Michael Shanks MP
@mgshanks
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Proud to serve as Labour MP for Rutherglen & Hamilton West. Shadow Minister for Scotland. Charity trustee and volunteer. Email michael.shanks.mp @parliament .uk
Rutherglen
Joined June 2009
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It is the honour of my life to have been elected as the MP for Rutherglen & Hamilton West.
Thank you to all those who helped deliver this result.
The largest thanks goes to all those who have put their trust in me. My promise in return is a simple one: I will be your champion.
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Let’s not do this again. I disagree fundamentally with Kate Forbes on a lot of social issues but her faith is personal to her and if she chooses to pray that’s her right, just as it was totally fine for Humza Yousaf to pray in Bute House.
BREAKING 🚨🚨🚨
Kate Forbes claims Jesus will tell her whether or not to run for SNP leader.
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Polls have now closed!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported our campaign to deliver a
#FreshStart
for Rutherglen and Hamilton West- whether that’s been by voting, knocking doors or phone banking.
Your support has been instrumental in our campaign.
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We’ve all said it, here’s the proof. Vote SNP, get Tory.
But soon East Kilbride will have the chance to vote for real change with a Labour Government and a brilliant MP in
@JoaniReid
.
Exclusive: Lisa Cameron has quit the SNP and joined the Tories because of 'toxic and bullying' treatment from colleagues.
via
@MailOnline
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The UK Gov has announced 196 pools that have been awarded a share of the Swimming Pool Support Fund. Leisure centres in Scotland are crying out for investment but the SNP hasn't announced any similar scheme here, despite receiving £6m to do so. Why?
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Rutherglen and Hamilton West, as your MP, I will work tirelessly to make sure that you get the representation you deserve.
Thank you for placing your trust in me.
#FreshStart
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It’s an honour to have been elected but also sad to be stepping back from teaching now.
I’ve worked with many amazing teachers who, like Mr Rawlinson in this great clip, always see the best in young people when others maybe don’t. It’s a profession that will never leave me.
Sometimes all you need is someone to believe in you.
#StreetGangs
is available to watch now on
@BBCiPlayer
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It was incredibly humbling to be welcomed to Westminster today and to swear my oath as a Member of Parliament.
The privilege I now have is to speak up for those in my community who don’t always have a voice and that’s a responsibility I’ll always take seriously.
Great to welcome Labour's newest MP
@mgshanks
to Parliament today.
Rutherglen and Hamilton West voted for change.
Labour will deliver change for the whole of the UK.
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For weeks I have been hearing how desperately the people in Rutherglen and Hamilton West want change.
It is time for a fresh start here, and I am ready to hit the ground running.
#FreshStart
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🗳️🎉 Voted!
Today, we can deliver real change for families across our constituency - a
#FreshStart
for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
Don't forget to bring Voter ID to the polls!
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Guys it’s anti-Scottish to photograph sunsets now.
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Incredibly proud to introduce
@AnasSarwar
at Labour Conference. His leadership has transformed
@ScottishLabour
.
He speaks for us all - people want an end to politics which pits community against community, pits Scot against Scot and puts the status quo before change.
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Minutes of meetings not taken, systematic deletion of WhatsApp messages, breaching Freedom of Information legislation by withholding data from the public - all starts to look like a deliberate attempt to cover up their actions in government.
This appears to be a deliberate act to destroy evidence. Shameful.
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Unfortunately rain and flooding has called off most things happening in Rutherglen & Hamilton West today but delighted to catch up with folk at the Rutherglen West and Wardlawhill coffee morning! Best cakes in the business to cheer us up on a dreich day!
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We’ve knocked thousands of doors, had countless conversations, and tomorrow the polls will open!
This is your chance to send a clear message to the SNP and Tories, and to deliver a fresh start for the community we all love so much.
Let’s do this, Rutherglen and Hamilton West!
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I'm proud to be a teacher that's worked with amazing young people and I'll always talk up their achievements because despite the attainment gap that holds too many back Scotland's young people work incredibly hard to achieve their qualifications and should be proud of themselves.
