Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP writes a regular column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s the latest edition.

Olympics

I think everyone would agree that the Olympics have been absolutely fantastic so far with medals won by Team GB in rowing, gymnastics, swimming and cycling and many other events. The team has done exceptionally well and it has been brilliant to see Scots such as Andy Murray, Heather Stanning, Chris Hoy, Katherine Grainger and Michael Jamieson winning medals. The support of Britons up and down the country has been brilliant and I know it has given all our athletes such a lift to know that we are all cheering them on, from Shetland right down to the Isles of Scilly!

I am sure the final few days of the 2012 Olympics will be just as spectacular and I have no doubt we will see a magnificent closing ceremony this Sunday if the opening ceremony is anything to go by. Following this, we still have the Paralympics in September to look forward to and, in just a couple of years’ time, the Commonwealth Games just down the road in Glasgow.

Eyemouth Initiative

Over the past couple of weeks I have been holding my annual summer advice surgeries and I have greatly enjoyed travelling the length and breadth of the Borders, catching up with local people and discussing a wide variety of concerns and issues facing individuals and communities.

At one of these surgeries, I met members of Eyemouth Initiative, a community group which was set up last year to support local people and the town. The group is currently working on opportunities for training and employment for young people and they have approached the University of the Highlands and Island to see if a University hub could be set up in Eyemouth.

The group are also concerned with issues such as broadband and the dualling of the A1 south of Berwick which Lib Dem MP for Berwick, Sir Alan Beith, has been working on closely with the Transport Secretary Justine Greening.  It was great to hear of the work the group is doing in the town and I was pleased to give them my backing and become a member of the group.

During our meeting we also discussed the work I am doing with Eyemouth Renewables and the Eyemouth Harbour Trust to ensure that the town benefits from offshore renewable developments in the Firth of Forth. It is great that local groups and organisations are working to fight for a better deal for the town and as local MP I am pleased to support these groups in whatever way I can.

Berwickshire County Show

Over the summer, we have many fantastic agricultural shows, Rideouts and Common Ridings here in the Borders and it is a highlight of my work as local MP to be able to attend many of these events every year. Last Saturday was a packed full as I attended the Lauder Common Riding in the morning and the Duns Show in the afternoon. Both events were as enjoyable as ever – there was a great turnout of horses at Lauder, and at the show, the activities in the ring and the aerobatic display were extremely impressive.

* Michael Moore was the Liberal Democrat MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk from 1997-2015 and Secretary of State for Scotland from 2010-2013.