General News May 2016

Well, everyone, it’s finally here! The EU referendum is going to be our fourth national vote in two years, and we’re sailing high The EU Referendum: Your other vote this year on a sea of optimism because having two campaigns running side-by-side over the past In it, you’ll find facts, stats and infographics about few weeks worked out quite nicely. Huge ’s EU membership, along with our insiders’ congratulations to all my SNP colleagues old guide to how it all works. For example, the EU set a cap and new who were sworn in this month - on bankers’ bonuses to ward off another crash; it gives including Holyrood’s new Deputy Presiding you the right to paid annual leave; and EU immigrants Officers, Christine Grahame and Linda Fabiani. contribute a whopping £55 per second to the UK public purse. Pretty good, eh? During the past few months I was fortunate enough to join some MSP candidates on the campaign trail and talk Of course, many of you will be asking why I want an to a few undecided voters along the way, so I can tell you independent Scotland but am passionately pro-EU. that when we wake up on the 24th June, Scotland will The short answer is that many of the issues faced by be more engaged and informed about the EU. This can Scotland are not because of the EU, but instead due to only benefit us as a nation. MEPs are out there working UK priorities. Poor outcomes are due to who speaks for in Scotland’s name, so understanding how the EU works Scotland in the EU. The SNP is an internationalist party. is the first step towards critiquing whether it’s working in We want independence for Scotland not to withdraw from our interests. the world and shun our neighbours, but to enable us to interact with them as equals.

This referendum will be about far more than money, no matter how clear the economic case is.

This is about empowering and enriching the Scottish nation by remaining a participant in one of the world’s largest and most progressive economic and social communities. This will come down to a choice about what The Wee BLEU Book - download yours for free! kind of Scotland we want: open, co-operative and successful or narrow and insular. I know what kind of Scotland we deserve. Let’s build it together. With that in mind, Ian Hudghton and I have released our Wee BLEU Book, which you can find at Yours aye, www.scotlandineurope.eu/wee_bleu_book if you haven’t already received the email. If you prefer a printed version, you can print out the pdf on your home computer, buy next month’s edition of iScot magazine, or nab one of the hard copies we’ll be handing out at events and meetings around the country. TTIP negotiations ‘totally blocked’

This month saw French Trade Minister Matthias Fekl state that the ongoing TTIP talks are “totally blocked”.

As you’ll know, the deal is being negotiated by the European Commission and cannot come into force unless all 28 member states agree, and the package is approved by a majority of MEPs. So Minister Fekl’s statement is a rather important indicator of how these talks are going.

During an interview with French radio, Minister Fekl said that not only are the negotiations “totally blocked” but also that a halt to talks “is the most probable option… in its current state, France cannot sign [TTIP]”. We’ve seen major disagreements fail to be sorted out despite 13 rounds of talks, and Minister Fekl declared that “Europe is giving a lot… but receiving very little in return”. boost the Scottish economy must be looked at on its Some folk have asked why your SNP MEPs are merits. Better to negotiate a deal than to have it foisted engaging with TTIP at all. The answer is that it would upon us by a UK government that has been acting as one be irresponsible to disengage from the process and of TTIP’s biggest cheerleaders. then complain afterwards that the end result isn’t good enough. I am deeply concerned but while I have a The SNP’s red lines are very clear - the NHS and other mandate to get the best deal for Scotland, I will not take public services must be clearly carved out, European the easy approach of walking away. standards must not be compromised and corporations must not be given any special rights to sue governments The reason we’re engaging with the TTIP process is so that pursue policies they disagree with. If the final form of we can maximise our influence over it; it is possible that the TTIP deal does not match our expectations, then we a better TTIP could be negotiated and anything that will will vote against it.

Nuclear: a technology of the past I’ve underlined the need for Scotland (and Europe) to Nuclear power is a technology of the past. When it phase out nuclear power and invest in renewable energy comes to huge upfront costs, ability to construct projects sources, following reports that Belgian citizens will be on time, the potential for enormous taxpayer liabilities, issued with iodine pills in case of a nuclear accident. and safety issues, nuclear is simply not competitive.

