An SNP Scottish Government UNDERSPEND of £1bn last year A £5bn black hole in what it spends versus what it receives Now UK Labour government moots tax rises which obliterate the block grant settlement. Scottish taxpayers deserve better than these two failing governments! @scotlibdems.org.uk

Pleased to launch my Holyrood26 campaign video for Inverclyde! Standing in your home town is a real privilege too. Gives me a chance to shine a much needed light on my local area on the political stage. P.s If you haven’t been to Port Glasgow to see “The Skelpies” get yourself down there soon!

Chuffed to be standing in my home town of Greenock in next years Holyrood election for the @scotlibdems.org.uk I was born and bred in Inverclyde and it’s still home to my family so it means a lot to me to stand here. They do say all politics is local you can’t get more local than your own front door

👀 👇 this!

Fantastic speech from Kemi today, no seriously. It was basically a 20 minute recruitment video for the @libdems.org.uk for moderate, decent former Tories. 😂

Was pleased to host debate in Parliament today about the postcode lottery of early year funding. Lots of parents from right across the country are struggling to access childcare, reducing working hours or borrowing money to pay for it. The govt response was poor to say the least!

Russia. Belarus. The UK? Desperate stuff from the Tories today, aping Reform at every turn. The UK is a proud founding father of the Council of Europe. Putin will be chirping over his coffee this morning watching Kemi queue up to join him and Lukashenko in the wilderness. 🤦‍♂️ #echr

If the Scottish Government wants to see Clyde shipbuilding succeed, maybe it’s time to give the yard some work? Just a thought…… 🙄 #FergusonMarine

As I head home today I am reminded that politics doesn’t need to be divisive; nasty, bitter and hatred filled. I’ve had an absolute blast at my first @libdems.org.uk party conference and I say gently to folk who are scunnered with toxic politics, there is an alternative out there. 🤷‍♂️ come join me!

The suns out The stage is set It’s Party Conference time! #libdemconference

It’s been quite a week. After 4 years of consulting, lobbying, negotiating, listening and debating I was able to get my Victims Bill proposals into law. I was really moved by the response from the many families and survivors I met on this journey, I am hugely grateful to them.

Today the Scottish Parliament will vote on major changes to the Scottish justice system. 15 of my 16 amendments passed yesterday; no mean feat from the opposition benches. So the challenge is; are other parties able to rise to the challenge & support these much needed changes?

I am humbled by the braveness shown by victims of horrific attacks and crimes who asked me to take their causes to Parliament and fight for change to the justice system. Yesterday I moved 16 amendments to the Victims Bill, 15 passed. 1 govt defeat That’s how you get stuff done in politics…👇

This week Holyrood will debate the last stage of the Victims Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill. The majority of my own private “Victims Bill” proposals will be voted on and I hope included in it. It can’t be a day for playing party politics, it’s going to need grown up debate on an important law.

North of the border, @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social wants Scotland to be better at research and development and is calling for more rights for victims of crime… www.libdemvoice.org/1314-septemb...

Today at #FMQs I asked the First Minister: 1) why £10M had been spent on “settlement agreements” for civil servants leaving their jobs (many under accusations of failure in post), 2) why so many had gagging orders attached them and 3) what else the money might better have been spent on?

I’m meeting stakeholders across Scotland’s ferry network. I popped in to the office of CMAL to hear their views 🎥 I want to hear from you! If you have a view on the future of our lifeline ferries, fill in the survey 👇 and be part of the conversation: www.scotlibdems.org.uk/ferries-cons...

First day back in Holyrood after recess, I had plenty to say but let’s start with the basics: people simply want their Parliament to move on from pointless constitutional grievances and talk about the day to day public’s services they deserve, rely on, and pay for 👀 👇

Happy hump(back) day! 🐋 A suitably cetaceous fact for today: #DYK humpback whales have the largest forelimbs in the animal kingdom, leading to their scientific name 'Megaptera', meaning 'giant winged'. 🧐 #NatureChmpioned by @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social Learn more: www.scotlink.org/species/hump...

Sharing this important survey that my colleague @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social is conducting. It's so important that local voices are heard on this issue. Answer it here: shorturl.at/Uo7gf

Should killers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims remains be freed from prison on parole? This has been the subject of much debate recently. Today I’ve written in @TheScotsman about it and how we might change the law fairly and promptly👇 www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

For too long islanders & coastal communities have been let down. Today I’m launching a public consultation on the long term future of Scotland’s ferry network. We can’t trust Government to deliver so I want to hear from those who know best. Have your say👇 www.scotlibdems.org.uk/ferries-cons...

A busy day discussing my proposals for my Victims Bill reforms that I have been working on for a number of years which will come to Holyrood in Autumn. Including the importance of Suzanne’s Law in the final bill. I met with the Justice Secretary today to seek assurances over it the govts plans

Good luck to everyone performing or working in this years Fringe festival. I know it comes with its challenges every year but a mountain of effort goes into putting on a show. Break many legs! And thanks to Assembly for putting on a fabulous opening Gala!

For some people full time work simply isn’t an option. For others, with the right assistance, diagnoses, training and mental health support there should always be a pathway into employment. The Scottish Government needs to do more to tackle the mental health crisis 👀 👇

The Public Audit Committee, of which I a Deputy Convenor, published its cross-party report into Ferguson Marine. It lays bare a litany of management failures, praises yard workers and calls for a coherent future strategy from Scottish Ministers, lest the yard will be no more.

