Happy to add my name to this cross-party letter urging the Prime Minister to cancel tomorrow's flight to Rwanda.
Refugees should be offered protection on the basis of need, not on their method of escape from danger.
The UK Government must put an end to this immediately and show some compassion.
From column:
With my broken foot not yet healed, I was unable to run the Roon The Toon 10km race. I was fortunate the committee had me helping out give out t-shirts after the finishing line. It was really enjoyable seeing just how happy people were when they had finished.
There is always a great atmosphere at the event and an astonishing 1800 people entered the race. A great effort from all involved at Kilmarnock Harriers, and there is no doubt they are helping promote the town with this. I was also able to hear, first-hand, just how complimentary runners from out with the area were about the race which was excellent to hear.
From column:
Weather-wise, I have now established that strong winds are far worse than the rain when there are tents, marquees and gazebos to put up for gala days. On a very windy Saturday, I managed to visit Galston, Fenwick and Darvel galas. Both Galston and Fenwick moved their stalls indoors so well done to the organisers for such flexibility to save the day.
Darvel, on the other hand, managed to keep theirs fully outdoors. A hardy lot indeed! It was impressive to see their big marquees survive the winds. Well done to the organisers, and a highlight was squeezing into the beer tent to shelter from torrential rain, while the band, The Aboriginals, were singing “why does it always rain on me”.
Great to see so many people stick with it.
ALAN BROWN MP FOR KILMARNOCK AND LOUDOUN SHOWS SUPPORT TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS FOR ALL WOMEN
On Wednesday 8 June the representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun joined 56 MPs and peers at a Parliamentary Photocall to call on the Government to make the Istanbul Convention on violence against women law without exceptions. The Convention is a gold standard legal framework to tackle violence against women and girls, and a lifeline to survivors.
On 17 May 2022, the Government announced they plan to ratify the Convention. This comes ten years after the UK signed the Convention on 8 June 2012 and many years of campaigning. However, the Government plans to ‘opt-out' of key parts of the Convention that provide life-saving support and protection, particularly for migrant women. This reinforces the power of the perpetrators and increases the risk faced by migrant survivors.
More than 57 MPs and peers urged the Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention and opt-in to providing support for migrant women. The event was run by IC Change and supporting organisations, including the Women’s Institute, Southall Black Sisters, End Violence Against Women Coalition the Latin American Service for Women’s Rights (LAWRS), Safety4Sisters, Solace Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis.
Violence against women and girls is devastatingly high across the UK. Over the last decade, over 1220 women were killed by men - and this is only the tip of the iceberg. The number of police-recorded domestic abuse-related crimes in England and Wales rose by 6% in the year ending March 2021, to 845,734. ONS crime figures for the 12 months ending in September 2021 show that sexual offences recorded by the police were the highest on record, at 170,973 offences.
Commenting, Mr Brown said:
“I am happy to convey my support for the calls to ratify the Istanbul Convention - violence against women must stop. Boris Johnson and the UK Government have to take urgent action and safeguard those who need protection.
“I want to help end violence towards women and girls in the UK. The statistics and stories show that we still have a long way to go and we need action to change this.
“The Government’s plans to ratify the Convention are a step towards a safer world for all women and girls, but today I join IC Change and leading organisations from across the women’s sector in calling on Government to protect all women, including migrant women, when they ratify.”
KILMARNOCK AND LOUDOUN PAYING £1,635 PER YEAR ON ENERGY BILLS, MAKING IT 118th MOST EXPENSIVE IN GREAT BRITAIN
Households in East Ayrshire are paying on average £1635 per year, making it the 118th most expensive place in the UK for energy bills.
Out of 408 local authorities in the UK, East Ayrshire came out as 118th most expensive.
According to data from comparethemarket.com, households in Kilmarnock and Loudoun are already paying 21.9% more than the price cap that is set to be introduced in October this year.
The data also shows that people across Scotland are paying more on their bills than in England and Wales.
Commenting, Alan Brown MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun said:
"People across Scotland, including in my constituency are paying the price for sky-high energy bills, despite Scotland having an abundance of resources in oil and gas and renewables.
"Under Westminster control, the vast revenue from Scotland's oil and gas industry has been squandered by UK governments for decades and now it is consumers in Kilmarnock and Loudoun who are getting hammered with higher average energy bills, with bills here being the 118th most expensive in the UK.
"This is also a result of the outrageous and expensive transmission charges that are charged in Scotland for companies to access the national grid here.
"The measures announced by the Chancellor last month – welcome though they were - will barely scratch the surface of the rocketing energy bills crippling households now and in the winter months to come. I raised this in the House at the time.
"High fuel bills in East Ayrshire and across Scotland lie squarely at the door of the Westminster government and show why Scotland needs the full range of powers that will come with independence."
