MY first few weeks as the MP for Inverclyde have been a mix of information, opportunity, travel, decisions and graft.

It will take me a while to get up to speed but I have made it a priority to get suitable offices set up and the correct staff employed.

Although I shall be in London from Monday to Thursday I shall be making sure that the constituency is properly served.

Office accommodation is not so easy to come by in Inverclyde and it concerns me that each constituency does not have a ready to use MP’s office supplied by their council.

That way the tax payers’ money that is allocated to me, from Westminster, goes straight back into my constituency.

The Westminster bubble is indeed a strange fusion of politicians, media, parliamentary staff and armed police officers!

The option exists to be spoiled by life within the cloistered walls of the parliamentary estate and live a cosseted life but the constant stream of schoolchildren taking tours of the palace are a good reminder that government must remain open, accessible and within the reach of every citizen.

With the recently announced local job losses at Playtex, IBM and RBS, I am reminded of the huge task that we have to re-energise and re-populate Inverclyde. To achieve this we need to work together.

I am delighted that the SNP group have already secured a debate on Trident and that I have been appointed to the Scottish Constitution group whose job it is to enforce the promises made in the Smith Commission.

Once I have my office and staff in place I believe we shall be an effective team. I look forward to serving all the constituents of Inverclyde to the very best of my abilities.

MY first few weeks as the MP for Inverclyde have been a mix of information, opportunity, travel, decisions and graft.

It will take me a while to get up to speed but I have made it a priority to get suitable offices set up and the correct staff employed.

Although I shall be in London from Monday to Thursday I shall be making sure that the constituency is properly served.

Office accommodation is not so easy to come by in Inverclyde and it concerns me that each constituency does not have a ready to use MP’s office supplied by their council.

That way the tax payers’ money that is allocated to me, from Westminster, goes straight back into my constituency.

The Westminster bubble is indeed a strange fusion of politicians, media, parliamentary staff and armed police officers!

The option exists to be spoiled by life within the cloistered walls of the parliamentary estate and live a cosseted life but the constant stream of schoolchildren taking tours of the palace are a good reminder that government must remain open, accessible and within the reach of every citizen.

With the recently announced local job losses at Playtex, IBM and RBS, I am reminded of the huge task that we have to re-energise and re-populate Inverclyde. To achieve this we need to work together.

I am delighted that the SNP group have already secured a debate on Trident and that I have been appointed to the Scottish Constitution group whose job it is to enforce the promises made in the Smith Commission.

Once I have my office and staff in place I believe we shall be an effective team. I look forward to serving all the constituents of Inverclyde to the very best of my abilities.

Yours aye, Ronnie