Campaigning for tomorrow’s General Election has been in full force for the last month.
Candidates from all parties have been knocking on doors, meeting with the public and writing into us to try and win your vote.
Over the last three weeks we have asked candidates about issues such as Brexit and the NHS, but at the core of why a candidate is voted is how they represent their community.
A local MP is a representative for the community and votes on behalf of them in Westminster.
Having strong opinions on national issues is of course important, but knowing what is going on in and around your community is a must for an MP.
That is why this week, we have asked your candidates about local issues in the areas they hope to represent in Westminster.
How will they fix these issues? Do they feel strongly about the area they wish to represent for the next five years?
Our candidates for East Renfrewshire have their say.
Carolann Davidson, Labour
Labour can and will win again here in East Renfrewshire.
Not just because the road to Downing Street runs through East Renfrewshire, but because hard working families, older people, and our diverse communities suffering at the hands of Tory austerity and SNP cuts need a Labour government on their side.
This is why we need a Labour MP for East Renfrewshire.
I can show you how we do that through my experience, my policy agenda, and my commitment to the people of this area.
East Renfrewshire needs an MP who is well attuned to their needs, capable of giving excellent service to address those needs and who is confident to stand up for them.
As a Labour councillor I have met so many different people, and taken on complex case loads that I have seen through to successful outcomes.
This role has also allowed me to delve into the bigger picture affecting my constituents, whether education, the environment or infrastructure projects.
My entry into politics has always been at my grassroots. I was a community worker in adult learning, supporting some of the most vulnerable adults in our society, and empowering adults looking to develop or re-enter education in their later years, and the workplace.
For over seven years, I led the Kids Need Our Ward campaign to save the children’s ward in Paisley which involved me organising public meetings, speaking to local and national media, and to collate 17,000 signatories for a petition going to the Scottish Government.
And I am a proud, active supporter of care experienced young people who deserve our unconditional love and support to have the best start in life and an equal chance to succeed.
These are the important, local issues I will always stand up for if you elect me on Thursday.
Paul Masterton, Tories
Included among the more than 6000 constituents I’ve helped as your MP are many from Eaglesham and Waterfoot. Some were looking for information or advice, but others needed intensive support with complex issues relating to housing, immigration or wrongful demands for payment from a utility company. Common complaints related to poor broadband, bus services and the lack of post office provision. All touch on one theme: connectivity.
People and businesses in Eaglesham and Waterfoot should expect decent speeds online. The UK Government is committed to providing high-speed for all, but failures in the Scottish Government roll-out programme caused delays locally. We must do better.
Loss of bus services have left many residents feeling more isolated, and I will continue to push First Bus to review the routing and timetable for the 4A. At the very least, a ‘final mile’ service into Clarkston should be considered to provide some relief.
The lack of banking provision in the village is unacceptable. The inability of the Post Office to find an alternative sub-postmaster has been found is little surprise, with many banking services having to be provided at a loss. Recent fee increases negotiated by the UK Government may help, but we need a serious review to ensure a local Post Office can be a viable business offering. I have been arguing for the creation of community banking and post office hubs which I think would be perfect for villages like Eaglesham.
From sipping pints in the sunshine at the Eaglesham Beer Festival, to getting stuck in helping T.R.E.E. with the annual Burn Clean, Eaglesham has provided some real highlights. With election day upon us, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support, and I very much hope to continue to serve you for the next five years.
Kirsten Oswald, SNP
East Renfrewshire really matters. For me it’s home - I live here with my family, and I am so pleased to be a part of this community. Our villages and towns each have a unique character and unique needs. The same can be said for the fantastic community groups, and the diverse groups of people who live in East Renfrewshire. We are by far the better for being an area with such a diverse population.
Local issues, and an MP with a local focus matter. East Renfrewshire was at the heart of all my work when I was the local MP, and I was proud to be your voice at Westminster, but with a focus always on the people who live here. My background as a community activist, working with others to improve our local area, is a clear indication of where my priorities lie.
I have a track record of standing up for our community – I fought for a number of years against the proposed closure of Bonnyton House, because I believed it was wrong. I am delighted that this decision was, in due course, reversed. In that case, I stood against my own council colleagues, and I will always stand up for our area without fear or favour.
Local concerns relating to issues such as bus provision may not be strictly speaking within the remit of an MP, but a good local MP will always take up matters such as this on your behalf. I did so when I was previously elected, and I would be delighted to do so again.
In reality, the concerns people have locally are as individual as the people themselves. If you elect me as your MP, I will always be accessible, listening, and keen to roll my sleeves up and get to work on the things that matter to you.
Vote Kirsten Oswald SNP on Thursday.
