4th March 2024: A Week in Parliament

Budget 

I want to make it clear that our message to the Chancellor ahead of the UK Spring Budget is straightforward: prioritize investment in public spending and infrastructure over further tax cuts. Scotland must not bear the brunt of Tory and Labour Party austerity measures. The plans of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to slash frontline public services pose a clear and present danger to Scotland's public services. While the SNP Scottish Government will always strive to protect public services, Scotland is not immune to the devastation caused by Westminster cuts, Brexit, and the UK's soaring inflation rates. Only with the full economic and fiscal powers of an independent nation can we utilize all the tools available to other governments to support our public services and address inequalities. We must have the ability to make decisions that are tailored to Scotland's unique needs and circumstances. This includes having control over our own tax and spending policies, which would allow us to invest in areas that matter most to our communities.

SNP policies lifting children out of poverty 

Updated modelling reveals that SNP initiatives, such as the Scottish Child Payment, are projected to lift an estimated 100,000 children out of relative poverty and 70,000 children out of absolute poverty in the fiscal year 2024-25. This translates to child poverty rates being 10 percentage points lower than they would have been without these measures. These figures are a testament to the effectiveness of our policies in addressing one of the most pressing issues facing our society. However, they also underscore the importance of continued efforts to combat poverty at every level of government. As First Minister Humza Yousaf rightly pointed out, the UK Government has the power to make further strides in this area. By implementing changes to Universal Credit, such as introducing an Essential's Guarantee and scrapping the two-child limit, they could lift an additional 40,000 children out of poverty in Scotland this year alone. Every child in Scotland deserves a life free of poverty and we must remain steadfast in our commitment to making this a reality.

Titch Coffee House

I had the pleasure of visiting the newly opened Titch Coffee House last Friday. While some of my staff were fortunate enough to attend the opening night on Thursday, my travel commitments prevented me from joining them. However, I made sure to stop by on Friday to pick up some coffee and pastries for the office. It's truly commendable that all the produce is sourced locally, supporting Scottish businesses. The first few days of business have been a resounding success for the team, and it's heartening to see an empty space transformed into a top-of-the-range coffee house. This adds to the thriving businesses already operating on Titchfield Street. Credit to Melv and Becky for their dedication to improving the area.

They are located at 57 Titchfield Street in Kilmarnock and you can also find them on Instagram @titchcoffeehouse. I encourage everyone to stop by and experience their offerings firsthand.