Local MP David Mundell has welcomed the Scottish Affairs Select Committee to Langholm. Responding to news that the Scottish Affairs Select Committee had accepted his invitation to come to Langholm to take evidence for their inquiry into improving cross border links between the South of Scotland and North of England, local MP David Mundell said:-
"I am delighted that the Committee has accepted my invitation to come to Langholm. It is a community which highlights the cross border links, with many local people crossing the border both ways on a daily basis for work, leisure and shopping. It's also clear that issues like future economic growth with the need to create jobs for young people, services in rural areas, an ageing population and a lack of public transport impact on people living in Longtown and rural Cumbria in a very similar way to people living here in Eskdale. I believe there are common solutions possible and we need closer cross border working to achieve them. That's why I very much welcomed the Borderlands initiative involving Councils on both sides of the Border and now the Scottish Affairs Select Committee Inquiry. It's good the Councils and NFU will be giving evidence amongst others to highlight some of these issues
"I have been asked to give evidence too and therefore am particularly keen to hear from people locally as to what issues they would like me to bring up and would be grateful if anybody who does, contacts my office ahead of 26 January. Obviously I will be emphasising the close links between communities on both sides of the border and local communities' clearly expressed wish to build on them, not just for social and culture reasons, but to ensure prosperity in this border area"