If a week is a long time in politics, then a fortnight is an eternity. The last time I wrote for the Orkney News it was with some sadness at the announcement by Humza Yousaf that he was to stand down as First Minister and leader of the SNP.

Fast forward to last Thursday and we witnessed John Swinney being sworn in as Scotland’s seventh First Minister.

I was delighted to hear John make eradicating child poverty in Scotland his key mission as he set out his priorities as First Minister.

While it is clear that the parties represented in the Scottish Parliament have different values and priorities, I share John’s hope that MSPs from across the political spectrum will feel able to work together on this goal of ensuring that no child in Scotland has to live in poverty.

Having seen the issues faced by families in Orkney and across the rest of the region – the increasing use of foodbanks; the high demand for support on energy costs to keep heat on and cook hot meals – there is little doubt that this is an ambitious aim. However, with the right focus and support then eradicating child poverty should be possible. As the First Minister said, there is no acceptable number of children living in poverty – one is too many. Indeed, every child living in poverty is a national tragedy.

In the face of a cost-of-living crisis driven by Brexit and the Tory mismanagement of the UK economy, and with a continued austerity drive by the Tories, it means we will have one hand tied behind our back as we seek to build on progress already made. This includes 100,000 children being kept out of poverty by policies such as the Scottish Child Payment. No stone will be left unturned.

While I have now returned to the back benches as part of John’s re-organising of the government, I’m proud of the work I did as a minister in the past year to support new Scots, to make progress in equalities and human rights, and in delivering an action plan to address depopulation. That is an issue that affects communities across the Highlands and Islands, and not least some of Orkney’s islands, and I will continue to work on these issues in my role as a regional MSP, along with many other supportive policies for the area.

Already, I have spent my first days back looking at the Housing Bill and potential ways to strengthen it, as well as written to or questioned the Scottish Government on building heating regulations, support for disabled people, and support for First Responders.

I am particularly excited to take up a role, pending Parliament’s approval as I write, as a member of the Rural Committee. All going well, my first meeting will be Stage 2 of the Agriculture Bill, and I am very excited to have a role to play in scrutinising the forthcoming Land Reform legislation. I will also, of course, be re-joining the Cross-Party Group on Islands.

I look forward to continuing to make the case for independence as part of my work, recognising that the present economic and social climate makes it more essential and urgent than ever before.

This is a regular column by Emma Roddick SNP MSP. All Highlands and Islands Regional MSPs have been offered the same space in The Orkney News to share their personal views.