Today is the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on a galling victory lap since his ascension to No10 last week.
Johnson was elected by just over 90,000 Tory Party members – a tiny proportion of the UK as a whole, and without any scrutiny from MPs.
Let’s be clear – this prime minister has no mandate in Scotland and his right-wing politics have no place in our society.
His “affable buffoon” character is no eraser for his appalling comments in the past.
Johnson’s politics are defined not by his personal convictions but by whatever rallying call is most popular among his cronies on the day.
He once told the Press he didn’t think an in-out referendum on EU membership was necessary and that Leave didn’t appeal to him.
But he now makes his way into Downing Street because of his advocacy of a disastrous no-deal Brexit – a path that could cost every person in Scotland £2300 per year and risks 100,000 jobs.
At the weekend, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson confirmed her backing for Johnson – despite backing nearly every other candidate in the leadership race – but said she was opposed to a no-deal Brexit.
It’s astounding that her support for the new PM is conditional on opposing the one policy that got him into No10.
But it’s clear that her attempts to rebrand the Scottish Tory Party have failed – the mask has slipped and the Nasty Party is well and truly back.
The latest Tory spin is that they are the saviours of the Scottish fishing sector – but history tells quite a different story.
The Scottish fishing industry was sold out on the way into Europe and they’re set to sell out hard-working fishermen and women on the way out as well.
Last week also saw the sacking of David Mundell from the Scotland Office, making way for new Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack.
He’s only been in office a few days but already the headlines are far from kind to the Cabinet’s man in Scotland.
It was revealed yesterday Jack has shares in a firm that claimed £1.2million in EU CAP funding – despite the MP advocating a disastrous no-deal Brexit.
Another company Jack has logged in the MPs Register of Interests issued a stark warning about the “various risk factors” of leaving the EU.
It really is staggering how the new Secretary of State seems to be only too aware of the benefits of being a member of the EU – and indeed the risks of leaving Europe – yet is still hell-bent onadvocating a catastrophic no-deal exit.
Scotland deserves so much better than this. The coming days, weeks and months will prove a real test for the UK.
Now more than ever, the case for Scotland staying part of the UK is fast turning to dust.
People are looking to the positive, inclusive case for independence as part of the EU– juxtaposed against an insular Brexit Britain with Johnson in No10.
It’s time to give Scotland a say.
When that time comes, I’m confident people in Scotland will vote for a better future as an independent European nation.
Wait list cash will boost NHS life expectancy
I was delighted to hear the Scottish Government has invested a further £32million to help cut NHS waiting times, the latest announcement since a £70million boost in April.
Waiting times in the health service are always an important issue for my constituents and for people across Scotland.
While the SNP Government is proud to preside over historically low waiting times, people often ask what more can be done to give patients a better experience of the health service when they need it.
Health Secretary Jeane announced the funding as part of the ongoing Waiting Times Improvement Plan, which includes the creation of new elective and diagnostic centres.
For people in Scotland, this action means quicker appointments in planned surgery, taking the pressure off emergency treatment and delivering a better service to people in Scotland.
It’s important to know that the Scottish Government is tackling the problems that matter to people head-on.
It’s what people vote for politicians to do – and it’s action the SNP is taking. With people living longer, better diagnosis of medical conditions and a change in people’s lifestyles, our NHS – which we all hold so dear – is under more pressure than ever.
Investing in our NHS to protect it for the future is exactly what a competent Government should do, so well done to Jeane and her colleagues for this important step.
Protect labour of our fruits
Wimbledon may have finished but there is still plenty of time for people to enjoy strawberries and cream.
Scotland’s soft-fruit industry is legendary – with the berry fields of Blair captured in song and story over decades.
Some might remember Betsy White’s book, The Yellow on the Broom, telling the tale of Scotland’s soft-fruit pickers in the 20s – or the song of the same name by the McCalmans.
A new issue faces fruit pickers in Scotland now. With a rise in exports from the UK, the need to properly resource the sector is more acute than ever.
The industry is crying out for 100,000 workers but Tory plans to limit seasonal workers coming into the UK to 2500 was a foolish step taken to placate the party’s backbenchers.
It will result in perfectly good fruit rotting in fields due to a lack of labour – an avoidable tragedy.
Decisions about Scotland should be taken in Scotland.
It’s why Westminster needs to devolve powers to allow MSPs to introduce an immigration scheme suited to our needs – for the benefit of industries such as the soft fruit sector.
