Really appreciated seeing the Eric Liddell exhibition in Scottish Parliament today. (And it's free!) 7 caps for Scotland at rugby, gold and bronze medals at 1924 Paris Olymics, died in Japanese internment camp in China. Possibly Scotland's greatest ever sports person.

First visit to Edinburgh Festival Fringe theatre this year. Excellent production about George Muller (from Germany) who set up orphanages in Bristol (England) in mid 1800s, depending wholly on God. Thanks to Millar Bible College (Canada), Duncan Street Baptist Church, and venue Charlotte Chapel

Lots of people having fun and enjoying themselves in the sunshine at Shettleston Gala today. Thanks to ShettlestonHA Housing Association and shettlestongrowing ing Project for organising and entertaining everyone. (However, I confess I did not get very far on this bike 😁)

Delighted that councillors in Scotland are to be paid salary of £25,000 from next April. Several of us have been arguing for this for some time. Many councillors (especially in cities and larger authorities) effectively work full time. Still not a great wage but is an improvement

Good to attend Shettleston Community Network and meet a variety of local organisations. ShettlestonHA Fuse Glasgow Life Glasgow Kelvin College Celtic FC Foundation Glasgow City HSCP Bethany Christian Trust and others. Heard about proposed Place Plan for Shettleston ward Glasgow City Council

Today's #GERS figures once again show Scotland is being held back by being in UK. Other small countries clearly benefit from being independent. It is so hard to grow our economy & increase tax income when UK restricts our population. We need more people... we need immigration.

Have your say on the cost of this Bill by Wednesday 4 September 👇

Looking forward to our visit to Dundee. Thanks @scotrail for an excellent trip up.

Very helpful afternoon with Finance and Public Admn Committee Committee in Dundee. Young people discussed their priorities for next year's (2025/26) Scottish budget. Several would like to see more & better public transport even if not cheaper; affordable housing, NHS, education also priorities.

Very helpful visit with Finance and Public Admn Committee to University of Dundee. Top UK uni for life sciences. Drug discovery unit is biggest in world. Discussed need for spin out businesses to grow and stay; dependency on international students. Innovation Hub is currently being built.

Good to be at AGM of Friends of Tollcross Park in Winter Gardens this evening. New committee is up and running. We need to find a use for this superb building. Check out the Facebook page of Tollcross Park Friends Group to get involved.

Pleased to give my support to Scotland's Towns Scotland Loves Local Gift Card at Bensons, Parkhead Forge today. Discussed what information is available to retailers, how gift cards can be bought, apparent decline in gift card usage, lack of promotion at national level... & a very nice cup of tea 😀

First day back at Parliament after summer recess. Focus on finance. Finance and Public Admn Committee considered Scottish Fiscal Commission Fiscal Update. Then Scottish Government financial update for current year 2024/25. Last, evening reception for credit unions - encouraging saving & giving financial advice.

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Good to attend (online) AGM of Tollcross Housing Association. Finances seem healthy. Spent £1.6 million on repairs, £2.4 million on improvements. Exciting new development in Altyre Street with 42 larger homes being built... very much needed in the area.

Useful debate Scottish Parliament on Tenement Maintenance and Retrofit. Need first to get buildings wind and water tight; second proper insulation; third heating systems. Legislation needed to make communal repairs & improvements easier to achieve. Probably need system of loans and grants.

Thanks Aberlour Children's Charity. It was good to discuss debt from rent, council tax, etc and how we can deal better with that. So many in the country are rich and can go to the Euros in Gemany or Taylor Swift and Oasis concerts. While others struggle to put food on the table.

Good to see that Food Standards Scotland are taking this issue of fake vodka seriously Food Standards Scotland

Really excellent #LeeMovie about Lee Miller. She was war correspondent & amazing photographer during WWll. Very unusual for a woman to be on front line at that time. She broke a lot of barriers. Exceptional photographs in France, Berlin, & at concentration camps. GFT GFT

Good to see Commissioners report published by Finance and Public Admn Committee Committee. I agree that there should be moratorium. We need properly thought-out system rather than allowing the number of commissioners to grow & grow. Each one costs money & diverts funds away from frontline services.