As the Tory Cost of Living Crisis is having devastating consequences across the Highlands and Islands, Emma Roddick MSP put out a cost-of-living survey to better understand how this is affecting constituents. Results from the survey highlighted significant worry and anxiety about rising costs amongst those in the region, with 93% of respondents saying they [...]

Emma walking alongside a Street Pastor observing one of their shifts Emma Roddick has dedicated her first weeks of summer recess to meet with community groups and charities supporting mental health across the Highlands & Islands. These groups included Highland Befrienders, Centred (formerly Birchwood Highland), and Inverness Street Pastors. Following these visits, Roddick said: "I [...]

SNP MSP Roddick has stated the importance of introducing a minimum income guarantee in Scotland, which would ensure nobody would fall under a set income level. Asking the Scottish Government to provide an update on the work of the Minimum Income Guarantee Steering Group, Roddick stated: “My region has some of the highest poverty levels [...]

SNP MSP Emma Roddick has welcomed the launch of the Scottish Government’s fresh campaign for independence, highlighting the opportunities that could be presented for the Highlands and Islands. Today’s publication from the Scottish Government, the first in a series of documents, outlines how other comparable nations are wealthier, happier and fairer than Scotland currently is. [...]

Emma Roddick has challenged the Labour Party on their demand for the Scottish Government to immediately end all non-residential social care charges in Scotland, claiming it to be unrealistic. Commenting Roddick said: “I strongly believe that all health services should be free and not based on your ability to pay or where you live. Representing [...]

£161,630 has been spent this year in Orkney mitigating cruel Tory cuts including the disgraceful bedroom tax. In 2021/22 £161,630 was provided by the SNP Scottish Government in Discretionary Housing Payments to protect families from cuts, with £137,413 spent mitigating the impact of the cruel Tory bedroom tax in Orkney. Across Scotland £82million has been [...]

Emma Roddick has today highlighted the need to find balance in achieving net-zero whilst also not pushing island communities further into fuel poverty.  The Highlands and Islands MSP expressed her support for Scottish Government plans to achieve carbon-neutral status in the Isles whilst also sharing concerns on how this could be achieved fairly. Commenting she [...]

“It’s impossible to leave politics at the door on this" Social Justice and Social Security Committee member Emma Roddick MSP has condemned what she described as the UK Government’s hamstringing of the Scottish Government’s efforts to end child poverty in Scotland. The Highlands and Islands MSP pressed witnesses on the difficulties of a hybrid social [...]

"This is not just leadership of a government and a party, but global leadership. I am delighted to see the work that is going on internationally off our own back, sharing best practices, like the Baby Box, and promoting human rights across the globe. We don’t just have a presence on the world stage, but [...]

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has visited the new Social Security Scotland headquarters in Dundee in her capacity as a member of the Social Security Committee in the Scottish Parliament. The SNP representative described the work the team there is doing in redesigning adult disability benefits in Scotland as  “revolutionary”. She said: “I’m on [...]