This afternoon I stopped by the RNLI stall in the Scottish Parliament, an organisation of volunteers and lifeguards who do an immense amount of work to keep us safe at sea.

Earlier this week, I had a chat with Ellie, Chair of @officialsyp.bsky.social, at the launch of their manifesto: “Dear Scotland’s Future”. SYP does an important job, championing the interests of young Scots, and ensuring their voices are heard in this Parliament.

Labour left pensioners in the cold by removing their Winter Fuel Payment. Your SNP Scottish Government is delivering Pension Age Winter Heating Payments, from November 2025, for every pensioner - 880,000 pensioners across Scotland will receive the payment.

Great to see so many folk at our Donside SNP coffee morning followed by our branch meeting ☕️

Your SNP Scottish Government has abolished peak rail fares for good. This means a cheaper daily commute for thousands across Scotland. That’s money back in your pocket, whether you’re travelling for work or leisure, given the reduced cost of rail travel.

This week pupils returned to school for the new term. To help with what can be an expensive time, your SNP Scottish Government, working with Aberdeen City Council, have expanded free school meals for S1-3 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment. Full eligibility criteria can be found below

Today’s Tall Ship’s crew parade & awards ceremony brightened up a dreich Aberdeen today. The weather wasn’t great, but it certainly didn’t dampen spirits.

⛵️The Tall Ships return to Aberdeen has created a real buzz around the city this weekend. The quayside has been packed with folk enjoying the ships, and the fantastic food and drink on offer. ➡️ Find out what’s on tomorrow - www.tallshipsaberdeen.com/whats-on/

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 We can create a better Scotland for us all.

Yesterday I visited Alzheimer Scotland at their office on King Street in Aberdeen. Great to hear about all they offer to folk across the city, in particular, the Brain Health Clinic - a partnership with NHS Grampian and the Scottish Government.

Today, with @fsb-uk.bsky.social, I visited @Appetite_M365, Endurance Kickboxing, CMD Coatings, Flowerscene and H & S Milne & Son Butcher. It was great to hear about the different work they are doing, what they offer in the community, and hearing about the challenges businesses face.

The UK economy has now shrunk for the second month in a row. This is entirely under Labour, their choices, their fiscal rules, their cuts, their NI rises, and their inability to bring down energy prices. Can we afford to remain a part of broken Britain?

✂️ Under Keir Starmer's two-tier welfare system, disabled Scots will now be nearly £3,000 worse off a year with any new claims for Universal Credit. 🥀 31 Scottish Labour MPs voted for this.

The UK Government's two child cap hit 820 households across Aberdeen, affecting 2,810 kids in our city. Next March, @snp.org is scrapping the cap, and giving a hand up to more than 100,000 children across Scotland.

Michael Shanks MP, the UK Labour Government's Energy Minister, believes there is no difference between domestic and foreign oil production. I believe it makes a world of difference to hundreds of thousands of oil and gas workers across the North East of Scotland.

This week I visited Royal Mail depot at Whitemyres to meet some of our local posties and see a bit more of how Royal Mail works. I'm always keen to deliver for folk in Aberdeen Donside, and was trying to get some advice from the people that deliver to them.

@SP_ECYP is asking for people's views on the children's care system The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill is looking at what support is provided to people in the children's care system You can have your say at yourviews.parliament.scot/ecyp/childre...

@aberdeencc.bsky.social have agreed to fund five night bus routes across #Aberdeen on Friday and Saturday nights, from later this month. First Aberdeen’s single fare prices will apply on these services, which also means they will be included in the Scottish Government’s free bus travel schemes.

In Peterhead today with @jackiedunbarsnp.bsky.social and Alan Petrie (on behalf of @karenadamsnp.bsky.social) Some great opening remarks from Seamus Logan MP Peterhead is a cornerstone of the North East's energy industry and it has a key role to play in our region's energy transition

Food prices have risen dramatically over the last three months, with a whopping 4.4% rise in May. The UK economy, unemployment and public finances are all in a worse position than when Labour came to power & food prices and energy bills are even higher. Labour is failing!

This morning I attended @scotgov event celebrating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. It was great to hear from @kaukabstewart.bsky.social celebrating the culture of Gypsy/Traveller and Roma communities. Great to see Cllr Dell Henrickson here representing @aberdeencc.bsky.social too!

🚨 The RTS signal will be switched off from 30 June 2025. This means everyone with an RTS electricity meter needs to have a new one installed. If your energy supplier contacts you, act now. Find out if you have an RTS meter and get support here: www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-...

I want people to know that in these tough times, they have a Government that’s firmly on their side. Today I have made changes to the Ministerial team which will help us build a fairer, more prosperous nation - a Scotland where everyone can thrive. 🧵👇

I am pleased that @aberdeencc.bsky.social will be part of @snp.org Government's pilot to expand free school meals to eligible pupils in S1 to S3. This is your SNP Government continuing to deliver on its commitment to tackle child poverty and improve the lives of young people across Scotland.

Your SNP Government is investing in our NHS. This investment will help to cut waiting times, to ensure patients in Aberdeen get the care they need as soon as possible.

