Press Release: Small Business Saturday 2021

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This week (Thursday 4th November) Alan Brown welcomes Small Business Saturday tour to his constituency. 

Small Business Saturday takes place on the first Saturday of December (4th) but the tour will be travelling across the UK, calling at different towns and cities over the next month. 

The MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun has secured the event come to Kilmarnock and Loudoun for the second time in three years – the tour was last here in 2018. 

It will pitch up at The Cross in Kilmarnock town centre on Thursday 4th November from 10 am until 2 pm. 

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to shop local and support small businesses in their communities. 

For the first time, this year’s tour will showcase a fleet of eco vehicles that reflect daily life for small businesses and the sustainable switches many are making or considering - including an electric van, car and scooter, as well as a 'delivery style' push bike. 

A host of local businesses and organisations are taking part in the event including MYVO Ltd, Flutterby Newborn Photography, Kilmarnock Station Bakery and Ayrshire Munchies. There will also be representation from Ayrshire Business Women President, Tamara Campbell and Leader of East Ayrshire Council, Douglas Reid. 

Commenting, Alan Brown MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun said: 

“I am delighted to welcome this tour to my constituency once again. 

“It is an event I always take part in and it will be the second time we have been able to bring the tour to Kilmarnock. 

“In my role as SNP Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change, I am delighted it will be a zero-emissions tour. Small business will play a vital role in hitting Scotland’s net-zero target of 2045. 

“We all know the effect the pandemic has had on our economy over the past 18-months, therefore this year is more and important than ever as we try to recover from covid. With the build-up to Christmas upon us, now is the perfect time to go out and support small businesses within our constituency and give the local economy a boost. 

“It is important to celebrate small business and the integral part they play in our community – they are about far more than profit. They provide much-needed services and goods; they offer employment and training; they boost the local economy, and they have a major role in rebuilding our town centres.” 

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Press Release: Food Waste Letter to PM

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MP Steps Up Support for Food Waste Campaign

Alan Brown MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun has written to the Prime Minister, calling on the government to take urgent action on food waste.

Two million tonnes of fresh, unsold food is wasted in the UK every year. Funding to help farmers and food producers get this food to frontline charities has now ended. If the funding were to be extended, it could create an additional 53m meals for vulnerable families. Without it, the food will be needlessly wasted – thrown into biogas digesters, sent to landfill or simply ploughed back into the fields.

The letter is part of the #FoodOnPlates campaign, run by FareShare, the UK’s largest food redistribution charity. They are calling on the government to commit to vital food waste funding ahead of next week’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

In Kilmarnock and Loudoun last year, FareShare redistributed the equivalent of 369,100 meals via 20 local organisations. This funding would enable them to nearly double the amount of food that they could provide to people across the UK, through saving surplus food.

Alan Brown MP said: “Voluntary organisations in Kilmarnock and Loudoun have worked incredibly hard during the pandemic. It is vital that we get more food to them, to aid them in their work in our community.

“Good, healthy food should not be going to waste from growers and producers in the UK, when it could be used to feed those who need it. By delivering this letter, we have got this important message to the heart of government. I hope that in the Spending Review next week, the government allocates this lifeline funding which would result in significant environmental, social and economic benefits.”

The letter, signed by 53 MPs representing both sides of the house, calls for £5m a year to offset the costs of redistributing food from farmers and businesses to charities. This will help the UK mitigate 124,378 tonnes of carbon.

FareShare CEO Lindsay Boswell, said: “In 2019, the Government demonstrated a bold commitment to tackling food waste, with a successful trial that diverted millions of meals’ worth of great quality food from British farms to frontline charities providing care and support to vulnerable families.

“With just over a week until the Comprehensive Spending Review and two weeks until COP, we urge the Government to once again show leadership on this issue and commit to extending vital funding to get in-date, nutritious food onto people’s plates.”

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Press Release: Long Live the Local

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MP Pledges Pub Support 

Alan Brown MP has reinforced his support for pubs in his constituency.

The MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun has once again shown his support for Long Live the Local’s campaign which calls for a cut in beer duty.

Mr Brown has joined 118 of his constituents (125,000 UK-wide) who signed the petition to help pubs and breweries in the constituency recover and thrive post-covid.

The campaign calls for Rishi Sunak to lower VAT & business rates for pubs and an overall reduction in beer duty ahead of the budget.

The representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun wrote to the Chancellor in October last year on the subject as brewing and pubs in the constituency support 886 jobs and contributes £23m to the local economy.

And Mr Brown is delighted to support the campaign again.

Commenting, he said:

“I value the role pubs play within communities. Before the pandemic, I hosted special pop-up events in several premises across the constituency as part of my Parliament in the Pub surgery and I hope to continue this in the future when the time is right as we recover from covid.

“We all know the difficulties they have faced as a result of the pandemic. Therefore, I believe the UK Government should consider cutting unfair taxes on pubs that are hampering their recovery.

“I wrote to the Chancellor last year ahead of the delayed Budget and in his response, he hinted at increases but would not commit to anything. The Treasury tried to argue how much lost revenue they have had from past policy cuts and freezes but I believe this to be disingenuous. As when it suits them, the Tories argue that tax cuts and freezes bring in additional revenue. So what one is it?

