Scottish Labour promised to deliver change, I promised to deliver change, and West Dunbartonshire voted for change.

This week we delivered. Change has begun in Scotland. We delivered on our election promises with our historic budget.

My Government’s budget delivers the largest budget settlement to Scotland in the history of devolution.

It means an additional £1.5billion for the Scottish Government to spend this year and an extra £3.4billion next year.

This is a budget which marks the end of austerity and provides the billions required for our public services in Scotland.

It ensures we have the funding available for Scotland’s NHS, our schools and public services.

We ensured that working people won't face higher taxes on their payslips. We kept our promise, with no increase in national insurance, no increase in income tax and no increase to VAT.

One of my biggest promises to the people of West Dunbartonshire was to increase the National Living Wage and make work pay, we delivered!

The National Living Wage was increased by 6.7% to £12.21, a pay rise for over three million workers, a £1400 pay boost for full-time workers.

We announced £25.6 billion over the next two years for our NHS.

The billions of extra pounds to the Scottish Government provide the funding to deliver extra NHS operations and appointments and reduce waiting times for your family. It provides the funding to restore local government finances and help employ 1000s of new teachers in our schools.

We promised to abolish the non-dom tax loopholes for the super-rich, and this week we did.

We promised to extend the energy profits levy on oil and gas companies, and the Budget delivered on this too.

However, my loudest cheer was reserved for the announcement that the Labour Government will allocate the funding required for the regeneration of our town centres and our communities.

The previous Tory Government had made promises they had no intention of delivering. There was fear that because of their economic mess and £22billion budget black hole, that there was no money left for the promised regeneration of our towns.

I promised to be a strong voice for West Dunbartonshire and Scotland in the heart of a Labour Government. Last week I met with the minister responsible for Local Democracy and Growth and explained the importance of this funding to Dumbarton and Clydebank.

Our budget confirmed that the Labour Government will fully fund the regeneration plans for Dumbarton Town Centre and the £20million Clydebank Town Fund. After 14 years of Tory chaos and false promises, Labour has delivered for West Dunbartonshire and Scotland.

There can be no more excuses from the SNP Scottish Government for their failings and incompetence. My Labour Government has provided them with record funding to clear up their mess and sort out our failing public services.

Scottish Labour has delivered on our promise of change. By voting Labour in the General Election this year we got rid of the Tories and one failed government, but the job is only half complete. In 2026 we have the chance to get rid of the incompetent SNP Scottish Government and elect a Labour Government here in Scotland too and make good use of the billions of extra funding for our country.

Thank you for voting for me and Scottish Labour at the General Election. Change has started. Promises delivered.