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First chance I’ve had in a while for a run and with skies like we’ve got in Rutherglen tonight it seemed like the perfect chance to get back to it. Fair to say I’m a long way from any kind of running PBs at this moment in time, but some nice views!
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Just under 6 hours to go! ⏱
Today is the chance to deliver real change and bring a
#freshstart
to Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
Don't forget to bring your voter ID along with you to the polls!
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“Don't tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value.”
🏘️ Housing budget cut 📉
💷Tackling child poverty budget cut 📉
👨🏫 Colleges cut, again 📉
🕯️Fuel poverty support cut 📉
🧠 Mental health real terms cut 📉
🗺️ Scot Gov offices abroad - up 📈
The Scottish budget is a statement of our values.
That we value our NHS & other public services. That we will use every lever at our disposal to protect those in Scotland from the worst of Westminster harm.
As well as a budget that supports a growing, green & fair economy.
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A promise to my seven year old nephew to show his excellent drawing of Big Ben to the real Big Ben at 3pm
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Tomorrow!
This is your chance to send both our failing governments a message and deliver a
#FreshStart
for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
Use your vote. Vote Michael Shanks - Scottish Labour.
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A huge amount of abuse flying around at the moment, much of it directed toward young people for daring to support a different political direction for our country. To see SNP members and active campaigners use language like this is deeply troubling. I hope the SNP will condemn it.
Here we have a lad from Manchester who comes up here, enjoys the benefits our country offers him, and then tells us how bad young people in Scotland have it. I have met a number of these types of young people, and they have no interest in Scotland or its future. They see it as…
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Important part of today's speech from Keir Starmer.
And important on the need to defeat the divisive politics of the Tories too:
Starmer: “I promise this- a politics which treads a little lighter on all our lives. That’s the thing about populism or nationalism…It needs your full attention, needs you constantly focussing on this week’s common enemy. And that’s exhausting.”
Really interesting section.
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Rutherglen and Hamilton West needs a fresh start.
Let’s give the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West the change they deserve.👇
#FreshStart
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Ted, Ted, Ted you should have just told her you have the right to be questioned by an officer at least one rank above you!
#LineofDuty
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There's been suggestions in recent days that it's fine for a First Minister to have personal views on matters of equality so long as these are not pursued in legislation. However as all Modern Studies pupils learn, this massively underestimates the role/power of the executive. 🧵
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Yousaf says "page one, line one" of their manifesto will be dedicated to achieving independence. He couldn't be further from where the people of Scotland are - eager for change, desperate to move on from the divisions of the past, fed up with failed government.
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A century ago the first Labour Government in history was elected. In 2024 there is the chance to once again put the value of service and the priorities of working people back at the heart of government.
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Labour’s motion today calls for an immediate ceasefire but seeks to strengthen the SNPs position on other matters. Not clear why they are so implacably opposed to it being called unless today is actually just about the politics of it.
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Today
@Keir_Starmer
showed he is the leader Britain needs - mission driven, relentlessly focussed on turning around the managed decline we’ve come to expect under the Tories and SNP, facing down the age of insecurity. Britain’s best days lie ahead of us.
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Incredibly sad news that Rutherglen's MP for 18 years, Tommy McAvoy has passed away. A legend of the Labour family as a shop steward at the Hoover Factory then serving 13 years in government as a whip. Throughout he was a champion for Rutherglen with a great sense of humour.
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Can't believe a week has already passed since the by-election but here's a quick update on what I've been doing since I was elected to serve this fantastic community:
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No surprise Alistair Darling is remembered as a thoughtful, kind and decent person before anything about his politics. A towering figure in Labour for decades, he navigated our nation through some of its toughest times in his characteristically calm way. He'll be sorely missed.
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Parliament voted for an immediate ceasefire on Wednesday. The fact the SNP weren’t there to vote doesn’t change that.
