Festive messages from your MP and MSP
I was deeply honoured the people of Ross, Skye and Lochaber returned me to Parliament this month and I will continue to be a strong voice for people across the Highlands.
Christmas provides an opportunity to look ahead to the future with hope. For people in Scotland that means facing the reality of the choice that lies ahead; a future tied to broken Brexit Britain or a one with hope and opportunity as an independent Scotland in the European Union.
The SNP stood on a manifesto to give Scotland a choice over its future and to escape Brexit and we won 80 per cent of Scotland’s seats in Westminster. People in Scotland must soon have their chance to choose – to take the future of our country into our own hands or to leave it to Boris Johnson. Tory attempts to deny our democratic mandate will only strengthen the case for independence.
As your representative, I will continue to work tirelessly for everyone across Ross, Skye and Lochaber, challenging Tory austerity, Brexit chaos and the climate emergency. 2020 is a year we can look forward to, a year when we can ‘take back control’ for our economy, our communities and for Scotland. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. 2019 has not been the quietest or most predictable of years.
Christmas and Hogmanay provide everyone with a chance to have a rest from all that. But looking back, it is impossible not to reflect on a year where a snap election and a chaotic Brexit process dominated national events.
In the islands, I have many positive recollections of 2019, a year that began for me with the moving Iolaire centenary commemorations on January 1.
Communities throughout the islands have achieved many great things throughout the year.
To take a few of those at random, I think of the Eilidh MacLeod fundraising events which have done so much good for young people; the campaign for a new hospital in Barra which is now making progress and the success of Sgoil Lionacleit at the Gaelic schools debating competition held in the Parliament.
Looking ahead to 2020, I am sure we will see more of that community spirit on show in the islands, not least with Peat and Diesel’s well-deserved climb in this year’s Christmas charts!
Tha mi a’ guidhe Nollaig chrideil agus bliadhna mhath ùr dhan a h-uile duine.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!