I've had a busy start to the New Year in the House of Commons and in the local constituency. There have been lots of issues where I've made your voice heard as your Member of Parliament. Here is what I've been up to:
At the start of the year, I led a debate in the House of Commons on transport links between Scotland and the UK.
I used that opportunity to push for progress on the Borders Railway extension, which has stalled since the UK Labour government decided to pause a feasibility study into the extension.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Labour government will refuse to even consider the extension and the huge benefits it could deliver.
It also seems that neither Labour nor the SNP will choose to invest to dual the A1 or improve the A7 or A68, despite the clear evidence that those roads are not good enough.
I will keep campaigning for better railway services and roads across the Borders because I know how vital it is that local people have access to transport that is safe, reliable and affordable.
I have long campaigned for better phone signal across the Borders and I'm delighted to say I've managed to secure some improvements.
The masts are located at Cossarshill Farm and Tushielaw Farm in the Ettrick Valley near Selkirk.
They will deliver improvements to connectivity so that more people can receive good 4G coverage.
I also wanted to make you aware that I managed to ask the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, a question in the UK Parliament at the end of last year.
In their first budget, Labour removed agricultural property relief, leaving most farmers across the UK facing the prospect of substantial taxes upon their death.
Labour promised not to raise taxes on working people, but farmers are some of the hardest working people around.
Local farmers are telling me that Labour’s inheritance tax increase will prevent them from passing on the family farm to the next generation.
I asked Sir Keir why he had betrayed farmers in the Borders and across the country.
