At the start of the month, I went to vote with my SNP colleagues on the NHS Funding Bill. This Bill has big implications for Scotland - any funding changes in England have consequences here. But as we went to vote we were confronted by signs showing the Bill was for England only. The clerks therefore recorded our vote as "ineligible". It's time to scrap the undemocratic nonsense that is English Votes for English Laws (EVEL).

Demanding to know when EVEL will be scrapped is something I’ve asked about during my weekly exchanges with Jacob Rees-Mogg in my new role as SNP Shadow Leader of the House.

I’ve also used every one of these Thursday morning sessions to press the argument that the Tories do not have a mandate in Scotland and to demand that they recognise The Claim of Right for Scotland. You'll see here and here that Rees-Mogg has yet to give me an answer of whether people in Scotland have the right to determine how they are governed – relying on bluster along the lines of “you’ll have had your referendum”.

I had a very interesting discussion with Hannah and Craig from SAMH. We spoke about the real challenges people with mental health conditions face when claiming social security. There are particular problems around Universal Credit - people often just don’t get the support they need. I’ll continue to work with SAMH and others to help bring about much needed change. For more information on SAMH's campaigns, check out their website: https://www.samh.org.uk/

Earlier in the month I visited the new Council housing development at Craigmillar Town Centre, right next to where the new high school is being built. There are 194 new homes nearing completion - the first lot are on course to be available from March. They are looking good - spacious, nicely designed, quality homes fit for 21st century living. On top of that, the views are spectacular to Arthur's Seat, Craigmillar Castle, the Braids and the Pentlands. These come hot on the heels of 111 affordable homes built for Dunedin Canmore Housing Association right next door, with work still ongoing on more at Greendykes.

The pace of change in Craigmillar's regeneration has been fast even in the last few years since I've been representing the area as MP. While I think there is still work to do around the social infrastructure to bring the new community together, I think most folk can agree it's great to see Craigmillar on the up.

Our city is growing fast and there is growing need for good quality homes that ordinary people can afford. That's why I'm so proud to be a member of a party that is delivering for people in Edinburgh East through the actions of the Scottish Government and the SNP-led City of Edinburgh Council. The SNP has committed to building 20,000 new affordable homes here in the capital between 2017 and 2027 - and that plan is right on track.