A week truly is a long time in politics

There is a lot of truth in the old saying that a week is a long time in politics.

Since my last column in this newspaper, I have experienced some of the longest and most difficult of weeks. The first began with the attacks in Orlando.

I have worked hard in my time in Parliament to be an advocate for equality – so the targeted attack on the Pulse nightclub felt like a huge step backwards.

The hate crime has been the worst kind of demonstration that homophobia still exists in society, and only proves there is so much more work left to be done to tackle it.

That same week ended with another horrifying event: the death of Jo Cox, a Labour MP I did not know very well on a personal level, but who was preceded by a reputation as a progressive voice for change.

This tragedy was one I never imagined could happen in my time in office, and has undoubtedly shook all elected politicians to the core.

There were vigils to both Orlando and Jo Cox all over the UK, and the latter tragedy led to many constituents writing very kind messages to me and MPS all over the country to thank us for the work we do.

I understand the frustration people may have with politicians, especially when a representative’s views do not match a constituent’s, but violence and hatred are never the solution.

I am grateful to all my own constituents who got in touch regardless of their politics, it was incredibly heartening and comforting to receive positive messages at this time.

Though the shock of these horrible events has barely passed, last week brought another challenge, that of the result of the referendum on the European Union.

I am on the remain side of the EU argument, not least for the protections offered for workers’ rights, women’s rights, wider human rights and the benefits to agriculture and the rural economy.

I am not confident the Government of the next Prime Minister – whoever may be – will offer the same sort of protections, and leaving Europe will prove to be a painful mistake for Scotland.

This was not, in fact, the result the people of Scotland voted for as a majority.

Nor was it the vote of the people of South Lanarkshire, who voted 63 per cent in favour of remaining in the EU.

Nicola Sturgeon the First Minister has begun talks to block Scotland’s forced exit from the EU on the back of England’s vote. This is a controversial move. I have been contacted by many constituents during the fallout from the vote, already with a wide range of opinions on the future of Scotland – whether as part of the EU or not; as part of the UK or as an independent nation.

My interest right now is to listen to what people in Lanark and Hamilton East have to say, and what their wishes are for our future.

Since my last column I have been keeping up my work in Hamilton and throughout the constituency.

Most notably, I held a very successful jobs fair in Carluke in May which had hundreds of attendees, many of whom wrote to let me know they had found new jobs as a result.

On election, I pledged to tackle inequality and lack of employment opportunities in Lanark and Hamilton East.

The Carluke jobs fair was one of the highlights of this pledge in action so far.

I will be following this event up with a second jobs fair on Friday, August 19 in the Hamilton Campus of the University of the West of Scotland.

I have already received confirmation from a number of employers, and I am confident this fair will be as successful as the last.

Over the past year many of the issues constituents have brought to me relate to accessing benefits and social security.

To try to alleviate some of these complex issues, I held a specialist welfare surgery in Forth in June.

I will be holding another dropthat in surgery in Larkhall and District Volunteer Group tomorrow (Friday) from 10am to noon, with Money Matters and the Citizens Advice Bureau on hand to troubleshoot problems you may have had when dealing with the Department for Work and Pensions.

Additionally, you may have seen the Hamilton Town Centre regeneration project I have started with Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP, Christina Mckelvie.

We are currently holding a consultation with people who work, shop and eat in the town centre to find out what you feel would make it a better place to run a business and to spend time and money.

Christina and I have been working with Scotland’s Town Partnership and we hope this will lead to progressive, community-led action to help the people of Hamilton shape the future of our town.

If you would like to take part in the survey, please find it at https://www. surveymonkey.co.uk/r/gkw79xr or call my office on 01698 200065.

This was not, in fact, the result the people of Scotland voted for as a majority