Last Thursday, the SNP won its fourth Renfrewshire election in two years.

Just weeks after local people put their trust in the SNP to form a new council administration, they put their trust in the SNP again by voting to return Gavin Newlands and Mhairi Black to Westminster.

Mhairi will continue her work as the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, while Gavin will once again represent constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire North.

Gavin has been a hard-working MP for our community and he will continue to be a vocal advocate of women’s rights and Renfrewshire during the term of this Parliament.

How long that turns out to be is something nobody has the answer to.

Prime Minister Theresa May called this General Election in a bid to increase her majority and strengthen her position.

How ironic it is that she has now lost her majority, while the SNP retain our majority in Scotland, and will only cling onto power with the help of the DUP.

Her top advisors have resigned and she herself faces pressure from her own MPs to step down, as possible leadership contenders make moves to undermine her.

Not exactly the “strong and stable” government the public were promised ahead of the EU exit negotiations.

However, this result – combined with the hung parliament – makes Scotland and SNP MPs pivotal at Westminster.

Regardless of your views on Brexit or independence, each and every one of us wants to see the UK and Scotland get the best possible deal out of the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

Our SNP MPs will fight to make sure our voice is heard in the negotiations. They will stand up for Scotland’s parliament, arguing that powers returned from Brussels come to Scotland, as promised.

However, election results also give cause to reflect, whether a ‘winner’ or a ‘loser’, and whilst there will be reflection, rest assured there will also be the daily action of representing our constituents and getting on with delivery.

In recent weeks, I have spoken with our new SNP council leader Iain Nicolson and our new councillors on a regular basis.

As constituency MSP and also in my role as Scotland’s Finance Secretary, I look forward to working with members of the new administration at Renfrewshire Council to improve local services and improve the lives of local families.