Gillian Mackay

WHEN the Tartan Army roars as one it is something to behold. It is joyous, it is fervent, it is heartfelt. It is the place where pride meets expectation, belief overtakes desperation, and any sense of doubt is replaced by a firm certainty that we can do it.

IT’S not often that the Scottish Parliament manages to overcome party divisions and stand together as one, especially during an election period.

BEING a woman – particularly a young woman – in politics is not easy. That may sound obvious

It sometimes feels as if our net-zero targets have become some kind of useful commodity to be traded off for votes rather than the fight of our lives.

THIS Christmas was tough for a lot of people in the Grangemouth community where I grew up.

IT was 1970 when a young Prince Charles addressed a conference about the countryside and condemned “the growing menace of oil pollution at sea” which he said “almost destroys beaches and certainly destroys tens of thousands of seabirds”.

I CAN still remember the horror and revulsion I felt when I first saw images of the anti-choice protesters lined up outside Scottish hospitals.

TOMORROW’S Believe in Scotland and Yes For EU rally will be an important step in the movement for a fairer, greener and better Scotland in Europe.

I GREW up in the shadow of the Grangemouth oil refinery, one of Scotland’s biggest polluters. As a child I was kept awake by the loud roaring noises and intrusive flashing orange lights that came from the flaring. Sometimes my entire childhood bedroom was lit up by the flames.

IT’S not often that you see politicians from all parties putting their differences to one side and coming together. Yet that is exactly what happened yesterday when MSPs from across our Parliament came together to sign the final proposal for my Safe Access Zones Bill.