What the SNP has done for Angus North & Mearns

Another in my series on what has the SNP government done for Scotland since being elected. A reasonable question when one party has led the Government for so long. There are many, many achievements and positives to answer that question. Today I'm focussing on how SNP government policies have impacted Angus and Aberdeenshire, the two local authorities that overlap in Angus North & Mearns.

Since the SNP came into government, every home in Angus North and Mearns has benefitted from SNP policies. Despite the limited powers and budgets of devolution, we have taken bold, decisive steps to build a fairer, greener and more equal Scotland.

Protecting our NHS will always be a top priority for the SNP. Following record investment in frontline services, Scotland’s NHS is performing more procedures, GP numbers are rising, and waiting times are being driven down. Under the SNP, healthcare funding for our region has seen a significant boost; in 2026-27, the NHS Grampian budget increased by £130.7 million and NHS Tayside by £94.2 million compared to the previous year. Furthermore, Scotland remains the only part of the UK to successfully avert NHS strikes, ensuring patients in our communities continue to receive the care they need without disruption.

We also believe every child deserves the best start in life, which is why we provide the Baby Box for free, packed with essentials for a child’s first six months. Since 2017, over 65,000 Baby Boxes have been delivered to families across NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside.

We are making Scotland more connected than ever. Under the SNP, more people are enjoying nationwide free bus travel than ever before, with over 163,000 young people, seniors and disabled residents across Angus and Aberdeenshire possessing free bus passes. We have abolished peak rail fares and frozen fares this year to ensure that you keep more of your money in your own pocket. Where Westminster failed to act on digital connectivity, the SNP stepped in with £1 billion of public investment. This has delivered faster broadband to over one million Scottish homes and businesses, ensuring that over 90% of properties in Angus and Aberdeenshire are now connected to superfast speeds.

Our commitment to frontline policing has made our streets safer. Since 2006-07, recorded crime has fallen by nearly a quarter in Angus and by over 27% in Aberdeenshire. This progress is backed by sustained investment in policing, ensuring our communities are protected by having more police officers than in 2007 - who remain the best-paid in the UK across all ranks.

Education remains a top priority, and through SNP investment, record numbers of pupils are now being taught in modern, high-quality schools. Since 2014, we have invested £63.9 million to deliver new buildings for Brechin High School and Forfar Academy, following the £22.4 million transformation of Mearns Academy in 2012. These new schools are delivering real results: over 94% of pupils across Angus and Aberdeenshire are moving on to positive destinations like university, college, apprenticeships or employment. Our party is committed to getting this transition right for every young person, regardless of their background.

The SNP also has a strong record of supporting businesses in the North-East. As of 26 June 2025, 11,450 non-domestic properties in Angus and Aberdeenshire were receiving 100% rates relief. Furthermore, we are delivering a “just transition” for our local economy. Our Just Transition Fund for the North-East and Moray has invested over £85 million in 28 projects since 2022, supporting hundreds of jobs and helping companies enter the offshore wind, marine energy, and carbon capture sectors. This is real action helping small businesses and local industry to thrive.

While successive Westminster governments have imposed callous welfare cuts, the SNP is using devolved powers to protect the most vulnerable. In 2026-27, we are providing over £106 million for Discretionary Housing Payments to mitigate the “Bedroom Tax” and benefit caps. Locally, over £1.8 million was awarded in 2024-25 across Aberdeenshire and Angus specifically to offset the Bedroom Tax, providing a vital lifeline for households struggling with the cost of living. We've also awarded Best start Grants to families in need across both local authority areas: 7135 in Angus and 9625 in Aberdeenshire. The game changing Scottish Child Payment has helped lift so many families out of poverty and ensuring that less children live in poverty in Scotland than other parts of the UK. In Angus, 6460 children benefit from this which amounts to 170,000 payouts worth over £27 million, while in Aberdeenshire those numbers are 10,195 children, 260,000 payouts to a total of almost £42 million.

And, with the launch of our 2026 Manifesto, you will see that the SNP will go even further should we be re-elected to be the party of Government: price caps for essential food items to protect public health and nutrition, more walk-in GP clinics to ensure you can see a doctor when needed, £2 bus fare cap across Scotland, free breakfast clubs for every primary school, help for renters and first time buyers, expanded childcare from 9 months to the end of P7, and so many more (read here).

It is clear that only the SNP will deliver for Angus North and Mearns. Elect me to represent you in the Scottish Parliament and I will be a relentless champion for our area.

Vote for me, Dawn Black for Angus North & Mearns on 7th May, and SNP on the Regional ballot for a SNP majority.

Affordable housing is vital to allow people to have stable homes and potentially get onto the property ladder. The SNP Government is dedicated to their ambition to provide more homes and has provided 1,931 affordable and social houses in Angus, and 4,501 in Aberdeenshire since 2007. We are committed to building a further 110,000 across Scotland by 2032