Politics / Wishart begins life as MSP
BEATRICE Wishart has been sworn in as Shetland’s new MSP as the Scottish Parliament got back to business on Tuesday.
The Liberal Democrat won the recent by-election as she secured around 48 per cent of the vote.
The by-election was called after the resignation of long-standing MSP Tavish Scott.
The parliament resumed business this week following the summer recess.
Wishart is a councillor for Lerwick South, with a by-election in the offing if she stands down from her role.
She said she was “delighted” to have been sworn in as Shetland’s newest, and first female, MSP.
In her first piece of parliamentary work, Wishart wrote to childcare minister Maree Todd over the impact the Scottish Government’s roll-out of expanded early learning hours is having on private providers.
“It’s been a hectic summer of campaigning and I’m excited to be getting to work,” she commented.
“The SNP threw promises around like confetti when they were campaigning in Shetland and I intend to hold them to every single one of them. That starts today with nursery care.
“Every family living in Shetland should be able to access the 1,140 hours of childcare without struggle or uncertainty. The SNP’s sloppy mismanagement of the expansion is putting treasured local nurseries at real risk.
“The minister for childcare has a responsibility to confront the failings in her approach that are endangering jobs and services across the isles.”
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