📰 Here's my column from Thursday's edition of the Greenock Telegraph covering three reports; two criticising the UK Government for their welfare reforms or lack thereof, and one ruling that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Here's this week's 5️⃣ Things which includes: 🎶 @rsno.bsky.social 🗣️ @parliament.scot 🏦 Royal Bank of Scotland 🤝 Families In The Know ☕ Your Voice's Culture Café

🎥 This time last week, I was preparing to lead my Member's Debate on improving bladder cancer diagnosis in Scotland in @parliament.scot. 🧡 I was pleased to secure cross-party support for this & am grateful to Fight Bladder Cancer for their work supporting bladder cancer patients & their families.

🔥 Scottish Gas customers can now apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme - £150 towards electricity bills. 📝 Customers must apply through their supplier before 31 March 2026. If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you'll automatically receive this payment.

💛 The @snp.org new £1m “Fund to Leave” scheme will support up to 1,200 women & children to escape abusive relationships this year. ❌ No woman should be forced to choose between living in fear or facing homelessness. The SNP Government is taking real, practical action to change that.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph covering another busy week in the @parliament.scot - which includes leading my Member's Debate on improving bladder cancer diagnosis in Scotland. @fightbladdercancer.bsky.social

Here's this week's 5⃣ Things which includes: 🏠 @heatpumpassoc.bsky.social 💚 @samaritans.bsky.social 🗣 @fightbladdercancer.bsky.social 🧠 Alzheimer Scotland

These 'awards' are nonsense. They don’t just target a place, they hurt the people who live & work there. I grew up in the Port, it's a great place to live. It faces challenges but has potential & progress is happening. Instead of cruel labels we should focus on supporting towns like Port Glasgow.

👏 Thanks to the @snp.org actions in government, Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is expected to fall. 💛 That’s the difference the SNP make, showing what happens when decisions for Scotland are made in Scotland. Just imagine how much more we could do with independence.

📰 Here's my column from yesterday's Greenock Telegraph covering a new report which shows Scottish benefits are easing the #CostOfLiving burden for families - thanks to the @snp.org.

🙅 Scotland will not stand by while genocide unfolds in Gaza. 🤝 The @snp.org is delivering real action - sending humanitarian aid, treating injured children, supporting students & halting public funding for companies linked to Israel's war machine. 📢The UK Labour Government must step up.

Here's this week's 5⃣ things which includes: 🛳 CalMac Ferries 🏘 River Clyde Homes 📜 @heritagefunduk.bsky.social 🗣 Two questions in the @parliament.scot 🚒 Fire Brigades Union Scotland

🚆 Did you travel by train this week? 🎫 If Inverclyde residents used the train during peak times every day this week, they'll have saved between £20-£30.50. 👛 That's an average of £100 more in commuters' pockets each month - thanks to the @snp.org Scottish Government.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph covering a busy first week back at @parliament.scot, with housing, health and the situation in Gaza taking precedent.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland is a nation - and every nation has the right to choose its own future. 🗳 Our pledge is simple: choice, fairness and democracy must guide Scotland’s path. 📝 Add your name today: www.yes.scot/decide @yesscot.bsky.social

🩷 @cancerresearchuk.org Cancer Awareness Roadshow was in Greenock Tesco last week, providing info & signposting to support. 📅 Nearly 1 in 2 people in Scotland are expected to be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, so I'd encourage people to engage with the upcoming roadshows in Nov & Dec.

🧑‍🦽 Since the Adult Disability Payment was launched three years ago, over £69.4m has been paid out to people in Inverclyde. 💛 The @snp.org is committed to providing disability assistance rooted in compassion, which is why we won’t cut ADP – despite Labour’s cuts at Westminster.

📸 This time last week I was visiting local charity shops for @scotlandstowns.bsky.social #ScotlandLovesLocal week. 🤝 Thank you @mariecurieuk.bsky.social, @barnardosscot.bsky.social & Ardgowan Hospice for having me, and a HUGE thank you to your amazing staff and volunteers 🌟👏

🚑 New figures show @scotambservice.bsky.social workforce levels are now at a record high. 🩺 The number of WTE GPs has also ⬆️ by 4% over the past year, with the Scottish Government committed to employing an additional 800 GPs by 2027. 💛 This demonstrates the @snp.org commitment to our NHS.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph highlighting how Scotland is the only part of the UK to scrap peak rail fares - part of the @snp.org wider Cost of Living Guarantee, which includes free prescriptions, free bus travel for millions, and free tuition fees for Scottish students.

🚅 A reminder that from today, Peak Rail Fares are scrapped thanks to @snp.org Scottish Government.

🛍️ Charity shops make a huge contribution to our high streets, so I was proud to support them during #ScotlandLovesLocalWeek. @scotlandstowns.bsky.social

Here's this week's 5️⃣ Things which includes: 🛍️ @mariecurieuk.bsky.social @barnardosscot.bsky.social 🚜 @quarriers.bsky.social ♥️ @cancerresearchuk.org

🚆 If you used Scotland's rail network to commute to work, college or university today, it'll be the last day you'll have to pay peak prices - because thanks to the @snp.org, from Monday, peak rail fares are gone for good.