The SNP's Drew Hendry says MPs never got a chance to vote on a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza last week. But SNP MPs had walked out in protest before Labour's amendment was called.
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During a cost-of-living crisis the SNP are heaping misery on the people of Rutherglen & Hamilton West with council tax rises, income tax rises and now a commuter tax.
We need a
#FreshStart
!
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I’m ready to give the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West the representation they deserve. It’s time for a
#FreshStart
.
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Amidst all the fury and Parliamentary farce the House of Commons tonight voted for a ceasefire, release of hostages, scaling up of humanitarian aid, commitment to work towards a two-state solution and the recognition of a viable Palestinian state.
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A wee bit of campaigning on the way back north for amazing by-election candidates
@SarahEdwardsTam
in Tamworth and
@alistrathern
in Mid Bedfordshire. They’ve both run great campaigns and fingers crossed they’ll get the chance to represent their communities.
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The next hurdle is where the Tory divisions really come to the fore - Tory MPs today lining up to oppose any amendments that push the Bill further, others refusing to back it without amendments. This is far from over. What a humiliating farce.
UK PM Rishi Sunak sees off rebellion for now as flagship Rwanda bill clears first Commons hurdle
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Politicians should be dialling down the rhetoric not ratcheting it up. Deeply unhelpful in a week where MPs security has been a serious concern and MPs have had some horrendous incidents to have a First Minister repeat the 'traitors' line in Parliament.
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Another phenomenal Lanarkshire result! Well done to the whole team and to another great new Labour Cllr., Kaye Harmon!
Motherwell South East & Ravenscraig (North Lanarkshire) By-Election Result [First Prefs]:
🌹 LAB: 44.0% (+12.8)
🎗️ SNP: 30.1% (-12.7)
🌳 CON: 9.5% (-7.1)
🌍 GRN: 8.2% (+0.4)
💂♀️ BUP: 3.1% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (New)
🔷 ALBA: 2.1% (New)
💷 UKIP: 0.8% (+0.1)
No SFP (-0.9) as…
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Tonight I voted for an amendment with practical steps towards peace in Gaza. Many constituents have written to me with different views so I wanted to outline my reasoning. We all want a path to peace, but we need to start with what is possible, now.
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Truly honoured to have been selected tonight as
@ScottishLabour
's candidate in Rutherglen & Hamilton West. Now we campaign for the representation this area has been without and for the change our communities need.
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Extremely disappointing the people of Rutherglen & Hamilton West have to endure yet another delay in our democratic right to decide if Margaret Ferrier should remain our MP. People feel let down and instead of the chance for a fresh start we are met with dither and incompetence.
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Busy day tomorrow so can't stay up for the results, but let me know if the Emperor of India gets more votes in Mid Beds than he got in Rutherglen & Hamilton West.
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Grateful to the House of Commons photographers for these photos from my swearing in earlier this week!
Credit: ©UK Parliament/Andy Bailey
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A great afternoon at chatting to locals and activists in Rutherglen with
@GordonBrown
!
It’s clearer than ever that people want a
#FreshStart
- and I’m ready to deliver it, so vote
@ScottishLabour
next Thursday.
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Yet another new election strategy? An MSP promoting a nationalist trope that only the SNP have 'Scottish voices' certainly isn't a reflection of the outward looking, pluralist, confident Scotland I know and love.
Starmer doesn’t need Scottish seats to win the next election. Voting SNP helps ensure there’s a loud Scottish voice in the ear of the next Labour government.
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Another great afternoon on the doors - thank you
@AngelaRayner
for joining us!
We are ready to deliver change in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
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The sun pouring into Westminster Hall earlier this week
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People across Scotland have had enough of managed decline and crisis after crisis.
Labour offers that opportunity - for change and renewal and a country with its best days ahead.
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Final Stop: Hamilton!
Everywhere we go today the message is clear: People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are desperate for a fresh start.
Scottish Labour will be the party to deliver just that.
