Local

At First Minister’s Questions, I asked John Swinney what progress had been made towards securing a direct flight between Scotland and India.

The A801 Avon Gorge crossing upgrade has been in the pipeline for decades. At FMQs, I pressed the Deputy First Minister on when constituents can expect progress on this vital route.

The business case is being assessed by Transport Scotland, but no timetable was given. I’ll keep pushing for delivery.

Yesterday, I was pleased to join Target Ovarian Cancer at the Scottish Parliament to learn more about their campaign to improve outcomes for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Scotland and to hear about the organisation’s key priorities for improving awareness, diagnosis and support.

This week, I joined fellow members of the Scottish Parliament’s Climate Action Committee on a visit to a data centre site in Chapelhall, Airdrie, as part of our ongoing inquiry into the potential environmental impacts of AI data centres.

Earlier this month, I was delighted to meet with members of the West Lothian Tamil Sangam to learn more about their work, hear about their ambitions for the future, and discuss the important role they play in bringing people together across our communities.

At the beginning of the month, I had the pleasure of spending a fascinating afternoon with Buglife, learning more about the vital conservation work they do to protect the small creatures that play such a huge role in our environment.

Earlier this month, I visited Cyrenians’ Community Learning Hub at Arnotdale House in Falkirk to learn more about the organisation’s work and the support it provides across our communities.

I was delighted to visit the Forth & Clyde Canal in Falkirk this week to see first-hand the largest programme of canal engineering works undertaken in Scotland for 25 years and hear more about the long-term vision for our historic waterways.

The visit followed a Scottish Canals reception at the Scottish Parliament earlier this month, which I was proud to sponsor. The event provided a valuable opportunity to discuss the important role Scotland’s canals continue to play in the 21st century, supporting tourism, active travel, biodiversity, economic development and community wellbeing across the country.

Kicking off a new week in Bo’ness, I had the pleasure of visiting local businesses on our vibrant high street. From Thomas Burns Butchers to the upcoming Market Street Larder and Coffee ‘n’ Stuff, the dedication of local entrepreneurs is inspiring. These ventures strengthen community ties and support local producers. Join me as I explore the opportunities and challenges facing our high streets.

The announcement that Syngenta intends to cease operations at its Grangemouth site, putting 377 jobs at risk, is another devastating blow for our community.

My thoughts are with the workers and their families. Behind every job is a household facing uncertainty, and the consequences will reach beyond the site to local suppliers, businesses and the wider Grangemouth economy.

I firmly oppose this proposed closure. The consultation period must be a meaningful opportunity to challenge the decision and investigate every option to retain employment at the site. I will continue to press Syngenta to reconsider.