The Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to tackle inequality as part of his hour long speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on Wednesday 7th October.David Cameron used his address to make a passionate call to end any inequalities that society presents to people based on their gender, sexual orientation, skin colour, faith or disability. He said that "we can talk all we want about opportunity, but it's meaningless unless people are really judged equally". Other major topics included pledges to tackle extremism, a commiment on furthering home ownership and a rallying call in favour of the Union.

Last nights by-election went down to the wire as Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate Dan McCroskrie narrowly lost out to the SNP by 35 votes after the 4 stage of counting. Dan McCroskrie beat the SNP by 20 votes on 1st preferences, however it wasn't enough to ensure election at the first stage. Prefences from the Greens, Labour and the Independent candidate Andy Bryden allowed John Wallace (SNP) to become the new councillor for the ward. Despite this, the Conservatives took comfort in the fact that we topped the poll on 1st preferences and we increased our share of the vote by 5.5% in comparison to the last local council election in 2012.

On Thursday 17th September, polling stations across the Ayr East ward will be opening at 7am for the local council by-election to take place. Local Conservative candidate Dan McCroskrie and his team have knocked on every door in the ward at least once over the last two months. We have spoken to thousands of voters over the phone or on the doorstep and have delivered over 20,000 leaflets to homes. There is a straight choice. A local Conservative candidate who cares passionately about Ayr or the SNP who are fixated on delivering independence whilst ignoring the issues that people actually care about.

Activists were out in full force on Saturday 22nd August to help our local candidate Dan McCroskrie out with his campaign to succeed Corri Wilson as Councillor for Ayr East.Dan was joined by MSP's John Scott and Conservative Deputy Leader Jackson Carlaw and also local councillors Peter Convery, Mary Kilpatrick and Bill Grant. Over 20 activists helped out on the day.Following on from the campaign day, Dan said: "I was delighted at the turnout of hardworking Conservative activists to help me with my campaign. Unlike the other parties, Conservatives value each and every vote and take nothing for granted. I want to speak to as many local residents as possible, hear their concerns and try to offer solutions. That is the kind of councillor I will be if I am successful on the 17th September."

On Thursday 17th September there will be a by-election to select a new councillor for the Ayr East ward to replace Corri Wilson following her election to Westminster in May.The SNP are attempting to use this by-election to attack our record running South Ayrshire Council. We are proud of our record over the last 8 years but we know that there is still more to do.Since we took office in 2007, we have produced a balanced budget every single year and built up our reserves so that we can be more secure in difficult times. We are a living wage employer and we have embarked on the construction of new social housing in some of our most deprived areas. 

South Ayrshire Conservative and Unionist Association have selected local activist Dan McCroskrie to contest the upcoming Ayr East by-election, due to be held on Thursday 17th September 2015. The by-election comes as a result of the resignation of Cllr. Corri Wilson who was elected as to sit in Westminster at the UK General Election in May. Born, brought up and educated in Ayr, Dan is passionate about his local community and holds particular interest in town centre regeneration, fixing the roads and investing in housing. Following his selection, Dan said: "It is an honour to be able to stand in this election. I want to do it because I fundamentally believe in helping people with their day-to-day issues and finding solutions to problems. If I am elected to serve the people of Ayr East I promise to be an accessible councillor and help every individual in the community".Ayr East includes Forehill, Holmston, Castlehill, Masonhill, Kincaidston, Old Belmont and Belmont.  

The new Secretary of State for Scotland, The Rt. Hon. David Mundell MP, accompanied members of the South Ayrshire phonebank team for a thank you gathering at Turnberry on Sunday 24th May. David came up from his Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency to thank our volunteers for helping him to a third consecutive victory.Despite campaigning for our own candidates; Lee Lyons and Marc Hope in Ayrshire, our volunteers found the time to help our David in his re-election bid, phoning thousands of voters across the area and over 2500 voters on polling day helping David secure a win against the national trend.

The results of the 2015 General Election were a mixed bag as candidates across the whole of the United Kingdom were delivered the verdict of the people as early as 6am on Friday.The Conservatives were returned to power without the need for a coalition, as the party gained 24 seats nationwide whilst Labour lost 26. The SNP were also big winners across Scotland, knocking out all but one Labour MP and reducing the Liberal Democrats to their now sole Scottish seat in Orkney and Shetland. David Mundell, our Conservative MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale held his seat and increased his share of the vote whilst the party came a close second in many other Scottish seats.In Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, our candidate Lee Lyons achieved a five-figure vote of 10,355 whilst Marc Hope, who contested the Central Ayrshire seat, gained 8,803 votes. 

Local Scottish Conservative General Election candidate Lee Lyons is calling for more help for South Ayrshire carers.Mr Lyons, who is challenging for the Scottish Conservatives in the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency, said:“More than 660,000 people across Scotland act as unpaid carers – thousands of them here in Ayrshire – and I believe it’s time action was taken to strengthen their rights”.“Research shows that nearly four out of every ten carers have not had time off from their caring responsibilities lasting longer than two days.  It’s time that Scotland’s carers were given the break they need and deserve”.

Local Conservative candidate Lee Lyons has slammed the Scottish Government for driving through the Dersalloch windfarm development despite the plans being rejected by local people and also both East and South Ayrshire Council. ScottishPower Renewables, the firm that submitted the application, are seeking to erect 23 turbines on Dersalloch hill, roughly 4km to the east of the Ayrshire village of Straiton. Lee also attacked the fact that a public inquiry was refused, despite the Scottish Government receiving over 4700 objections to the development.