August 2024 Newsletter
- Liam Kerr
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 9
 August NewsletterWelcome to my newsletter, where I set out what I have been doing over the last month. If you want to see more of what I am up to, follow me on social media. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch through the details below. |
Leadership Contest The Scottish Conservative party finally announced the rules and process for a leadership contest in late July. I reflected carefully and decided to seek nominations in the two week window to do so. Around 18 hours prior to the deadline I was notified that I had reached and exceeded the minimum number (100) of nominations and asked to confirm whether I wished to go forward as an official candidate. I reflected carefully overnight and notified the Returning Officer that I did not wish to continue and would withdraw as a candidate. I have set out my reasons for doing so in a short video, in which I also address some of the misrepresentations and, frankly, lies that some who really ought to know better – and ought to know me better – have put about. You can watch my statement in full here  Did you know new figures have revealed that a teacher is attacked every 4 minutes amid a rising tide of violence in Scottish Schools? The number of assaults recorded by staff has TREBLED in three years to more than 16,000 for the academic year just concluded. The SNP must start listening to the solutions that we, the unions, teachers, and so many others keep telling them about, and deal with this as a matter of urgency. You can read the article here What has the SNP been up to during recess? One of their MSPs has been accused of a ‘pathetic deflection’ over Scotland’s failing education system as he insists English results are inflated. The Edinburgh Pentlands MSP Gordon MacDonald was blasted for trying to excuse the fact that the SNP Scottish Government is presiding over plummeting exam results and a drop down the international league tables. Rather than continuing with divisive and unhelpful rhetoric, the SNP must set clear plans to restore Scotland’s education system and get us back up the international league tables. You can read more of my thoughts here
This month, as I and many others predicted, two Scottish private schools announced their closure, citing Labour’s VAT plan as the reason. Kilgraston School and Cedars School are the first in the UK to confirm their closure since the government announced it would be adding the levy to fees starting from January 2025. Scotland’s state education system is already under tremendous pressure thanks to underfunding from the SNP and a decline in teacher numbers. Labour’s ill-considered policy is likely to make that crisis even worse. You can read more here  It hasn't even been two months since the UK Labour Government came into power, but already they have announced the following:
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce have warned that this move is pushing the sector “dangerously close to game over territory.” Labour and the SNP have abandoned our industry and our area. Only the Scottish Conservatives will always stand up for both. You can read more here This month, I wrote to Stagecoach amid concerns over the future of Aberdeen bus routes after 45 services were cancelled in just one day. On Tuesday 20th August, almost half of the cancelled services were the 727 to Aberdeen International Airport, while other routes such as the X9 from Portlethen to Aberdeen and the 6 from Westhill to the city were also impacted. The bus cancellations this summer have caused huge disruption to holidaymakers, offshore workers and the elderly who rely on these routes. More people are relying on public transport due to the restrictions of bus gates and LEZs in Aberdeen city centre, which is why Stagecoach must produce a robust plan to resolve the issues. You can read more on this here   It was a pleasure, as always, to visit the Aberdeen Squash & Racketball Club to hear about the excellent work they are doing to keep residents fit and active. If you fancy your hand at a game, or perhaps wish to get started, why not visit their website here and find out more!  I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to local residents at Airyhall, Culter and Cove libraries during my summer surgery tour. I believe it's vital that MSP's make themselves available wherever possible, and meeting face to face with constituents and offering assistance is the best part of the job. If there is anything I can assist with, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing me at Liam.Kerr.MSP@parliament.scot |
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