#FreshStart
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"I am not willing to trade my values and principles, or do deals with whomever, simply for retaining power"
- Humza Yousaf, 2 hours ago.
Alba leader Alex Salmond tells
#BBCWATO
that the outgoing Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf was still trying to do a deal with his party at 0730 this morning - well after rumours of his resignation were circulating.
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A congestion charge on the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West during a cost of living crisis is unthinkable. Our area needs change, not more SNP chaos.
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I’ll be honest I didn’t have Stone of Destiny on my SNP leadership bingo card. Suppose you should never take anything for granite.
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An honour to plant a remembrance tribute in the Constituency Garden of Remembrance at Parliament and pause for a few moments to remember all those from Rutherglen and Hamilton West who made the ultimate sacrifice in all past conflicts. We will remember them.
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Horrendous scenes in Israel. Innocent people again caught in a cycle of violence that has torn apart so many lives. The terrorist acts we are seeing can never, ever be justified.
Although it may seem we’re further than ever from peace I hope a resolution can still be achieved.
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Today the recall petition opened in Rutherglen and Hamilton West. It’s finally our turn to have a say on who represents us and by signing the petition we have the opportunity for a fresh start right across our community.
Details on the petition here:
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SNP politics laid bare today - support a windfall tax but not *that* windfall tax because heaven forbid we should tax the huge profits of energy giants more rather than nurses and teachers.
Incoherent and utterly out of touch.
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This is a huge blow to people in Rutherglen & Hamilton West who are now effectively cut off from Glasgow by public transport at night. The SNP needs to get a grip of public transport and bring buses back into public hands so the public have a service they can rely on.
BREAKING: Night bus services in Glasgow scrapped, First Bus announces.
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Absolutely extraordinary results overnight showing just how far the Tories have fallen and how much people want change.
Huge congratulations to new MPs
@SarahEdwardsTam
and
@alistrathern
- looking forward to welcoming you next week and me not being the new guy!
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Great to welcome
@Keir_Starmer
to Lanarkshire alongside my six fellow Lanarkshire candidates and to hear from him and
@AnasSarwar
on the change Scotland needs. Thanks to
@JeanJohansson
and all those who joined us. Scotland can lead the way in delivering a UK Government this year.
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This by-election is a once in a lifetime opportunity to send a message to two governments that are failing our community.
On 5th October, vote Michael Shanks - Scottish Labour, and together we can build a
#FreshStart
for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
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Haven’t heard any SNP speakers say anything against the substance of the Labour amendment so I’m surprised they are so angry about process.
🚨🚨🚨
Hearing the SNP are seeking urgent discussions with Tories about getting rid of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle after todays Gaza amendment row
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Mark down as undecided I think
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Don't think I've ever seen an audience on any political discussion show be so universally critical - utter condemnation - of a government as the
@bbcdebatenight
audience was tonight towards the SNP. Scots are demanding change.
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I’m determined to give the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West the representation they deserve. On Thursday, you can help me do that. It’s time for a
#FreshStart
.
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God has a sense of humour, good comedy timing and control over the Church microphones.
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Years of SNP cuts have left services in South Lanarkshire at breaking point - and now the government want to hike Council Tax to plug the gaps.
We can't keep paying the price of SNP failure, and our communities deserve better.
?
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Thank you Eileen for your support and kind words.
On Thursday, we can send both of Scotland’s failing Governments a message and deliver a
#FreshStart
for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
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Meanwhile let's not forget the Scottish Government gave Fujitsu millions in a multi-year deal to run the IT behind Scotland's local government elections
🚨🚨
Fujitsu won £4.9bn of contracts on Rishi Sunak’s watch despite Post Office scandal
via
@ft
@rafeuddin_
@AnnaSophieGross
@LOS_Fisher
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On Labour's front bench for the first time today and asked the Minister of State for Scotland what he is doing to tackle the soaring cost of food - and does he really believe families struggling to get by will take any comfort from the Autumn Statement?
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Nobody seriously calls this an appeal other than the SQA.