Belgium’s High Council for Health declared that the The SNP Government has a proud record on energy current 20km radius from a nuclear power plant to run on in this election, both in promoting “ready (perimeter for receiving iodine pills) is too small and to go” sources of energy such as wind and solar, and that the radius should be extended to 100km, covering in encouraging research into technologies which will virtually every citizen in Belgium, as well as others in the define the decades to come, like wave and tidal. In Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany. This follows contrast, the UK Government has killed the potential ongoing concerns about safety at Belgian nuclear plants to develop Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK by including the potential for a terrorist attack. arbitrarily and without warning eliminating the funding for demonstration projects, and has put all its energy In contrast, the Scottish Government’s development of eggs into the leaky Hinkley basket - while across Europe new renewable energy technologies like wind and solar countries like Germany are abandoning nuclear, and has meant that over 50% of our electricity now comes countries like Belgium are having to deal with the from renewable sources, carbon emissions are down potentially lethal consequences of failure. since 1990 by almost 40% - and there will be no nuclear build in Scotland. Scotland is leading the way towards an energy future that has no need for new nuclear, and Europe would be well 2 advised to follow. with Donna Heddle in Orkney

with Gail Ross in 2016 Campaign Trail Wick

with Keith Brown with Richard Lochead in Stirling in Forres

with Michael Russell in Oban

with volunteers in Elgin

with in Perth

with Fiona Hyslop in Bathgate with Linda Fabiani in East Kilbride

with Angela Constance in Almond Valley

with Christina McKelvie with Ben MacPherson in Hamilton in Leith

with Humza Yousaf in Glasgow Pollok

with Fiona Hyslop with Jim Eadie with Aileen McLeod in Torphichen in Edinburgh in Dumfries Knockando Woolmill wins EU heritage honour Great news as Knockando Woolmill in Abelour, Moray, beat projects from all over Europe to win the highest honour in the heritage field.

Knockando is one of just four UK projects to win the 2016 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Award, reserved only for projects deemed to be “outstanding examples of creativity, innovation, sustainable development and social participation”.

The jury was absolutely stunned by Knockando, and I can see why!

Locals will know that the byre was transformed into a visitor centre, which has done wonders for attracting folk Forres fun with Richard Lochhead, Laura Mitchell and Seth the dug! and teaching them about the Woolmill’s heritage. Thanks to a combination of community involvement, employment The Woolmill is a real example of local revival, having opportunities, and bringing visitors flocking to a fairly produced world-class textiles continuously for 200 years remote region, Knockando is a superb example of rural and now training young people in traditional crafts that revitalisation and how we can use EU funds to do the might otherwise be lost. same throughout Scotland. Knockando Woolmill, which is an outstanding local asset, I was out campaigning with Richard Lochhead on the day is steeped in local history, and the heritage experts we heard the news, and he was equally delighted to see rightly highlighted it as being deserving of European, if Knockando win the award. not global, recognition.

Time to tackle fake farm branding

supermarkets. So someone in an office has seen this and immediately thought of a way to capitalise on consumers wanting to support local farmers. That kind of cynical behaviour is sneaky, abhorrent and wrong.

The EU has done excellent work in protecting consumers from unscrupulous producers through its Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) scheme. Arbroath smokies, wool, Stornoway black pudding and Scotch whisky have all benefited. Now I want to see the Commission continue to protect consumers and farmers alike by taking action to restrict this kind of marketing, which is why I’ve raised the issue directly with them. As Scotland’s sole voice on the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, I’ve long been on the backs of the supermarkets for the way they treat farmers.

In recent years, various supermarkets in Scotland have @AlynSmithMEP begun to produce brands named after fictional farms. I’ve always thought that, when a packet boasts a farm, surely “Scotland’s place in #EU cannot and must the food should come from that farm. not be the victim of a bitter and twisted Tory feud” Nicola reasserts @theSNP strongly But this isn’t just dubious marketing. It’s no secret that pro EU. farmers have been struggling, between bad weather, poor sales, and unfair trading practices by the 4 New EU legislation in wake of Panama Papers

In the wake of the Panama Papers leak that showed how the super-wealthy hide their assets, the European Commission will force multinational corporations to open up about their profits earned and taxes paid in EU Member States.

