Great news! Following the successful pilot for free rail travel for companions accompanying blind National Entitlement plus one cardholders, this week the Scottish Government have confirmed that the scheme will be made permanent from 1st April.

Today in the Scottish Parliament, I was able to ask about the Scottish Government’s funding for funding to deliver the state of the art school buildings for all pupils across Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, just as we have seen at the excellent premises at both Cumbernauld Academy and Greenfaulds High.

The Labour government’s flagship nuclear project, Hinkley Point C, is now expected to cost £49 billion - the equivalent of around £9000 for every person in Scotland. People in Scotland will now pay at least £300m extra on their energy bills with a decade-long nuclear tax on Scottish energy bills.

Good to welcome pupils from Kilsyth Academy into Parliament today for their visit to watch First Ministers Questions. I am happy to help arrange visits to the Scottish Parliament for groups from Cumbernauld and Kilsyth. If anyone is interested they can email me at [email protected]

I had the pleasure of meeting with Martin Murray of All In Fitness earlier this week to talk about his business and to hear that he is running the Boxercise Champions programme, which will be based at Cornerstone House at Cumbernauld town centre and is launched this month.

Out in the Cumbernauld snow and ice delivering leaflets in support of @snp.org campaign calling for lower energy bills for households and businesses in Scotland. Find out more at www.snp.org/campaigns/en... Promoted by John Bowman on behalf of Jamie Hepburn, c/o SNP HQ, Edinburgh, EH8 8PJ

Another fantastic Christmas Show at Cumbernauld Theatre. Thanks to the theatre and Ginger and Jester Productions for putting on such a great show for the local community.

I would like to wish everyone across Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, and beyond, the very best for a relaxing and peaceful time this Christmas. My office is working reduced hours over the Christmas and Hogmanay holiday but I can still be contacted on email at [email protected]

Arrived at Broadwood to hopefully watch a win for Cumbernauld Colts in today’s Scottish Cup tie with Bonnyrigg Rose. Good luck Colts!

Thanks to Cumbernauld Colts for hosting me at the holiday football camp they have been running this week with the support of Scottish Gas and the Scottish Football Association. The camps are part of Scottish Gas’ partnership with the SFA with the goal of improving participation in football.

It was a privilege to represent the Scottish Government at this morning’s service in Glasgow Cathedral to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

Thanks to Martin and Marie at Urban Grind Coffee House in Kilsyth for letting Councillor Denis Johnston and I pay a visit. This is a fantastic addition to Kilsyth Main Street and is highly recommended.

Scotland’s delivering more homes per head than anywhere else in the UK. Since 2007, we’ve delivered 136,705 affordable homes - 97,099 for councils and housing associations. We’re focused on what matters to you: secure homes, strong communities, and a fairer Scotland.

Labour campaigned to protect disability benefits. Now they're cutting £5 billion from the most vulnerable. Scotland chooses a different path - one of fairness, dignity, and protection for the most vulnerable. We stand for a better Scotland, Labour stands for broken promises.

Anti-poverty campaigners are quitting Labour in disgust at their welfare cuts. As Labour's Wes Streeting said: "It must be hard for the Conservatives, watching Labour doing the things they only ever talked about."

📢 Labour before the election: "No austerity under Labour." 📉 Labour after the election: Cutting disability benefits. Labour promised "change", but instead, voters are getting more of the same.

A good shift campaigning in Banton and Queenzieburn this morning. #ActiveSNP @thesnp.bsky.social

It was good to hear from the team at the the National Lottery Community Fund in Scotland during their visit to the Scottish Parliament. In the last five years 119 community projects in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth have benefited by funding to the collective value of £2,964,209.

