I was pleased to have recently had the opportunity to lead a debate in the House of Commons on improving transport links across the Borders.
I spoke about the fact that people's everyday lives depend on access to good, safe, reliable and affordable transport. I raised the pressing need to invest in better railway and road connections across the Borders, both towards Edinburgh and to the south too. When I was re-elected as your MP for the Borders, I pledged that I would do everything I could to improve local infrastructure and I will continue to keep that promise by campaigning to improve our transport network.
In my speech, I said that one of the top priorities should be extending the Borders Railway, which has been a great success story since it was restored. For many years, I've been working hard with local campaigners to see the Borders Railway extended to Hawick, Newcastleton and onto Carlisle. I firmly believe it could be a game-changer for our local area. It could unlock economic potential, create thousands of jobs and transform the local rail network.
I am seeking to bring together a cross-party consensus about the importance of this extension. I will work constructively with the Scottish Government where possible and I intend to have open dialogue with the new Labour government on what we can achieve together. Unfortunately, Labour have so far been unwilling to commit to the project or even to a feasibility study on the extension.
I have also been dismayed that they have cancelled the dualling of the A1, an essential road in desperate need of improvements. I cannot understand Labour's thinking on this issue.
They appear to be following the SNP approach of refusing to invest to fix our roads, leaving vital local routes like the A7 and A68 in a dire state of disrepair. Motorists desperately need improvements to keep these roads safe but the SNP, and now Labour too, continually overlook and ignore the needs of drivers, especially in rural communities like ours.
No matter the approach of those other parties, I will continue to campaign for better road and rail connections across the Borders and I will raise the issue any time that I can in the UK Parliament, as I did recently on your behalf.
