6th March 2023: A Week in Parliament

Annanhill Primary

World Book Day is always a fantastic event. It’s great to see the kids and teachers all making an effort and dressing up to celebrate. On Twitter, I was able to see some wonderful pictures of schools all across the constituency making the most of it. Ahead of World Book Day itself, on Thursday, I visited Annanhill Primary to mark the occasion. I read Horrible Histories: Frightful First World War to the P4GM class. For me, this was perfect as I was able to relate one of my biggest interests to the pupils. I have a great passion for history, and in particular, the First World War, and the class were brilliant. We carried out a quiz with the class and I also participated in a Q&A with the pupils which was really fun. The importance of reading cannot be underestimated, and it is vital we do all we can to convey this. Despite living in a digital age where everything is accessible at the click of a button, nothing beats picking up a hardback and reading away at your own leisure! It was refreshing to see how keen the kids were. Many thanks to P4GM, Mrs Gemmell and everyone at Annanhill for having me.

WASPI

I have been a long-term supporter of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) Campaign and their pursuit of justice. The only avenue left for the group is to take their case to a Judicial Review given the PHSO’s Stage 2 report, and they are hoping to raise £100,000 in order to fund this legal battle. It is unacceptable that women born in the 1950s have had their state pension age increased without adequate notice or compensation. The UK government must be held accountable for the impact this has had on the affected women, many of whom have been left struggling to make ends meet including more than 6,500 in my constituency and 3.8 million across the UK. The judicial review will provide an opportunity to challenge the Government's decision and seek justice for those who have been unfairly impacted. It is important to reiterate my support for their cause will continue to fight for their rights at Westminster and engage with the local Cunninghame WASPI Group.

BEIS Select Committee

Last week, along with my colleagues in the Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee we visited Brussels. The objective of the trip was to analyse how the European Union intend to progress in the energy sector without being dependent on Russia. As a result of Brexit and the UK’s relationship, or lack of, with the EU means that we are being excluded from these key discussions over energy policy. Therefore my message to the Westminster Government is to get back around the negotiation table and open up a dialogue with Brussels so that my constituents and the rest of ordinary working folk in the UK are not left behind as a result of this.

Boris Johnson

A cross-party committee has released a report that Johnson probably misled (lied) to Parliament on four occasions concerning the parties at Downing Street. The charlatan of course still claims it’s a stitch-up. He is a national disgrace.