Falkirk East & Linlithgow new MSP vows to focus on 'jobs, cost of living and independence'

It is the greatest privilege of my life to be elected to Scotland’s national parliament to represent the constituency I am proud to call home.

Thank you to everyone who placed their trust in me on May 7. To those I still have to convince, I am here to represent everyone.

My first days at Holyrood have been filled getting to grips with new procedures. My immediate priority is to be accessible, establish a local office, build a strong support team, and respond quickly to the issues constituents bring to me.

Over the next five years, my focus will be on jobs, the cost of living and Scotland’s independence. These were the issues raised most often on the thousands of doors I knocked during the campaign.

One of my priorities will be supporting the long-term vision for Grangemouth’s regeneration, while recognising that a proud local community lives cheek by jowl alongside industry. With the £150 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, the Forth Green Freeport and other major initiatives, I will work with industry, business and local communities to build a greener, better connected and more resilient Grangemouth that continues to play a vital role in Scotland’s economy.

The jobs these projects can bring will benefit the wider district, including Linlithgow, Bo’ness and surrounding communities.

But we should never forget that Grangemouth workers were betrayed. Anas Sarwar promised he would save the refinery. He did not. Labour found money to intervene for industry in England, but allowed Grangemouth refinery to close. That is unforgivable.

The cost of living is hitting every household. Prices keep rising at the petrol pump, in the supermarket and when the energy bill arrives. People need help with fuel, food, housing, childcare and energy bills. So far, Keir Starmer’s Labour Government has offered none.

The SNP will take a different approach. We will use every power we have to help, including a £2 bus fare cap, fair food prices, and support with childcare and housing.

And where Westminster holds the powers over energy and fuel but refuses to act, those powers should come to Scotland.

That is why independence matters. It would put Scotland’s energy in Scotland’s hands and give us the powers we need to protect jobs, support key industries and lower household bills.

My ambition is simple, every part of this constituency should feel that it has a stake in the future. That means strong town centres, better transport links, safer communities, good local services and real opportunities for young people to build their lives here. From Grangemouth and Polmont to Linlithgow, Bo’ness, Brightons, Redding, Hallglen and the surrounding villages, each community has its own strengths and challenges. My job is to listen, speak up, and help join the dots between local need, national policy and real delivery. I want our area to be known for skilled jobs, strong communities and a fairer future.

This term, my focus will be on jobs, the cost of living and Scotland’s independence.