‘Junket’ jibe as new MP heads to US
Stirling’s recently elected MP has been criticised for taking a work trip to the US by a Tory councillor who accused him of going on a “junket”.
SNP foreign affairs spokesperson MP Alyn Smith this week made the trip to Washington DC where he has been involved in a series of meetings on Brexit, Scotland, trade and Chinese tech firm Huawei.
However, one Stirling councillor has accused Mr Smith of “swanning off” whilst the city faces a number of challenges.
The MP hit back at the “bitter” swipe saying he was doing important work forging links in the wake of Brexit.
Councillor Neil Benny, leader of the Tory group at Stirling Council, said: “We have rural banking closures in Balfron and Killin, the final stages in negotiations for the City Region Deal, important debates on energy policy, climate change and transport in the House of Commons and our Member of Parliament is not at his post.
“Representing Stirling is more important than any party appointment and Mr Smith really needs to learn that Stirling expects their representative to do this first rather than swanning off on some transatlantic junket. Being Stirling’s MP needs far more commitment than being in the European Parliament.”
Mr Smith, formerly an MEP for Scotland 15 years, was elected as Stirling’s MP at the General Election in December last year. He ousted Tory Stephen Kerr. Shortly after his election, Mr Smith was appointed the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesperson.
A spokesperson for Mr Smith explained that the MP is meeting with a number of representatives, including US Senators and UN delegates. He added: “These are important links, particularly as Scotland has now been removed from the EU and is facing a trade deal to be negotiated between Donald Trump and Boris Johnson. With the threat that this could pose to local public services – including our health service – as well as to food standards and our agriculture sector, it’s crucial that dialogue is established, not just with the current occupant of 10 Downing Street.”
Addressing councillor Benny’s comments, he said: “It’s a bizarre and bitter rant from the Tories, particularly considering the fact that the previous Tory MP for Stirling was no stranger to overseas visits, despite not holding any spokesperson role in parliament.
“Since being elected as the MP for Stirling just over a month ago, Mr Smith has already had a number of meetings discussing the City Region Deal, and has had frequent contact with the Bank of Scotland following their decision to close two branches in the constituency.
“Mr Smith’s role as the Member of Parliament for Stirling is to represent the interests of people here in Stirling and across Scotland in the constituency, in parliament and through links with representatives of other countries too.”