Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
WORKING FOR YOU My ‘door is always open’ during busy year ahead
I’d like to start my latest column by wishing Advertiser readers a very happy and prosperous new year.
I hope that you enjoyed the festive period and managed to get some time to relax.
I’d also like to thank the local police, healthcare workers, fire service and others who continued to work during the holiday season to keep us all safe.
Clearly it’s going to be a very busy – and likely eventful – year in UK and Scottish politics.
As Brexit day looms, no one is any clearer on what sort of outcome this chaotic Tory Government are taking us towards.
Will there be another general election? Will there be another Brexit referendum? Will independence continue to rise in the polls as the most sensible option?
What I’m clear about is, during all of this, I will be continuing to represent Coatbridge and Chryston in the best way I can.
In Parliament I’ll be voting for progressive Scottish Government bills and for a budget that protects and invests in the health service, education and local government even in the face of prolonged UK Government austerity.
I’ll also be voting to protect Scotland’s interests throughout this Brexit saga at every turn.
Locally, I’ll continue to fight on all the issues important to people across my constituency.
I’ll continue to stand against any plans to have an incinerator built at Carnbroe and to pursue Transport Scotland to sort the ongoing situation with the traffic lights at Shawhead.
I’ll work to ensure that the Time Capsule opening times are not continually reduced by stealth.
I’ll ensure that constituents across the whole of Coatbridge and Chryston get the chance to have their say through the independent review of the Monklands Hospital consultation.
I will take up any issue for people and my door is always open; my surgery details are on my social media pages and are regularly advertised here in the Advertiser, so please feel free to get in touch at any time.
I’d like to end by mentioning Albion Rovers; it’s been a tough season for the team so far and, as many will know, the Coatbridge club is rooted to the bottom of the table.
Due to league restructure this means that the club could be relegated out of the professional league.
I feel this would be a huge loss to Coatbridge as a whole; I know a lot of people are sympathetic towards Rovers’ perilous plight, even if they are not their first team.
If anyone is still thinking of a new year’s resolution, why not commit to getting along to a Rovers game or two during the remainder of the season and give the side your backing?
It’s the best way to support the team and hopefully it will help turn their fortunes around and see them pick up enough points to avoid relegation; I know that I will be trying harder to get to more Rovers games in the coming months.