I'm delighted to be able to return to my annual summer surgery tour of the constituency this year - although the continuing pandemic means constituents will notice some changes.
Like most MPs and MSPs I took the decision at the start of the pandemic to cancel face-to-face surgeries and visits, and to make arrangements for my constituency team to work from home.
With restrictions easing thanks to the success of the vaccine roll out, next month I am returning to physical advice surgeries in suitable locations throughout the constituency.
Coronavirus hasn’t disappeared and we still have to be cautious, so these surgeries will look a wee bit different to those I’ve held in the past. I’m only using large venues where we can maintain the recommended distance between people. We will be asking everyone to wear a face covering unless they are medically exempt. I’m asking everyone to book an appointment rather than just dropping in to see me so we don’t have too many people there at once.
With these measures in place I’m delighted to be able to get back to some kind of normality in a way that keeps everyone safe, and I’m really looking forward to meeting with constituents again, both at surgeries and on visits to community groups and businesses which I've also resumed. Lots of people think being an MP is all about Westminster but for me the biggest priority has always been serving the people of Glenrothes and Central Fife.
The last sixteen months have been extremely difficult for everyone and for much of that time we've been dealing with four or five times our usual volume of casework. It's important to stress that even if someone can't get to one of my surgeries we are still here to help them.
Please read my new surgery guidance here, and see dates and times of upcoming surgeries here. To book in to one of my surgeries or if you are in need of assistance now, please contact me.