The Fireworks Act could prevent a lot of distress and harm to animals, if the government brought forward restrictions on sale and use - per calls from animal welfare charities. I asked the First Minister about this and will follow up with written correspondence to keep making the case. 🐱 🎆

For World Mental Health Day earlier this month, I shared the story of my mannequin, Body of Work, and how he came to be, via Centred. Read more on my website: emmaroddick.scot/202...

📅 October's over! November is already shaping up to be hectic - but here's a quick look back first.

The [redacted for legal reasons] formerly known as Prince

Thanks to @emmaroddicksnp.bsky.social for raising the impact of fireworks on animals at First Minister's Questions. The delay to the licensing aspect of the Fireworks Act is hugely frustrating. The suffering animals continue to endure is deeply upsetting: www.onekind.org/blog/firewor...

It was fantastic to get confirmation from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action @gillianamartin.bsky.social this week that new guidance has been published to ensure communities get first dibs when it comes to sites on public land due for repowering. Read more: emmaroddick.scot/202...

Chilly canvass session in Auldearn this weekend - thanks to everyone who took the time to chat, and our hardy, hardworking SNP activists. Conversations ranged from housing and energy prices to the bizarreness of Scottish football!

This Challenge Poverty Week, I'm very aware that people are struggling for all sorts of reasons. From energy advice to mental health support in your area, I've pulled together some local support here: emmaroddick.scot/cos...

Huge highlights this week, between the Housing Bill passing and getting to see the new Nairn Academy take shape. I've kept trying to push issues forward between parliamentary business, meeting with locals and pursuing casework.

Ahead of #WorldAnimalDay tomorrow, Blue would like to remind you: 1. It's all about her 2. The SSPCA works hard to ensure all animals in Scotland, including wee rescued Blue, live the best lives possible 3. The SSPCA needs to know she doesn't get enough Dreamies 🐈‍⬛

Meet "Body of Work", who will be part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival exhibit at Eden Court, which I've taken part in through Centred. Body of Work struggles with the physical impacts of his mental illness, but his "just a crutch" medication helps him to create beautiful things anyway.

It was such a treat to walk around the Nairn Academy construction site with Balfour Beatty and the Highland Council - with fewer than 300 days to handover, it's so exciting to see the school take shape! This is a huge investment by the SNP Government and there's great excitement about it.

The Housing Bill has passed! 🥳 It has been so special as someone with experience of homelessness to take part in hours of debate on amendments, including my own which passed unanimously. This is a huge win for tenants & a crucial step towards tackling Scotland's housing emergency. @snp.org

What a month! The Housing Bill was always going to mean a busy few weeks: September saw lots of legislating as well as getting out and about between parliamentary sittings. 📰 Read more in my monthly newsletter: mailchi.mp/a33928815...

A lot of this week was dedicated to voting on and debating amendments to the Housing Bill - something I've been looking forward to since my election. I've also got out and about in Inverness, at street football, the Crofting CPG, and the Loch Ness Marathon 🏃‍♀️

As MSP for the Highlands & Islands, I'm here to help. Reach out any time using the contact details below - whether you need help with something, want to know more about my position on a particular policy, or just want to make me aware of an issue, I’ll be glad to hear from you.

This was a big week in Parliament, with the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill passing. I also led my own debate on the intensity and frequency of wildfires, and questioned government on healthcare and children's rights.

It was an honour to join MECOPP's 25th birthday celebrations between parliamentary business this week, and be asked to speak. This organisation does incredible work recognising and supporting carers from racialised minority backgrounds and I'll always do what I can to support its amazing team.

Done responsibly, tourism can be beneficial. But we need people to live in the region more than we need tourists. We need vibrant, thriving communities, with families, young people, and skilled workers making the Highlands their home. ✍️ My latest blog: emmaroddick.scot/202...

I'm sorry not to be able to meet constituents who have gathered for the Climate Mass Lobby at Dynamic Earth. However, I am stuck inside for good reason: pushing for more action on preventing and tackling wildfires, given the increase in frequency and intensity.

There’s been an increase in the number and intensity of wildfires in recent years - we’ve all seen it. 🌳😨 @emmaroddicksnp.bsky.social will lead a debate on this in Parliament this afternoon. Watch here after 12.45pm - www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meet...

Really gutting that Labour & Tories chose to vote against this important bill today. Happily, it passed anyway. Not Proven has been abolished, a specialist court will handle rape and sexual assault cases, and victims will be better supported thanks to the changes made by the @snp.org government.

I've loved having the Tool Library in the Carse - happily, it's not moving too far down the road! I came by for its last big open day in Telford Retail Park for the Climate Festival. The team is always looking for volunteers - invernesstoollibrary...

The reason I wanted to get involved in politics, the reason I keep going, and the reason I am who I am, is homelessness. I'll take any opportunity to help end it in Scotland, including working with the incredible Crisis team. Looking forward to the final stage of the Housing Bill very soon 🏠 ❤️

This week brought a few opportunities to get involved in debates and speak about Highlands and Islands industry and transport services. Back home, I had some lovely chats at events and delivering newspapers to communities in Merkinch, South Kessock, and the Carse.

