The Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP hit out at the MoD for allowing convoys loaded with nuclear warheads to travel across the Erskine Bridge during high winds. The 35-year-old SNP MP, who was previously a member of Renfrew Community Council, talked about the issue during the speech, last week in the House of Commons.

The father-of-two said: “On the 11 January this year, 50-mph gales were battering the west coast of Scotland.

“As a result, high-sided vehicles were warned not to cross the Erskine Bridge over the Clyde.

“I am not sure about anyone else, but the very last thing I want driving over a 150-foot bridge during such high winds is a convoy loaded with nuclear warheads.

“Unbelievably, that is exactly what the Ministry of Defence chose to do. “ He added: “My colleagues and I will not only lead the fight for better maintenance and security of those weapons, but ensure that the voices calling for the complete abolition of those obscene and senseless weapons of mass destruction are heard loud and heard often.” The SNP man also used the speech to discuss key concerns regarding his constituency.

He said: “The House should note with deep regret and concern that the Paisley job centre has doled out the most sanctions in the west of Scotland; that sanctions across Renfrewshire have soared by 148 per cent since 2010; that the demand for the aid of food banks in Renfrewshire has exploded by 1,763 per cent since 2012; and that one in five kids goes to bed hungry each night.

“That is the legacy of the coalition Government, it is the record of this Conservative Government and they should be ashamed.

“The Budget will do nothing to lift any of those people out of poverty.

“In fact, it will have the reverse effect.

“Countless children will, before long, find themselves living in poverty through no fault of their own, but I am sure that they will be comforted by the fact that the Government’s response to child poverty is to change the definition.

“This Government believe that if they fiddle the figures to show what they want them to, children and their families will—as if by magic—soon find themselves out of poverty and living a life of comfort.

“The message that came from the Chancellor last week was clear: do not work in the public sector; do not have children; do not be out of work; and do not, heaven forbid, be a young person.” As well as this, he paid tribute to his predecessor, 62 year-old Jim Sheridan, who served Paisley and Renfrewshire North between 2005 to 2015, and Renfrewshire West from 2001 to 2005.

The local MP said: “I would like to say a few words about my predecessor, Jim Sheridan. Jim was the Member of Parliament for the area for 14 years.

“He was a dedicated constituency MP and I am sure that the whole House will want to join me in wishing Jim, his family and his staff all the very best for the future.” Mr Newlands ended his maiden speech with heavy criticism of the government.

He said: “Over the last few weeks I have received countless messages from constituents who are growing increasingly frustrated and angry with the Tory Government’s arrogance.

“The Conservatives, a party that was near routed in Scotland with the worst result in its history and with only one MP, deign to tell Scots that we cannot have what we voted for in overwhelming numbers.

“The Government must stop playing games with the Scottish electorate and devolve the powers as proposed, without caveat, without veto and without delay.”