30th January 2023: A Week in Parliament

Onthank Street Surgery

On Friday I was delighted to take part in my first Street Surgery of 2023. I was joined by two of my staff members and Cllr Elaine Cowan as we chapped more than 200 doors across Craufaurdland Road, Kingswell Avenue and Crofthead Avenue. It was great to be out and about and talking to constituents on their doorsteps about matters both locally and nationally. Street Surgeries are a fantastic way to engage with my constituents as I try to get away from the stigma that politicians only chap doors at election time. Pre-covid this was a staple of my constituency engagement, and it is certainly a feature which will be apparent this year as I aim to knock on doors across Kilmarnock and Loudoun. When I have advertised these in the past, at times, people have gotten in touch asking why I am not going to a certain estate or area within the constituency. I have been to several estates across the constituency and there is a reality I cannot be everywhere at once. But this system allows me to speak to way more people than simply holding a surgery in one venue, hoping people will turn up. Meanwhile, standard-type surgeries and my office remains open for enquiries as well. Keep an eye out for various activities in the coming months.

Nadhim Zahawi

Here is yet another sleaze case from the Tories as Rishi Sunak has sacked the Tory Party Chair, Nadhim Zahawi. The former Chancellor was sacked over a breach of the ministerial code by not declaring he was under investigation by HMRC. It is believed he paid around £5m to HMRC in a settlement over tax avoidance – when someone makes £23m profit why do they feel the need to avoid paying tax when clearly they can afford to do so? The Prime Minister has acted and sacked him, but how much did he know in the first place? Over the weekend, Zahawi posted his letter to the PM on Twitter. At no point did he make any apology for his actions or have any admission of wrongdoing…instead, he seeks praise as he details his so-called achievements in Government. we must not forget he also threatened to sue those who first broke the story, yet when sacked he still tried to blame a “hostile media”. The arrogance and self-entitlement never disappear it seems.

Kilmarnock F.C.

A very disappointing weekend for the club as we were comfortably beaten 3-0 by one of our relegation rivals. The defeat at Dingwall has four teams locked on 20 points at the foot of the table but we find ourselves rock bottom on goal difference. Our away form has been so poor this season, with only two points picked up and four goals scored on the road this season. However, our home form has been strong and this makes the Dundee United game at Rugby Park on Wednesday night huge. Hopefully, by the time this comes along a few more signings will be in the door.