It was great to be at Kilmarnock Football Club Player of the Year Awards on Sunday.
Special mention to Alan McCulloch, Kenny Shiels and Kris Boyd who were inducted into the Hall of Fame - thoroughly deserved and it’s great to see them recognised for their contribution to the club.
Had to grab a picture with fellow Hall of Famer Monty and hopefully Burkey will be joining them soon…
This morning it was fantastic to meet with my constituent, Maureen, in Galston before heading to Asda in Kilmarnock for a pop-up surgery.
It's great to be back out and about in the constituency and have face-to-face engagement with constituents again.
However, I'm looking forward to a special visit out with the constituency this evening. Along with 2,000+ others, I'll be at Kirkcaldy seeing the League Champions in action against Raith Rovers.
Enjoy your weekend, folks!
Happy to support this wonderful campaign set up by students at Ayrshire College.
#WearItOnYourSleeve is a safe space for male students to discuss and tackle their mental health issues. Unfortunately, we are seeing too often young males taking their own life and groups like these are a fantastic way to combat this. Big credit to Steven and his peers setting this up.
It’s okay not to be okay.
Fantastic to visit Cadence UK who are based at the Halo.
Massive credit for being a living wage employer who value their staff. The company are one of 39 employers in the town who pay the real living wage, I hope others follow suit.
It was a pleasure to meet with some of the team and I wish them the best going forward.
Find out more information on them HERE
As the weekend draws to a close, I have to finish with a "well done Killie" post.
A great night and in many ways the perfect way to do it, coming from behind and scoring the winner in the 90th minute. Second half atmosphere was fantastic. It was fantastic to share it with my nearest and dearest, three generations of Kilmarnock Football Club and we would never change it for the world.
Great to see the team back in the top league, where we belong, and great for the town.
I also wish I had the celebration staying powers the team apparently have.
Ahead of #WorldBookNight, I was reading one I picked up from a second-hand bookstore in Orkney.
I love reading and enjoy browsing second-hand shops for my next novel. This consists of hard going testimonials from Highlanders cruelly evicted from their homes...
This week Alan Brown MP is hosting a special pop-up surgery at Asda in Kilmarnock.
The representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun will be at the supermarket on Friday from 11am – 12pm. Constituents will be able to approach the MP after their weekly shop and speak to him about potential casework or even just for a friendly chat.
With most restrictions now being lifted, Mr Brown is excited to get back out and about in the constituency.
Commenting, the representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun said:
“I am looking forward to being at Asda on Friday for the pop-up surgery. With a lot of restrictions now being eased, I am delighted to get back out in the constituency, be visible and having face to face interactions. I have still been having regular virtual surgeries – all through the pandemic – but it is far better to be able to engage with constituents in person.
“This will be my first supermarket surgery since before the pandemic as I look forward to making this a regular event with restrictions now being eased. Asda has been great to deal with and are giving us a good spot behind the checkouts so that shoppers can approach us on their way out after getting their shopping for the week!
“We have lettered some households near the venue to let constituents know we will be there if they want to raise anything with me. If anyone has an issue they would like to raise or, if you would just like to have a chat then please come along.
“If you can’t manage along to the surgery but need assistance with any matter dealt with at Westminster, such as; social security, employment or immigration issues, please contact my office and I will do all I can to help.”
Access to cash is vital for our communities and businesses. Pleased to have added my name to this open letter. Legislation to protect access to cash must be included in the Queen’s Speech.
Protect our cash.
Details of my Virtual Surgery on Friday.
For more information and future availability please contact my office.
Alan Brown MP slams Chancellor over budget.
The representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun has branded Rishi Sunak a ‘conman’ after his spring statement last week.
The Chancellor announced a rise in national insurance but promised to reduce income tax along with a 5p cut to fuel.
But Mr Brown feels the cut to fuel is a ‘con’ given the money generated through the national insurance hike.
He also slammed the UK Government on failing to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Commenting, the MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun said:
“The Chancellor’s spring statement delivered nothing to address the largest fall in living standards since the 1950s.
“Instead of taking urgent action to reduce energy bills and protect the most vulnerable in our society, the Tory Government have done nothing to combat the cost of living crisis - and proved, yet again, that they are completely out of touch.
“In regards to the price of fuel, specifically, the 5p cut in fuel is nothing short of a con. Petrol is currently 40p more expensive than it was in March 2021, so the increase in VAT the Treasury receive more than pays for the 5p temporary cut. Actually, they have failed to put a dent in the current cost of living crisis and to boast about a “household fund” in England where people can apply for hardship money is Dickensian in thought process.
“On VAT this year with energy bills doubling he will receive well over £1bn from billpayers; I pointed out at parliament in November they predicted they will get £6bn extra in oil and gas revenues over the parliament – I am sure this is now an underestimate. Overall VAT income this financial year was £21bn more than predicted. It is a disgrace and he is a conman.
“They are building up a warchest for an election and future tax cuts while people are struggling in the here and now. It is so frustrating and I intend to keep reminding them of the additional money they should be using to support people.”
Mr Brown believes the introduction of a fuel duty regulator will provide more efficiency and a better long-term strategy.
He added:
“As opposed to these rash one-off decisions in and around Budget season, a regulator would provide a far better balance when costs skyrocket and equally when they reduce significantly when we have to consider our move away from fossil fuels.
“For some time, I have highlighted high oil prices; high fuel prices and high energy costs have meant that the UK Treasury has had an unexpected windfall from the extra levies, duties and VAT returns. Therefore, the least the Chancellor should do is use this money to offset the cost of living crisis.
"The Chancellor has said he can't do anything about poverty but of course he can. It is the choices he is making. Countries all over Europe are taking action to limit the energy price increases and once again the UK is the outlier.“
Brownings the Bakers, in my constituency, electricity prices are increasing from £4,000 to £11,000 per week. For fixed costs, they've been offered a staggering £17,000 per week for a two-year contract! The Chancellor's disgraceful response conveys he and his Government are doing nothing to support businesses like Brownings.
Details of my Virtual Surgery this week.
Contact my office for more information and further availability.
This is the Constituency webpage of Alan Brown MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun.
You can find out what Alan has been working on in the Westminster Parliament and the issues he has raised and is supporting.
You can contact him through the page regarding any personal enquiries, or make him aware of any local issues and local campaigns to the Kilmarnock and Loudoun Constituency.
