Tackling crime and drugs – and standing up for families

I missed the national campaign launch on Monday with David Cameron due to surgery committments in the Borders. A series of new policy announcements have been made, with plans to tackle crime and drugs here and plans to help make life easier for families here.

Affordable housing

One of the biggest problems across Scotland, and certainly in the Borders and Midlothian, is the lack of affordable housing. Only a few years ago on the road out of Gala it seemed as if every house was up for sale, and prices were an awful lot lower than they are now. Things have changed [...]

Hustings #2

After the Hampden hustings, it was on to Galashiels for a hustings arranged by The Scotsman as part of its “Union Debate” series.
We’re always being told that public meetings belong in the past, and that they have no place in modern day elections. I think that’s a shame, but I also think that’s wrong – [...]

Hustings #1

I spoke at a hustings today in Glasgow, run by Youthlink Scotland, and held at Hampden, and it’s the first time I’d ever been in one of the boxes overlooking the pitch. It came the same day the Executive unveiled its strategy for youth work, “Moving Forward”. It’s a professional looking document, full of happy [...]

Helping small business

That’s the theme of the Business Manifesto launched by the Conservatives – promising to reduce business rates for small businesses with rateable values below £15,000. The full document is available here. There are also plans for better support for businesses and ideas to tackle red tape.

Earlston High School Visit

Just back from the Parliament’s Education Centre, where I answered questions from S3 pupils from Earlston High School. I was joined by Green MSP Chris Ballance, and we managed to cover issues such as the closure of Melrose Fire Station, the need for better sporting facilities and what brought us into politics.
We were asked what the worst [...]

Holyrood Live

Covered a wide range of subjects yesterday on Holyrood Live, from conditions in prisons to the problems around affordable housing – as well as the Prostitution Bill passed by Parliament yesterday. With me on the programme was Rosie Kane of the SSP – you wouldn’t expect us to agree on a great deal, which might [...]