DREW HENDRY: Warm words are simply not enough in this crisis as the the local MP says 'we need urgent meaningful support measures' from the new Prime Minister now as anything less would be 'a dereliction of duty on week one'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
As you read this article, the UK – and Scotland – will have a new Prime Minister.
We need urgent meaningful support measures from them, including freezing the price increase and introducing an emergency new social tariff. Anything less from the incoming Prime Minister will be a dereliction of duty on week one.
As they settle into Downing Street, the Scottish and UK parliaments are back in session, and the Highland Council will embark on its first round of strategic committees.
In times of crisis, people need support. They need those who represent them to listen, understand and most importantly, they need help. Warm words are useless when folk are freezing and starving.
I will keep raising issues in parliament, but my team and I are also on hand to help you and your family. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have a problem and think I can help.
Rightly, the cost-of-living crisis dominates political circles and our day-to-day work. I will host another round table with local agencies and charities this month. We will continue to do our collective best to mitigate some of the worst impacts for folk living locally.
I believe that we deliver the best for our communities when we work together.
That is also true for the Inverness 2035 prospectus, as detailed in the One City, One Vision report that this paper helped launch last year.
Creating a shared vision for Inverness, one that belongs to us all, rather than any one organisation, means we can co-create what we want for the city.
Last week, I sat down with local councillors of all political parties and none to brief them on Inverness 2035. It was great to hear the enthusiasm we’ve seen from other organisations, boards, and businesses echoed by city councillors. They will formally discuss Inverness 2035 at next week’s City Committee. While the point of Inverness 2035 is to create a prospectus bigger than the council, any other organisation or person, the formal support of city councillors would be an important milestone.
The journey, to this point, has been careful, asking many questions and listening. The next stage is about bringing ideas to life. It is exciting, ambitious, collaborative and full of hope.
A vision for the future can’t solve the problems of the day, but if we never create one, then we won’t ever know where we are trying to get to.
Drew Hendry is the SNP MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey.
