Speeches

There are 736 MEPs so when we get to speak we don't normally get to do it for very long. Speeches take place in the plenary sessions when the full Parliament meets in Brussels or Strasbourg.

One of the best sessions for raising issues important to Scotland is at the beginning of the Strasbourg session. In these sessions you get one minute to talk about anything you want. Of course you have to fight for your minute!

I speak on issues affecting Scotland, on reports of the European Parliament, to question the Commission or the European Presidency on topical issues and on the topic of international affairs. I think it's important that the European Parliament speaks out on international affairs as our domestic Parliaments' often find themselves tongue-tied.

If you want to know what I've been saying you can read my speeches here or listen to my speeches from the last parliamentary sessions through the European Parliament website.