 In 2011 He was elected to serve the Falkirk East constituency, gaining over 50% of the vote, ousting Labour's Cathy Peattie who had been the MSP since 1999.During the fourth Parliament he was a Member of the Economy, Energy & Tourism Committee, the Public Petitions Committee, the Scottish Commission for Public Audit and the Cross Party Group on Gaelic.He was re-elected in 2016.