It's energy failure after failure with this Government. Hinkley is well over budget and Sizewell C's impact assessment says it will cost £63bn for a new nuclear station. I agree with the former energy minister, it is an utter fantasy they will deliver a new nuclear reactor every year...
This #CarersWeek, Carers UK are calling for the Government to publish a Recovery and Respite Plan for Unpaid Carers. I fully support this call to ensure all unpaid carers get the support they need and deserve. You can also support the campaign https://carersuk.e-activist.com/page/105999/action/1?ea.tracking.id=CUK-email
I headed to Rugby Park for my final football match of the season and was delighted to see Talbot win the Junior Cup for an astonishing 14th time - three in a row! It is an incredible record especially when there are so many teams from larger towns and with bigger budgets.
I attended the Newmilns show and felt it was a larger crowd than previously which was great to see. The fantastic weather probably helped, as much as the post covid desire for normality. The efforts that go into organising an agricultural show are incredible, so well done to all involved. It is great seeing the work that goes on and how volunteers step up to the mark.
The same weekend had Galston Boys and Girls football tournament at Portland Park, Galston, which again sees a huge number of volunteers give up their entire weekend. With a fete on at Shortlees, it demonstrates an amazing variety of events. I will always try and attend community events so if you have something on, please let my office know.
Alan Brown MP asks constituents to embrace War Graves Week
The representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun is calling on constituents to come together and discover the World War heritage on their doorstep by embracing War Graves Week, 21 May to 28 May – an initiative from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
War Graves Week will encourage local residents to learn about the stories of those commemorated by the CWGC in their constituency and the skills, dedication and expertise of those CWGC staff who work to keep their memory alive.
Constituents keen to learn more about the remarkable stories of the men and women of the Commonwealth forces that died in the First and Second World Wars who are buried in their community can visit www.CWGC.org and visit the cemeteries in person. War Graves Week provides a unique chance for the people of the constituency to reconnect with their local history.
At CWGC.org, Kilmarnock and Loudoun residents can learn about the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times project – the focus of this year’s War Graves Week. Alongside the front-line armed forces, the CWGC will be celebrating the value those who served during the World Wars brought to key sectors such as healthcare, logistics, infrastructure and communications, and the parallels with today’s global Britain which they helped to create.
Commenting, Mr Brown said:
“I’d encourage all my constituents to embrace War Graves Week. It’s a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with our local history and learn about the courageous ordinary people from our constituency who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can live the way we do today.
“Behind every name on a war grave or memorial in Kilmarnock and Loudoun is a human story waiting to be discovered and War Graves Week is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
“This is a fantastic campaign that gives us a chance to reflect on those who gave everything. It is imperative we always remember those who fought and gave everything for our freedom. If you can, please get involved.”
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours and cares for the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Funded by six Member Governments, CWGC’s work began with building, and now maintaining, cemeteries at 23,000 locations all over the world.
HYDRO POWERED COUNTRIES PAYING LESS TO HEAT THEIR HOMES
Countries that are powered by clean, renewable energy sources are paying far less to heat their homes, according to a new report.
Analysis conducted by the Australian Energy Council found that countries like Canada and Norway – who are dominated by hydroelectrical plants - have the lowest household electricity prices in the OECD.
To date, Canada obtains most of its electricity from hydro (60%), while Norway generates almost all (93%) of its needs from hydroelectricity plants.
The report comes as the UK’s Energy Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, conceded that the government’s nuclear plan could increase household energy bills in the near future.
The SNP has called on the UK government to use the inflated oil and gas prices to invest in a Track 1 carbon capture site in the North East of Scotland, and to match the Scottish Government’s £500 million Just Transition investment.
Commenting, the SNP’s Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change Alan Brown MP said:
“The SNP has long held the view that the future of Scotland’s energy must come from clean, renewable sources.
“Sadly though, the outdated Westminster system that Scotland is currently chained too continues to take a different stance on the issue – investing in nuclear energy rather than things like wind which is the cheapest form of power.
“This latest analysis from the Australian Energy Council shows that those who live in countries dominated by hydroelectrical plants are paying far less in heating costs, thus saving crucial income during the cost of living crisis.
“We know that the Treasury are reaping the rewards of inflated oil and gas prices, with £13.6 billion of additional income generated from Scotland’s resources, and a further £6 billion earned from the Emissions Trading Scheme.
“Therefore it is crucial that this money is reinvested into the Scottish Cluster if we are to meet our emissions reduction milestones, and for a just transition to net zero – not just for Scotland, but across the UK.
“Not only that, the UK government must also progress pumped hydro which can be built at a fraction of the cost. SSE have all the permissions in place and are ready to build a new pumped storage hydro scheme at Corie Glas in the Highlands. All that is required is an agreement on a minimum price of electricity.
“It is high time the UK government finally got their act together and resolved all of these issues. There can be no more delays.”
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.
