Hours left to register to vote. Make sure you do! Whoever you vote for it’s important to use your voice and have your say.

www.gov.uk/register-to-...

Postal ballots 🗳️✉️ are arriving ahead of the Holyrood election. Today I’m launching the first of my plans for Inverclyde:

1) Healthcare
2) Local economy and jobs!
3) Sorting local transport

I’m also standing on the regional list so use your PEACH vote Lib Dem to re-elect me. We get stuff done!✔️

It’s time to have a grown up conversation about the role nuclear energy can play as part of a sensible energy mix. Renewables, nuclear and carbon are needed right now to increase security, drive down bills. The SNP have a head in the sand approach based on ideology alone. x.com/heraldscotla...

Our manifesto will be unapologetically pro-business, pro-high street. I don’t think any single political party holds all the solutions but my job is to lay out my ideas. Too many small towns feel forgotten, too many businesses believe politics doesn’t value them: That must change

Local news has a tough time of it these past few years but they play such a crucial role in democracy. I’ve had so many great local papers across the west region, very grateful to the Greenock Telegraph for interviewing me ahead of the election. 📰 👀 www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/2600538...

Whatever you do, vote! I know politics isn’t always interesting, and many people are completely scunnered with it, but if you don’t vote, someone else will and that’s how we end up with poor governments. Get registered! www.gov.uk/register-to-...

A year has flown by! Changing party was never going to be easy but you only get one crack at life so do what you know is right. My new Lib Dem colleagues have been super. It’s been eventful, rewarding and reminded me that politics doesn’t need to be bitter or angry. Cake helps.🎂

Today is my last day as a Member of the Scottish Parliament until electoral fate decides on May 7th. I’d like to thank all my hard-working staff over the years who went above and beyond to support constituents. Whatever happens it’s been a real privilege to serve my home region.

Third of the Calmac fleet out of action at the moment. The poor staff are trying their best with an ageing fleet (and the new one isn’t faring much better). Islanders are beyond scunnered. I do wonder how just much worse it gets before it gets better.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I have to say well done to the major supermarket chains for trying to keep their petrol prices as low as they can. Right across the country they are consistently lower compared to BP Shell and Esso who I have to say are taking the complete mick in Scotland. Shop around!

Our hard-working A+E, ambulance and NHS staff try their best to meet rising demand but blocks in the system particularly social care/delayed discharge creates a patient flow issue. As my story in the Greenock Tele well proves! 📰👀

The “new” 7 years late, 3 times over budget one year old MV Glen Sannox seems to be off for repairs more than the 42 year old MV Isle of Arran. The whole network is in utter chaos this weekend. How anyone on an island community can put an X in the box next to the SNP this May 🤦‍♂️

A year flies by. My thoughts today are with the friends and family of Christina Mckelvie. I know she is keenly missed.

I promised her family that I, as others would, continue to flame her many passions in politics. It’s been quite the year, but I hope I’ve lived up to that promise.

A year just flies by. My thoughts today are with the friends and family of Christina Mclelvie who I know is keenly missed.

I made a promise to her family that there are those of us in politics who would continue to carry the flames of her many passions. I hope I’ve lived up to that promise.

As my granny Greene used to say, if you’ve got nothing nice to say, then say nothing at all.
Seems like Reform have got the message…
#scottishpolitics #reform #libdems

If this is my final contribution to Parliament, then I hope it serves as my legacy message to future parliaments and politicians.

If it sounds deeply personal, it's because it is. The public deserve better politics. It must serve not repress those with the quietest voices.
#FMQs

Whatever your politics, there's one thing we must all agree on, and call out without fear or favour. This kind of politics lives in the gutter. End of. Racism is racism no matter how hard you mask it. Only one day since Reform’s candidate launch and one’s already been suspended.

Ahead of the Greyhound Ban Bill yesterday I took sage advice from those with lived experience of it. After much discussion and deliberation, we concurred after ten years in politics to support it, and that we both needed a good lie down.

I commend ALL MSPs who spoke so eloquently in the Assisted Dying debate. Those in favour, against and undecided found a way to have a respectful and meaningful debate. All we could do is speak from the heart on a tough subject. I tried to do the same. It deserved nothing less.

Last week we spent 24 hours debating amendments to the Assisted Dying Bill. I appreciate there are strongly held views on all sides of the debate and I’d like to think we carried ourselves respectfully. Many of us spent the weekend reflecting carefully on it all, tomorrow we vote on the final Bill

Last week was Scottish Apprenticeship Week. I had the great pleasure of getting out and about in Greenock to meet a bunch of young folk who have taken up amazing opportunities. It’s time to put apprenticeships up there with degrees in my view! There’s something for everyone out there!

Today we enter day 3 of the expected 26 hrs+ of amendments to the Assisted Dying Bill. Arguably the biggest/most important law any of us have grappled with. I’m grateful to those who have written to me and rest assured I am giving every single amendment very serious consideration

Scottish Govt health & social care spending is expected to rise to half of all spending, analysts predict. You could argue that’s good, but it leaves half the pie to fund what keeps people healthy: warm homes, jobs, addiction, education and sport. Prevention better than cure no?

With just weeks till my second term in office ends, I used my last “business slot” in Holyrood to recap on the decade long ferry crisis which has engulfed so many of my constituents’ businesses and lives. We can but hope the next Parliament delivers better for our islands.

The world has become a much more dangerous place this past week. History tends to judge those who shape it, for the better or otherwise. Removing oppressive dictators, without a plan, doesn’t seem to end well for anyone.

#politics #trump #iran

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus iawn i'm holl ffrindiau Cymru heddiw! 🌼 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Last year I forced the govt to accept a change in the law that victims must be notified when a case is dropped or a decision not to prosecute is taken.
We're still waiting for it to be implemented. Not answers. No timelines.
#ukpolitics #justice #scotland

There needs to be a sensible, legally sound, constitutionally solid, and challenging but respectful conversation about the role of the Lord Advocate.
Anything less is irresponsible and politically motivated.

#ukpolitics #fmqs #scotland

I’m really grateful to the many charities, third sector groups, and trade bodies who've worked with me these last few months to push the govt for more cash/support in the Scottish budget. We’d all like it to have gone further but I squeezed what I could out of it, in opposition.

A wee look back at our party conference this weekend.
Great event; loads of happy faces. And yes, they even have proper policy debates! Who knew! Winning feels good for a change :)
#politics #ukpolitics #libdems