Had a great meet with Sabir Zazai Chief Executive of the Scottish Refugee Council in Glasgow. We talked about prejudice, integration and New Scot initiatives. Like many communities which are small in number they often attract the most coverage, too often negative @scotrefugeecouncil.bsky.social

Perfectly right and proper to criticise politicians. Perfectly fair to deem them incompetent or inept. That’s part and parcel of the job. But for goodness sake, they (we) are still human beings and often under huge amounts of stress and pressure on a personal level. Be decent. 🤷‍♂️

Seems like my comments on this very subject in Holyrood last week were as timeous as they were accurate. Politics needs to do better than scapegoating marginal and minority communities. Some parties really never learn any lessons from their distasteful attitudes. Language and words matter.

Bonne fête du Canada! #CanadaDay

This week is #ShopKind week. I was pleased to meet with SRC in Parliament to discuss the partnership with @ukhomeoffice.bsky.social and the @britishretail.bsky.social to treat retail workers with respect. Their message clear: Abuse and violence against retail workers cannot be tolerated. Ever!

Pleased the Scottish Government has responded to calls for this. Not a moment too soon. Though it needs to be extended to cover all islands and businesses affected. Including, for example Cumbrae, and those in Ardrossan. news.stv.tv/highlands-is...

Great to see so many veterans, serving members and their families out and about today celebrating #ArmedForcesDay2025 remembering that our armed forces are also peace keepers and humanitarian aid workers across the world in so many conflict zones. 🙏🏻

Today being #ArmedForcesDay I’ve written to the Deputy First Minister to ask if the Scottish Government is fully committed to Scotland’s growing defence sector, what it is doing to attract new business and how will it address skills gaps in the key STEM subjects needed to help it grow

Today I’ve written to the business and tourism minister to ask when businesses affected by the endless ferry chaos on the west coast will be compensated. Traffic and footfall is down, many are struggling to keep their doors open. Promises were made to look at this, yet nothing has happened yet.

For the late night politico geeks, a fantastic win for the @scotlibdems.org.uk in Edinburgh this evening. A massive rise in first preference votes since 2022 🙌

Scottish public sector spend on health, social care and devolved benefits will soar to £150bn over 5 years. That’s more than half of ALL government spend. But where’s the investment in preventative healthcare or in getting people back into work? We all want a healthier, wealthier, happier country.

I see Kemi Badenoch has just called for a purge of the Scottish Tories of those who are not “Conservative” enough. I wonder what her current Tory MSPs, former leader Jackson Carlaw, and current Shadow Health Secretary Sandesh Gulhane, make of her attack. 👇 a blunder she may come to regret…

Today I was pleased to join @unison.org.uk outside Holyrood in #nationalcarersweek to demand that Scotlands carers are on the governments agenda. They don’t want thanks, they want to be paid properly. It’s time we looked after them, because they look after us. @scotlibdems.org.uk

🕰️ 6 weeks of bus strikes 🚌 30 services cancelled entirely 🚍 many more on reduced service 👥 thousands without public transport 🤝 weeks of negotiations failed And the Minister’s response to an Urgent Question? “I haven’t spoken to them, it’s not my job” 🤦‍♂️

3. @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social to ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure the connectivity of local communities, following reports that over 400 Stagecoach drivers in Ayr, Arran, Ardrossan & Kilmarnock have begun industrial action. Watch from 2.05pm: www.scottishparliament.tv

@channel4news.bsky.social @krishgm.bsky.social coverage of the situation in Gaza (as reported from Israel) is quite compelling. The commentary from Israeli activists, commentators and journalists is unusually powerful and thought-provoking. It’s a nuanced side of the debate we rarely see in UK media

The Scottish economy needs a bolt of energy, a fresh approach, and some optimism and proper leadership. Here’s my first article for the @libdems.org.uk on the economic woes and opportunities we face, since I took on the portfolio. 👇 👀 www.libdemvoice.org/the-economic...

We’re short on STEM and modern language teachers in secondary schools yet there’s an over supply and plenty of out work primary school teachers. Go figure. 🤔 The whole thing reeks of bad planning. Today’s Holyrood debate on Teacher workforce planning was a good one.

One care home in my region is earmarked for closure, others have warned they face similar risk. The NI hike was an issue but Labour’s new immigration white paper risks cutting off supply in the care sector in areas where there is no local workforce. I asked the Scottish govt. if there is a plan B?

The final scores are in. It’s a close call, but here’s my top six predictions. Though the UK could be an outsider! Anything could happen. Where’s Celine?! #eurovision

The pup is taking this VERY seriously. Shhhh! 🤫 no talking during voting. #Eurovision

On #IDAHOBIT day there’s not much to celebrate in the UK. 22nd (once 1st) is a sad fall from grace. Legislation to improve lives of LGBT+ dropped by governments because it’s too politically hot to tackle. Pride organisers have every right to be fuming with politics. They want action not words!

I’ve written to Scottish Ministers asking them to fulfil their promise to legislate to end Conversion Therapy practices in Scotland. The SNP was elected on a pledge to do so. All political parties included it in their 2021 manifesto. My message is quite simple: if Ministers won’t do it, I will!

So who got through? My Sky TV crashed all night throughout Eurovision. Fuming!