Get the facts about appeals ahead of SQA Results Day. Appeals are free and can be made direct by learners. All appeals result in a marking review (not a clerical check). Visit
#SQAResults
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We’ll work tirelessly for every single vote between now and whenever the Prime Minister finds the bottle to call an election but this poll reflects what we’re all finding on the doorstep - people are fed up of the SNP and Tories and want change. 2024 is the year for change.
Scotland can lead the way in delivering the change our country needs.
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This is our chance - to deliver a fresh start and real change for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
We can say ‘no’ to more of the same. Vote Scottish Labour on October 5.
#FreshStart
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We’ve been in every part of Rutherglen & Hamilton West today speaking to voters and talking about the
#freshstart
our community so badly needs.
Thanks to everyone who spoke to us on the doorsteps and in the streets.
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Thanks to everyone who joined us this weekend and to the hundreds of voters right across Rutherglen and Hamilton West for the conversations we’ve shared. People want a
#freshstart
and we’re taking nothing for granted in this campaign.
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Joined with
@_LFI
and with over a thousand Labour members tonight in solidarity with the Jewish community.
I’m proud the Labour Party is once again in a place to unequivocally call out antisemitism and stand shoulder to shoulder with Jewish people at this horrendous time.
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The Resolution Foundation report this assertion is based on of course makes zero mention of this figure or any figure for Scotland - it’s been dreamt up by the SNP. It does though mention homelessness has reached a record high in Scotland. Wonder why that isn’t their priority?
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It was great to make my maiden speech in the House of Commons during the last day of the King's Speech debates. I spoke about the fantastic communities that make up Rutherglen & Hamilton West and how we carry ourselves in political debates.
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2023 was quite a year! Before we enter another busy election year I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who was part of the campaign and who put their trust in me. A lot of hard work ahead but with the same determination we can deliver change across the whole country in 2024.
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Thought the Herald was investing in education coverage these days... clearly needing to visit a few more social subjects faculties!
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This decision was inevitable and instead of doing the right thing and resigning Margaret Ferrier has continued to leave this community without the representation we need and deserve. (1/2)
BREAKING:
Margaret Ferrier: Covid train trip MP loses appeal over Commons ban
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In less than a week, voters across Rutherglen and Hamilton West will have the chance to send a clear message to our two failing governments.
Vote for change. Vote for Michael Shanks - Scottish Labour.
#FreshStart
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Today, on
#HolocaustMemorialDay
we remember all those murdered under Nazi persecution in the Holocaust and think of the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who continue to share their stories and remind us that anti-Jewish hatred did not begin nor end with the Holocaust.
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Today is the last day the signing stations for the Rutherglen & Hamilton West recall petition will be open late - open today until 8pm. They will be open Friday and Monday 9am to 5pm as well.
Find out where to sign here:
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Proud to be a
@GMB_union
member today seeing the union standing side by side with Asda workers fighting for fair pay for women. 50,000 workers are rightly challenging the £2 an hour less they get paid and Asda can well afford to settle those claims.
#ASDAPayJustice
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In a conflict this complex there are no easy solutions. We all want an end to hostilities and long term peace for Israel and Palestine. Today Keir set out a clear path to achieving that:
Today I spoke at
@ChathamHouse
on the path to peace out of the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
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What a day! We're taking nothing for granted in this campaign and we spoke to hundreds of voters in every corner of Rutherglen and Hamilton West today.
A
#FreshStart
is possible.
Thanks to everyone who joined us.
✅ 1 van.
✅ 4 stops.
✅ Hundreds of doors knocked and a crowd of volunteers.
And this is just the beginning!
It’s time for a
#FreshStart
for everyone in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
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@haughey_clare
@ScottishLabour
Hi Clare, nice to hear from you. Not sure if you’re mixing us up with your own party’s campaign but rather than delivering surveys we’ve been chatting to voters directly for months, several thousand at the last count. I’m sure we’ll meet at some point, enjoy the nice weather!
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