Visit: Mossgiel Farm
/It was good to get another visit to Mossgiel Dairy Farm – not only has the farmer, Bryce, gone fully organic - he has plans in place to be zero carbon across the entire farm production including deliveries by 2025.
He is proof that a business can be green and successful. His organic milk is now served in East Ayrshire schools which is a tremendous way of ensuring healthy local products for our children. Coming to nursery schools next too, so, well done East Ayrshire Council and Mossgiel.
Surgery: Ayrshire Food Hub
/I also held my first open advice surgery since Covid restrictions kicked in. This was at the Ayrshire Food Hub at Crossroads. It was great to be able to speak to loads of constituents, some of whom came specifically regarding casework. The place was jumping in terms of customers and is well worth a visit. I couldn’t leave without buying some produce as there are always so much fine items available.
Video: Tidal Stream Technology
/Scotland leads the world in tidal stream technology. It requires £71m to bid for in next energy auction. The UK Government appear deaf to this.. But they found £1.7bn just to further develop the design of Sizewell nuclear station. They risk thousands of jobs being created abroad and not here.
Remembrance Sunday 2021
/Honoured to be part of ceremonies and lay wreaths at Cenotaph, Kilmarnock and then at Rugby Park’s Memorial Garden.
I also laid a wreath at Newmilns War Memorial where my great Uncle Hugh Wilson is named, having died in World War 1.
Lest We Forget.
Press Release: Small Business Saturday 2021
/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.”
COP 26: Offshore Wind
/Pleasure to be at COP26 . Started with event hearing about massive opportunities for floating offshore wind for Scotland with the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, setting scene and big picture within COP and net zero.
COP 26: SSE
/Delighted to attend SSE panel discussion on a Just Transition. Scotland leading way with formation of Just Transition Commission and embedded legislation.
Excellent contributions from panel and important to have on agenda at outset.
Press Release: Food Waste Letter to PM
/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.”
Press Release: Long Live the Local
/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.”
Visit: Osliebrae Farm
/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
/`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.
