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Below is my response to a somewhat hostile missive by the Tory
candidate in reply to my own letter of
8th May.....in
which he accused me of not having any knowledge of business and
having never set foot out of Ayton. As someone who has
actually lived in the constituency for 8 years, unlike my opponent,
I chose to reply:
in the Berwickshire News, 22 May 2008
Sir
I appear to have touched a raw nerve with the
Conservative Candidate, but he misses my point. I did not take issue
with Mr Walker’s business interests in Dumfries and Galloway.
Rather, I took issue with him using the Borders Tory HQ address
rather than divulge he does not live locally. Actually, he rather
proved my point, by again using that same address.
I am very familiar with the B6355, as I
traverse it regularly as a customer of businesses in Duns, or to
attend regular meetings in the constituency – as my wife and family
can all too well attest. Possibly while he was venting his spleen,
I was attending an enjoyable event with Northumberland and SNP
Borders councillors raising the Saltire and the Northumberland flag
at Carter Bar, before attending an evening event in Denholm. Having
been a community councillor in Co’path and then Ayton over the last
7 years now, I need no lectures on issues in Berwickshire, in
particular, from someone who has never lived here. In my experience
as a local community councillor, I can tell him that binge drinking
and access to cheap alcohol are harming our communities,
particularly the young. Deep discounting by our larger supermarkets
is a serious problem and a better resourced licensing framework is
desirable to tackle that. Maybe he doesn’t agree there is a
problem?
Labour’s legislation, passed in 2005, is not
perfect and I have myself passed on concerns expressed by off-sales
licensees in Eyemouth. Genuine problems afflict the licensed trade,
e.g. escalating rents for pub tenants, while consumer spending is
falling. If local businesses contact me, I will do my utmost to
convey their difficulties or suggestions to Ministers in the
Scottish Government.
He questions my understanding of business. I
have more than a passing knowledge of business having an MBA from
Edinburgh and having worked as an economic consultant for the last
16 years. During this period, I have advised many leading companies
within the Scottish economy, and beyond, as well as many Government
departments and public sector agencies. I believe my experience
will help me to represent the interests of both my fellow local
residents and local businesses. His knowledge of the hospitality
sector is of value, but he will find that is of little direct
relevance to the role of an MP, as tourism and licensing are
devolved matters.
I look forward to working with many local
business and voluntary organisations in promoting their interests to
the Scottish Government and, I hope, to subsequently represent my
fellow residents in Westminster, until such time as the people of
Scotland choose independence for Scotland. Wherever our team have
canvassed to-date, I can assure Mr Walker that we, and the Scottish
Government, are getting a very good reaction from the Borders
public.
Yours sincerely
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate,
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
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