliers’ momentum to install replacement meters to increase over the coming weeks.

Charlotte Friel, Director for Retail Pricing & Systems for Ofgem, said: 

“Ofgem has been clear that customers must be protected at every stage of the phased area-by-area shutdown, and we are spelling out to suppliers key requirements that must be met before an area loses its RTS signal.

“At the same time we expect energy companies to go faster, building on the work of the cross-sector Taskforce set up by Ofgem that has seen the upgrade rate rise from 1000 meters per month to more than 1000 per day.

“While this carefully managed phaseout process should reassure customers, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced urgently so it’s vital to engage with your supplier when offered an appointment.”

This does not mean the process of replacing meters will slow down and I urge all affected constituents to contact their supplier.   Further information on the RTS switch-off can be found on suppliers’ websites or on Ofgem’s dedicated RTS webpage: Replacing your Radio Teleswitch electricity meter | Ofgem

This week I urged Scottish Ministers to keep their pledge to increase NHS Boards spending on Child and Adolescent Mental Health services to 1% of their frontline budgets.

In a Parliament Debate this week I said that with less than a year to go only one NHS Board in Scotland has achieved this target. I highlighted that NHS Highland’s spending has only reached 0.37%, less than half the expected amount. Minister Tom Arthur informed me in Parliament that he intends to meet with NHS Highland and all other Boards shortly to hear how they plan to meet this target.

I believe it is no secret that if you leave mental illness untreated in childhood it inevitably leads to mental illness in adulthood and with much poorer outcomes. Clearly there is a connection between the numbers of staff available to provide treatment and the length of time children spend waiting and getting worse whilst doing so. It is unfair on staff and families to leave the services with so much less than they need to provide the level of care everyone wants to see and that would make a positive difference to family’s lives.

The children of Scotland and their parents deserve better, it is highly unlikely that this promise will be kept and that is not only deeply disappointing but harmful to thousands of children who could have benefitted from the care they have been denied for years.

I was delighted to support the passage of the Care Reform Bill through Parliament and to have it passed during this year’s Carer’s Week was suitably fitting. This year’s theme focused on ‘Caring about Equality’, highlighting the challenges faced by unpaid carers. They play a vital role in society and deal with the challenges most of us would struggle with, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health. The Care Reform Bill was passed unanimously and will bring about changes to the existing care system. This includes giving unpaid carers a Right to a Break from caring. This will be easier said than done, but the intent is there to ensure they receive critical short breaks and respite from caring to achieve balance in their lives and be able to look after their own health and wellbeing.
One of the biggest changes is to allow family and friends to be named as ‘essential care supporters’ and to require care homes to facilitate visits from them in all but the most extreme circumstances. Nicknamed ‘Anne’s Law’ this grew from a petition to Parliament from a woman who was unable to visit her mother in her care home during the pandemic, ultimately missing her death.
Those of you who pay attention will recall this Bill should have included plans for a National Care Service. Unfortunately, like so much else under this government, a good idea fell to pieces once it came into contact with the SNP. They really are the opposite of a learning organisation and continue to repeat the same mistakes, ignoring the views of those much more experienced in the matter and discounting the wise advice of those who wished to see the National Care Service become a reality. This arrogance and misplaced confidence in their own opinion has set the creation of a National Care Service back years. I look forward to a Scottish Labour led government next year that will begin to fix this, and all the other messes left by this SNP Government that is tired and past its expiry date.

The ongoing scenes of violence and destruction in Gaza are heartbreaking and completely unacceptable. The ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid is intolerable and must end.

Scottish Labour continues to demand an immediate return to ceasefire, immediate access to humanitarian aid, the immediate release of all hostages and a credible pathway to a two-state solution where the people of Israel and Palestine can both live in peace and security.

Labour is deeply committed to the upholding of international humanitarian law which is why the UK Government has supported actions to allow the ICC and ICJ freedom to do their important work. The UK Labour Government have also tightened up arms export controls and increased sanctions have been imposed on settlers because of the unacceptable and violent expansion of the West Bank.

It is important to separate Hamas from the Palestinian people, which is why the collective punishment of the Palestinian people must end. But it is also important to distinguish the Israeli people from Benjamin Netanyahu. It is clear that he and his and far-right government are now acting as a barrier to peace and long term security for the people of Israel and the region.

Labour have said that the UK Government will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government continues with these intolerable actions and escalation of conflict. It is not compatible with the values of our nation. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, the Government have been clear in the joint statement issued this week with France and Canada that it is prepared to take further concrete actions in response.

Ultimately violence is not the answer, and peace will only come through dialogue and diplomacy. That will require renewed international efforts and is why the Labour Government continues to press and work with allies and international partners, to condemn the blockade, seek a return to ceasefire, demand the return of hostages and pursue negotiations on a long term peace settlement.

I share the heartbreak of what is happening in Gaza. We want the violence to stop immediately and to see a peaceful resolution that protects the sanctity of life regardless of people’s race, faith, nationality or background.