AFTER a summer in Scotland working in my constituency, I returned to Westminster this week for the first time the start of since Parliament’s recess.

After more than a month of community events on the banks of the River Earn or meetings in the shadow of the majestic Ochil Hills, the stifling, claustrophobic atmosphere of the House of Commons has never been so clearly apparent as it was when I left the building after midnight on Monday following a series of late votes on the Tories’ Finance Bill.

While many still refer to the parliamentary estate as the “Westminster Village”, in reality it’s the size of a reasonably-sized town, with thousands of staff and huge numbers of visitors passing through each day from early morning until late at night.

With a formidable security cordon in place around the perimeter of the complex, it’s perhaps understandable among the hustle and bustle of politicians, political staff, journalists and civil servants where the idea of the political “bubble” comes from, given the physical barriers that exist between us and the voters outside.

But we can’t allow ourselves to be constrained by our environment. Politics must extend beyond the walls of our grand parliament buildings.

It’s vitally important for all parliamentarians to use their time constructively to stay in touch with the voters who elected them.

Over the summer recess I was grateful to have the opportunity to tour the areas I represent and keep up to date with the issues, great and small that were having the greatest impact on the lives of everyone who lives there. I discussed the local tourist economy with hoteliers and events organisers, discussed skills shortages and visas with employers, and volunteered at Scotland’s second-largest Highland Games in Crieff, all among a wider range of meetings, surgeries and visits. These were all planned in advance in order to help me keep my ear to the ground and hear the stories of my constituents first-hand. It was one of these local meetings that ultimately led me to discover the tax credits scandal that’s currently being perpetrated by Concentrix, a contractor to HMRC, which is unfairly penalising low income families across my constituency and beyond.

Another discussion with the local Citizens Advice Bureau and Jobcentre staff has given me an even better understanding of the issues of those facing benefits sanctions, and some ideas of how we can work in partnership with local agencies to reduce the number of people who have to rely on food banks to feed themselves and their families. This was only made possible by asking the right questions.

While leadership is a vital skill in politics, the ability to listen and learn is equally important.

It doesn’t suffice to spend time preaching to the converted.

Everyone committed to building a fairer, more equal society has a responsibility to reach out to others outside our comfort zone to understand their experience and point of view.

That’s why I’m grateful to the Speaker of the House of Commons for agreeing to come with me to meet business representatives, young people and charities in Ochil and South Perthshire this Friday to discuss how Parliament can better engage with the electorate at large.

We need to find new ways to open up our political process, to improve the transparency of our work and ensure that we can hear effectively the views of those who we seek to serve.

But just as it’s important to listen and engage with those outside politics, it’s also vital for those of us already signed up as members of political parties and wider political movements to be reflective about the effectiveness of our arguments, rather than adopting a belligerent tone with those who do not currently share our view of the world around us.

That’s why Nicola Sturgeon’s listening exercise on Scotland’s future is so vital for both the SNP and the wider independence movement.

We’ve made huge progress over the last few years, and in particular in the run-up to the 2014 referendum, to reach out to voters in Scotland and take support for independence to the highest-ever level.

But in order to increase this to a decisive level, especially in light of the EU referendum, we need to understand why we weren’t successful in achieving a majority two years ago, and what we would need to do differently if the opportunity presented itself again.

The next independence referendum, whether it’s held next year or in the next decade, won’t be won on the green benches of Westminster or from Holyrood’s debating chamber. The result will be rightly decided in our communities and on voters’ doorsteps.

It’s time to reflect, reorganise and reconnect with a majority of voters. We must start now.