Dealing with local problems
MSP says he’s‘not best placed to steerTories’
Throughout the period of COVID-19, my office has continued to prioritise your concerns and have we have now dealt with over 1600 enquiries across East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow showing the impact and need arising for so many people affected.
Last week, I convened a meeting with chief executive of South Lanarkshire Council Cleland Sneddon to raise constituents concerns regarding local grass cutting requirements and also address the cancellation of our 31 and X1 bus services.
I have a meeting with First Bus representatives this week to follow up this important matter as it is entirely unacceptable that these services have been removed.
Prior to recess, I was pleased to speak in the House of Commons on behalf of local constituents and a number of church groups who had contacted me regarding the BBC’s sudden cancellation of Reflections at the Quay, relied upon by many residents who are shielding or who have been unable to attend church services due to COVID-19. Shortly afterwards my office was contacted by the BBC to acknowledge our constituency concerns, where they reiterated their commitment to religious broadcasting.
I am following up this meeting up with a letter to the BBC, where I will once again raise their intent to scrap Free TV Licences for the over-75s which badly impacts the most vulnerable.
In recent weeks, my office has received further complaints about increased antisocial behaviours around Lindsay House in East Kilbride’s village and also reports of increased shoplifting from local village shops.
I have written to the chairman of housing to highlight these issues directly and will continue to liaise with the community council.
This week, I will be acting as temporary chairwoman for a new House of Commons ‘excluded all party parliamentary group’ (APPG) that has continued to meet during recess due to the desperate position of up to three million people across the UK, who have fallen through the gaps of current UK Government COVID-19 supports.
Those excluded include the recently selfemployed, those with less than 50 per cent of income through self-employment, PAYE freelancers, those denied furlough, directors paid in dividends, those ineligible for business grants and those ineligible due to other circumstances such as parental leave or pension payments. It has been heart-breaking to be in touch with so many local people and businesses across our constituency who have become victims of these circumstances and through no fault of their own.
We are requesting an urgent meeting with the Chancellor to plug the gaps of support needed so I would encourage all constituents affected to get in touch with me on lisa.cameron.mp@ parliament.uk and I will keep them up to date with progress.
My‘virtual’surgeries continue weekly where you can meet with me online or speak by telephone every Friday afternoon.
Please don’t ever hesitate to email me or call me on 020 7219 6855.
I am here for you across our constituency and when parliamentary guidance allows will be reopening the local MP constituency offices as soon as possible.
PAUL HUTCHEON
Jackson Carlaw has quit as Scottish Tory leader after less than six months in the job.
The Eastwood MSP walked away after admitting he is not the “person best placed” to lead his party into the next election.
A senior insider said party members and MSPs had been critical of his performance since he replaced Ruth Davidson earlier this year.
The source said there was a view he’d not been effective in holding First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to account.
South of Scotland Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne said she thinks Carlaw was forced to resign by Westminster and that there had been “no warning”.
She told BBC’s The Nine show las night: “I’m happy he’s gone. I never thought he was the right person. The push has been coming from everywhere but I suspect it was Westminster who pushed him.”
Douglas Ross, a Scottish Tory MP who recently quit his job in the UK Government, has been tipped as a replacement. In his resignation statement, Carlaw said: “Over the summer, I have had the chance to think hard about my role as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
“Nothing is more important to me than making the case for Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom. I believe the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party is the most important voice in Scotland for setting out that positive argument. I am clear that nothing must get in the way of doing so.”
The MSP, who serves Eaglesham and Waterfoot, added: “In the last few weeks, I have reached a simple if painful conclusion – that I am not, in the present circumstances, the person best placed to lead that case over these next vital months in Scottish politics prior to the Holyrood elections.
Looking out for locals affected by impact of COVID-19...
STEPHEN BARK & ANNIE GOUK
Unemployment benefit claims fell slightly in South Lanarkshire last month bucking the national trend.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed 13,025 people across the region were claiming unemployment benefit in June – down 1.7 per cent from 13,250 people in May.
However, the figures represent a 90 per cent increase on the number of claims in South Lanarkshire for January (6830) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Now councillors have warned the future looks bleak without further government intervention.
Leader of the Labour group, Councillor Joe Fagan, said:“COVID is more than a public health crisis, it is an economic crisis too.
“We have seen the biggest drop in GDP ever
“Given the importance I attach to the job, I’ve therefore decided to stand down with immediate effect.
“It is not an easy call but I have spent a lifetime in politics holding to the maxim that party and country comes first”
He said: “Managing the transition from Ruth Davidson’s leadership to a refreshed party has been a challenging task but I feel confident I leave the role with the party in good heart and, crucially, with time to elect a new leader so he or she can prepare for the elections next year.”
Carlaw was Davidson’s deputy when she was leader and he succeeded her earlier this year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Jackson Carlaw recorded and unemployment is forecast to rise dramatically. Even as the economy comes out of lockdown, some industries might never recover.
“Lanarkshire has lived with the consequences of deindustrialisation before and that is what we face again, unless there is concerted action to save jobs.”
He said Labour are pushing for a“robust community wealth building strategy”to keep more of the wealth created here in local communities and to use the spending power of the council to boost the local economy.
The East Kilbride councillor called for action to support town centres and local businesses, as well as a stimulus package to help certain industries.
The local Liberal Democrats are calling for South Lanarkshire Council to“use every ounce”of its economic clout to help sustain jobs in the long term.
Group leader, Councillor Robert Brown, added: has been a tremendous servant to the Scottish Conservative Party for more than four decades.”
Sturgeon said: “I wish Jackson Carlaw all the best. We’ve crossed swords politically on many occasions but worked constructively on some issues too – he has, for example, been a strong voice for women suffering mesh complications.
“Leadership is a tough business and I’m sure his decision wasn’t easy.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “I wish Jackson Carlaw well and I am sure he will continue to make a valuable contribution to Scottish politics.”
The 61-year-old said it was time for a “younger and fresher voice for the party”.
“The proposed Lanarkshire Economic Forum urgently needs to get going and the Scottish government must stop centralising everything and allow councils the freedom to act.”
A SNP spokesman said unemployment across South Lanarkshire would continue to rise as UK government’s job retention schemes draws to a close before the economy is“fully reopened”.
He added:“Without UK support schemes in place, it is inevitable some people will lose their jobs.
“We are working across sectors to ensure people out of work are supported back into employment, but would encourage the Tories at Westminster to extend the furlough scheme for the most affected sectors beyond the October deadline.”
Across Scotland, 215,180 people were claiming unemployment benefit this June - up slightly from 214,550 people in May.