Kerr out campaigning
Stirling MP Stephen Kerr said he was out campaigning when Universal Credit protesters held their march and rally on Saturday.
The Tory member was speaking after it emerged his office had been targeted by vandals for the third time. Graffiti was scrawled on the gable of the building between 9pm Friday and 9am Saturday – well before the march and rally.
Mr Kerr said :“As usual on Saturday the Scottish Conservative team and I were out and about, this time in Cowie, listening to people while the SNP were just talking to themselves.
“Since I was elected, I have visited well over 1700 houses and spoken to people from all over Stirling. My office was open as normal on Monday morning and neither vandalism nor marches will not stop me from representing the interests of the people of Stirling. ”
Stirling Council Conservative Group leader Neil Benny added: “A few SNP activists marching through the town is OK; they have every right to do so. I was a wee bit concerned when they decided to use the children’s play area in the Thistle Park and shout at residents in King’s Park.
“Parks are meant to be for kids to enjoy, not for angry political activists to gather, even in such small numbers as this.”
An SNP spokesman said they followed the strict procedures for holding demonstrations, liaising closely with both Stirling Council and Police Scotland.
Applications for use of the park were submitted on time and did not attract any objections .
And he added: “Mr Kerr’s attempt to conflate any vandalism to his office building with a peaceful demonstration against Tory welfare policy is sad and desperate to say the least. All vandalism is deplorable.”
Bannockburn and Eastern villages SNP councillor Alasdair MacPherson added: “I attended Saturday’s rally with Unite trade union colleagues and three constituents who are victims of Universal Credit.
“Two of them have gone more than six weeks without a single penny and are having to rely on food banks and handouts to survive. One told me that they are selling goods that they are shoplifting so that they can pay off rent arrears as they are terrified of being evicted. People on Universal Credit are dreading Christmas, so it’s a bit rich of Stephen Kerr and Neil Benny to criticise the SNP and my trade union colleagues for attending Saturday’s rally.”