Peter's constituency includes Cardenden and Kinglassie

Tories out of touch

'SHORTLY before Christmas I was lucky enough to be drawn to ask a question at Prime Minister's Questions.

I highlighted a recent report called "Bairns Come First" published by a number of local and national organisations including Fife Gingerbread and Citizens Advice & Rights Fife. They found that a third of families who should be claiming Child Maintenance Support don't even apply.

A major barrier to applying is the non refundable application fee of £20. Potential applicants are also put off by the fact that part of any award is immediately claimed back in "fees". I asked the Prime Minister to agree to review these unfair charges.

Her reply was disappointing but not surprising, in fact she didn't answer my question at all. It might look as if Mrs May doesn't have the same privileged public school background as David Cameron but it's already clear that she's just as out of touch with the very real hardship her policies are causing for families everywhere.

Brexit and a Tale of Two Governments

It's now over six months since the EU referendum and just twelve weeks until the UK government officially resigns its EU membership by invoking "Article 50". The government still doesn't have a clear idea of what its negotiating position is going to be. In fact under questioning at the select committee I'm a member of, the Secretary of State for Brexit said he doesn't think any plan will be produced until February at the earliest. This is typical of the shambles the government is in. They have moved so far towards the extreme xenophobic policies of UKIP and their allies that they now seem scared to speak up for what's in the best interests of the whole UK.

By contrast the Scottish Government has published a comprehensive document, "Scotland's Place in Europe", that sets out what Scotland needs to see in the Brexit negotiations. It's vitally important that we retain our membership of the European Single Market. It's also clear that nearly every sector of the Scottish economy relies on being able to attract workers from the EU. It’s perfectly possible for the Prime Minister to ask for these principles to be safeguarded in Scotland even if other parts of the UK go for a “hard Brexit”.

In With the New

During 2016 I've been privileged to visit a large number of community groups in every part of my constituency. I'm grateful to all the volunteers who put so much effort into these groups for the benefit of us all. I’m also enormously indebted to my constituency office team who provide such a high standard of service to everyone who comes to us for help or advice. To them and to you, my very best wishes for 2017'.