Westminster Candidates offer support for a Galloway National Park. There are three Westminster Parliamentary constituencies within the wider boundary explored for a Galloway National Park. Dumfries and Galloway: Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale and Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock On 22 November GNPA wrote to all candidates standing in the December 2019 election, providing a link to key information on the GNPA web site and saying: As a candidate in the area for the 2019 Westminster election we invite you to pledge your support to encourage the Scottish government to consider the merits of a Galloway National Park. We invite you to – ‘Agree that in the light of the widespread support for a Galloway National Park revealed in the public engagement exercise conducted by GNPA, and the recent Scottish Parliament motion calling for the creation of more National Parks, the feasibility of establishing such a Galloway National Park should now be actively explored.’ We are pleased to record that the responses we received have all been very positive and offer support from all political parties. The key messages received by 5 December 2019 are as follows: From: Richard Arkless Scottish National Party Westminster Candidate I am absolutely willing to take that pledge. I’ve always thought it was a complete no brainer and am pleased to read how the campaign has progressed in the last couple of years. Please be assured that even though, at present, the Scottish Government has not agreed to another NP - that will not stop me making the case within my Party and ScotGov. I will lobby hard on your behalf. If I’m elected - please get in touch soon after and I can come meet the group and draw up a plan of how I can help. I will bring energy and will do what I say. From: Alister Jack Conservative & Unionist Party Westminster Candidate Thank you for your letter of the 22nd November 2019 asking me to Agree that in the light of the widespread support for a Galloway National Park revealed in the public engagement exercise conducted by GNPA, and the recent Scottish Parliament motion calling for the creation of more National Parks, the feasibility of establishing such a Galloway national Park should now be actively explored. Which I am more than happy to do. From: McNabb Laurie Liberal Democrat Party Westminster Candidate I’m 100% on board with this and am delighted to sign up to this pledge. On a personal level I am a GNPA supporter and absolutely would want to echo that on a political level. I think a constituency MP that is a cheerleader for GNPA on a political and personal level could be of great assistance. I think having a National Park would be a Boost for Galloway, would support efforts to address some serious strategic problems that we have and I am convinced any costs would pay for themselves through increased economic activity. Please say if there is anything I can do to help. From: Ted Thompson Labour Party Westminster Candidate I fully support the campaign and was delighted that the Labour motion you refer to which called for more National parks, proposed by my colleague Colin Smyth MSP, was successful in the Scottish Parliament recently. I hope this now leads to the Scottish Government changing its position and fully exploring the feasibility of a Galloway National Park. As you are aware, there is no-one size fits all approach to National Parks and as a result of the work you have done, we can develop a plan for a Galloway National Park that meets the needs of our area but addresses any concerns some may have. You will be pleased to know that in the Scottish Labour manifesto for this current election there is a clear statement that “Scottish Labour would support the designation of new National Parks.” As you know it was the previous Labour-led administration in the Scottish Executive that established the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Parks to conserve and enhance the natural heritage of these areas of beauty and we are keen to build on their success and ensure that Scotland catches up with the rest of the world in recognising the benefits of more national parks. I am therefore more than happy to support the statement in your letter and I look forward to continuing Labour’s support for your campaign. In the meantime, can I thank you and all the members of the Galloway National Park campaign for the work you do in seeking to deliver a National Park for Galloway and by doing so strengthen our economy and environment in the south west. Please keep up the good work. From: Nick Chisholm Labour Party Westminster Candidate Many thanks for your letter regarding the formation of the Galloway National Park. The work you have done so far in pursuit of this laudable campaign has been of great benefit to the region. The Labour party has long supported the formation of national parks; indeed, I believe the first Act of Parliament to establish national parks (in England) was passed by the Labour Atlee administration in 1949. It took a while for progress to be made in Scotland but the formation of the Cairngorms and then Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Parks, again under a Labour government, redressed the balance to a degree. I am, personally, very supportive of the campaign for a Galloway National Park. Happily, the Labour manifesto also commits to an expansion of National Parks, indeed our South of Scotland MSP, Colin Smyth led the motion that you referred to in your letter, further highlighting our general position on national parks. I wish you all the luck in your campaign and am very happy to both endorse it and if possible, help you to realize the ambitions of the Galloway National Park Association. .