Stevenson on Tour

It’s that time of year again when I get into my caravan for the annual surgery tour around Banffshire and the Buchan Coast – knocking on doors in the farthest of constituency corners, so that I can answer your questions, queries, and let you know what I’ve been doing in the past weeks and months for the area.

Starting on Tuesday 14th July, my 15th tour will cover 37 communities from Rothiemay in the far west to Boddam at the south-eastern end, and inland to Aberchirder, New Byth and Memsie. It’s a great chance for me to meet all those who can’t make it to the traditional surgeries in towns and villages throughout the year, and I find the whole experience enjoyable and engaging.

Even though a lot of our communication these days is done electronically, there is no substitute for meeting face-to-face and I still think this is vitally important. And for the very small communities, this may be the only chance I’ve had all year to come and visit.

One of the issues that will always have people talking is how much money they have in their pockets after the Chancellor’s latest budget for 2015/16.

The recent offering from George Osbourne looks set to hit working families, the poor and young people the hardest. The harsh austerity agenda continues to hit people where it hurts – particularly given the savage cuts in tax credits.

We do welcome the increase in the minimum wage of course, but the cuts to the incomes of those that can least afford it cannot be ignored. The living wage in Scotland is currently £7.85 and the proposals are that this figure would be effectively lowered to £7.20.

Cuts to the living standards of young people are also severe – including the scrapping of student grants for those that need them the most. The SNP Government will continue to deliver grants for the poorest students in Scotland, demonstrating the benefits in having these powers closer to home.

Although there were welcome measures such as the freeze in fuel duty, there was nothing in the budget to encourage innovation or exports. People need to be inspired in order to develop ideas and business plans, and they need help along the way.

The austerity agenda is being imposed on Scotland, despite the election of 56 SNP MSPs who wholeheartedly rejected austerity, and an electorate who only returned one Tory MP north of the border to Westminster. It’s worth remembering that the Tories secured their lowest share of the vote in Scotland since 1865 in the recent election.

The latest budget just furthers the SNP case to have economic and welfare powers in Scotland so that are more dynamic economy can be created – boosting tax revenues and resulting in a fairer society – where policies benefit the many.

This is just one of the hot topics I would really like to chat to you about if this is something that interests you.

For more details on where I am having surgeries year around, please go to http://surgeries.stewartstevenson.scot/. No appointment is necessary for my caravan tour, although constituents with ongoing cases will probably find it useful to advise their attendance on 01779 470444.



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