Moving forward as a nation
The SNP Annual National Conference met this week at the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow.
The theme of the conference was Progress. Progress made by the Scottish Government and progress made for Scotland.
Progress is a fitting theme for this month’s column – as we go forward together with a new backdrop.
In my column last month, I wrote about the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2017-2018.
The programme sets out a bold plan for Scotland, from our plans to reform education to help close the poverty related attainment gap, to the establishment of a Scottish National Investment Bank to support economic growth and making it a national objective to end rough sleeping – backed with new investment.
But that programme is only the beginning of our desire for change as we move forward as a nation.
Just this week, the First Minister outlined during the SNP Conference another range of exciting initiatives to help take Scotland forward.
From the announcement that all young care leavers will be exempt from council tax, in addition to already announced measures for care leavers – such as grants and guaranteed places for those with the grades to attend university – to an exciting announcement that the Scottish Government would create a new publicly funded, non-profit energy company for Scotland.
The First Minister said: “The idea, at its heart, is simple.
“Energy would be bought wholesale or generated here in Scotland – renewable, of course – and sold to customers as close to cost price as possible.
“No shareholders to worry about. No corporate bonuses to consider.
“It would give people – particularly those on low incomes – more choice and the option of a supplier whose only job is to secure the lowest price for consumers.”
Policies like this are how we make progress – for Scotland.
All of this of course is what we are doing on a national level; locally your SNP representatives continue to work hard on “the day job”.
For me that means a continued effort to campaign against the plans for an incinerator at Whistleberry Road in Whitehill, Hamilton.
I want to take the time to pay tribute and thank the Hamilton Energy Recovery Action Group (HERAG) for all of their work on this issue and indeed those groups who have been engaged in the campaign as a result across many nearby towns and villages.
Most recently, I was delighted to be out knocking doors in the Bellshill Area of my constituency; and informing local residents that there is the potential for them to be impacted as a consequence of this proposal.
I was equally delighted to host a public meeting in Bellshill, at which campaign representatives spoke to and engaged with the local community.
I will continue to do all that I can to oppose this project and I have been heartened by the sheer efforts of all in the community to do so.
Naturally, I want to end as I always do by extending an invite to all who need assistance to attend one of my regular surgeries; all of which can be found at www. Richardlylemsp.org – surgeries and my office generate lots of cases and it continues to be a pleasure to help those in our community.
As ever my constituency office is available for drop-in consultation throughout the week - you can find me at: 188 Main Street, Bellshill, ML4 1AE. You can email me on Richard. Lyle.msp@parliament.scot or call 01698 479900
I hope that you find the information in this month’s update to be useful in framing the work that the SNP and our Government are doing to make Progress nationally; but also to demonstrate the work of local SNP representatives too.
When we work together; we have the power to make a difference and indeed make progress for Scotland and all of its communities.