TWENTY years ago this month the Scottish Parliament reconvened after a 300 year adjournment, a move which was supported by 80 per cent of people living in here in Clackmannanshire.

Opening its doors once again, the re-establishment of the parliament was the result of a concerted effort by those of us who believe that decisions relating to Scotland and its people should be made in Scotland.

In the years building up to devolution, opposition was strong, with many on the Unionist side narrow in their ambition and doubting the ability of the Scottish people to run their own affairs.

Looking back now over the record of the Scottish Parliament, they could not have been more wrong.

Tasked with improving the lot of the people of Scotland, this parliament has delivered.

Unemployment has dropped almost 50 per cent since 1999, with crime at its lowest ever level. We have the best performing public services in the UK delivered by the fairest tax system.

Free childcare hours have risen from 0 to 600 in twenty years and will rise again to 1140 hours by 2020. No wonder the majority of Scots believe the Scottish Parliament to be a force for good.

Yet, devolution is not merely the chamber and the 129 seats inside it. Devolution has encouraged Scotland to look itself in the eye and to ask itself what sort of a country it wants to be.

It has allowed Scotland to rediscover its distinctive identity. We have become a stronger, more ambitious and more positive Scotland. We have redefined how we see ourselves and how the world sees us.

For over the past twenty years, Scotland has become a world leader. On the global stage, our universities, our food and our drink are considered some of the world’s best.

We have taken the initiative on climate change, setting some of the most ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets in the world.

We are the first country to introduce the minimum unit alcohol pricing and provide free sanitary products, and we provide world leading protection for domestic abuse victims.

Of course, there is still much to do and we face many challenges. Our progress under devolution is threatened by a Westminster imposed Brexit.

We know that Brexit will damage our economy and our jobs, restricting our ability to create a fair and more prosperous Scotland.

Even the devolution settlement itself is at risk, with Tory politicians talking of a post-Brexit power-grab on the Scottish Parliament. Scotland’s voice, rediscovered under devolution and strengthened through our membership of the European Union, faces being silenced.

Throughout all this Brexit chaos, Westminster has ignored Scotland. On May 23 we can send a message that we will not accept a Brexit process that silences Scotland’s voice, ignores our votes, treats our parliament with contempt and fails to represent the interests of people in Scotland.

Anniversaries allow us to reflect on what has gone before. They also allow us to look forward to the future to what can still be achieved.

Devolution has proven that Scotland does better when it takes responsibility for its own decisions.

Don’t let those who doubt Scotland’s abilities hold us back.

Send them a message that Scotland’s voice will be heard – vote SNP in the European Election on May 23.