New role is a dream come true
Last week was certainly a memorable one for me and I think Wednesday was definitely a highlight of my political career.
As you all know, Paisley is my hometown; it’s where I was born and raised and it is where I have raised my own family so being your local MSP is the best job in the world to me.
I first joined the SNP when I was 17 – all the way back in 1986 would you believe – and I’ve been dedicated to the party and its causes ever since.
When I was then elected to represent Paisley South in Renfrewshire Council in 2007, I didn’t think things could get any better for a Paisley boy whose passion in life was making his little patch of the world better.
Little did I know then that our town would soon be declared its own constituency for the first time ahead of the 2011 Scottish Parliament election and I would have the honour of being the SNP candidate, winning the election by the skin of my teeth with only a two hundred and forty eight majority – and that’s when I first experienced my first taste of the best job I could’ve ever wished for.
Flash forward ten years and I am absolutely over the moon to still be your MSP – and at least this time I’ve increased my majority to over 50 per cent of the vote.
The first proper week back in Parliament after everyone’s been sworn in is always a whirlwind so to then find myself summoned to St Andrew’s House for a meeting with the First Minister last Wednesday, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with our First Minister for many years – both during my time as an MSP and in the early days of campaigning and striving to get the SNP to where we are now – but it is still somewhat daunting to walk into her office with no real idea what she’s going to say.
Being asked to join the Scottish Government as the new Minister of Parliamentary Business after years on the Whips team is truly a highlight of my career, and I cannot wait to get stuck into this new role and work closely with the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, as we move forward and continue delivering for the people of Scotland.
I’ve said it before and I know I’ll say it again, but it is blatantly clear the SNP are stanch in their commitment to bring us out of this pandemic stronger than ever before and I cannot wait to see more positive changes implemented right here in our town and across the country.
The new Scottish Government Cabinet is a bold and brilliant team and I know every single one of them, along with all of us Junior Ministers, will continue to work tirelessly to make sure our country is the absolute best it can be and that our constituents have the right to choose their own path when the time comes.