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May 2025 Newsletter

  • Writer: Liam Kerr
    Liam Kerr
  • 6 hours ago
  • 7 min read

Welcome 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.



NHS Grampian is in crisis.


NHS Grampian has the largest financial deficit of any health board in Scotland and has been placed in Stage 4 of NHS Scotland’s national performance framework – the second highest level of intervention.

 

I asked the Health Secretary about his role, and why he has allowed NHS Grampian to reach breaking point.

 

 

9 in 10 ambulances are stationary outside Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, some for up to almost 4 hours 30 minutes. Around 2.5 times longer than the target of 110 minutes set by NHS executives to be achieved by March 2025. The continued delays in the admission of patients is dangerous, even life threatening.

 

 

I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Health, what action he has taken since his visit to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary back in February, and when the results will materialise. “Round the houses” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

 


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The SNP are desperate to claim they support a Just Transition. Yet their actions show the complete opposite.

 

In 2024, the SNP government cut £23.4 million from the energy budget. Watch me challenge the First Minister on this here: https://tinyurl.com/3k7jbare

 

The SNP Government hasn’t committed a single penny towards the delivery of the Energy Transition Skills Hub. Watch the Climate Action Minister’s ridiculous response to my question here: https://tinyurl.com/3tefd64m

 

The UK Government has put more than £40m towards the Acorn Project, but the Scottish Government? Nothing.

 

Apparently, they have agreed to provide £80m of funding when it achieves Track 2 status. Great! Except Track 2 status was awarded in July 2023!

 

Watch me break this news to the Energy Secretary here: https://tinyurl.com/32zsabyp

 

The Minister for Climate Action claimed I had mischaracterised the SNP’s position on the windfall tax, when the reality is First Minister’s Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, and the leader of the SNP in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, all cheered it on.

 

Watch as I give the SNP a reality check: https://tinyurl.com/5n6xxn6j

 

You can watch my full speech during the Scottish Conservatives debate “Protecting Scotland’s Oil and Gas Industry”, here: https://tinyurl.com/bdee325e

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There has been a 25% uplift in violence against teachers in Aberdeen schools.

 

I asked the Scottish Government what resources have been allocated to solving this issue and when statistics will demonstrate a step forward. Just the usual empty response.

 

Watch the exchange here: https://tinyurl.com/36v4u46d

 

Our schools must be sufficiently resourced to ensure a zero-tolerance approach to violence. But, the Education Secretary, Jenny Gilruth, would rather pass the buck to councils and the police.

 


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North East Scotland College (NESCol) does an excellent job in providing the training and opportunities young people need to succeed.

 

Losing its rurality premium several years ago, this has led to £30 million of underfunding over the last decade, impacting students and the North East economy.

 

I asked the First Minister about this and offered a solution. The response? A bizarre rant having a go at the Conservatives…

 

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Aberdeen Arts Centre is facing a serious funding crisis and needs our help to survive.

 

This historic venue is a cornerstone of our community—supporting local talent, hosting inclusive creative programmes, and welcoming over 30,000 visitors every year. As home to more than 35 community and performance groups, its closure would be a huge loss to Aberdeen’s cultural life.

 

 

The centre told me if everyone who used the facility last year gave £11 each they’d hit their initial fundraising target. If it was £33 they’d hit the big target.

 

If you want to just cut to the chase and donate, here is the link: https://justgiving.com/campaign/saveaberdeenartscentre

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The Scottish Conservatives called a debate on the "SNP's War on Motorists".

 

I took the opportunity to tell the SNP some hard-hitting home-truths about their idiotic LEZs. Watch my speech here: https://tinyurl.com/y9ck665a

 

An £8.1 million fund established by the Scottish Government for businesses with premises in LEZs, to retrofit non-compliant vehicles, has allocated a dismal £14,000 to struggling companies in Aberdeen. Despite 26 businesses applying, just two have been granted funding. The Minister indicated that the majority of funding has been directed to companies in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

 

Many businesses have ceased operating following the introduction of the Aberdeen LEZs, with multiple businesses choosing to relocate their premises.

 

 

 

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I visited Aberdeen Arts Centre where I was given a tour and discussed their funding concerns with Interim Executive Director Sharon Catchpole.

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It was a privilege to attend the Darshana Exhibition on Hindu Civilisation at Aberdeen Hindu Temple. The exhibition offered an informative journey into the rich history of Hindu civilisation and Dharma through visual displays.

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NESCol and RGU are both facing significant underfunding. The SNP Government needs to wake up, and act urgently to ensure these fantastic institutions can continue to provide excellent opportunities for young people and students. I was delighted to attend briefings from both institutions.

