Workers rights are my priority

On Saturday, we marked Sma’ Shot Dayour annual celebration of the triumph of the Paisley weavers in 1856, who fought to be paid fairly for the unseen, but integral, white thread in a Paisley shawl - the Sma’ Shot.

- BY PAISLEY AND RENFREWSHIRE SOUTH MP JOHANNA BAXTER

This year’s celebration is particularly poignant for me personally because Sma’ Shot Day also marks my first year as your Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South.

Marching alongside our community in commemoration of those brave workers was the first community event I attended as your MP, and I was very proud to do so again on Saturday, closing out the year in which this Labour government introduced the biggest upgrade of worker's rights in a generation.

Before I was elected as your MP a year ago, I spent my entire working life standing up for workers’ rights as a trade union negotiator.

In that role, I saw firsthand the harm done by fourteen years of Conservative government - years that have chipped away at the livelihoods and dignity of working people.