And it’s about making sure that investment reaches communities like ours. Across the Borders and Midlothian, people tell me the same thing on doorsteps, in town centres and at local events. Families are feeling the pressure. Bills are rising. Household budgets are stretched. This Budget is about responding to that reality and putting support where it matters most. This Budget will make a difference day to day. Support like prescriptions and eye tests without charges at the

Like many people in Penicuik, I was deeply disappointed to hear that the Bank of Scotland branch, the last bank in our town, is set to close. This is not simply about the loss of a building on the high street. It is about access to essential services and what kind of community we want to be. For many residents, especially older people, face to face banking is still a necessity. Not everyone can switch to online services easily. Some people do not have reliable broadband. Othe

Hosting the Burns Supper at Gala Rugby Club on Friday was a real privilege, and what struck me most was the warmth in the room. There was great conversation, plenty of laughter, and that easy sense of shared purpose you only get when people who care about their communities come together. We were there to celebrate Robert Burns, and as always, his words felt incredibly current. Burns wrote about dignity, equality, and the worth of ordinary people. Those ideas are not stuck in

Last week I visited Borders College to meet Principal and Chief Executive Peter Smith and talk about the role the college plays across the Scottish Borders. It was a chance to look beyond the day to day running of the campus and focus on the bigger picture for students, employers and the wider community. Spending time there, you quickly see that a college is not just a place of study. It is where people gain confidence, develop practical skills and prepare for the world of wo

Find Out How You Can Lower Your Electricity Bills By over A Third

I visited the Border Union Show in Kelso and met many volunteer groups with Christine Grahame, our long standing SNP MSP for Midlothian...

I was asked to step in for Jim Fairlie, our Minister of Agriculture and Connectivity at the The National Farmers' Union of Scotland's Hustings at the Royal Highland Show in 2025. It was a great event - and it really brought home to me how vital the agriculture and farming sector is to our rural economy.

Delivering effective education is vital for Scotland's future - whether its basics like understanding how to stay safe, claim entitled benefits - or something more formal like helping children achieve their potential in our Primary and High schools, and in further education.

In a rural area like ours, working from home can be very attractive. Saving time and money without a commute; more time to spend with the family. But there are new considerations - like higher energy costs and the need for good broadband.