IT HAS been two weeks since the people of East Lothian, alongside the rest of the UK, headed to the polls to vote in the General Election.

Reflecting upon the results, I would like to congratulate Douglas Alexander as our new MP for Lothian East and I welcome his appointment as Minister of State for Business and Trade. I look forward to working together for the people of East Lothian.

I also want to reflect on what this election result means for our politics.

It is very clear that people have rejected the divisive politics of the Conservatives and the SNP and are looking for a new era focused on public service and on affecting real and positive change in people’s lives.

This week, we saw an assassination attempt on the former President of the United States and, only a few weeks before, we had been remembering Jo Cox on what would have been her 50th birthday.

READ MORE: AS IT HAPPENED: General Election 2024 - Labour wins Lothian East

In his first statement after being re-elected as speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle said that threats and abuse against MPs is the worst he has seen it.

Politics at all levels is a place for disagreement and debate, but not for division and violence.

This is a responsibility we all share, and something I know Labour, newly in power in Westminster, will take very seriously, and something we should all strive for here in Scotland and at Holyrood.

As Jo Cox said so eloquently: “We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.”

I must also mention and celebrate the success of the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.

My thanks to all those who helped organise the event and I congratulate Robert MacIntyre, the first Scot to win for 25 years.