Monday

IT'S becoming more of the routine these days that there is no meaningful business on a Monday. It’s almost like the Conservatives are extending the weekend to allow for campaigning.

I used today to engage with constituents in Gibbshill and surrounding areas in the afternoon, after hosting surgeries in the morning.

The bonus was getting to a packed Cappielow to cheer on the Ton. But it wasn’t to be. Still a brave and committed performance made the traffic jams getting out worth it.

Tuesday

UP with the sparrows and off down the road. My first meeting was with Caledonian MacBrayne. I regularly meet with them, CMAL and Ferguson Marine. Individually, they are important to Inverclyde but together their continued presence is crucial.

I value it greatly and will do everything I can to help them all maintain their headquarters in Inverclyde and work collectively to build a new fleet of vessels as the old fleet is well past its sell by date. We should have a 20 or 30 year plan to replace the fleet and then continue building and replacing.

In the afternoon I spoke on the last day of the budget debate. Today’s subject was productivity, but it’s always loosely adhered to. I spoke about the multibillion pound industry of cultivating hemp and consuming it in environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. It is a great shame that rather than encourage this industry the UK Government is actually making it more difficult.

Wednesday

I AM in early for a quick tour of Westminster with constituents. I then chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Industrial Hemp and CBD Products. We heard from Jamie Bartley founder and CEO of Unyte Group and chair of the Cannabis Industry Council.

It was a well attended meeting with representatives from the seed producers, farmers, manufacturers and finance. The stock exchange is not encouraging investment and other countries are forging ahead.

During Prime Minister’s Questions the racist remarks aimed at Diane Abbott MP by the Conservative and Unionist donor Frank Hester were debated, but despite bobbing to be taken by the Speaker 46 times she was not taken. Imagine sitting in a room of your peers discussing a hate crime aimed at you and you are not asked for your opinion. I have no idea what the Speaker was thinking.

This was an opportunity to call out racism and every opportunity should be taken to call out racism, bigotry, misogyny and all other hate crimes, especially in politics where we should be leading by example.

In the afternoon, I led on the debate on gambling advertising in sport. It’s a fact that the gambling industry uses targeted advertising to lure vulnerable gamblers to gamble. But they also use a wide array of advertising to normalise gambling and regularly break the rules by targeting under 18s.

I want to put the sport first and be in a position where we can enjoy that before considering gambling on it.

Thursday

I WAS tied to Westminster for votes at 5pm so I utilised the day engaging with cross-party support on gambling reform and developing a strategy to bring the government to the table.

I also met with Scottish entrepreneurs who are developing their business in London. You never know when these conversations will bear fruit. I just tuck them away and one day the connection will be clear.

Friday

AS a regular litter picker with the Gourock branch of Literati (smelly grubbies) I was pleased today to be part of Keep Scotland Beautiful spring clean challenge. Literati are planning litter picks between March 15 and April 28 2024 covering the length of Inverclyde’s shoreline.

This was just the launch but it’s all about the many volunteers across Inverclyde who have organised themselves into small groups and with no fuss and no bother go about their litter picks on a regular basis. They don’t seek publicity or recognition for the work they do but the more volunteers the better.

I dropped into the latest drive through in Greenock. My usual Greggs is in Westminster underground but this time I got to see behind the scenes. It’s always fascinating to see the wheels in motion and not just the end product.

Friday lunch time has become my radio slot on Clyde Coast Radio which I thoroughly enjoy.

After that I met with Natalie Logan, chief executive of Sustainable Interventions. This was a direct result of my visit recently to HMP Greenock. Just as I said earlier, I have many meetings and at some point there is a connection that either takes me forward or allows me to put people together so they can help each other.