Martin Whitfield MSP
@martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
Labour MSP for South Scotland | Shadow Minister for Children and Young People Scottish Labour | Business Manager for Scottish Labour Parliamentary Group
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
3. @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social to ask The Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that private residential childcare providers are making an estimated £10 million a year in profit from publicly funded contracts.
Watch from 2.05pm: www.scottishparliament.tv
Watch from 2.05pm: www.scottishparliament.tv
December 2, 2025 at 10:01 AM
3. @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social to ask The Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that private residential childcare providers are making an estimated £10 million a year in profit from publicly funded contracts.
Watch from 2.05pm: www.scottishparliament.tv
Watch from 2.05pm: www.scottishparliament.tv
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
We were pleased to welcome @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social and @pfokane.bsky.social to our support line today for a discussion about our national offer of digital and phone-based whole family support.
Find out more about our call for a comprehensive offer of whole family support: ow.ly/YMgv50XAF1V
Find out more about our call for a comprehensive offer of whole family support: ow.ly/YMgv50XAF1V
December 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM
We were pleased to welcome @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social and @pfokane.bsky.social to our support line today for a discussion about our national offer of digital and phone-based whole family support.
Find out more about our call for a comprehensive offer of whole family support: ow.ly/YMgv50XAF1V
Find out more about our call for a comprehensive offer of whole family support: ow.ly/YMgv50XAF1V
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
The Societal Benefits of Accreditation and Standards parliamentary reception opening remarks by @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
Policymakers, regulators, industry and others explore how accreditation, standards & market surveillance strengthen safety, quality and public confidence across Scotland.
Policymakers, regulators, industry and others explore how accreditation, standards & market surveillance strengthen safety, quality and public confidence across Scotland.
November 26, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The Societal Benefits of Accreditation and Standards parliamentary reception opening remarks by @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social
Policymakers, regulators, industry and others explore how accreditation, standards & market surveillance strengthen safety, quality and public confidence across Scotland.
Policymakers, regulators, industry and others explore how accreditation, standards & market surveillance strengthen safety, quality and public confidence across Scotland.
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
3. @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social to ask The Scottish Government for its response to reports that @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social plans to reduce jobs as part of budget reductions, including what action it will take to protect staff and students from the impact of any such redundancies.
November 18, 2025 at 9:52 AM
3. @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social to ask The Scottish Government for its response to reports that @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social plans to reduce jobs as part of budget reductions, including what action it will take to protect staff and students from the impact of any such redundancies.
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
Question from @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social in the Scottish Parliament on cuts and job losses at Edinburgh University as @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social take third day of strike action this week #SaveHE #StopTheCuts www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563152...
SNP minister told to intervene in Edinburgh University crisis to protect 1,800 jobs
SNP ministers have been warned they must intervene in the University of Edinburgh's dispute with staff amid fears 1,800 jobs could be lost.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Question from @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social in the Scottish Parliament on cuts and job losses at Edinburgh University as @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social take third day of strike action this week #SaveHE #StopTheCuts www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563152...
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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
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
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
Convener Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed proposals brought by Graham Simpson MSP to address concerns.
Committee recommendations: https://ow.ly/mfBx50XrRvL
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
"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.
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
"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.
Yesterday, Standards Committee Convener
@martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social opened a debate about its recent report on Strengthening Committees’ Effectiveness.
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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
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
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
Watch the exchange here: ow.ly/SUI850XnPx0
Read our statement here: ow.ly/vrfw50XnPx1
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
‘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 👇
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
‘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 👇
The Standards Committee says the Bill needs further thought for it to work.
Report: ow.ly/Q5Om50Xn3jP
Convener @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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.
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.
October 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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.
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.
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
📢 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
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
📢 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
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
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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.
🇬🇧 🏴
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
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.
🇬🇧 🏴
In my capacity as the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations it was a pleasure to meet with First Minister John Swinney in London today.
🇬🇧 🏴
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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.
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
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
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.
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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
Scottish Government misses interim child poverty targets www.holyrood.com/news/view,sc...
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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
Almost all female MSPs have experienced online abuse, a survey conducted by Holyrood has found www.holyrood.com/news/view,al...
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
March 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
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
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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.
Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to hear about our new strategy.
February 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
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.
Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to hear about our new strategy.
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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✍️
@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
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✍️
@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✍️
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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.
February 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
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.
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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
Great to see @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social at #ScotLab25 supporting action to end child poverty in Scotland at #ScotLab25 !
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
@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
@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
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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
Thank you @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social for visiting our stand at #ScotLab25 and talking about the challenges facing people with lung conditions in South Scotland
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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.
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
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.
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.
Reposted by Martin Whitfield MSP
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
Thank you @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social for supporting our pledge for better and secure funding for local carers centres and young carer services.
#CarersCantWait
December 16, 2024 at 11:54 AM
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
Thank you @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social for supporting our pledge for better and secure funding for local carers centres and young carer services.
#CarersCantWait
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!”
December 7, 2024 at 12:17 PM
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!”