A GENERAL election has been called – and I was out on the campaign trail, knocking doors and speaking with residents in Greenock earlier this week.

Hearing about the most important issues for individuals and families here, it is clear that 4th July – the day we go to the polls – will be an important date for all of us.

On this day, everyone will have the opportunity to have their say not only on which party will form the UK government, but also on which individual will represent Inverclyde as a Member of Parliament in Westminster.

On both counts, we all have the power to choose: do we want more of the same, or do we want change for our area?

I understand that Westminster politics may sometimes seem remote to us here, and it may feel like the result of the upcoming general election will have little impact on our lives.

But the election’s impact will be strong.

In Scotland, the UK Government makes decisions on reserved matters – including employment law, some aspects of taxation, and trade and industry.

Some of the most pressing issues in Inverclyde relate to these matters, including the area’s worsening jobs crisis.

Inverclyde’s next MP can call on the UK Government to provide support around these issues.

And even better if our next MP is part of the governing party, they may be able to have a direct say on them.

It is vital therefore that we think carefully about who we want to serve as our next Westminster representative.

Martin McCluskey, Labour’s candidate, has served as an Inverclyde councillor for two years and has been a community activist for much longer.

He has stood up for NHS services in the area – even resigning from the local health board in response to recent GP out-of-hours service cuts.

I am confident that Martin will be a dedicated and principled voice for Inverclyde in Westminster.

But regardless of how who you support, make sure you have your say by registering to vote and apply for a postal vote if you need one.