Parliamentary Business Regular readers will know that I have been campaigning for the reform of our drug laws for the past few years. This month I published my Private Members’ Bill on this topic. Sadly, this isn’t going to become law unless the UK government has a significant change of heart but, I hope that by … Read more March News – Westminster
Constituency Business Another month has passed, and parliament is now on recess. It’s an odd recess – usually the Easter break is a mixture of having a few days off to spend with family and catching up with lots of constituency visits. Currently most of that isn’t possible, though my team and I are still working … Read more March News – Edinburgh East
I can get a haircut a week on Monday. Maybe. Hopefully. As we enter the second year of this pandemic, there’s a sense that, if we proceed with caution, the end just might be in sight. With vaccines suppressing infection rates and the number of deaths dropping dramatically, we might just be able to interact … Read more Independence or austerity in the UK under the Tories? Voters will decide
Today I published my Private Members’ Bill to enact the recommendations of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee inquiry into problem drug use. Today’s publication outlines the legislative details of a series of reforms including decriminalising possession of small amounts of restricted drugs for personal use and ensuring that overdose prevention facilities – also known as … Read more Bill to decriminalise drug use and legalise drug consumption rooms published
I opened today’s Commons debate for the Scottish National Party (SNP) on Scotland’s constitutional future. Scotland’s future is for the people of Scotland to decide. Watch my speech below:
Constituency Business And so, it’s March. As I write this, the sun is shining and finally it feels as if Spring is on its way. I know that it continues to be a very difficult time for many and it’s hard not to talk in clichés about being able to see the light at the end … Read more February News – Edinburgh East
Parliamentary Business The big change for me during February was a change in my role in the SNP Westminster team. I will no longer have a weekly tussle with Jacob Rees-Mogg as I left my role as SNP Shadow Leader of the House. I can’t exactly say I’ll miss those exchanges. My new role is … Read more February News – Westminster
1264 people died of a drug overdose in Scotland in 2019. The figures, published just before Christmas, mark a record high. They are the worst they have ever been, and the worst in Europe. The real tragedy is that the majority of these deaths could have been avoided. Most of these people did not intend … Read more Fixing our drugs crisis
As regular readers know, I keep a keen watch on what our political opponents are up to. Seeing how the Conservatives present their arguments is critical in determining how best to engage them in the campaign ahead. I do wonder if maybe they do the same thing. I only ask as last month I argued … Read more Unlike Boris Johnson, the Scottish Conservatives appear to accept democracy should be respected
Parliamentary Business Before I share some of my activities from January you may remember that parliament was recalled between Christmas and New Year to approve the UK government’s Brexit deal. In my New Years’ Day column in the Edinburgh Evening News, I was very clear that this is a bad deal – one that will make us poorer … Read more January News – Westminster