Since my last Clydebank Post column, I’m delighted to be able to say that Scotland and the UK has gone through a transformative change.

We now have a Labour Government across the UK focussed on rebuilding our country and our communities and fixing the mess the outgoing Tory Government has left behind.

I am also delighted to say that Scotland is at the heart of that Government with 37 Scottish Labour MPs already working hard to deliver the change our country needs.

I know that many people voted Labour for the first time or for the first time in a long time and for that I am very grateful.

It is clear that Scotland not only rejected the Conservatives in this election but also called for change after 17 years of SNP Governance at Holyrood where Scotland is going backwards rather than forwards.

The SNP’s argument that Scots should send a message to Westminster by voting for their candidates just didn’t ring true.

As it was said many times throughout the campaign, Scots shouldn’t be sending a message when they can send a government.

Now we have a Labour Government, one that is determined to succeed by prioritising the issues that really matter to people - stabilising the economy, bringing down energy bills, cutting waiting lists and driving up wages for hundreds of thousands of Scots.

The people of Clydebank and the wider constituency of West Dunbartonshire made a clear statement by voting in such large numbers for Douglas McAllister.

I know that Douglas will be a hardworking MP who will be dedicated to representing his constituents to the very best of his ability.

It was a pleasure to be joined by Douglas this week at my supermarket surgery in Asda Clydebank where we engaged with constituents about the issues that mattered to them.

Speaking to local people on a regular basis about their priorities and seeing what we can do to help – that is the essence of the approach new Scottish Labour MPs, like Douglas, will take, just as I have tried to do in my three years as an MSP.

I understand how busy life can get and how difficult it can be to make it along to our weekly scheduled surgeries, and that’s why I’ll be holding surgeries at a range of times and places.

Over the summer I will be hosting surgeries on streets in local communities as well as well-known, accessible supermarkets.

I would urge everyone to look out for any updates I put on my social media about my whereabouts in the region and any plans or events I have scheduled. If you see me or your new MP out and about in the community then please come up and say hello because we are here to help you.

As always, if you have an issue that I can help with then please do not hesitate to get in touch.