On Monday, an estimated 3,100 Borderers on the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage are set to benefit from a pay rise, thanks to the UK Government.

Like the majority of people in the Scottish Borders I voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 Referendum.

However, it was a UK wide vote carried out under the promise that whatever people decided would be implemented.

The Scottish Government’s R100 broadband programme has already run in to delays, the Minister in charge of it has admitted.

New official figures published today, show that unemployment in the Scottish Borders is falling and that across the UK the number of people in work was at a record high.

A note to my constituents...

There is no doubt it has been a busy week in Westminster with a lot of voting on a range of options.

For my constituents, below is an account of how I voted. As ever, please get in touch if you would like any further clarity.

The Chancellor, Philip Hammond MP is expected to announce the UK Government will be contributing £260m to the Borderlands Growth Deal.

The UK Government has been supporting Growth Deals across the UK since 2014. To date, this has included more than £1.3bn of investment in Scotland.

It was announced last night that the UK has secured changes to the deal. They include a legally binding addition to the Withdrawal Agreement, which gives the UK the right to start legal proceedings against the EU if the UK was tied to the so called Northern Ireland backstop indefinitely.

John Lamont MP is backing a campaign to help Borders residents get faster broadband, for the same or less money than they pay now.

The Scottish Government’s Transport Agency has published a long awaited report into transport in the Borders, but it has been described as a ‘flop’ by local MP John Lamont.

Hopes are high that the Jim Clark Rally could be set to return to the Borders this year as organisers have pencilled in the weekends of May 24th and 25th.