Local casework has shown what the real issues are in this constituency

ELECTION PROFILE: Jamie Stone, Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Local casework, both brought to my Tain office and arising from my many clinics all over this huge constituency, gives a very clear idea as to what the important issues are for this election.

Health. Repeatedly constituents come to me who are worried about the lack of access to local services. They are faced with travelling huge distances to Inverness, all too often to find that the hospital is overloaded and so they are told to come back another day. This sits most unhappily with local hospitals like Caithness General in Wick or the Lawson in Golspie which could be made more use of.

Health is a devolved matter; nevertheless constituents come to me about it and I am duty-bound to take up their cases. The health staff are doing their very best, but I do not believe they are receiving the support they deserve from the Scottish Government. This is why I have repeatedly raised this issue in Westminster.

Banks. The continued closure of local branches is shocking and something that is regularly raised with me. Every time I have raised this in the Commons, I get the glib answer that people can access banking services through their local post office services and that 99 per cent of the population lives within one mile of a post office. Everyone living in the far north knows that this is a bad joke which displays a completely uncaring attitude on the part of the UK Government. No-one should be disadvantaged because of where they live.

The needs of this constituency are different from the rest of the UK because of the distances and remoteness of where we live.

Up until the election was called, I had been meeting with banks to discuss a hub approach, whereby banks would combine together to offer a network of local bank branches where people could go in and discuss their needs. These discussions were making progress, and if I was to be re-elected I would continue them with a view to establishing these hubs. My successful work to get a cash machine in Durness shows that hard work can pay dividends.

Broadband. This is one of the main issues that people come to me about. I promised that I would raise this issue in my maiden speech if I was elected. I honoured that promise and have raised it subsequently in 14 speeches and during meetings with Government ministers. Nowadays much of life, from business, to accessing benefits, to all forms of advice, depends on connectivity. We all know that there are still areas of this constituency that have been left behind – and this is despite repeated promises by the Scottish Government that it would sort out the situation. I see this as unfinished work that I have a duty to continue on your behalf if I am re-elected.

The needs of this constituency are different from the rest of the UK because of the distances and remoteness of where we live. Accordingly, the representative must always speak up without fear or favour. Sometimes this means that you have to be unpopular, even with your own side. I offer a proven track record in this regard.

And finally, as I said at the Thurso hustings two years ago: “IndyRef 2 – you have to be joking."

It has been a great honour to serve our area for the last two years. Should you put your trust in me on December 12, I will work for each and every one of you to the best of my ability.

• Jamie Stone is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross in next month’s general election. All five candidates in the constituency have been invited to take part in our Election Profile series in the John O’Groat Journal and Caithness Courier, in print and online.

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