FULL TIME Rangers 3️⃣ - 0️⃣ Partick Thistle We progress into the Sky Sports Cup Semi Final! 👊🏆

👊 The Don!!

I had a good day at todays Scottish Fiddle Orchestra annual rehearsal in Dunblane. Good to play through some new music and the orchestra was sounding very good.

What a heartbreaking week it has been. Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work. My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund    alzresearch.org/giving/ Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources     alzfdn.org/donate/ Photo Credit: Tommy Garcia

Today, opposition parties united to defeat the SNP Government and demand the introduction of a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill. I hope we now see SNP Ministers respect the will of Parliament and start cross-party work on a Bill to deliver better outcomes.

Good to attend the morning session of the @NFUStweets Autumn Conference at Ingliston today. Heard from the President Andrew Connon and from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Gillian Martin MSP. Plenty to reflect upon. Great to see some friendly and familiar faces too and have a little catch up.

Yesterday the Scottish Parliament voted on a Liberal Democrat motion for the Scottish Government to re-introduce the LDAN Bill (Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill) after they abandoned it. The motion passed by 60 votes to 54. Guess who all voted against the motion? The SNP! Not one SNP MSP had the backbone, courage or principles to vote against their Governments position. It’s cowardice and so utterly pathetic. Where’s the independent mindedness??? Apparently they have none or if they do they don’t have the bravery to show it. The Scottish Government and the SNP have totally betrayed the trust of all those people who so strongly campaigned for the Bill. The SNP’s attitude to the LDAN Bill and to those who are Autistic, Neurodivergent and/or who have learning disabilities has been appalling. To those, who like me, campaigned for the bill let’s keep fighting for the bill and for making a positive difference.

*This Budget does not come close to meeting the moment. It barely mentions the countryside, offers pennies off gherkins and boiled sweets for food security (?!?) and doubles down on the Family Farm & Family Business Taxes that are crippling investment in rural businesses. And on fertiliser, your left hand doesn’t know what the far-left hand is doing: two weeks ago, the Chancellor and Labour MPs brought in a brand-new tax on fertiliser! This confused approach to rocketing business costs faced by farmers and rural businesses helps to explain why families are finding their food shopping ever more expensive. Not good enough, not strong enough and not bold enough.

The SNP has just been told by the Scottish Parliament that it should reintroduce the LDAN Bill. So, does the SNP respect the Scottish Parliament, or does that principle only apply when it suits them?

This Budget offered the Chancellor the opportunity to reset its relationship with the countryside. Today, however, he showed little interest in seizing that chance.   Extending small business rates relief could help rural businesses, but coupled with hikes in employment costs it remains to be seen whether hardworking rural business owners will see any real benefit. Additionally, while temporarily extending the red diesel duty cut and suspending tariffs on kerosene heating oil and fertiliser are welcome moves, it will come as little solace to farmers still facing enormous threats to their livelihoods.   Before becoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham pledged to revisit the hated Family Farm Tax. He has failed to do so. This tax continues to tarnish the government’s rural record. It is preventing farmers from making important decisions about their livelihoods, hampering the government’s own mission of creating good growth in every postcode. Working with the custodians of our countryside, we will continue to vocally oppose this tax and call for its abolition.   Additionally, farmers have been encouraged for years to diversify their businesses by creating holiday lets, among other measures; but anyone who has done so is now being punished by yet another increase to the property income tax paid on such lets, further threatening the viability of their business.   At a time when the government should be increasing support for farmers and in the wake of last month’s Sustainable Farming Incentive fiasco, it has slashed DEFRA's funding for 2027-28 by £100m.   This Budget does little to give “breathing space” or fresh hope for the countryside. If this government is serious about growth in every postcode, including in the countryside, it must urgently address the plethora of problems facing rural businesses. Scrapping the Family Farm Tax is the only way to turn a new leaf. @CAupdates

🥀 Labour could have used today’s budget to supports Scotland’s most crucial industries - it failed across the board. Farming?… No change to Family Farm Tax. Oil & gas?… No change to Energy Profits Levy. Whisky?… Spirits duty increased again. Defence?… No plan for 3%.

💙 Today, we remember the great Walter Smith. On the fifth anniversary of his passing, we remember with immense affection one of the greatest figures in Rangers Football Club's history.

Back British Farming. Labour must Axe the Family Farm Tax in next week’s budget. NO FARMS, NO FOOD. #familyfarmtax

😮‍💨 WHAT A STRIKE FROM WILKO! 🚀

Ready for tonight’s State Banquet in Windsor. 📸 @GregWInsight

A superb afternoon spent helping my dad at the smallholding. Great to get some work done with our Grey Fergie tractor. This is where I’m at my happiest and will always be proud to be a country boy

💙 Rangers Football Club | 📸 Team Photo 2026/27

So this coming Saturday I’ll be at Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh speaking at the 2026 Scottish Smallholder and Countryside Festival. This speech will be focusing on my experiences of being an autistic countryboy. The speech is almost finalised but without giving too much away this speech is going to be a highly emotional one and I hope that I have the courage and nerves to deliver it and deliver it well.