Conservative group leader on Moray Council, Cllr Tim Eagle (Buckie Ward), took Moray’s message to Westminster when he attended a reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by the Prime Minister on Monday. He joined forces with Moray MP Douglas Ross to promote the Moray Growth Deal and highlight the financial problems faced by Moray Council as a result of cuts to its budget by the Scottish Government. As well as meeting the Prime Minister, Cllr Eagle and Douglas were pleased to lobby cabinet ministers David Mundell and Michael Gove over issues such as support for fishing and agriculture.
Commenting, Tim Eagle said, “I was very keen to ensure that in my role I promote Moray as much as possible and ensure I take concerns from our communities such as fishing and farming to cabinet ministers. I was thankful to our MP Douglas Ross for arranging meetings as together we met with the Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell to speak about the problems faced by local authorities in Scotland and also to continue the discussion around the importance of the Growth Deal for Moray.
“Following this I specifically asked if a meeting could be arranged with Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that we highlighted the value of fishing and farming to our communities.
"As a Councillor for the Buckie ward fishing is a hot topic for me and I have been approached by several local fisherman who are concerned that we could see fishing rights lost again into Europe. I wanted to reassure Mr Gove that Moray and the North-East is very keen to see a re-balance of the industry to allow us to make the best out of our national waters.
"It also seemed fitting that as a new entrant to farming myself, and with Douglas's background and passion for farming, that we jointly take the message that agriculture will need careful consideration and support to make the industry the best it can be.
"In the evening we attended a reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by the Prime Minister and I made sure to highlight the wonderful things Moray has to offer to all those I spoke to."
Commenting Douglas Ross MP said: "I am delighted that Tim travelled down to London. It is important that all Moray's elected representatives work together to promote the Moray Growth Deal and ensure that the concerns of people in Moray are heard at the highest levels in the UK Government."
Cllr Eagle will be following up his visit to Westminster, when he and other Conservative councillors from Moray visit the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 29th November. At meetings hosted by local MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, they plan to brief local government spokesperson Alexander Stewart MSP and interim Scottish Conservative Party Leader Jackson Carlaw MSP on the financial challenges facing Moray Council and the threats to Moray's schools, leisure facilities and health care.
PHOTOS:
(1) Douglas Ross MP (left), Cllr Tim Eagle (centre), discussing the future of the fishing industry with Secretary of State Michael Gove MP
(2) Cllr Tim Eagle (left) with Scottish Secretary David Mundell MP (centre) and Moray MP Douglas Ross highlighting the importance of the Moray Growth Deal