The European Commission is to put forward legislation requiring multi-national firms with more than €750 million in sales to detail how much tax they pay in which EU country, as well as any activities carried out in specific Your SNP team in Europe tax havens – including non-EU countries. This proposal will therefore include the British Virgin Islands, Guernsey, Hong Kong and Panama. This saga has severely undermined the position of David Pierre Moscovici, the European Commissioner in charge Cameron and the UK Government more widely. The of tax policy, insisted that no government can now waver only way to now rebuild any credibility is by complete on these measures: “After the Panama Papers, there must and overdue transparency. The current distraction not be a single hesitation from anybody, that we need about individual politicians and their tax returns is just country-by-country reporting” he said. a sideshow from a long running, major and systemic The fact that the UK Government does not have problem that the EU has been trying to tackle for years. a detailed blacklist of tax havens and has recently commented on the move by the Commission as “deeply unhelpful” is neither what the public expect nor deserve.

That’s why I’ve written to the European Commission to Microplastics ask what action can be taken at EU level. I personally believe that EU-wide action is the only effective way to stop microplastic pollution and prevent further damage to our environment.

Cosmetics are the ideal starting point, as the USA has already banned microbeads from all rinse-off cosmetics, and the Swedish Chemicals Agency has proposed that Sweden follow suit.

None of those tiny pieces of plastic pouring down our

Some microbeads shown with a pencil eraser for scale plugholes are biodegradable, and collecting them would Image: MCA Photos via Flickr require a very fine mesh that would kill fish and plankton.

They may have a cute name but microbeads are This isn’t only an environmental issue. Ingesting dangerous enough for President Obama to have banned microplastics simply isn’t good for you. According to them in rinse-off cosmetics in America. Now MEP Alyn the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Smith is alerting Scotland’s citizens to the dangers of the microbeads act as sponges and absorb the pollutants beauty industry’s favourite microplastic. from the surrounding water, in addition to hosting chemicals already present in the plastic. Fish eat the Microbeads - or microplastics - are commonly found in microbeads, and then we eat the fish. everyday household cosmetics such as cleansers, shower gel and toothpaste. Usually smaller than 5 millimetres, Microbeads are a great exfoliant but, as we’ve seen they cannot be filtered out through most water filtration several big-name cosmetic brands already pledge not systems, and so are flowing into the oceans and, from to use microplastics in their products, it will be easy for there, into the food chain. them to switch to alternatives such as rice, powdered 5 shells or jojoba beads. New Alliance

Whilst development is crucial, it is important we implement aid in the correct ways. Local seed banks, exchanges and continuous development of local seed varieties are vital to farmers’ self-suffciency, as well as to maintaining and improving agro-biodiversity worldwide.

That’s why I believe schemes like New Alliance should operate a more bottom-up method - benefitting small communities and individual farmers as well as larger businesses. If these concerns aren’t considered, then If you’re one of the hundreds of people who contacted we risk concentrating land ownership and dispossessing me about food security, you’ll be pleased to know that the communities of their resources. The Development Development Committee has adopted its report on the Committee took a very critical stance towards the New New Alliance for Food and Nutrition Security. Alliance, so let’s take it from there!

The New Alliance is a large public-private partnership, launched in 2012 by the G8 and aims to boost private investment in agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Caithness Project

It’s come to my attention that some people have been alleging that I have been promoting the cultural heritage of solely so I can make a ‘Kenny from the Broch’ pun. Lies and slander! In my letter to the European Commission, I specifically highlight the cultural, financial and educational potential that the Caithness Broch Project’s plan to build a full-size replica broch would have With Gail Ross MSP and Kenneth McElroy of the Caithness Broch Project for Scotland.

After all, you won’t find a broch anywhere else! It’s about more than heritage though. Anyone with even a Stay informed passing knowledge of Caithness knows that the winding- down of the Dounreay plant is leaving the area in urgent It’s easy to keep in touch about my work on your behalf need of employment diversification. and on developments in the European Parliament: By running a living history visitor attraction, complete with drystone dyking workshops, archaeological tours, and [email protected] school outreach programmes, the Caithness Broch Project would be creating jobs in the tourism and culture sectors. Techcube, 1 Summerhall, Caithness is an oft-overlooked part of the country, but Edinburgh, EH9 1PL it’s a historian’s paradise. From the Old Man of Wick, built when the kings of Norway ruled the county, to those alynsmithSNP Dunbeath paths once rambled by Neil M. Gunn, it’s a fine place indeed.

That’s why I’ve outlined the project in glowing terms to the @AlynSmithMEP European Commission, asking for recommended areas of funding and giving it my full support. Watch this space! www.alynsmith.eu 6