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I had the chance to meet with David Laing who is part of the team leading the work to reopen the former Cults Library and transform it into a multi-purpose hub for literacy, learning and community activities. The Cults Library Trust has my full support as they seek to reopen for the benefit of the community.

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Always keen to hear from my constituents, I headed to Sanday Road and Rosewell Gardens with a team of volunteers to deliver my resident surveys. I am grateful for the responses received and will always do my utmost to address concerns raised by you.



The RAAC situation is a disgrace.

 

I have petitioned for a fair deal for homeowners. You can watch a video showing my progress here: https://tinyurl.com/35sy724p

 

The Housing Minister finally agreed to my request to meet with RAAC-affected homeowners in Torry. I chaired the meeting, with Audrey Nicoll MSP also in attendance.

 

The SNP leader of Aberdeen City Council has not been chapping the doors of homeowners in Torry. Instead, he has been knocking on doors for the SNP in South Lanarkshire! Appalling. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/y2muh539

 

On 1st May 2025, I proposed that the £20 million Housing Fund—part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal—be used to allow the council to buy residents’ homes at their pre-RAAC value. The fund would also contribute to the costs of demolishing and rebuilding properties in the area.

 

Although the fund was introduced in 2016, all 12 applications submitted to date, have been rejected. With the fund due to expire in 2026, officials have yet to provide any clear information on how to apply or what the criteria are.

 

Read my letter to the Housing Minister here: https://tinyurl.com/4shezhw6

 

I took part in the latest protest with homeowners affected by RAAC, to draw attention to the disgraceful way they’re being failed by both their council and the Scottish Government.

 

To find out more, share your experience, or add your name to the petition, click here: https://tinyurl.com/2s3zvw7a


The First Minister John Swinney has ignored the chance to allocate funding to new Cove and Newtonhill stations in the recent Programme for Government.

 

The First Minister did however, find money for new stations at Winchburgh in West Lothian, which just happens to be the Transport Secretary’s constituency, and also Newburgh in Fife.

 

To keep the pressure on for the North East, I have submitted my petition to the SNP Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

 

New stations would enable quicker, greener travel, ease road congestion, and stimulate economic growth.

 

My petition has now reached over 1,700 signatures. You can sign it here: https://www.liam-kerr.co.uk/covenewtonhillpetition



Violence committed by teenagers in and outside school is a growing crisis.

 

The SNP Justice Secretary points fingers at everyone, except her own government who has been in power since 2007.

 

In the last five years, the number of serious assaults committed by teenagers has risen by 600 per cent and in schools, violence has risen by nearly 300 per cent.

 

The Scottish Government must stop blaming councils, schools and the UK Government and act urgently before another family has to suffer.

 

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Drugs being smuggled into prisons by dangerous organised crime gangs are causing a serious crisis.

 

Data shows emergency ambulance responses at Barlinnie prison are at their highest level in three years.

 

The increased presence of drugs in prisons is allowing a culture of violence to continue.

 

The SNP have consistently imposed cuts on the justice budget. They must urgently change course before anymore incidents take place.

 

Read more here about the drugs crisis in prisons here: https://tinyurl.com/3yned9ey

 

Learn more about the rise in 999 callouts here: https://tinyurl.com/mr3b7v6c


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Another MSP asked a "Topical Question" about the significant increase in rape cases being reported to police in Scotland.

 

It takes on average 3 years from reporting the crime to the end of the case, and that understandably leads to people not reporting incidents. So I hit the button to find out what the Cabinet Secretary has done about it.

 

Her answer sounds to me as though nothing will change.

 


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After the Supreme Court ruling provided much-needed clarity on sex-based rights, the Scottish Government must urgently provide unequivocal guidance on gender policy to public institutions including Police Scotland.

 

Moving forward, prisons must ensure no male-bodied offenders are housed in women’s prisons, and clear guidance is issued regarding who can and cannot conduct intimate searches of suspects.

 

Our public institutions are at risk of legal challenges and damages claims without urgent SNP action.

 


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The lack of personnel in the legal aid sector presents a serious crisis.

 

I asked the Victims Minister what the projected outcomes would be from the various consultations and papers the Scottish Government have conducted, which they have been warned are inadequate.

 

Of course… the Minister just read from her script. Watch here: https://tinyurl.com/3r3bjwzf  

 

When another opportunity arose, I asked the Victims Minister what the outputs of the SNP Government’s approach to the legal aid crisis are, and when they will be delivered.

 

Nothing. The only output mentioned was to send me a report from February… which I’ve already read.

 


 
 
 

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