Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
‘It’s been an incredible time’ says MP as he moves on
Airdrie is now seeking a new MP after Neil Gray officially stood down from the House of Commons to stand for election in the same constituency for Holyrood.
The SNP politician officially resigned this week after nearly six years at the parliament – and described making his final contribution from the green benches as“surreal”.
Mr Gray won the Airdrie & Shotts constituency from Labour in 2015 and retained it at the following two general elections, but confirmed that he would step down from Westminster on winning the Holyrood candidacy four months ago.
Speaking about his final day, he said: “Because of the pandemic I hadn’t often been in Westminster since last March and the majority of contributions have been from my Harry Potter cupboard under the stairs, so just being in the chamber was surreal.
“Standing up saying the words I’d been thinking about for a number of months – making my last speech and thanking people – brought it all home, along with meeting colleagues and being in the offices for the last time.
“There were some nice compliments from political opponents and I had messages from Labour and Conservative MPS, which was really nice. I’ve always tried to be collegiate but
didn’t expect to have so many people getting in touch.”
He made his final speech during a debate on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency bill, and told how his constituency is home to“significant and incredible scientific research based around Biocity and Medicity, as well as the Newhouse and Maxim Park industrial estates”, adding:“i am incredibly proud to represent that major hub of the biosciences industry in Scotland.”
Mr Gray praised his constituency office staff for their“incredible service”, and said:“i want to thank the people of Airdrie & Shotts – it has been an incredible honour to serve them for the past six years.
“Of everything we have achieved, I am most proud of having led the campaign to keep the new Monklands Hospital in the Airdrie area and worked on 14,500 constituency cases for people in every part of the constituency.
“Politics is always about people and my driving ambition has always been to do what I can to help people locally as well as tackle injustices, poverty and inequality across these isles.
“Being closer to home to be a good father, and being in the constituency more are what motivate me to want to leave this place and seek election to Holyrood to continue my service to local people.”
The parliamentary colleagues to respond included deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing and party colleague David Linden, the Glasgow East MP, who said:“on behalf of those of us who are Airdrie fans, particularly the Airdrie supporters’trust, may I genuinely and sincerely thank him for his support of us as a community.”
Mr Gray said of his time as Mp:“when I first arrived at Westminster the Fixed-term Parliaments Act meant we expected it would be five years until the next election, so for there to have been one nearly every 18 months has been incredible.
“It’s been an incredible time in politics, with the Brexit referendum and the coronavirus pandemic.
“There have been so many issues, peaks and troughs, and one of the best parts has been speaking up for people to make sure their voices are being heard.”
The poll for Airdrie residents to choose Mr Gray’s successor will take place on May 13, after election officials declared that it would be“considerably safer”to run the ballot on a different day to the Scottish Parliament election being held a week earlier.