FIRST of all, I’d like to congratulate Ronnie Cowan on his successful re-election as MP for Inverclyde. 

Locally, Ronnie has been a hard-working MP and has set off on a project to help deliver social and economic opportunities locally. 

This is a project that I am sure he can complete with another five years and I look forward to working with him to ensure that happens.

I’m sure readers will be stunned by last week’s election results. Theresa May took the political gamble to strengthen her hand on Brexit negotiations and failed spectacularly.

‘Strong and stable’ isn’t even ‘weak and wobbly’ even more. 

By the time you read this we will know if she has resigned or is a lame duck leader. 

However, the uncertainty of the result might see us return to the ballot box again later in the year. 

The SNP clearly didn’t have the national result we wanted.

Losing the outstanding MPs such as Alex Salmond, Angus Robertson, Eilidh Whiteford and Mike Weir to name just four stunned me. 

However, the SNP had the second best Westminster result in our history, have over 50 per cent of MPs and we are still the third party in the House of Commons. 

A hung Parliament has occurred and Scotland’s voice with SNP MPs will be heard loudly.
 

Tonight, I am hosting an evening in the Beacon to discuss tourism in Inverclyde. 

VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead OBE will be speaking. 

If you would like to attend, please visit the link below and register your place at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inverclyde-tourism-discussion-tickets-34468854271