Budget delivers on issues that matter

Image description: Milngavie reservoir with gentle waves on a glassy surface, trees across the shore with grey clouds bubbling above

I know many of you enjoy making the most of the lovely walks around the Milngavie Reservoir. For the past few months, I have been engaging with Friends of Milngavie Reservoir on several issues regarding the reservoir.

I am looking forward to visiting the area again to discuss in more detail and will be meeting with those responsible for the area to relay concerns raised.

In the Scottish Parliament, it was welcome to see the Scottish Budget pass its first vote. This Budget will deliver on the issues that matter most to the people of Scotland, investing in public services and working to eradicate child poverty, action on the climate emergency, and supporting jobs.

This includes a record 21 billion pounds for health and social care, with an increase of 2 billion pounds for frontline NHS Boards – a record uplift. 

We will also scrap the abhorrent Westminster two-child cap, lifting around 15,000 children out of poverty and reinstate a universal winter heating payment, which the Labour UK Government had previously scrapped.

The SNP’s work on child poverty has been recognised recently by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation which states that Scotland will be the only part of the UK to see a decline in child poverty rates, thanks to initiatives such as the Scottish Child Payment and the removal of the two-child benefit cap.

Despite all of this, Labour and the Tories did not support the budget.

They were not willing to work with us to deliver for the people of Scotland, yet Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has instead said he is willing to work with Reform’s Nigel Farage on a case-by-case basis to become First Minister.

This is truly shocking and people across Milngavie and Bearsden will be rightly alarmed that Sarwar is willing to open the door to Farage.

I will always stand up for Scotland’s values and priorities and firmly be on your side. My door is always open to you, my constituents, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to express any concerns or to discuss any ideas you have for the constituency.

Image description: Marie McNair MSP and Eddy Yacoubian from Friends of Milngavie Reservoir standing on shore