“I am pleased to reinforce my support for this campaign. More than 100 of my constituents have signed the petition, along with several others writing to me directly over the issue. Therefore, I stand by them in calling for the Chancellor to lower VAT & business rates for pubs and reduce beer duty at this year’s Budget to support the recovery of pubs.”

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Visit: Osliebrae Farm

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8th October 2021

A big thanks to Robert and Sarah-Jane Drummond from Osliebrae Farm in Stewarton who had me up for a visit this afternoon.

They run an organic farm and highlighted a number of issues facing the sector. I look forward to having further discussions to see where I can support the sector within the constituency and beyond.

I strongly believe in local produce and would encourage anyone to buy local where possible.

Kiltwalk 2021

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`On Sunday 26th September I did the Kiltwalk with Cyndi and Coby. This is now an unashamed plea for any donations that will go directly to Ayrshire Cancer Support . A fantastic organisation that probably most local people have came across or know of their services through friends or family.

Any donations received by October 4th will receive a 50% top up from the Tom Hunter Foundation so that's a great Incentive.

Well done again to all involved in the Kiltwalk . Different due to covid but still a brilliant atmosphere and great/humbling to see so many folk make such an effort, often in memory of someone special to them.

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Press Release: Universal Credit Cut

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KILMARNOCK AND LOUDOUN MP CALLS FOR U-TURN ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT CUTS 

Alan Brown MP has urged the UK government to U-turn on the “devastating” Tory cuts to Universal Credit – as new analysis shows 10,833 people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun could see their incomes slashed by £1040 per year from October. 

Analysis from the House of Commons Library, using the latest DWP data, has revealed that almost half a million (477,996) people in Scotland could be hit by the cut – at a total cost to Scottish families of around £430million a year.  

Of those, 10,833 live in Kilmarnock and Loudoun – representing 17.4% of the constituency adult population aged 16 to 65. 

The overwhelming majority of Scottish MPs voted in the House of Commons to stop the Universal Credit cuts but the Tory government plans to impose them anyway. The SNP has urged the UK government to think again in light of the energy bills crisis - and make the £20 a week uplift permanent and extend it to legacy benefits. 

Commenting, Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP Alan Brown said:   

"It is crucial that the UK government scraps the devastating Tory Universal Credit cuts, which could slash the incomes of almost half a million Scottish families by £1040 from October. 

"At a time when energy bills and the cost of living are soaring, it would be unthinkable for the Tory government to go ahead with cuts that would decimate the incomes of more than 10,000 in my constituency. 

"The UK is already suffering from a growing Tory poverty crisis, with the worst levels of poverty and inequality of any country in north west Europe - and the highest levels of in-work poverty this century as a direct result of Tory cuts, tax hikes and the cost of Brexit.

“I am urging the Chancellor to U-turn on these Tory cuts, and instead make the £20 Universal Credit uplift permanent and extend it to legacy benefits - as part of a wider package of measures to protect household incomes. 

"I will continue to press the UK government to reverse these damaging cuts but ultimately it is clear the only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to build a strong, fair and equal recovery." 


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Press Release: Cut to Furlough

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TORIES WARNED AGAINST WITHDRAWING SUPPORT FOR JOBS AND BUSINESSES IN KILMARNOCK AND LOUDOUN.

 THREAT TO 2,000 JOBS FROM ENDING FURLOUGH PREMATURELY

Alan Brown MP has warned the Chancellor against withdrawing support for jobs and businesses - as new analysis shows 2,000 jobs in Kilmarnock and Loudoun are at risk from Tory plans to terminate the furlough scheme prematurely at the end of this month.

Analysis from the House of Commons Library, using the latest HMRC data, has revealed that 116,500 jobs remain furloughed in Scotland at the last count - that is 5% of eligible jobs. Of those, 2,000 jobs remain furloughed in Kilmarnock and Loudoun - representing 5% of eligible jobs.

 The analysis shows the number of furloughed jobs in Scotland fell by around 20% between the end of May and the end of June, and a further 20% between the end of June and the end of July. If the number continues to fall at the same rate, it could leave 75,000 Scottish jobs still furloughed when the scheme ends abruptly on 30th September.

 Across the East Ayrshire local authority area a total of 2,400 jobs remain furloughed, representing 5 % of eligible jobs.

The latest ONS data shows that unemployment is currently at a lower rate in Scotland than across the UK. The unemployment rate was at 4.3% in Scotland between May and July - below the UK rate of 4.6%.

Commenting, Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP Alan Brown said:

"It is vital that the Chancellor finally listens to SNP calls to extend the furlough scheme and deliver financial support for hard hit businesses and sectors. There is now a very real danger that Tory complacency on jobs could result in rising redundancies in Kilmarnock and Loudoun and across the UK.

"With thousands of Scottish jobs under threat from Tory cuts, including 2,000 at risk in our constituency, I am urging Rishi Sunak to ensure the UK government does not withdraw support for jobs and businesses abruptly and prematurely. This is especially important, given the risks of covid this winter and the fragile state of the UK economy.

"Too many people have been left behind by Westminster throughout the pandemic. The UK government must not create a Tory unemployment crisis, which could see thousands of people made redundant and left on the scrap heap, at the same time that Tory ministers raise taxes and slash Universal Credit by £1040.

"Scotland's recovery is increasingly under threat from damaging Tory cuts and tax hikes. The only way to keep Scotland safe is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to build a strong, fair and equal recovery."