

‘Theresa May must act’ as poll shows backing for EU nationals’ rights
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has again urged Theresa May to finally reassure EU nationals living in Scotland and all across the UK that their residency status will be protected as a new poll published today revealed strong public support for the move.
A BMG Research poll published in today’s Independent revealed 58 per cent of people want the UK government to guarantee the right of EU citizens to continue living and working in the UK, while just 2


MP raises awareness of children's fire-risk fancy dress outfits
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, attended an awareness event in Parliament on Tuesday to highlight the potential fire risks of children’s fancy dress costumes. Currently, the law classes fancy dress costumes as toys rather than clothes meaning that they undergo far less rigorous safety tests. But Sainsbury’s, and other leading supermarkets have introduced more stringent testing following a campaign by the host of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Claudia Wink


Gavin Newlands highlights Oxford study tying benefit sanctions to food bank use
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has highlighted a report from the University of Oxford which found a link between increases in the number of benefit sanctions handed out by the DWP and rising number of adults receiving food parcels – offering further proof of the deeply damaging impact of Tory welfare policies.
The study found a direct relationship between the numbers of sanctions and the level of referrals to food banks – yet more evidence of what t


Gavin Newlands MP calls for public response on rape clause policy
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, is calling on local constituents to help reject plans from the Tory government to restrict tax credits to two children and introduce a “medieval” rape clause for vulnerable women who have been raped. Last year, the UK Government announced plans to restrict tax credits to two children and force women to provide evidence of exceptional circumstances, such as rape, to claim tax credits for a third child from April next year.


Gavin Newlands MP pledges his support to ending HIV and AIDS
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, his pledged his support to tackling HIV and AIDS on a global stage. Gavin has recently met with staff from Stop AIDS – a network of UK agencies who work together to try and secure a global response to HIV and AIDS. Last year, world leaders committed to new Global Goals, including a target to end AIDS by 2030. However, without increased financial and political support, UNAIDS estimates the number of HIV infections will rai


Gavin Newlands MP meets with Immigration Minister to discuss Dungavel replacement
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has met with the UK Government’s Minister for Immigration to find out more about their plans to close Dungavel detention centre and replace it with a new centre near Glasgow Airport. Mr Newlands was joined at the meeting with the SNP’s Immigration, Asylum and Border Control spokesperson, Stuart McDonald MP and Alan Brown MP, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudon. Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “The cl

Gavin Newlands MP criticises UK Government for failing to provide ‘cast iron guarantee’ to EU nation
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has criticised that the UK Government for failing to provide a ‘cast iron’ guarantee protected residency status for EU nationals living in the UK. The motion put forward by the SNP calling on the UK government to ensure “that all nationals from other countries in the EU who have made the UK their home retain their current rights” was voted down by MPs by 293 votes to 250. Mr Newlands who spoke during the debate criticised


“Blind people should be able to use buses too” says Gavin Newlands
Gavin Newlands MP heard about the importance of audio-visual announcements on buses at the SNP Party Conference this week. He heard about the experiences of a guide dog owner who had missed their stop and been left stranded on a bus because they were unable to know where on the route they were. Sadly, this is not an isolated experience: 7 in 10 passengers with sight loss have been forgotten on a bus. Talking buses, which provide audio-visual “next stop” and “final destination


Gavin Newlands MP urges 16 & 17 year-olds to make sure they are registered to vote
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, is urging 16 and 17 year-olds to ensure they are registered to vote. Sixteen and seventeen year-olds are now eligible to vote in Scottish elections, including the local government elections taking place on the 4th of May 2017. Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “The 2014 Independence Referendum showed the interest that young people have in the political process and it was only right that the Scot


Local MP welcomes Robot Wars coming back to Renfrew
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has welcomed the announcement by the BBC that hit show ‘Robot Wars’ is returning for a second series, with filming to again take place in the warehouse next the Westway Park estate, in Renfrew. Robot Wars was a shown on the BBC from 1988 until 2001, and was a cult favourite amongst viewers. In January of this year, the BBC confirmed that it would be re-launching this show with Dara O Briain and Angela Scanlon hosting the