I’VE been tense this week, it’s true. I’ve been feeling like I’ve been holding my breath and not remembering to quite let it out properly – that was until Tuesday afternoon when we learned the recall petition in Rutherglen had been successful. What a sigh of relief that was.

Thank goodness the people have seen some sense eventually. The blatant arrogance of the SNP is finally being recognised.  Recognised to the point that democracy in action is listening to people saying enough is enough. 

Ferrier’s faux pas during the Covid pandemic reeked of the kind of above-the-law politics that has been all too prevalent within our SNP elected representatives over the past 10 years.

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Do as I say, not as I do,  and if I get criticised for any decision that I make then it’s all the fault of the UK government and an independent Scotland would save it all! Sound familiar? Yes, it does to me too, and it’s utter nonsense.

We have had to watch while the Scottish government have overseen the demise of our education system, the chronic failure to deliver on our NHS timetables, drug deaths in our country soar, homelessness levels spiral out of control and the horrific burning of money that is now simply referred to as the ‘ferries fiasco’. Quaint.

While this has happened, is happening and will continue to happen, what is the First Minister Humza Yousaf doing?

Presenting a paper on Independence and holding up fake passports he has had printed somewhere.

Acting ultra vires and outside of the scope of the Scottish parliament – ignoring looking after the issues that we need to deal with here and now for some ideological theory that over half the people in Scotland don’t want.

We also have Angus “Airmiles” Robertson flying all over the world as if he is one of the Wright Brothers setting up ‘embassies’ and spending even more money doing this.

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While at home, in the Scottish Parliament, we have hundreds of thousands of pounds of PUBLIC MONEY being spent on wages and research into how an independent Scottish would work.

It’s terrifying, mind-numbing and frightening that this is where we find ourselves.

Just think of how many waiting lists in hospitals could be reduced with extra staff that cash could be used to employ, or how many affordable social homes could be built, or by how much we could actually close the attainment gap (as previously promised by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon) or how many lives could be saved by concentrating on reducing that drug death figure.

That’s the reality we are facing – a government who wants to continue to force their ideologies down people’s throats or do we want politicians who want to make a real difference to our citizens here and now.

So yes, it was a sigh of much relief when the results came in on Tuesday. Ferrier out. Labour will roll their sleeves up and ensure the people of Rutherglen know we are offering a real, prosperous alternative. Bring it on!

Another thing I wanted to mark this week was the passing of my dear friend Paul Smith last week.

Paul will be laid to rest later this week and it is

with the heaviest of hearts that I will be delivering the eulogy.

A warm, friendly and caring guy who always had a smile on his face and a good word to say, Paul will be sorely missed by all. The world is a bit less bright with him in it.

Sleep well, my friend.