As MSP for the Highlands & Islands, I'm here to help. Reach out any time using the contact details below - whether you need help with something, want to know more about my position on a particular policy, or just want to make me aware of an issue, I’ll be glad to hear from you.

🚂 Rail improvements have wide-ranging impact. As well as welcoming the huge progress this session on rail, from nationalising ScotRail to the new Inverness Airport station, I outlined the need to continue to make improvements and support key industries to move their freight onto the railway.

When a child's in hospital, the last thing parents and carers should have to worry about is how they'll afford to be there. I've heard from Highlands & Islands families about the huge costs involved. The Young Patient's Family Fund is a compassionate way to ease that pressure.

🥀 Labour's National Insurance hike and failure to tackle energy costs has been hitting businesses and charities, including in the Highlands and Islands, hard. I asked the Scottish Government to join me in calling for the UK Government to reverse these policies 👇

It was such an honour to celebrate Headway Highland's 25th anniversary and to meet so many of the people who make this charity a lifeline, supporting people living with an acquired brain injury.

🏰 It's great to see a variety of roles out for recruitment ahead of the Inverness Castle opening to the public later this year. If you're keen to play a part in this exciting new chapter for Inverness and the Highlands, take a look here: invernesscastle.scot...

The first week back in Parliament is always busy, trying to balance getting stuck into business and raising issues that people came to speak to me about over my summer surgeries. From Palestine to crofting, waterways to child poverty, there's been a lot to get through... 👇

I joined Highland Palestine in Inverness yesterday, welcoming the First Minister's statement. I'm proud Scotland took a strong stance this week, acting where we can and encouraging the UK Gov to do more to end the suffering. Scotland does not want to be complicit in a genocide.

As MSP for the Highlands & Islands, I'm here to help. Constituents can reach out any time using the contact details below - whether you need help with something, want to know more about my position on policy, or just want me to be aware of an issue, I’ll be glad to hear from you.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Inverness Creative Academy with @sca-n.bsky.social, who arranged for me to meet with a lot of local artists and discuss what contemporary art means.

I know many constituents are extremely concerned about the genocide in Gaza and show up regularly to add their voice to the many Scots opposing it. I asked the First Minister today about support for Gaza Families Reunited and I'm glad he will explore this again with the UK Gov. (Answer in reply)

Nairn, Black Isle, Orkney County, Cunningsburgh, Islay: I've spent a lot of time as an MSP, chatting to farmers, locals, and orgs the last 4yrs. Recently, my sister and I were cleaning out our mam's stuff and found what we think was my first official agricultural show visit 👶

The Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund is open! This fund will support new community toilet facilities for people with complex disabilities & health conditions across Scotland. I'm very keen to see these in the Highlands & Islands. Info on applying: inspiringscotland.or...

It was lovely to get back to Shopmobility, a place I got to know well when I was wee and came here with my mam for shopping in Inverness. People don't tend to know this charity until they or a loved one needs it, but then it becomes a vital part of living life.

📢 The Creative Communities Scotland Fund is open! Organisations can apply for up to £35k to support hands-on, participatory creative activities in the community. Apply by noon on Thurs 18th September: inspiringscotland.or... If I can help, please reach out!

The Archie Foundation does so much behind the scenes for families who need a bit of support through illness and bereavement. It was great to catch up with Neil to talk more about this work, and look around the children's unit at Raigmore, hearing from staff about their priorities for change.

I took a walk with the Friends of Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, chatting about how much the area has changed for the better under the stewardship of its volunteers. This is such a special place to have on our doorsteps.

The schools are back! And some are experiencing it for the very first time. Parent Club has shared some really useful advice for parents with bairns starting primary school. You can find it here: www.parentclub.scot/...

This week took me everywhere from the Highland Wildlife Park to Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, with lots of meetings in between, whether it was Nairn River Community Council or local artists at the Creative Academy 👇

💛 It was great to meet friends and new faces at the Raigmore Motel last night for our Meet the Candidate event. I answered questions on everything from lamppost posters to wind farms. Hope to see folk again soon as we campaign to retain Inverness & Nairn for the SNP!

I've been out knocking doors the last few weeks, picking up some casework and chatting about local issues. I'll get to as many doorsteps as possible, but you don't have to wait for me to show up to raise an issue. Reach out - contact info & more at www.emmaroddick.scot

There's a lot going on at the Highland Wildlife Park - great to tour with the RZSS to hear about the wildcat release programme, tour the invertebrates, and help track scabious mining bees: I even got to hold one! Left the leeches to their tanks, though... 👀

📅 Inverness City SNP is hosting a "Meet the Candidate" event on Friday - that candidate being me! Come along, join in the quiz with some pals, and have a chat about politics. Raigmore Motel, 19:00-22:00 - only £10 a person. 💛 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

This week was a mixed bag - thick fog prevented my Fair Isle surgery going ahead, but I was able to pick up casework at other surgeries and reach out to as many constituents as possible, while also attending agricultural shows and chatting to charities.

My team and I have been working away on some cases about housing, noise disruption, and antisocial behaviour. I came back to Raigmore Community Centre last week to join a drop-in with Housing officers from the Highland Council and discuss a few of the key problems.