This time last week, activists and candidates from all parties and none were out on the streets of Glasgow getting out our vote and hoping that we could convince any last minute “undecideds” on why they should vote for us.

Since then, we’ve now all had an opportunity to dissect the results and attempt to predict what will be the priority of the next Scottish Parliament. Sadly, despite having no mention on their literature about independence it is clear from the victory speeches that we heard from SNP MSPs that their sole concern will be fastracking another independence referendum at any cost. Instead, Scottish Labour MSPs will continue to be laser focused on a national recovery, working to unite our country and crucially rebuilding our communities which will continue to suffer long after we have all been vaccinated, if the SNPs cuts to local councils continue.

Nevertheless, there is no doubt, the result for Scottish Labour wasn’t what we hoped, it’s important to be honest about that, but there were glimmers of hope and progress. Across Glasgow we saw an increase in votes for our candidates compared to 2016 and in parts of the city we saw swings from the SNP to Scottish Labour.

Our party also made history when Pam Duncan-Glancy was elected the first MSP who is a permanent wheelchair user, I have known Pam for many years – she is someone you very much want on your side and I know she will be a fighter for all of Glasgow in Holyrood. And that’s what we need right now, we need MSPs who will put aside whether you voted yes, no, leave or remain and focus on the matters in hand right now.

The SNP will attempt to claim that their victory is a mandate for second referendum, but that is not necessarily true. It was clear even from the voters I spoke to who, unlike me, support independence.

But they understand that now is not the time for more uncertainty. Our local areas have been decimated, absolute poverty is on the rise, and we are on the cusp of jobs crisis. Those voters, like me, believe that our national parliament spending its time focused on constitutional grievances is reckless and selfish.

As a candidate in the Scottish Parliamentary elections, I have reflected a lot over the past week on the campaign we ran. It was a campaign rooted in community, in going out there and having those often very difficult conversations with people who had went from solid Labour to undecided in recent years. But what I found was that people respected and appreciated that. We are demonstrably rebuilding trust with those communities – but we must continue that work.

On Saturday, Labour Councillors were the only elected members who turned up to support the 3rd weekly read-in outside Whiteinch, I know my colleagues joined read-ins outside Maryhill and The Couper Institute too. Standing with your community isn’t just for election time and we will be proud to stand with them in the coming weeks and months.

As for what’s next for Scottish Labour in Glasgow? We get up, we dust ourselves off and we get ready for the next challenge.

This election may be over but there will be another one in just under a years time and we still believe Glasgow deserves better than uncertainty and devastating cuts.