The UK Government's Energy Profits Levy has cost us 10,000 north sea jobs since 2022. I raised the impact the Levy is having with the Minister earlier today.👇

I am looking for a Caseworker to help me support people across Aberdeen Donside You can read more about this role and how to apply at ce1046li.webitrent.com/ce1046li_web... Please share this with anyone who might be interested, and don't hesitate to contact me with any questions

This morning, I attended a briefing at Energy Transition Zone's W-Zero 1 facility, with North East colleagues @audreynicollsnp.bsky.social and Dawn Black. It was great to hear about their work to date, their plans for their future, and how we can support the North East’s energy transition.

The Denis Law Legacy Trail will be officially unveiled this Saturday, at the corner of Printfield Walk and Printfield Terrace There will also be various family friendly workshops and games at the Printfield play area from 2 - 4.15 www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/news/denis-law-legacy-trail-officially-open

This afternoon I led a Members' Debate on "Aberdeen to Welcome the Tall Ships Races", on behalf of @kevinstewartsnp.bsky.social, who is ill but who secured this debate. @aberdeensnp.bsky.social -led @aberdeencc.bsky.social, working with partners, are bringing the Tall Ships back to Aberdeen!

We’re ensuring more than half of Scots pay less tax than they would elsewhere in the UK, and delivering our Cost of Living Guarantee: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Free tuition 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Free prescriptions 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Expanded free childcare 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Lowest council tax bills in the UK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Free bus travel for 2.3 million people

2,500 business leaders and energy workers have called on the Prime Minister to change the Labour UK Government’s tax regime on Scotland’s energy sector. Read more here - www.agcc.co.uk/news-article...

FamilyFund offer grants to low income families caring for disabled or seriously ill young adults aged 18 to 24 The grants can be used to purchase new digital devices, club memberships, sport equipment, and much more More info at www.familyfund.org.uk/news/your-opportunity-grant-programme-reopened/

North East SNP quines out in force across Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse today, for @katyloudonsnp.bsky.social A great campaign, a great candidate, and great support for @snp.org! #voteSNP

Fantastic day for a walkabout at Gairn Community Aberdeen to see the work they are doing, supported by funding from Aberdeen Airport's ABZ Propeller Fund. If you're interested in volunteering, get in touch with them!

There are 4,488 RTS meters still in use across Aberdeen. I am encouraging everyone in Aberdeen to check if they have an RTS meter ahead of switch-off at the end of June - this is one of those simple changes that can save a lot of stress down the line.

Always a pleasure to speak with Poppy Scotland when they are in parliament. Thanks to Andy McIntosh, Poppy Scotland's Welfare Officer for taking the time to discuss how Poppy Scotland support the armed forces community through their finance, well-being and education programmes.

I was more than happy to add my name to the letter from Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce urging the UK Government to commit to the Acorn CCS project immediately. Read the full story here 👉🏻 www.agcc.co.uk/news-article...

Interesting chat with The Data Lab about their work promoting the innovation and skills that Scotland requires to become a global leader in data and artificial intelligence Learn more at www.thedatalab.com

The Scottish Government have launched a new campaign to recruit more foster carers To assist the campaign, @fosteringnet-scot.bsky.social set up a helpline to support prospective foster carers and answer any answer questions Find out more at www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk, or call 0141 204 1400

🎓 Last Friday, I met with Prof George Boyne at @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social to hear about their plans for upcoming graduations, the coming academic year, and the challenges they face as an organisation.

⚠️There's 4,488 old Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters in Aberdeen, which stop working after June 30th Contact your energy provider for a free meter replacement www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/replacing-your-radio-teleswitch-electricity-meter

75% of Scottish care homes have an unfilled staff vacancy Regardless, the UK Government have decided to halt the recruitment of overseas care workers Carers need to come from somewhere and they're not coming from Westminster

Thank you to @nhsgrampian.bsky.social for a very quick and easy breast screening. I was in the building for less than 8 minutes! The earlier cancers are detected, the easier they are to treat, so it's important to go for a screening when you get invited.

I'm proud to support @snp.org Programme for Government, which prioritises: 1. Growing the economy 2. Eradicating child poverty 3. Tackling the climate emergency 4. Providing high quality and sustainable public services Learn more at www.gov.scot/publications/programme-government-2025-26/

Today is #WorldOvarianCancerDay 💜 Ovarian cancer symptoms can be easy to miss, but knowing them could be life-saving. Will you help us make sure everyone can recognise the symptoms of #ovariancancer? 👉 Share this post!

Pleased to hear that Lidl is the preferred bidder for the vacant site neighbouring their existing Lang Stracht store. It's very welcome that the local community will continue to have access to an affordable supermarket. www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aber...

Today, I asked @johnswinney.bsky.social about the recent job losses at Harbour Energy, who blame the UK Government's excessive windfall tax. The UK Government have ignored warnings about job losses, treated Aberdeen as a cashcow, and is undermining efforts to deliver a Just Transition.

The Scottish Government are investing £8.5 million to create high quality jobs in low carbon industries across the North East & Moray £75 million has been invested since 2022 to support the green economy, as part of @snp.org plan to tackle climate change whilst ensuring a prosperous future

The Asda Foundation are offering grants of £10,000 to £20,000 to local community groups that provide a safe space for folk to meet and be together Applications can be made between 7 and 28 May 2025 More information, including how to apply, can be found at asdafoundation.org/our-grants/l...