Looking back on remarkable year
This has been quite a remarkable year.
Speaking personally, I was humbled that the people of Perthshire North once again put their trust in me to represent them in the Scottish Parliament.
I was delighted to be re-elected and to become one of 64 SNP MSPs that were returned to Holyrood for what is an unprecedented third term of government for the party.
Further afield, we are of course awaiting the UK Government triggering Article 50 in order to begin negotiations about leaving the European Union, following the result of the referendum held back in June. There is a lot of work yet to take place on this front. However, I am pleased to see Nicola Sturgeon taking the lead in publicising proposals that could be of benefit to Scotland in this regard.
It is vitally important that the UK Gover nment pays attention to and carefully considers the Scottish Government’s‘Scotland’s Place in Europe’paper.
The world is also awaiting the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America. Scotland and the USA have a number of shared values, not least equality, tolerance and diversity. I hope that the president-elect will honour these values.
Closer to home, 2016 has been a fabulous year for sport, with Perth being home to an Olympic silver medal-winning swimmer following the Rio Games. Stephen Milne’s success in the pool will hopefully be a catalyst for young people in the area to get involved in sport generally.
The brand-new Academy of Sport and Wellbeing, opened at Perth College UHI’s Crieff Road campus in September, will hopefully encourage even more people to get active in 2017 and potentially foster new Olympic athletes, particularly with the opening
Perth Olympic swimming medalist Stephen Milne of the new indoor climbing centre.
It has been a very busy year in and around Perth as well, culminating in the ambitious launch of our bid to become UK City of Culture 2021.
I am delighted to see so many local people and businesses getting behind the bid and, despite Perth being an early favourite with the bookmakers, a lot of work will be required in order for the title to come to Perth. I will continue to work with my colleagues to try to ensure the city benefits from this bid.
On the high street Perth saw McEwans close its doors for the final time at the beginning of the year. However, I have been working hard with my colleague Pete Wishart MP to support local businesses.
Our city centre summits have attracted good attention from business owners in the city and I am pleased to see the Perth Traders Association helping to take the lead in promoting thecCity.
I very much hope that footfall in our local stores has increased over the year, with the large number of people who have come to Perth for a number of events throughout the year including, most recently, the impressive Christmas lights switch-on event.
I hope that everybody had a very merry Christmas and will enjoy a happy new year.
I can be reached at 17-19 Leslie Street, Blairgowrie, PH10 6AH; 01250 876576 or by email at John.Swinney. msp@parliament.scot. John Swinney MSP drawing on the public mural that was part of Perth’s UK City of Culture 2021 bid launch