It is time for the government to side with families

Earlier this week OFGEM confirmed they are lowering the energy price cap, after a year of severe increases.

This should be good news but instead households are set to see their bills increase as the UK government’s energy price guarantee cap is set to rise from

£2,500 to £3,000 a year, despite wholesale gas prices dropping by 75 per cent since their peak in the summer.

This is unsustainable for families, who are also being faced with increases in the price of food, fuel, and even mortgage rates.

In a country as energy rich as Scotland, people should not be paying through the nose for their gas and electricity bills. The Prime Minister and Chancellor’s plan to increase energy prices this April will have devastating consequences on households across Scotland and the UK. Meanwhile, energy companies continue to make astronomical profits at the expense of hardworking households. It’s time for the UK government to finally side with working families during this cost of living crisis instead of lining the Treasury’s pockets.

We are also continuing to feel the effects of Brexit - the mess Scotland never wanted, but is forced to endure regardless.

At the same time as supermarkets across the UK are being forced to ration fruit and vegetables, it is estimated that Brexit alone has added hundreds of pounds onto the annual food bills for every household. This at a time of a serious cost of living crisis, where many are struggling month on month to make ends meet.

Earlier this month I paid a visit to the Memory Cafe in the Braeport Centre, Dunblane. The café, which is run by Dementia Friendly Dunblane is a terrific project that has gone from strength to strength over the last six years, and has made a huge difference to the lives of local people living with dementia. I’m delighted to learn that the group has plans to add a further group on Mondays, which I know will make the service even more accessible.

Residents in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan ward will shortly be asked to elect a new councillor to represent the ward, following the extremely sad death of Graham Houston. Graham was a friend and colleague for many years and he was well respected by the local communities he served - few would disagree his boots will be difficult to fill. However, the SNP candidate, Ahsan Khan, brings a wealth of experience and has been working hard to speak to as many local people as possible.

Polling stations will be open on March 16 and I would urge voters to give Ahsan their first preference vote. The choice is stark: it’s Ahsan or the Tories. Local communities deserve someone fighting their corner and will stand up for local people, and Ahsan is the candidate who will do just that.

The decision by Nicola Sturgeon to step down as First Minister has been met with fondness and well wishes from people across the political spectrum.

Nicola Sturgeon has, in my view, been an exceptional leader

- the first female First Minister and the longest serving incumbent in the role, both of which are notable achievements in themselves. The SNP is now in the process of choosing a new leader. I look forward to working with whichever of the three candidates is elected.

People should not be paying through the nose here