🏠Had a great walkabout this morning and the opportunity to raise some local issues with local council housing officer, Richard. I also checked in on some of the newest council housing, almost finished, in the constituency. Everyone deserves a warm, safe place to call home.

The UK’s Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will shape our energy strategy for decades to come. But, like so much else, energy supply and regulation is reserved to Westminster. I've got no confidence the UK government will put the interests of Scotland first.

A pleasure to be at Lyra in Edinburgh to hear all about their exciting goings-on and future plans. As Scotland’s first (and only) theatre company for children and teenagers, Lyra gives young people in the local community the chance to explore the performing arts free of charge!

Scotland is a nation and we have the right to decide our own future. Burnham knows that we should have a mechanism by which we can express our desire to become independent. Of course he's backtracked – he didn't realise just how close we are to meeting that threshold.

Adult Disability Payment is absolutely vital for many people across Scotland. It helps cover the additional costs people with disabilities face, supporting them to participate fully in society. Social Security is an investment in our people and our society.

Folk have real concerns around datacentres. I understand why. I do too. Upcoming guidance must include an energy strategy to prevent any increase in fossil fuel use or energy bills for households. And it must make sure the heat generated can be re-used through district heating.

Anti-social behaviour can be particularly scary for our children and young people. The brilliant P6s and P7s I met at the Burgh primary school yesterday asked if I could raise their concerns with the First Minister, and I was very happy to do so in the chamber today.

Sadly, since Brexit, the narrative around immigration in the UK has become pretty toxic. Scotland has a long history of welcoming folk from all parts of the world to our country. We cherish the contribution migrants make to our communities and our economy.

Every drug death is an absolute tragedy. We must listen to the families and act on the evidence. We must break the cycle of deep-rooted intergenerational poverty, make sure there are pathways to recovery and access to harm reduction.

The great team at Trade Unions in Communities are hosting a free showing of Everybody to Kenmure Street THIS Saturday, 26th September. A great way to spend a Saturday if you've got some free time.

Like so many people, I’m really concerned about the potential impact of data centres on energy supply, costs, water, the environment and local communities. I'm glad parliament voted to prevent any applications being decided until there is clear guidance in place.

The proposed reform of local government must prioritise delivery of frontline services that meet the needs of local communities. We also need to see more, and better resourced, frontline workers. Great to be able to ask the Deputy First Minister about this.

We need a strategic plan for how to manage applications for AI data centres. There are very real risks to energy supply, energy costs, water consumption, heat generation and the impact on local communities. These risks need to be addressed in a coherent, overarching plan.

A pleasure to meet with @aberlourcharity.bsky.social in Holyrood to discuss how we can work to eradicate child poverty in Scotland. In the last parliamentary term alone, they provided aid and advice to over 2,300 people in Edinburgh and Lothians East. Aberlour's work is truly invaluable.

While we are over-reliant on fossil fuels our energy prices will remain unstable. We need to break the cycle of energy insecurity by investing in renewable infrastructure here in Scotland, with full powers over energy for Holyrood. Those powers can only come with independence.

The people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the democratic right to self-determination. Today’s agreement between the SNP, Sinn Féin and Plaid Cymru represents a historic moment for these islands. Westminster cannot bury its head in the sand any longer.

The PM has said it himself: if a majority of people in Scotland support a second independence referendum, the call should be made to hold one. This U-turn shows that reality is sinking in at Westminster - Scotland cannot be denied the right to decide our own future

🗳️ Today is polling day in Portobello/Craigmillar! 🗳️ Polling stations are open until 10pm tonight. We need @snp.org voices on our city council to hold the Labour-led administration to account and stand up for local people. @silasmcg.bsky.social is a local champion who will do just that.