Christmas is approaching and I hope you have wonderful plans to spend time with family and friends this year.

It's the best time of year to come together and share cherished moments with loved ones.

I want to thank all the many NHS staff, police officers, firefighters and other emergency workers who give up their own Christmas breaks to keep us safe and look after others. Their commitment is remarkable.

It's also important to recognise the amazing sacrifices of the brave men and women in our Armed Forces. All year round, they serve our country, putting their own lives second to doing their duty.

I also want to thank everyone who will be working hard over the festive period to provide services to the public, such as the small businesses and hospitality workers who won't spend much of the holidays with their own families because they are busy making sure the rest of us enjoy our break.

Congratulations to our Christmas Card competition winner

I’m delighted to announce the winner of the annual Christmas Card competition that I run alongside Rachael Hamilton MSP. 

The winning entry came from Blair Murphy, Primary 7 Wilton Primary School.

It will now be sent to the King, the Prime Minister, and lots of households across the Scottish Borders.

Well done to Blair for producing such a fantastic design and thank you to everybody who took part.

Celebrating Borders businesses 

Congratulations are also in order for the worthy winners of my Small Business Awards competition this year.

Thank you to the hundreds of people across the Borders who submitted entries for their best-loved local shops and services.

Nominations came flooding in for dozens of brilliant small businesses from all sorts of sectors and industries.

I’m delighted to acknowledge just a few of the many superb companies that call the Scottish Borders home.

The winning businesses for 2023 include: The Wonky Giraffe, Kelso; Fostons Fine Meats, Duns; Naked Sourdough, Kelso; Borders Podiatry and Performance Clinic, Galashiels; Robson Flooring; Hair by Louise, Ayton; and Baguette Express, Hawick.

In 2023 and beyond, please support all of the outstanding local businesses you can so that our high streets keep progressing and small enterprises grow even stronger.

I welcomed local police officer, Scott, to Number 10 Downing Street to celebrate his hard work in keeping communities safe across the Borders and campaigned with Craig Hoy in Coldstream.

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I showed support for the fantastic small businesses we have across the Scottish Borders on Small Business Saturday and with my Local Business Advent Calendar. 

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