Great visit to @inverclydeshed.bsky.social earlier this month, where I got to see how their new facility, supported by over £500k of Scottish Government funding, has helped them attract over 350 members. 🛠️

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph covering the additional £15m investment from @snp.org Scottish Government for GPs across Scotland.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph covering the GERS figures and the new research showing Labour's first year in government has seen Westminster waste reach more than £100 BILLION.

🚸 Mallard Crescent is gridlocked during school drop off & pick up times. 🛣️ A one-way system would make it easier & safer for road users. 🤝 Cllr Crowther & I will work with the local community & will be engaging with McGills & Inverclyde Council to find a sensible, sustainable solution.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph covering my visits to our local first stations last week. 👥 Two local events are taking place next week for the public to hear more about the @scottishfirerescue.bsky.social proposals, with a Q&A planned, so I'd encourage people to attend.

Here's this week's 🖐 things which includes: ⚓ @cmassets.bsky.social 🇺🇦 Inverclyde Ukrainian Club visit 🍉 Inverclyde For Gaza pop-up 🛠 @inverclydeshed.bsky.social 🎭 @thebeaconarts.bsky.social

📝 I want to hear from people in Devol #PortGlasgow about their factoring service, as a resident contacted me about this & other housing issues. 🤝 This survey is specifically for Devol residents, but if you have concerns about your area, please contact my office. ➡ www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSPDevol

Here's some snippets from some summer visits ☀️

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph covering the Scottish Government's actions to tackle #ChildPoverty - as new research shows that if the UK Government adopted just three @snp.org policies in this area, it would lift 2.3 million families out of poverty in the UK.

Here's this week's 🖐 Things which includes: 🏭 James Walker Devol 🗣 Meetings with various organisations 🎨 Helping paint Kidology Nursery's shed 🧠 Gourock Dementia Café 🤝 Monthly surgeries

🗣 I've received lots of calls this week about the state of the A78 at Inverkip. 🚧 Before the works began, I queried the road condition & have repeatedly raised the surface deterioration with Amey & Inverclyde Council. They now accept a more robust repair is needed. Work is due to take place soon.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph covering the positive exam results both locally and across Scotland; the news that a record number of hip and knee operations were performed in 2024, and the publication of new guidelines to help clinicians refer patients for cancer tests quicker.

⚙️ I had a great visit to James Walker Devol yesterday, where I met a local apprentices working on a product to be used in the oil & gas sector in the Gulf of Mexico. 🌍 Inverclyde is full of talented people, working in creative industries, producing products to be shipped all over the world.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph on #ResultsDay tomorrow. I know how nerve-wracking this is, so my thoughts are with all those waiting to find out their results.

Here's this week's 🖐 Things which includes: 🛝 Home Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde 🚴 Freedom Inverclyde 🚤 James Watt Dock Marina 🏘 Cloch Housing Association

🏘 What a fantastic day at Cloch Housing Association's Gala Day today. 🪄 There were magic tricks, inflatables, snacks & some animals, including a tortoise! 🐢 👏 Huge well done to all the team at Cloch for putting on this fun day for their tenants and the wider local community.

🛥 This morning I met Graeme from James Watt Dock Marina to discuss a range of topics. 🤝 I was pleased to hear the business is doing well, with more growth expected, and work will continue to redevelop the site. 🌊 #MarineTourism is hugely important to our economy, thanks to local marinas like JWD.

🤝 Great visit today to Gourock Bunny Park to learn more about how Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde have benefitted from Warm Hands of Friendship funding. 🛝 It was lovely to see families engaging with the support that HS offers, with children enjoying snacks & the facilities at the park.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph covering another week of news stories which highlight how Westminster isn't good for Scotland.

🏥 New investment into frontline NHS frailty services will include expanding the Hospital at Home programme - which saved the NHS at least £55m last year. 💛 This shows @snp.org determination to improve health outcomes, tackle delayed discharge & get patients the right care in the right place.

📰 Here's my column from today's Greenock Telegraph on the Israeli Gov's starvation of the people of #Gaza, which is a war crime. There will come a day when everyone will say they were always against this - but unlike in the past, no one can deny they didn't know what was happening.

❗️ The Scottish Government's Victim Surcharge Fund is open until 4 August 2025. Orgs supporting victims of crime can request an application form by emailing [email protected]. 🤝 The Fund, financed through penalties imposed on offenders, can be used for essentials such as food & clothing.

💬 Steve Reed MP on @channel4news.bsky.social last night said "pollution levels in Scotland are worse than they are in England" yet 66% of Scotland's water bodies are of good ecological status compared w/ 16.1% in England & 29.9% in Wales. 💧 So despite what Labour say, our water is better & cheaper.

📰 Here's my column from yesterday's Greenock Telegraph covering the UK Gov's plans to lower the voting age to 16 - following @snp.org lead as we took this decision over a decade go - and a report from The King's Trust outlining what England can learn from Scotland's approach to public health.

🪙In June, I hosted Virgin Money in @parliament.scot to highlight their work tackling the barriers to financial & digital inclusion in Scotland. 🗣We discussed how banks must work together on these issues & that Gen-Z's online literacy doesn't = money confident in an increasingly digital banking era.

☀️ Need summer health advice? @nhs24.bsky.social has the info you need. 💊 Their summer health page on NHS inform has tips on topics such as insect bites, how to stay well in hot weather, and prescribed medicines & travel. ➡️ Visit nhsinform.scot/summer to find out more.