31 December 2009

John Barrett's New Year's Message

As we start another year it is a good time to think about what we want to change in our own lives as well as the changes we would like to see in the wider world. Many people make New Year Resolutions only to break them in the first week or two.... [read more]

18 December 2009

John Barrett's Christmas Message

As I look back over 2009 and forward to 2010, the end of the decade is a time for some reflection. Ten years ago I was selected as the candidate in Edinburgh West, I was then elected as the MP in 2001, was re-elected in 2005 and will stand down... [read more]

17 December 2009

Barrett Elected to Party Executive

John Barrett MP was today elected to the Scottish Party Executive Committee of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Mr Barrett was elected in the first round of the count and was delighted with the result, as this was a vote of the entire membership... [read more]

17 December 2009

Barrett joins the save the cheque campaign

Edinburgh West MP, John Barrett has signed a cross-party Westminster motion, launched by fellow LibDem MP Mark Hunter, to ‘save the cheque’ after yesterdays announcement that banks will be taking them out of use in 2018. Over 100 MPs have already... [read more]

15 December 2009

Legg Letter - Barrett Gets All Clear

Today John Barrett MP for Edinburgh West received his letter from Sir Thomas Legg regarding the issue of expenses and overpayments, which will have to be repaid by a number of MPs. Mr Barrett's own letter stated that there were no issues and no... [read more]

11 December 2009

MP's Expenses

John Barrett MP was shocked at some of the outrageous claims made by MPs as detailed in the press today. Commenting on his own claims, he said that he had claimed for rent of a one bedroomed apartment, the electricity cost, insurance and a... [read more]

9 December 2009

Barrett Backs Amnesty Campaign

John Barrett MP joined Amnesty International today at Edinburgh University to help create a mosaic of Binayek Sen, an Indian doctor who is currently in prison and still awaiting a trial and details of politically motivated charges after over two... [read more]

8 December 2009

Scotland 'essential' for high speed rail bid

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today called for all political parties to commit to a high speed rail network including both Edinburgh and Glasgow and warned that a spur to Scotland was ‘essential’ for the business and... [read more]

4 December 2009

Pay restraints in public sector must focus on the fat cats

Commenting on the Public Sector rich list released by the Tax Payers’ Alliance today, John Barrett MP for Edinburgh West, said:

“With 806 public sector employees taking home more than £180m a year between them, it is clear that even in these... [read more]

4 December 2009

Banks cannot continue to hold the taxpayer at ransom

Commenting on reports that RBS Directors may resign if the Chancellor of the Exchequer were to block  £1.5bn in banker’s bonuses, Edinburgh West MP John Barrett  said:

“I would welcome their resignations, as we cannot continue to have the banks... [read more]