My thoughts are with the people of Ukraine
The horrific Russian invasion of Ukraine last week finally displaced the saga of ‘Party Gate’ on the Westminster agenda.
Prior to this, the future of Boris Johnson had distracted parliamentary focus from other pressing issues, such as Covid, Brexit and the rising cost of living. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this terrifying time and for Ukrainians here who are anxious about their family back home. Despite reassurances from the Prime Minister, in response to my question on behalf of a constituent trying to bring her mother to safety, the Home Office have not yet enabled wider access to family visas. This is something I and other MP colleagues will continue to pursue. In terms of Brexit, I am one of 21 MPs on the new UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA), which brings together representatives of the UK and European Parliaments to look at how the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) is implemented. Whilst my hope is that Scotland will eventually return to the EU in its own right, it is important to explore any possible mitigations of the worst effects of Brexit, particularly around citizens’rights, trade, research and workforce, which I have already been examining in my role as a Commissioner on the UK Trade and Business Commission.
With the devolved parliaments not given any formal role in the PPA, I will also be trying to ensure Scotland’s interests are represented, particularly those areas where we are disproportionately impacted.
Locally, I caught up with South Ayrshire Council leaders to hear how the Ayrshire Growth Deal projects are progressing and, having promoted the idea for several years, was delighted to see the first public consultation on the proposed Spaceport at Prestwick Airport take place last week.
Although being a horizontal launch site won’t involve rockets blasting off, but rather aircraft which will later deploy small rockets to deliver satellites into orbit, the ability to launch is likely to attract other space-related businesses, from satellite manufacture to downstream data processing, and has the potential to bring hundreds of high-skilled jobs to Ayrshire.