Border Holyrood News

A debate is being held at the Scottish Parliament today about the legacy of Baroness Thatcher.

The debate was originally scheduled for yesterday but Scottish Conservatives complained that it was insensitive to hold it on the day of the former Prime Minister's funeral.

• Politics
• Margaret Thatcher
• Holyrood

A debate on the legacy of Baroness Thatcher, due to be held at Holyrood tomorrow, has now been postponed until Thursday (18th April).

The Green Party, along with independent MSPs, wanted to coincide the debate with Baroness Thatcher's funeral.

However, at this morning's meeting of the Parliamentary Bureau, other parties agreed with The Scottish Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats that it should be postponed until the following day.

The Scottish Conservatives said that holding the debate deliberately alongside the funeral would have been provocative and insensitive:

“I’m glad all parties involved have reached a sensible compromise, which will see the debate take place on Thursday instead.

“Staging this at the same time as the funeral would have been provocative, disrespectful and extremely upsetting for many people across Scotland and the UK.

“That would have reflected badly not only on those behind the debate, but the Scottish Parliament as a whole.

“This is a positive outcome for the Scottish Conservatives and the wider Parliament.

“We have absolutely no problem taking part in this debate.

“Our only issue was the timing, and that has now been resolved.”

• Politics
• Holyrood
• John Lamont

MSPs are being asked to declare the Scots Pine Scotland's national tree.

The evergreen can be found on dozens of windswept hillsides throughout the South of Scotland.

Nature lover Alex Hamilton is taking his plea to the public petitions committee at Holyrood this morning.

He says the gesture would make a symbolic commitment to woodlands and natural heritage.

He has the backing of the Woodland Trust, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and RSPB Scotland.

• UK
• National tree
• Scotland

A plea is being made to The Public Petitions Committee at Holyrood, in a bid to change Scotland's national tree from the Oak to the Scots Pine.

Nature enthusiast Alex Hamilton, who is fronting the campaign, already has the support of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, the Woodland Trust Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust

• UK
• National tree
• Scotland

"Closure is not an option" - that was the message from many MSPs as they debated the future of the National Museum of Costume.

Shambellie House in New Abbey near Dumfries is under threat because of budget cuts.

National Museums of Scotland are due to make a decision next week, but there are calls for a twelve month reprieve to consider other options.

• UK
• Shambellie House
• Scotland

The future of a small costume museum in Dumfries and Galloway is the subject of a big debate tonight at the the Scottish Parliament.

National Musuems of Scotland say they need to close Shambellie House in New Abbey because of budget cuts.

Several local MSPs have been campaigning to save it.

They're supporting Dumfries and Galloway Council’s request for a 12-month extension before a final decision is made.

The council and other partners are looking at ways to boost profits and save the museum in the long term.

South of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Jim Hume said:

“To lose a museum of national importance would represent a serious blow to the region’s cultural activities which attracts 15,000 visitors each year. This could be severely damaging to this rural area’s local economy.

“At a time when Edinburgh’s National Museum has undergone a substantial investment programme, many people across Dumfries and Galloway will rightly be asking why Shambellie House is being put in jeopardy.

“Until a permanent solution has been found, I’m backing local calls for a twelve month period of grace. Closure must not be an option.”

• UK
• Shambellie House
• Scotland

Representatives from forestry groups ,farming unions and landowners associations arrive at Holyrood this afternoon for crisis talks on how to stem the spread of Ash Dieback.

The fungal disease, has been confirmed at 14 sites across Scotland.

The meeting has been called by Scotland's Environment Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, who's also a South of Scotland MSP.

Borders MSP John Lamont has accused the Scottish Government of 'dropping the ball' on Ash Dieback.

He said;

“While Mr. Wheelhouse is only just starting to get into gear when it comes to fighting Ash Dieback, the UK Government has already taken quick steps to tackle it. UK plant health authorities took immediate action on discovery of the disease and they soon after imposed a ban on ash imports and restricted its movement.

“In comparison we have seen the SNP dropping the ball on this issue and risking more trees in the Borders becoming affected by it. We cannot afford to see it spread any further in the region and the Environment Minister has serious questions to answer about why their reaction has been so lax.”

The Scottish Government says it is not realistic to completely eradicate the disease, which has spread across the UK. Mr Wheelhouse says work will get underway to identify trees that have a genetic resistance to the fungus and can be used to restock woodlands.

• UK
• Ash Dieback
• Holyrood

Representatives from forestry groups, farming unions and landowners associations arrive at Holyrood this afternoon for crisis talks on how to stem the spread of Ash Dieback.

The fungal disease, has been confirmed at 14 sites across Scotland.

In Eyemouth, it has affected mature trees in the wild. In Dalbeattie Town Wood around 4000 saplings have been infected.

The meeting has been called by Scotland's Environment Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, who's also a South of Scotland MSP.

• UK
• Ash Dieback
• Holyrood