Dear John,

I hope you had a good summer and managed to get out and enjoy some of the sunshine we've had.

As your MP, I've kept working hard to represent the Borders and your views. Here are some of the things I've been up to recently:

The SNP Government have announced plans to scrap NHS Borders. We all want to see better access to healthcare and faster treatment times, but abolishing NHS Borders is not the answer.

We need more healthcare to be delivered locally, not less.

I believe that centralising the NHS will harm frontline care services in the Borders. It would be unacceptable if this plan means that local people need to travel further for treatment.

I will strongly oppose these plans by the SNP.

I recently met with the Ofgem chair and representatives from SP Energy Networks (SPEN) and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) at the proposed site of mega-pylons in the Borders.

Alongside local campaign groups, I made clear to Ofgem the strength of feeling and the concerns residents have raised about the potential impact on our countryside, farming land, and local communities.

I will continue standing up for Borders communities and demanding changes to these proposals so that our countryside is not scarred by mega-pylons.

I recently wrote to the Lord Advocate raising concerns about the impact that cannabis use is having on local residents.

More and more people are contacting me in frustration about persistent cannabis use in neighbouring properties.

Nobody should have to put up with the smell of cannabis drifting into their home day after day with little prospect of the problem being resolved.

I hope this issue can be given further consideration so that residents have greater confidence that their concerns are being heard and acted upon.

The Prime Minister must fully reverse Labour's changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief when the Autumn Budget is delivered on the 28th of October.

The Family Farm Tax will hurt farmers who are already struggling with rising costs, energy bill uncertainty and difficult weather conditions.

Andy Burnham must show some backbone and use his first budget as Prime Minister to scrap Labour’s Family Farm Tax.

Best wishes,

John Lamont MP

Scottish Borders