Thistles right to allow Nativity
Christmas is a time for family, friends and for many of us, a celebration of the birth of Christ. That is why I, and many members of the public, were concerned about the decision to refuse a Nativity display in the Thistles Centre. Thankfully, common sense prevailed, and the decision reversed. A big thank you must go to Margaret Paterson, many churches, organisations and all members of the public who campaigned for the crib to be displayed. Thanks must also go to the Thistles Centre for reflecting on the comments made by the public and acting upon them.
And as we enter the New Year, I too have also been reflecting about the past year in Parliament. Nuisance phone calls can have a devastating impact on people’s lives. That is why I brought forward a 10-minute rule bill to the House of Commons to ensure that there was legislation in place to punish those operate these businesses. I called my first Adjournment debate to set out the case for easier access to funding for community broadband projects across Stirling and Scotland. I have also actively supported small businesses in Stirling by calling for, and voting for, the so called ‘AmazonTax’.
In the summer there was the opportunity to see first-hand the work being done to end malaria in Kenya. The United Kingdom is one of the biggest donors to the global effort to fight malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Hundreds of thousands die every year from these diseases, many of them children. This can and must be stopped.
In 2019, however, the fund which supports the global effort to combat these diseases will need to be replenished. The UK Government is committed but it is important that the largest donor, the United States, renews its financial commitment. There is concern regarding the intention of US administration and I am going to try to influence members of the US Congress to actively support the funding that is needed.
Unsurprisingly though, Parliament in the past year has been dominated by our departure from the European Union. The proposed deal protects the integrity of our United Kingdom, protects our economy and jobs, while maintaining a positive relationship with the EU. That is why I support the Prime Minister on this matter.
Next year, I hope, will provide an opportunity for us to concentrate on the serious issues that people need us all to focus on, such as our health service, our schools and our police. We have to move beyond the current Brexit debate and get on with tackling these and other issues.
Another subject that keeps being raised on the doorsteps is persistent cases of anti-social behaviour. I have launched a survey to seek your experiences and thoughts. Your views will help me in my continuing dialogue with the police and council regarding how this problem can be most effectively tackled. You can find the survey at www. stephenkerr.org/asb or contact my office for a copy