Monday January 5th 2026
MP Kirsty McNeil
Midlothian MP Kirsty McNeil writes her monthly column for Midlothian View
The last week of Parliament sitting in 2025 brought two pieces of fantastic news for us here in Midlothian.
Interest rates were cut for the sixth time since Labour took office, with the average homebuyer having now saved around £1,000 on their mortgage.
And our Labour Government passed the Employment Rights Bill – the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation – guaranteeing sick pay and paternity leave from day one, and scrapping practices like fire-and-rehire and exploitative zero-hours contracts.
This is what Labour is all about: progressive change that makes life fairer and more secure.
Those values were at the heart of our Autumn Budget where we took practical steps to ease pressure on family finances. The fuel duty freeze was extended, energy bills were cut by £150 for everyone and £300 for those most in need, and further increases to the National Minimum and Living Wages boosted the pay of 1 in 20 Midlothian workers.
And we took a huge step toward fighting child poverty. In my old job I spent much of my time working with and advocating for children. In that role, I’d often say that good and bad childhoods follow people around forever. That is why I’m incredibly proud of our Labour Government’s decision to abolish the two-child benefit cap – a decision which will transform the futures of nearly 2,000 kids here in Midlothian.
A lot is being done but I know there is a lot more to do. After years of mismanagement by the SNP government, our public services are at breaking point. While NHS waiting lists in England and Wales fall under Labour, the SNP continue to squabble over independence while launching their fifth NHS recovery plan in under four years.
Don’t let anyone tell you that nothing ever changes, that it doesn’t matter who you vote for. This is the difference a Labour government makes.
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