IN the next five weeks voters here in Clacks will have two separate, but connected choices to make.

This Thursday we’ll vote to decide who we trust to run our local services through Clackmannanshire Council, then on June 8 we’ll decide again who will give local people the strongest voice at Westminster.

Representing the people of Ochil and South Perthshire as your local MP has been the greatest privilege of my life.

Since my election two years ago I’ve worked as hard as I can both here and at Westminster to keep my promise to be a strong voice for our communities in parliament.

I’ve been proud to lead campaigns to protect my disabled constituents from cuts to their social security benefits, and to stand up for the pensions of the WASPI women who have been so unfairly treated by this Tory government.

At the same time as this campaigning work I’ve also strived to ensure a fair deal for individual constituents who have contacted me for help, especially those who have got in touch in challenging or tragic circumstances.

For example, I’ve stood up for working families here whose tax credits were unfairly stopped as part of the Concentrix crisis were quickly repaid by HMRC.

Last year I also introduced a Private Members Bill in order to ensure that people facing benefits sanctions are not left destitute and hungry by an uncaring system.

I was disgusted that when Theresa May was challenged on her record on foodbanks at the weekend she didn’t even express sympathy for those who rely on them for daily essentials.

In each and every case it’s been an honour to have been able to help.

But now only two years into what should have been a five-year parliament, Theresa May has decided to cash in on the disastrous state of the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, and has called an early General Election.

So I’m standing for re-election on June 8 because I want to finish the job I started when I was voted in in 2015.

I want to stand up for those disabled people who have lost vital mobility payments, and the families who stand to lose out from vital tax credits payments.

I want to give a voice to those who oppose the horrific and inhumane rape clause. And I want to make sure that Scotland gets the best possible deal from Europe, not the right-wing Brexit proposed by Theresa May and her inept cronies in Whitehall.

Because here in Clackmannanshire, only the SNP can stand between Scotland and an unfettered Tory government.

This Thursday, I hope you’ll support my SNP colleagues in their efforts to run effective local services here as a first line of defence from Tory austerity and cuts. And on June 8, I hope I can get your support once again to finish the job I started two years ago.