Borders politicians share their New Year's messages

Christine Grahame

SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale

2022 I wonder what this year will bring? We have managed through, some better than others, 2020 and 2021 and I do know from my inbox how hard it has been for too many of you. We have learned, as if we should have known it, that anywhere in the world is our neighbour. We may manage to pull up the drawbridge against poverty, war, and perhaps even global warming but a pandemic knows no boundaries. Until the richer nations spread their wealth and knowledge more freely to the have-nots, whether at home or abroad, then we will not know peace, stability and a world we can pass to our children and their children in a worthwhile state. This is a tough call but do-able. We need to roll out vaccinations to those countries with most need, even if only for our own self-protection. These are the poorest of places and poverty is an ideal breeding ground for COVID to mutate. We surely must also address our obligations to nations where toddlers struggle to reach childhood. Some of that dire poverty in part flows from our actions in places like Afghanistan. We are culpable in the demise of the people there. Unfortunately, we have a UK government led by a divided Tory party with a weak leader whose jokes have now worn thin. This is a worrying combination. There is therefore no firm steer from the UK, quite in contrast to the Welsh Assembly under the able Mark Drakeford and here in Scotland with Nicola Sturgeon, who has steadfastly tried to keep us all safe. It is a matter of leadership and competency. Much is up to us of course. Goodness knows how long we will be wearing face coverings, socially distancing, sanitising and taking lateral flow tests as well as vaccinations. But do these we must not only to prevent our hospitals and surgeries being overwhelmed but to protect the economy. When staff are off with COVID, the health service and businesses become even more vulnerable. Forget the shenanigans of number ten and parties that apparently were “business meetings”. Let’s buckle down and get through this by helping each other, by supporting others and look forward in this New Year to better times ahead, at home, and beyond these shores. For now, stay safe.

Rachael Hamilton

Conservative MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire

I want to wish everyone across Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire a very happy Christmas and a prosperous 2022.

Thank you to all the key and frontline workers for a sterling job this year, we are truly grateful for your hard work across what has been another challenging year.

This year has been tough once again, and as we move through the festive period, please stay safe. I would encourage all Borderers to get their booster jab if they haven’t already. If you haven’t had your first or second COVID jab, please book an appointment it is vital you ensure you are protected. It is never too late to book.

With Christmas around the corner, it is an exciting time, with people busy wrapping presents and preparing for the big day. With everything scaled back at the last minute again, it is also an uncertain time.

I know at this time of year in particular, for a lot of people it is a challenging time. With longer and darker days, many people experience poorer mental health, and it is important now more than ever we check up on friends and loved ones.

Some people will go through an exceptionally challenging time, experiencing suicidal thoughts. Suicide tragically cuts a life short, and it devastates the family, friends and loved ones left behind. Support is available at the Samaritans, call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

With people spending more time at home, with the increased number of COVID cases, I worry about vulnerable people living with an abusive partner or family member too. Domestic abuse has been described as an 'epidemic beneath a pandemic' of abuse mustn’t think it is their fault, and that help is out there. If anyone is experiencing domestic abuse, Borders Women’s Aid are a local charity, and I know they provide excellent support. Their number is 01450 218409 and are based in Unit 5b, Liddesdale Rd, Hawick TD9 0BN.

With any of the issues I have raised, my door is always open, you can contact me on Rachael.hamilton.msp@parliament.scot or 01573 224862. All cases are dealt with the strictest confidentiality.

I want to finish by mentioning some of the fantastic achievements of people from across the Borders this year. There are too many fabulous Borderers to mention, but a few that deserve a shout out are:

In the Olympics, we had Maddie Arlett, of Selkirk, in the lightweight women’s double sculls, swimmer Lucy Hope from Jedburgh and former Hawick High School pupil Lisa Thomson, in the women’s reserve in the 7s.

Over in the Paralympics, we had Sammi Kinghorn win bronze in the women's final of the 100m in the T53 class and Newcastleton’s Stephen Clegg win three bronze medals in swimming. These achievements are truly outstanding!

In rally championships, we had Garry Pearson from and his co-driver, Niall Burns, were crowned the 2021 Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally and 2021 Scottish Rally and British Trial and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA) Champions. Well done to Garry and Niall on these wonderful accolades.

The Borders always excels at rugby and we saw Rory Sutherland and Stuart Hogg selected for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour, a fantastic achievement indeed.

It just goes to show what a wealth of talent we have here in the Borders, and how our region really punches above its weight nationally and internationally too.

As the year draws to a close, may I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and best wishes for the new year.

John Lamont

Conservative MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

2021 has been another challenging year, perhaps more so than 2020. It is easy to forget how we started the year with another hard lockdown that lasted almost until May. Robbing people of weddings, birthdays and being with loved ones in their most challenging times of need.

We once again are facing rising cases and increasing restrictions on our lives. However, one key thing has changed – vaccines. It has been a little more than a year since the first dose in the world was administered right here in the UK. Now more than 130 million doses have been given on our shores. A triumph of science, logistics, and community spirit.

Our thanks must go to those making this happen. First, the scientists from around the world who created these lifesaving vaccines, and then to the NHS staff, Armed Forces and thousands of civil servants who made the world leading rollout a reality.

We are also helping to vaccinate the world. We are among the largest donors to the COVAX initiative, committing £548 million. This support to COVAX has been critical to it supplying 311 million COVID-19 vaccines to the poorest countries. Excess doses in the UK, numbering around 100 million, will also be distributed throughout the world in 2022. We should be proud of the role the UK is playing globally.

More locally, the Borders was battered by Storm Arwen. Certainly for me, this was the worst storm damage I have seen. People were left without basic amenities for more than a week as the power companies struggled to get lines back on.

Both with COVID-19 and with the storm, there was one admirable trait on show from Borderers. The wonderful community spirit. Whether helping a neighbour get their shopping or helping to clear up fallen debris on your street, I know that this will have made a huge difference to someone and your community.

That is what gives me hope for 2022. In the face of adversity, people look out for each other. I know that whatever faces us in 2022, this will remain the case. Of course, I hope that there will be little adversity to speak of, and that it truly becomes a recovery year for our public services and the economy.

I wish you, your family, and your loved ones the happiest of Hogmanays and the most prosperous New Year.

David Mundell

Conservative MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale

It is hard as we move into 2022 not to reflect on the events and challenges of the past year, from the global pandemic to extreme weather.

But difficult times often bring out the best in individuals, communities and organisations and that has again been evident to me across the constituency.

The COVID crisis roller-coaster, illustrated most recently by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, has demonstrated the ongoing contribution of the local NHS, care sector, other services and the army of volunteers and good neighbours as has the highly ambitious vaccine campaign.

My thoughts remain with everyone who has lost loved ones to the pandemic whilst I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those, in whatever role, have played a part in protecting our communities.

I valued attending the recent UN COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow which I found informative, useful and relevant, especially at a time parts of my constituency experienced flood and power infrastructure damage, plus the loss of two popular pedestrian bridges on the River Annan.

It remains a privilege to represent Tweeddale and, making the most of technology to observe COVID rules, I've retained contact with constituents throughout, assisting them with diverse issues.

My community surgeries at Peebles and elsewhere have resumed, although, observing new security guidance, face-to-face meetings are now by pre-booked appointments.

Democracy needs MPs to be accessible and I look forward to meeting more constituents face-to-face again in 2022.

A Happy and Prosperous New Year to everyone at the Peebleshire News and sister editions and to your many readers in Tweeddale and far beyond.