Meeting of the Parliament 02 June 2026 [Draft]
As this is my first speech, I pay tribute to my predecessor, Rona Mackay, who served the people of Strathkelvin and Bearsden for a decade. I thank her for her efforts in the community over that time.
This is the first time that the Lib Dems have won this Scottish Parliament seat, but I recognise the excellent local work done over the years by Jo Swinson and my current Westminster colleague, Susan Murray. From Bearsden in the west, through Bishopbriggs, Lennoxtown, Campsie and Torrance to Lenzie, Kirkintilloch and Twechar in the east, each part of Strathkelvin and Bearsden is brimming with history, natural beauty and, most importantly, the very best people. Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of meeting thousands of them. As I said to many of them on the doorstep, I cannot promise to fix everything or to be perfect, but I do promise to work hard, to be centred on service and to bring their voices loudly and clearly to this Parliament. Being elected as the MSP for the area where I grew up and where I am raising my family is an honour and responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I will use the incredible opportunity that I have been given to push for positive change.
It is all about opportunity. Providing young people with the right opportunities at the right time is a big part of why I got involved in politics, and sport often provides a gateway for those opportunities. As we have heard, it has an important part to play in mental and physical health, providing challenge and community. It is important that the summer of sport that lies ahead helps to provide those opportunities at grass-roots level so that all people, from all backgrounds, can access them. To allow that to happen, we must ensure that local authorities are properly funded. The chronic underfunding of local councils has forced them to make cuts for years, with leisure and sporting facilities often the first to be impacted.
Key facilities such as the only diving school in the west of Scotland are under threat of closure right now. Thirteen-year-old Heather Graham from Bearsden, in my constituency, has won a gold medal for diving but will have to give up the sport entirely if her diving school in Ayr closes. I hope to hear a positive response on that from the minister in her closing remarks.
As we look ahead to the world cup, let us follow the lead of our national team. It was their grit, audacity and teamwork that got them to the world cup in the first place, and I think we could use some of that here, too.
I plan to be really robust in holding the Government to account and in holding power to account. However, in doing that, I will always be focused squarely on what truly matters to the people I represent. They want us to work together to find solutions—they are just not interested in party politics or the political bubble. So many of them are really struggling and have lost faith in politics. They have lost faith in this place improving their lives. They are tired of a political culture that rewards division with attention and punishes collaboration—and I am tired of it, too. We do not have time for all of that any more. We have to focus on fixing things and on getting things done. I know that members across the chamber want to make things better for their constituents, and we should all work together to make that happen.
I will end with a wee story. My late grandfather was raised on a farm on the remote west coast of Ireland. He used to walk to school in bare feet every day. He came to Scotland as a young man and worked hard to build a future for his family. I am sure that it is the same story for many of our grandparents. He bought me the suit that I am wearing when I was just 13 years old. [Laughter.] He said that it was far too big at the time—and it was—but that I would grow into it one day. I think that he would have got a real kick out of seeing me wearing it here, in the chamber, today. I dedicate this first speech to him and to my wee three-year-old boy. I hope that I have, in some way, started to grow into this jacket.
Now it is time to crack on with providing a better future for those who will come after us. At the end of the day, that is what all of this is really all about.