Mearns Coastal

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.

Our coastal communities are among the most beautiful in Scotland. Our area sits at the heart of Scotland’s history - the saving of the Honours of Scotland from Dunnottar Castle to Kinneff Kirk, the historic royal burgh of Inverbervie and the traditional fishing villages of Catterline, Gourdon, and Johnshaven, along with the sweeping sands and nature reserve at St Cyrus, we are fortunate to call this remarkable area home.

However, what truly defines the Mearns is its people. The local pride on display across our coastal communities is inspiring: the Brighter Bervie volunteers revitalising our seafront and the Catterline Community Benefit Society bringing people together, to Shark Johnshaven’s dedicated beach cleans, and the striking new murals in Gourdon. Meanwhile, the vital work of the Bervie Pantry ensures that compassion and support reach those who need it most.

I am proud of the SNP’s record of empowering our communities. By securing £76,000 for the Mill of Benholm, we are ensuring this landmark returns to its former glory as a thriving community asset. I am equally impressed by the Mearns Coastal Heritage Trail (MERCHAT) group’s ambition to extend the Mearns Coastal Path from St Cyrus to Stonehaven as part of the Doric Way (Platinum Jubilee Coastal path) around the whole Aberdeenshire coast to Cullen. Their hard work in upgrading paths and collaborating with landowners is a fantastic example of a project that boosts both our local wellbeing and our tourism economy by encouraging us to walk or cycle our stunning coastline.

On the doorstep, you have shared your most pressing priorities with me. Coastal erosion is a growing worry, particularly in Inverbervie and Johnshaven. I will work with local policymakers to ensure they engage fully with residents so that the local authority's coastal change adaption plans reflect the actual needs of our communities.

Connectivity for those without a car or unable to drive is problem that I am acutely aware of, especially for young people and the older generation. The unpredictable service of the X7 means many struggle with a lack of reliable public transport along the coast. Too often this leads to people missing appointments, job interviews and opportunities to socialise with friends. As your MSP, I will fight for the reliable, connected coastal services you deserve and I welcome the introduction of the Ember service from Aberdeen to Perth taking the A92 coastal route with many stops along the way from 29th April 2026.

With the southern part of the Aberdeenshire Mearns coast constrained by two aging bridges I will be working to ensure that infrastructure funding is available to facilitate the fixes required for the strengthening of the Inverbervie Jubilee Bridge and the North Esk bridge between St Cyrus and Montrose. It cannot be that the communities between these two bridges are isolated when there are river spates like those experienced during Storm Babet which undermine the bridges foundations.

Additionally, from the Emergency Heating Oil Scheme supporting our off-grid households to our £500m investment in childcare from nine months through primary school, the SNP is committed to taking direct action to ease the cost of living for families across the Mearns. We will also help young people get on the property ladder with £10,000 towards a deposit on buying a first home.

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.

> Howe of the Mearns Article

I know there is concern amongst local fishermen about the increase in offshore windfarms, the energy infrastructure around them and the impact this is having on their way of working. I am committed to ensuring that the seas' ecosystems are protected for sustainability and to support the local communities whose livelihoods depend on them and to encourage all users of the marine environment to develop a positive future together with mutual respect.

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.