Andrew Stephenson is Conservative Social gathering Chairman and MP for Pendle.
With the hustings tour final week bringing us to Scotland and Northern Eire, the subject of our Union was entrance of thoughts. With contemporary agitation from Nicola Sturgeon for a second independence referendum and Sinn Fein successful essentially the most seats on the final Stormont elections, the way forward for our Union is underneath fixed risk. Because the Conservative and Unionist Social gathering, we must not ever cease banging the drum for the advantages of our Union, essentially the most profitable political union in historical past. Certainly, that was why we felt it necessary to convey the hustings in individual to Scotland, Northern Eire, and Wales.
And certainly simply this week, the newest Authorities Expenditure & Income Scotland figures present the Union dividend, the mixed worth of Scotland’s greater spending in opposition to its decrease revenues, hit a file excessive of £2,184 per individual, as soon as once more exhibiting the advantages of being a part of our UK.
I spent two days in Scotland final week, visiting David Duguid MP in Banff and Buchan, the Conservative constituency furthest away from Westminster; Andrew Bowie MP in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, and our Scottish chief Douglas Ross MP MSP in Clochan, the place we spoke about his work to carry the SNP’s authorities to account and convey down the unacceptably excessive variety of drug deaths in Scotland.
I used to be additionally out on the marketing campaign path in Edinburgh with our Scottish Social gathering Chairman Craig Hoy MSP and newly elected Councillor Christopher Cowdy in Craiglockhart. I noticed first hand the nice work our MPs, MSPs, councillors, and activists are doing on the bottom in Scotland and why it’s so necessary we proceed to battle to have as massive a presence as potential north of the border, holding the SNP to account. And we’re making progress – in native elections in Could, the Scottish Conservatives stood extra candidates than ever earlier than in a single transferable vote election and was the one get together to contest each ward in mainland Scotland – securing positive factors in native authorities resembling Dumfries & Galloway, Moray and Aberdeenshire.
And we just lately launched our UK-wide 80/20 goal seats marketing campaign for Scotland in Edinburgh to make sure we are able to win extra seats on the subsequent Basic Election. As a result of on the whole lot from well being to training, Scotland is being let down by the nationalists.
On the subject of Scottish nationalists, I need to condemn the disgusting behaviour of nationalist protestors outdoors our hustings in Perth. I witnessed ‘scum’ being screamed at pensioners and younger ladies, an aged woman hit with an egg, and different members have reported being spat at when strolling in. It was completely vile, and whereas I discover Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for the abuse a BBC journalist suffered by the hands of her supporters in Perth, she has refused to utter a phrase of condemnation of the abuse hurled at our members merely for attending a hustings. Her silence is tacit approval and she or he ought to be ashamed. Typical of the character of our members in Scotland, they refused to be cowed by such repulsive ways.
In Northern Eire, our members have been in good voice and put each the candidates by way of their paces with good questions. This builds on the profitable conventions being organised by the Social gathering for our members in Northern Eire, and a reception held with the Prime Minister. Whereas we don’t but have any MPs elected right here, we are going to by no means flip our again on Northern Eire and can preserve constructing our presence, just lately establishing the position of Head of Discipline Operations for Northern Eire. With subsequent 12 months marking the twenty fifth anniversary of the Good Friday Settlement, it’s incumbent on all of us to work collectively to make sure continued peace and prosperity for all communities there.
In Wales, the place I used to be out campaigning over the weekend, we’ve got been getting on with the work of implementing the suggestions from Lord McInnes’ overview. We’ve opened a brand new and improved, larger HQ in Cardiff in addition to a model new workplace in Abergele, North Wales. Simply as with the SNP in Scotland, Labour’s administration in Wales is failing Welsh individuals. From the well being service to Labour’s absurd proposals for a tourism tax, the Welsh Conservatives are rightfully holding Mark Drakeford to account. It was nice to hitch Dr James Davies MP and Sarah Atherton MP out on the doorstep of their constituencies and Fay Jones MP and James Evans MS on the Llyswen and Boughrood Present.
Whereas voices of separation try to separate us aside, there are issues extra urgent to unusual individuals’s lives that we are able to and should work on collectively. Power costs will likely be on the forefront of everybody’s thoughts in the mean time, and Scotland and Wales have a protracted historical past in vitality manufacturing. Whether or not or not it’s joint investments in offshore wind within the Highlands or new floating offshore expertise at Pembroke Dock, UK authorities funding in Scotland and Wales’ tidal energy to new licenses for gasoline extraction within the North Sea, working collectively we are able to and can enhance our vitality safety for years to come back.
My time spent final week throughout the international locations of our United Kingdom illustrated as soon as once more the significance of our Union and why we as Conservatives, from activists to councillors to MPs, must not ever cease knocking these doorways and making the case for our treasured partnership of countries.
