Central Ayrshire's MP has been praised for backing a new safety bill.

Leading UK charity Electrical Safety First has thanked Dr Philippa Whitford MP for backing its Safety Bill which tackles the alarming rise in deaths and injuries resulting from fires and explosions caused by e-scooter and e-bike batteries. 

The Safety of Electric-Powered Micromobility Vehicles and Lithium-Ion Batteries Bill calls for intervention by the UK government to stop the worrying trend, and support for it is building among MPs. 

Dr Philippa Whitford, Scottish National Party MP for Central Ayrshire, said: “I back Electrical Safety First's Bill, aimed at offering vital safeguards to my constituents and people across the UK.

"We have seen first-hand the devastation that e-bike fires can cause across Scotland, and I will do all I can inside and outside of Parliament to champion this vital issue.”

The charity’s Battery Breakdown campaign is raising awareness of the terrifying fact that fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in e-scooters and e-bikes have multiplied fourfold since 2020, resulting in deaths, hospitalisations, homelessness, and staggering financial losses.  

E-bike and e-scooter fires have increased fivefold in Scotland since 2019.

In the past 18 months battery fires have been recorded in more than 150 UK parliamentary constituencies. 

Prominent voices such as the National Fire Chiefs Council, local Fire and Rescue Services, insurance companies, and various safety organisations have issued warnings about the gravity of the lithium-ion battery situation. 

The Bill calls for a third-party safety assessment for all e-bikes, e-scooters and the lithium-ion batteries before entering the UK market, improved standards for the safe usage, charging and storage of the batteries, and regulation to ensure responsible disposal of batteries at the end of their life. 

Wayne Mackay, head of policy and public affairs at Electrical Safety First, said: “We thank Philippa for supporting our Bill as this legislation is essential to save lives and safeguard communities across the UK. Urgent government intervention is crucial to address this escalating danger.”