Politics: Uniform costs can be a burden to many families
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The Conservatives and Liberal Democrat groups in Aberdeenshire have agreed to form an administration to run the local authority together for the next five years.
This is, of course, a very disappointing decision for the local SNP group after a previous five years of infighting and stagnation in the last administration for Aberdeenshire Council led by the Tories too.
We’ve already seen the impact of tory austerity policies and poor decision making at Westminster which are now only set to get worse as the cost of living crisis continues – with no end in sight.
I know for many people seeing them back in administration in Aberdeenshire will be difficult for many to accept.
However, I have the greatest confidence in my party and their ability to form a strong opposition which will hold the administration to account and keep the main focus on the council assisting those who live throughout Aberdeenshire.
The Tories led their campaign on ‘no to indy ref’ not on local issues impacting real people.
So, whether they can now really focus on working constructively for the common good of the people of Aberdeenshire remains to be seen.
There are going to be some challenging times ahead this year and next, and we must ensure that people in Aberdeenshire are being supported through the cost of living crisis as much as possible.
Pupils, parents and carers are all being asked to give their views on school uniforms to help shape new national guidance.
A key aim of the guidance will be to reduce costs for families, while ensuring pupils can go to school feeling comfortable and ready to learn.
Local authorities and individual schools decide on school uniform policy at local level.
The national guidance – which will be underpinned by a range of principles – will inform those policies.
The consultation will aim to get a range of views from schools, families, education authorities and suppliers.
Last year, the level of school clothing grant was increased by the Scottish Government to at least £120 for primary school pupils and £150 for secondary school pupils.
I would encourage pupils, parents and carers to put forward their views on school uniforms to help shape new national guidance.
The cost of school uniforms can be a significant burden for families particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.
This is why the Scottish Government has increased the school clothing grant to help families who need it most.
The consultation will run until 14 October 2022 and can be found at https://consult.gov.scot/learning-directorate/school-uniforms-statutory-guidance-scotland/.
And finally, I want to send a heartfelt thank you to someone who isn’t a constituent, but who has really shone in the last couple of weeks.
Dame Deborah James was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer five years ago and since announcing she is receiving palliative care has raised more than six million pounds.
This is an incredible achievement.
If you notice any changes in your bowel movements, bloating, or blood in your stools or anything that feels different, unexplained weight loss or extreme tiredness for no reason, please consult your GP.
