Monday

In the morning I chaired the Westminster Media Forum policy conference. The topic for discussion was the ‘Next steps for gambling regulation in the UK’. It was a strong panel and fair to say there were different opinions. This event was virtual and although it was nice to get a lie in on a Monday, what is missing from such events is the ability to network after them. Hopefully, we will be having these events in person very soon. The airport was mayhem. Cancelled flights to London led to long queues of disgruntled passengers, many of whom were catching connecting flights. I was therefore surprised to see empty seats on my flight to London.

Tuesday

My select committee took evidence from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests, the Right Honourable Lord Geidt. The adviser is personally appointed by the Prime Minister to advise him on matters pertaining to standards in public life and the appointment is entirely at the Prime Minister’s discretion. There are other people and committees that fulfil very similar functions, including the First Civil Service Commissioner, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the Chair of ACOBA and the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists. With so many to choose from I tend to think the Prime Minister chooses the path of least resistance and follows that advice. Lord Geidt entered committee room 15 looking very tense. He was closely followed by senior members of the press which would not have helped. It did give the impression of a man going to the gallows. As it turned out he said nothing of note and further strengthened my views that the powers that be at Westminster avoid scrutiny by building an impenetrable force of place men around them all loyal to the cause of protecting the establishment. To brighten my day, I bobbed at Health questions. I didn’t get in on orals, but I persevered at topicals and got taken as the last question. I pushed the Secretary of State on his appalling record of failing to provide medical cannabis for children with intractable epilepsy. It over 1,800 days since the UK government said they would. I attended a joint meeting of SNP MPs and MSPs to hear the First Minister of Scotland outline the path to independence backed up by substantial discussion papers. Scotland is our country to design and build as we feel fit.

Wednesday

I was in the Chamber for COP26 questions and made the mistake of staying for Prime Minister’s questions. It really is the very worst aspect of life at Westminster and today it was as bad as I have ever seen it. Keir Starmer was appalling, Ian Blackford couldn’t be heard over the abuse and Ed Davey was the victim of a coordinated barracking from the Conservative and Unionist benches. This sort of behaviour would not be deemed appropriate in any other walk of life. The Speaker should be throwing people out and asserting his discipline. He has tried appealing to their better nature but they don’t seem to have one. I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on the ‘Potential merits of a Universal Basic Income’. It’s a sensible topic for debate that never gets the hearing it deserves from the Conservative and unionist government because they are ideologically opposed to the eradication of poverty. The debate was interrupted for a vote in the main chamber on rail strikes. We then restarted and concluded the debate. There then followed a rush through sweltering London to get to the airport to get home.

Thursday

I had a catch-up meeting at Ferguson Marine. It has attracted a lot of misinform criticism and I feel for the current management and workforce as they have become a political tool, where in truth they are highly motivated, professional and doing a very difficult job. I was impressed at the progress since my last visit and intend to catch up soon. I dropped in on the West Coast College – social science information session, at the waterfront campus. And then visited the two exhibitions currently running at the Beacon and the East India Harbour. Both very interesting in their own ways and very much worth a visit.

Friday

Two interviews this morning. First with the Greenock Telegraph to discuss addiction and changing the law on drugs and gambling. And then with Clyde Insider to talk primarily about gambling related harm. In the afternoon, I visited the jobcentre, had a constituent meeting regarding immigration and finished the day with Scottish Women’s Aid discussing the Scottish Welfare Fund.,

Monday

Although my morning at Westminster was free, I kept to my usual routine and got down the road nice and early. Celebrity spotting at the airport this week consisted of Lewis Capaldi. He is a regular traveller and comes over as a very grounded guy, nothing pretentious about him. On the other hand, at Westminster the Conservative and Unionist Party are falling over themselves to seem important as a pending vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister looms. But before that I meet up with Peter Krykant and his Overdose Prevention Van. We had a very good briefing from Drugs Science, and I shall continue to lobby the UK government to allow Drug Consumption rooms to be opened.

In the evening the 148 Conservative and Unionists MPs declared that they had no confidence in their own leader. 211 said they did, and so he survives. But that result was worse than similar votes against, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Theresa May and eventually they all resigned. It is worth repeating that 148 MPs that work with the Prime Minister and have access to him, that have watched him operate in public and private do not have confidence in him.

Tuesday

I was in Westminster Hall for a debate on the need for a smart statutory levy in the forthcoming white paper on the gambling act reform.  I have to confess that I am getting nervous about this and sincerely hope that the UK Government do not fudge this paper and try to water down the very clear requirements.  I retreated to my office at 53 Parliament Street to write a speech for a debate on the Football Index collapse and while I was doing that an unidentified package was blown up outside my office close to the Cenotaph. I expect it was somebody’s lost souvenir, but it is a timely reminder to me that the men and women of the security services remain vigilant at all times while I am allowed to get on with my job free from threats or intimidation and all MPs owe them a great deal of thanks. I met with a leading UK-based manufacturer of natural and pure CBD active pharmaceutical ingredients for early clinical trial research and drug development. As we progress the debate regarding the benefits of the hemp plant it is important to identify the market-place and the best people to supply it. The debate on the Football Index collapse followed shortly after and it was interesting to note that the usual cohort of MPs that speak out against gambling reform were noticeable by their absence. I am sure they too have constituents who were robbed by this Ponzi scheme. Walking back to my office I bumped into a brass band and the Princess Royal. Nothing surprises me about Westminster.

Wednesday

At the request of parents that have lost family members to suicide through gambling harm I attended a debate on ‘Government action on suicide prevention‘ and took the opportunity to include their loved ones in the discussion. An estimated 4% to 11% of all suicides are related to gambling addictions. I pressed the minister to liaise with DCMS to ensure that suitable regulations are coming forward. PMQs resembled a chimpanzee’s tea party as the 148 Conservative and Unionists MPs that don’t have any confidence in their Prime Minister pretended they did by being very loud and annoying. I attended a drop in to support the call for the UK government to ratify the Istanbul Convention on violence against women. The UK Government have indicated that after ten years they are moving to do so but with reservations on certain clauses, which is deeply concerning. I was in the Chamber to support my colleague Patricia Gibson MP as she read the riot act to the UK Government over the flaws in the Levelling Up Bill. Most of the Conservative and Unionists had grown tired of the sound of their own voices by this point and had left.

Thursday

My select committee took evidence from Lord Pickles on the propriety of governance in light of Greensill. This was our third session, and a report will be produced.

Friday

Today was a day for constituency meetings. I met with Inverclyde Council officers regarding the Shared Prosperity Fund, then representatives of Titan Spirits. I then had a tour of the Glebe building with local stakeholders. I finished the day at a meeting of local councillors and elected members.