Fabiani on: Future for East Kilbride

What needs resolved for East Kilbride is the town’s future role.

East Kilbride is not a‘new town’anymore and it has suffered some heavy blows.

The closure of manufacturing industry under successive UK Governments, and the threat to jobs at HMRC and DFID must be addressed.

East Kilbride can lead the way in new technology, clean transport, and innovation, and be the real jewel in the crown in Lanarkshire.

We have the talent and the drive and that must be encouraged with some clear thinking and good ideas.

The town has not fared particularly well since it joined South Lanarkshire in 1996 and we face a challenge to turn that round, especially post-Coronavirus. I hope to stay involved with Smart Sustainable East

Kilbride and work with South Lanarkshire Council and partners to make that happen.

In terms of my successor, it’s up to the party and the members of East Kilbride SNP to select a candidate for the 2021 election and campaign to have them elected.

This is a brilliant constituency and I am sure there will be competition for selection. I’ll wait to hear from members before offering any backing to a potential candidate.

If the SNP candidate is fortunate enough to be elected, I’m sure I’ll be tempted to give lots of advice. In the meantime, all I would say is they need to be honest and upfront about what they stand for.

Even if they can’t please all of the people all of the time, they should remember that they are there to serve their constituency and constituents as best they can.