Martin Whitfield MSP
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martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
Martin Whitfield MSP
@martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
510 followers 26 following 5 posts
Labour MSP for South Scotland | Shadow Minister for Children and Young People Scottish Labour | Business Manager for Scottish Labour Parliamentary Group
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Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
parliament.scot
The Standards Committee says a Member's Bill to allow MSPs to be recalled needs a solution to the challenge of recalling a regional MSP.

Convener Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed proposals brought by Graham Simpson MSP to address concerns.

Committee recommendations: https://ow.ly/mfBx50XrRvL

November 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
parliament.scot
"How we behave, approach and see our role is fundamental to what committees do and how they do it."

Yesterday, Standards Committee Convener
@martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social opened a debate about its recent report on Strengthening Committees’ Effectiveness.
November 7, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
childrenfirst.bsky.social
Thank you to @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social for raising a vital question at First Minister’s Questions today: What urgent action will the Scottish Government take to tackle the online abuse of children?

Watch the exchange here: ow.ly/SUI850XnPx0

Read our statement here: ow.ly/vrfw50XnPx1
Meeting of the Parliament | Scottish Parliament TV
ow.ly
November 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
parliament.scot
‘Fundamental issues’ must be addressed in a Bill which would introduce a process where MSPs could be recalled - potentially losing their seat.

The Standards Committee says the Bill needs further thought for it to work.

Report: ow.ly/Q5Om50Xn3jP

Convener @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social 👇
November 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
presidingofficer.parliament.scot
I have selected 2 topical questions to be asked in @parliament.scot today.

1. @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social to ask the Govt how it plans to meet the interim & final child poverty reduction targets, in light of @jrf-uk.bsky.social findings that current levels remain largely unchanged since 2021.
Graphic says Topical Question Martin Whitfield MSP, with an image of the MSP alongside, smiling.
October 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
parliament.scot
📢 Changes are proposed to Scotland’s FOI laws.

The Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to make it easier to access information and hold public services to account.

Listen to Standards Committee Convener @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social and have your say by 22 Oct

🔗 ow.ly/V83p50X5EOR
October 2, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
darrenpjones.bsky.social
Scots rightly expect both the UK and Scottish governments to work together to create jobs and make people better off across Scotland.

In my capacity as the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations it was a pleasure to meet with First Minister John Swinney in London today.

🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
September 22, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
muteswann.bsky.social
Thanks to all who came along, and especially @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social for sponsoring and @jemm-s.bsky.social @rosewhiff.bsky.social and Daniel, our CEO, for being an awesome team to work with today and every day.
transparencyuk.bsky.social Transparency International UK @transparencyuk.bsky.social · Sep 3
Great to be in Holyrood to discuss how better lobbying transparency can help understand who is seeking to influence our democracy.

We'll be presenting findings from our Open Access tool that presents lobbying data from both Westminster & Holyrood.

To learn more ⬇️

openaccess.transparency.org.uk
September 3, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
holyroodmag.bsky.social
Scottish Government misses interim child poverty targets www.holyrood.com/news/view,sc...
Scottish Government misses interim child poverty targets
Poverty campaigners have dubbed the failure a “national embarrassment”
www.holyrood.com
March 28, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
holyroodmag.bsky.social
Almost all female MSPs have experienced online abuse, a survey conducted by Holyrood has found www.holyrood.com/news/view,al...
Almost all female MSPs targeted by online abuse, survey finds
This includes rape threats, death threats and severe misogynistic abuse
www.holyrood.com
March 10, 2025 at 7:02 AM
martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
Out and about chatting to voters in Prestonpans. A lot of discussion about world events but also concerns more locally about NHS Education and the need for a New Direction for Scotland
A selfie photograph outside houses in Rowberry Walk Prestonpans. Five campaigners stand behind a knee high white road sign. The campaigners three men and two women are stood on grass and pavement infront of two houses. Four of the campaigners are carrying red folders with “Vote Labour” on the front. I am holding the camera in the foreground wearing a mustard jacket. The houses in the background are new design and sit at right angles to each other, separated by a wooden fence. The houses are brick on ground floor and white stucco upstairs. One front door is white the other black A selfie photograph on a new estate road in Prestonpans. The road goes into the background ground with houses in both sides that are light coloured. Many houses have vehicles in the drives and grass front gardens straight onto the pavement. Three campaigners stand behind and are in conversation. Two men and one woman. Two are wearing black jackets and one a blue jacket. Two campaigners are carrying red folders and two are wearing red badges. I am holding the camera in the foreground wearing a mustard jacket.
March 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
coalfieldsregen.bsky.social
It was great to see @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social at our #ScotLab25 stand.

Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to hear about our new strategy.
February 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
bridgeslothian.bsky.social
Our Young Ambassadors recently responded to a consultation on the proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill put forward by
@martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social 🗳

They voted unanimously in favour of the principles of the Bill✅

⬇️Here are some of the responses they submitted to explain their support for it✍️
February 28, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
childrenfirst.bsky.social
Thank you @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social for visiting Scotland's first Bairns Hoose and sharing @scottishlabour.bsky.social commitment to putting children's rights and the recovery at the centre of Bairns Hoose roll out.
Martin Whitfield MSP, Mary Glasgow and Lily Humphreys sitting next to each other on blue sofa in a room at the Bairns Hoose.
February 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
savechildrensco.bsky.social
Great to see @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social at #ScotLab25 supporting action to end child poverty in Scotland at #ScotLab25 !
February 22, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
policychloe.bsky.social
@scottishlabour.bsky.social Conf this wkend reflecting on the Care Review & changes still needed to #KeepThePromise -removing profit from the ‘care system’, keeping families safely together, addressing restraint & school exclusion @thepromisescotland.bsky.social @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
February 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
asthmalungscot.bsky.social
Thank you @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social for visiting our stand at #ScotLab25 and talking about the challenges facing people with lung conditions in South Scotland
February 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
paulsweeney.bsky.social
The French effort to restore Notre-Dame de Paris in 5 years was heroic.

More than 7 years after the 2018 fire, Mackintosh's Glasgow School of Art remains a shell. Restoration is still a distant prospect.

Today, I asked @angusrobertson.bsky.social to make its restoration a national project.
January 8, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
carerscoalition.bsky.social
In the last 2 years, 42% of carers centres in Scotland have received no increase in their funding from local authorities.

Thank you @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social for supporting our pledge for better and secure funding for local carers centres and young carer services.

#CarersCantWait
A photo of Martin Whitfield MSP holding a poster which reads I support secure and improved funding for local carers centres and young carer services.
December 16, 2024 at 11:54 AM
martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
Can’t recommend enough The Brunton www.thebrunton.co.uk/whats-on/a-c... and Wonderfools www.wonderfools.org brilliant all family Panto A Christmas Carol - as the maestro said “there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour!”
A photograph of six people with a background of a Christmas tree. The central character is a Blonde wigged Panto Dame dressed in zebra print clothes, yellow washing up gloves and yellow knee high boots. The Dame carries a zebra Gucci print bag. The five other people surround the Dame wearing high viz factory clothes. Clockwise from the left a pony tailed woman is kneeling touching the bag, next a man wearing safety goggles is standing looking around the Dames shoulder. The next person is in the Dames left shoulder wearing safety glasses. The next person is bending over and the last person is on their hands and knees acting as a foot rest for the Dame who is resting their left foot on his back. The festive photograph is an advert for a pantomime by theatre company Wonderfools and The Brunton East Lothian.
December 7, 2024 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
ginawilson.bsky.social
Consultation is open on the proposed Youth Work Bill. www.parliament.scot/bills-and-la... @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
The Bill aims to make youth work more accessible & sustainable across Scotland. Youth work offers transformative opps for young people.
Share your views on the proposals.
Group of people holding copies of the Youth Work Bill consultation document at the Citadel Youth Centre in Edinburgh.
December 6, 2024 at 8:20 PM
martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
It was a pleasure to speak at the Scottish Youth Work Leaders Forum in Edinburgh about my proposed Youth Work Bill.

Youth work is vital for supporting young people, and this Bill aims to give it the recognition it deserves.

Take part in the consultation👇
parliament.scot/bills-and-laws…
Photograph of large room with an orange wall on one side , windows on the other. 16 youth leaders are sat in small groups at 4 round tables. Martin Whitfield MSP is at the far end facing the sitting groups. He is holding a copy of the consultation paper. He wears a dark suit with blue shirt and red tie. The light from a projector highlights his face. Martin Whitfield MSP is stood at the front of a group of youth leaders. The youth leaders are sat with their backs to the camera looking at Martin. The speaker is facing them wearing a dark suit, blue shirt and red tie. He is holding papers in his left hand and moving his right hand to emphasise a point. Behind him is a projection on a white wall and the top of his body is illuminated by the projector.
December 3, 2024 at 7:25 PM
martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
I'm proud to have launched my proposed Youth Work Bill at the Citadel Youth Club

This transformative Bill aims to make youth work a cornerstone of every young person’s life in Scotland.

My consultation is now live: parliament.scot/bills-and-laws…

Take part and make your voice heard.
Young people, Youth advocates and MSP standing in front of a mural at Citadel Youth Centre. They hold a leaflet promoting the consultation for a proposed bill. MSP speaking with two young people about a proposed bill. The group are standing in a room with a window behind. MSP and young people sitting at a table in a youth centre discussing a proposed bill. Some in the group are drinking coffee. A view of a cafe in a youth centre. The MSP is at the far end of the photograph standing. He is talking to young people and youth advocates about a proposed new bill.
November 25, 2024 at 9:24 PM