The focus of the SNP remains and will remain firmly on the priorities of the people of Scotland.

Opponents of a progressive vision for our country will always find ways to criticise and twist anything that we do. What is important now for the SNP and the independence movement is to move forward together. We need to turn our heads to our opponents – our actual opponents – the Unionist Westminster parties.

We have a new First Minister in Humza Yousaf who is committed to moving us towards a fairer, progressive and prosperous independent Scotland.

This is why people like myself and Humza became politicians – to help the people that need help the most. To make things fairer for people and give us all a better standard of living.

To stand up against and fix injustices in society and at the heart of it all, the only practical way we can do it, is via independence. It is the logical light at the end of what feels like a very dark tunnel. We have just gone through the first leadership contest our party has seen for more than 20 years and, after being dragged through a few hedges and taking some bumps along the way, here we are at the other side of it.

I echo the sentiments of many of my SNP colleagues at this time who have said unity is essential for us now. Our First Minister has pledged that honesty, transparency and openness are characteristics he will strive towards as our leader and I believe this commitment will be welcome across the party.

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We as a party must move on and get on with what we are good at – doing what is best for the people of Scotland.

The First Minister has made the correct decision in challenging the UK Government’s Section 35 order.

Even if you do not agree with the contents of the Gender recognition Reform Bill, it has been scrutinised, debated and voted on by members of all parties in the Scottish Parliament and passed by a majority.

We have seen Scottish Labour politicians backing the First Minister on this decision – but you will not read about that in the mainstream media.

The entire move to block this bill is a political attempt by the Tories to cause friction within the SNP Scotland – but also within the Labour Party. We simply cannot allow the Tory government to run riot over Scottish devolution because if they are allowed to do this, then where does it end?

It is trans rights that are up for debate today but the more devolution is undermined, it won’t be long until all our rights and liberties are up for debate.

The SNP are the only party that are challenging the Tories on the big issues we are facing as a country. The UK Government’s self-inflicted cost of living crisis is leaving people hopeless. Enduring food and fuel poverty is now appallingly the normal standard of living for many people across the UK.

IN Scotland, we are doing all we can with the limited powers that we have and the SNP will continue to tackle poverty as a top priority, as we have done throughout a decade of Tory austerity.

We are building a wellbeing economy that will create more opportunities and we are tackling the climate emergency head on for the benefit of future generations.

And all the while we are showing people that we could do all this good work – and so much more – if we had the full levers of any normal independent country.

Labour and the Tories are the same when it comes to standing up (or not standing up) for the people of Scotland.

The International Monetary Fund has forecast that only Italy is set to have worse economic growth than Britain next year.

Both major UK parties are in complete denial that Brexit is costing people money.

They have failed and will continue to fail whether its Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer driving the Brexit bus.

The National: Kier Starmer's position on Brexit has come under scrutiny after previously calling for a second EU referendumKier Starmer's position on Brexit has come under scrutiny after previously calling for a second EU referendum (Image: CHARLOTTE BOND)

The SNP are the only party that welcome our European neighbours and continue to stand against a Brexit that Scotland never voted for. While the UK establishment parties continue with making the wealthy wealthier while simultaneously making life as miserable for people at the other side of the spectrum, we will continue to protect people from cuts and false promises.

We have Unionists licking their lips at the prospect of the SNP and the independence movement as a whole falling apart.

But all over Scotland, we have been seeing an increase in SNP membership over the last few weeks, like in my area of Renfrewshire for example.

Now is the time to do what the SNP are really good at – getting active, getting out on the doors and speaking with the people we want to put their trust in us and selling them that vision of an independent Scotland free of unelected UK governments forever.