Howe of The Mearns

I am honoured to stand as the SNP candidate for the Angus North and Mearns constituency and am committed to being a passionate advocate for every community across The Mearns, ensuring your voice is heard clearly in the Scottish Parliament.

The rolling farmland of the Howe of the Mearns is among the most beautiful in Scotland. The landscape is steeped in history and has inspired many – including the great Lewis Grassic Gibbon, author of Sunset Song, and the bard Robert Burns's family hail from Clochnahill. But it is the people and their community spirit that truly define us. Community spirit is our greatest asset, evidenced by everything from Drumlithie’s Skite News, the newly opened Oor Howe food larder in Auchenblae to the vital support provided by the Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network’s volunteers and the Auchenblae Youth Club (KMYC). I have been inspired by the perseverance of locals in recent years to protect the future of the Grassic Gibbon Centre and the grassroots drive to take over and re-open Auchenblae’s public toilets.

The local economy is also evolving, and I am proud of the SNP’s record in empowering our residents to lead that change. By securing £250,000 for a new community hub in Edzell Woods, we have demonstrated a firm commitment to the facilities that bring people together. The global success of the Fettercairn Distillery continues to bring vital investment and international interest, while the expansion of the Burnside Brewery offers new opportunities for our young people. MacPhie's at Glenbervie continues to thrive as a major local employer in their food manufacturing business and the Castleton Fruit Farm is diversifying this spring with it's Cherry Orchard tours and afternoon teas.

On the doorstep, you have shared your most pressing priorities with me, and I am committed to acting on them. I know how vital the Laurencekirk flyover is to drivers across The Mearns, and I was pleased when the SNP Government reaffirmed its commitment to this junction earlier this year at the budget, but I understand the local frustration regarding the pace of progress. While statutory processes must be followed, if elected, I will demand a clear and transparent timetable for its delivery.

I am also acutely aware of the lack of reliable bus services between Mearns communities and further afield. Villages have little to no bus service, with some only available during the working week while others are completely cut off unless they drive. While the Ember service along the A90 is a positive step, much more progress is required. It is unacceptable that residents still struggle to travel to medical appointments, job interviews, or to social socialise. I will work with national and local policymakers to press for the modern, connected transport system our villages deserve.

While I recognise that the North-East must have the infrastructure required to benefit from the transition to renewable energy, I firmly believe that SSEN Transmission’s proposed 400kV overhead lines should be undergrounded. It is disappointing that successive Labour and Tory UK Governments have maintained a system that discourages this. The SNP is demanding the devolution of energy powers so that decisions about our land are made by the people of Scotland – not distant policymakers with little understanding of our rural communities. If elected, I will press the UK Government to grant the powers needed to underground this type of infrastructure. I also appreciate that our countryside is approaching saturation point for the granting of planning for battery storage projects, solar and windfarms and will do what I can to ensure that our area is not overburdened with these energy projects moving forwards.

From the Emergency Heating Oil Scheme supporting our off-grid households to our £500m investment in childcare from nine months through primary school, and provding £10,000 towards a deposit on buying a first home, the SNP is committed to taking direct action to ease the cost of living for families.

If you elect me to be your constituency representative in the Scottish Parliament, I will be a relentless champion for our area – working together with local and national policymakers to deliver the results The Mearns needs. So make it both votes SNP on 7th May to elect me as your constituency MSP and for an SNP majority in Holyrood for the next parliamentary term.

> Mearns Coastal article

We recognise the impact that the UK Labour Government's Inheritance Tax on farmers is a threat to our family run farms and will push for this punitive tax to be reversed. The SNP are also committed to maintaining direct payments which provide stability to Scottish agriculture. Our Future Farming Investment Scheme for capital investment in efficiency, nature and climate friendly farming will be increased to £21.4million this financial year and that is on top of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) which has provided more than £8.5 million over the last decade to bring farmers, researchers and rural businesses together – sharing knowledge and trialling new approaches.