BLACK It’s vital to get out in the community
BY PAISLEY AND RENFREWSHIRE SOUTH MP MHAIRI BLACK
The horrific murder of David Amess MP last week was truly heartbreaking and my thoughts are with David’s family, friends and loved ones at this time.
David was fatally stabbed multiple times at his constituency surgery on Friday afternoon.
To hear of a public servant being attacked in this way while carrying out his duty in his constituency is devastating.
Nobody should go to work and never come home.
Surgeries are a critical part of an MP’s work. They are a place where people can speak about their most personal of struggles and MP’s can assist them where we can.
Politicians should be able to meet with the people they represent in a safe space and surgeries give constituents that ability.
This brutal attack only serves to disrupt the relationship between politicians and the local people they serve.
Constituency surgeries have only started to become a viable option again in Renfrewshire very recently due to the pandemic, all the local politicians have all been really eager to get back out and meet with their constituents face to face again.
The Police and the Parliament security team have been really helpful over the last few days and I will keep working with them so that we can continue to make surgeries accessible for everyone in Paisley and Renfrewshire South.
I had the chance to go along and speak at Kairos #ChangeMakers: Woman and Poverty event in the Tannahill Centre as part of Challenge Poverty Week.
Thank you to Kairos for having me along, it was a brilliant evening hearing from many inspirational women all highlighting how poverty impacts women’s lives from an intersectional perspective.
We still have so far to go to reach a place in society where women feel safe enough to express themselves without fear.
Gatherings such as this one, where we can explore and discuss issues such as the impact poverty has on women, amongst ourselves, without fear of oppression, is empowering.
Well done to everyone involved in the event for putting on a smashing evening.
It was also good to catch up with the team at the STAR Project in Paisley recently.
Their latest service, Pantry Plus, is a great effort to tackle both food insecurity and environmental issues. It is a dignified shopping experience with an ethos of resilience and sustainability at its heart.
They are providing healthy food for people in Renfrewshire.
On the day I had the chance to try a vegan tomato cake and I can confirm that it does not taste of tomatoes.
It is always a pleasure to see the STAR Project and I would urge people in Renfrewshire to get involved with Pantry Plus.
It has been fantastic to be able to get out and meet with local groups and organisations again during recess.
We have been living in a world of video chats and zoom meetings for the last 18 months so to actually be able to get out and see the fabulous work that people in Renfrewshire do for the community is brilliant.