It is an honour to have been elected to represent my community here in Fortissat at the council by-election last Thursday.  I am proud to have been elected as a Co-operative Party councillor.

I am proud to be a co-operator and to be actively involved in the Co-operative Group and in the Co-operative Party.

As a local councillor I will put concern for the community at the heart of what I do.  I will be looking to be a strong voice for co-operation in my community and on North Lanarkshire Council.

I am inspired by action like the Bill to protect shopworkers which Daniel Johnson MSP got through parliament with support from co-operative societies like Scotmid and the Co-operative Group and trade unions like Usdaw and the GMB.

I want to make a co-operative difference.  I will be campaigning to end food poverty in my area.  I know that North Lanarkshire Council has been at the forefront of efforts to make a difference on food poverty.  I know, for example, that great work is being done by Club 365 in North Lanarkshire tackling the holiday and weekend hunger experienced by our young people and also by the local charities in Shotts like Paul’s Parcels and Getting Better Together.

It is a disgrace that in 2021 people are going hungry in North Lanarkshire and across the country.  I will be campaigning to end food poverty.  I will be campaigning for the Right to Food to be in Scots Law, which Elaine Smith MSP has been calling for.

I will be campaigning for more Co-operative Party MSPs at the Scottish election to ensure that the case for the Right to Food continues to be made in the Scottish Parliament.

As the local councillor I will be trying to make a co-operative difference in Shotts and the surrounding area and putting my community first.