Great to see Parliament pass the budget today. Disappointing that Labour and Tories didn’t back increased investment in public services including: - £21 billion for health and social care - £15 billion for Scotland’s councils - £768 million for affordable homes - a pensioners winter fuel payment

Out in Cumbernauld Village with some of the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth SNP team as part of @thesnp.bsky.social National Campaign Day #ActiveSNP

A pleasure to join with friends in Kirkintilloch SNP earlier today to hit the campaign trail for our candidate for this Thursday’s Kirkintilloch East and North and Twechar by-election Serina Marshall @thesnp.bsky.social @serinamarshallsnp.bsky.social

Labour's Anas Sarwar says he’s open to working with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK ‘on a case-by-case basis' to become First Minister of Scotland. Vote Sarwar, get Farage.

Good to be out campaigning for @thesnp.bsky.social Kirkintilloch East and North and Twechar by-election candidate @serinamarshallsnp.bsky.social this afternoon with @ronamackaysnp.bsky.social, @cllrdenisjohnston.bsky.social, @cllrpamelamarshall.bsky.social and Councillor Alan Masterton.

🇪🇺 Five years since Scotland was dragged out of the EU, people are still paying the price. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 We’re ready to work with anyone who’ll help us rebuild Scotland’s ties with Europe, says @johnswinney.bsky.social in today’s @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The fight to secure pension equality for 1950s women continues, with the SNP’s Waspi Compensation Bill passing its first stage at Westminster. Labour continue to let down Waspi women. Only one Scottish Labour MP, Brian Leishman, backed the Bill. All others were posted missing. @thesnp.bsky.social

It was good to see the Scottish Parliament come together and unanimously support the motion that the SNP brought calling on the UK Government to compensate Waspi women. Labour’s betrayal of those women who they promised to support before the general election and they ditched after it cannot stand.

Save the Children are urging all MSPs to back the budget presented by the Scottish Government. The budget will increase the Scottish Child Payment and pave the way to reversing the UK Government’s two child cap, helping to lift thousands of kids out of poverty. @thesnp.bsky.social

🎓 Universities return this month - and students across Scotland are benefiting from free tuition. 📈 In England, Labour is hiking fees for students. ✅ In Scotland, @theSNP will always protect free tuition.

Labour DWP Secretary Liz Kendall just confirmed the Labour Government will ignore the recommendation from the UK Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to deliver compensation. After already being let down by the Tory Government, this is a devastating betrayal of WASPI women by Labour.

In government the SNP is providing record investment for Scottish Higher and Further Education, and will always keep Scotland tuition free. @thesnp.bsky.social

Thousands of kids will benefit from free breakfasts, thanks to £3 million from the Scottish Government. Announced in the draft Budget for 2025-26, Bright Start Breakfasts will help primary school children get a healthy start to the day and provide childcare, supporting parents and carers to work.

The budget presented by @thesnp.bsky.social Scottish Government will deliver record funding to Scotland's councils. North Lanarkshire must now use this funding to prevent any excessive rise in council tax and invest in local services. A reversal of their school transport cuts would be a good start

Today is Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate and promote small businesses across all local communities. To mark it I was happy to visit World Of Wings and McLachlan Opticians to hear about how these businesses are getting on and also able to discuss some of the challenges they face.

This what the SNP budget means. - Above inflation raise on basic and intermediate rate thresholds, meanings most Scots will pay less tax than in the rest of the UK - Labour's Winter Fuel Payment cut reversed with a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - Tory/Labour cruel two-Child Cap going

Yesterday's Scottish Government budget was a vote of confidence in our NHS and Social Care workers. Here's how the @thesnp.bsky.social is committed to keeping Scotland healthy while looking after the most vulnerable Scots.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Today’s SNP Government budget invests in Scotland, protects the most vulnerable people in our society and ensures most people in Scotland pay less income tax than in the rest of the UK.

Very pleased to see my colleague @sa4dunfermline.bsky.social announce in Parliament today that @thesnp.bsky.social will restore the Winter Fuel Payment that the UK Labour Government ripped away from pensioners. More evidence of the SNP standing up for people in Scotland.

First Bluesky post alert. Mainly here for political updates but starting with the fitba. At Firhill today for @partickthistle.bsky.social against Hamilton Accies. Mon ra Jags!