Mhairi Black, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South has been looking back at her first year as an MP.

Mhairi was elected as the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, defeating the former Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander, in a historic victory on May 7th 2015. Mhairi is the youngest person elected to Westminster since the Reform Act 1832.

Mhairi’s maiden speech, which celebrated the people and history of Paisley and Renfrewshire, was a scathing attack on the Tory Government’s austerity plan, and has since been viewed by over 12 million people online.

Following the election Mhairi has spent her time holding surgeries to meet her constituents and help them with the various struggles they are facing. Mhairi has also been meeting and giving to support to many local charities, businesses and organisations.  She is also working to save the Paisley Crown Post Office and is arranging a Public Meeting on the 20th of May for people to raise their concerns over plans to move the Crown Post Office from its current location in the Piazza into WH Smith on the High Street.

Since being sworn in Mhairi has played an active role in the Work and Pensions Select Committee, and joined her SNP colleagues in putting pressure on the Government to reconsider its Tax Credits plan, ultimately resulting in an embarrassing U-turn by George Osborne.  Following this Mhairi has been at fighting for fair transitional pension arrangements for women born in the 1950’s alongside the Women Against State Pension inequality campaign – securing a debate in the House of Commons and speaking in two further debates bringing national attention to the issue.

Commenting Mhairi said:

“I feel the SNP have made a significant impression on Westminster over the past year.  We have fought hard to undermine the Tories at every turn and I am proud of what we have achieved.

“I am still humbled and grateful every day to the people of Paisley and Renfrewshire South for trusting in me as their Member of Parliament, and I love nothing more in this job than getting to meet as many of them as possible.

“I am so excited to continue working for the people of Paisley and Renfrewshire South, and cannot wait to see what we will achieve over the next four years”.