With Holyrood back in full swing after the October recess, Russell Findlay is making himself comfortable as Holyrood’s new Leader of the Opposition.

Of course, with a new leader comes new Shadow Cabinet roles, and I am delighted to have been appointed as the new Shadow Minister for Local Government and Public Finance.

Since becoming an MSP eight and a half years ago, I have had the opportunity to be my party’s spokesperson on many important issues, including equalities and older people, the constitution and external affairs, and housing and planning.

As someone who previously served as a councillor for some 18 years, I particularly relish the chance to once again speak for my party on the issue of local government.

Indeed, given the current SNP Scottish Government’s poor relationship with local councils, there has never been a more important time to hold this role.

Every year, we see the Scottish Government attempt to centralise more power away from local government, and force through countless planning decisions that have been rejected by local communities.

At the same time, councils have been dealt a series of real term funding cuts over the last decade, meaning that all too often, councillors are left deciding which service will be the next to be cut.

This has been the case here in Clackmannanshire just as much as any area of Scotland. In recent years the Wee County has faced cuts to all manner of services, including anything from local bus services right up to town halls and community centres.

I look forward to engaging with my colleagues in councils right across Scotland to ensure that local government is given the voice it deserves in parliament.

At the same time, I also relish the prospect of speaking for my party on the issue of public finance. For years, Scotland has suffered from economic mismanagement under the hands of the SNP, whose high tax and anti-business agenda has led to Scotland falling behind the rest of the UK.

As bad as SNP policy has been for Scotland’s economy, the new Labour UK Government could be about to make things even worse, with last week’s UK budget being straight out of the SNP’s playbook. It included £40 billion worth of tax hikes, including on key Scottish industries such as whisky and North Sea oil and gas.

Far from delivering the change they promised, with this budget Labour has doubled-down on the SNP’s tried-and-failed approach to the economy – and people and businesses across Scotland will be worse off as a result.

The health of our public finances depends on Scotland having two serious, competent governments at its helm. For the time being, however, Scotland has been left with two deeply unserious parties in charge of its economy.

I look forward to using my new role to champion common sense economics, based around the core principles of lower taxes and economic growth, which will truly allow people and businesses across Scotland to reach their full potential.