SNP MSP: As cold snap hits, Labour must take urgent action With temperatures plummeting to below freezing as the first cold snap of the winter hits Scotland, the SNP has said that Scots will face a “long, hard winter” due to Labour’s failure to get a grip of spiralling energy bills. Labour came to power [...]

SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick is urging folk living in island communities to take advantage of government support in the face of rising energy costs.  As of December 2023, the fuel poverty rate in Orkney and Shetland was 31%, significantly higher than the Scottish average of 24%. This is despite the [...]

MSP for the Highlands & Islands Emma Roddick has stressed the need for a social tariff to be introduced, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, questioning the First Minister on his work to pursue lower energy bills for those who have the least to spend.  Emma highlighted the fact that on top of the UK [...]

Emma Roddick MSP pressed the Scottish Government last week for "clarity" on rules around wood-burning stoves, following confusion as to whether they are banned for use in new-build properties as a main heating source despite being a sustainable fuel. The Minister for Climate Action, Gillian Martin, confirmed in the Chamber that she will be undertaking [...]

MSP for the Highlands & Islands Emma Roddick has welcomed news that £20 million will be allocated to extend the Scottish Government’s Fuel Insecurity Fund during today’s [Thursday 15 December] 2023/24 Scottish Budget statement. During his statement, Deputy First Minister and acting Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney, highlighted the need to make use of [...]

Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has questioned the adequacy of the UK’s social security system, highlighting that Cold Weather Payments have failed to deliver for communities with the highest levels of fuel poverty. During a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee, Deputy Convener Ms Roddick pointed out that areas [...]

Emma speaking in Parliament in the Programme for Government (Cost of Living) Orkney’s SNP MSP, Emma Roddick, has celebrated the actions of South Ronaldsay and Burray Church in providing a warm space for locals ahead of what could be a very difficult winter for many, with fuel prices expected to continue to rise over the [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

“I don’t hold out much hope of real positive actions by this UK Government.  If their refusal to care about the north continues, then it makes it ever clearer that independence for Scotland is necessary to tackle energy inequality.” SNP MSP Emma Roddick today questioned the Scottish Government on energy grid charges, which she says [...]