THE news that the Omicron variant has found its way to the UK and could already be transmitting in the community is concerning. We have seen before with the Delta variant, for example, that these strains of the Covid-19 virus transmit faster and there is always the fear that it is more resistant to the vaccine than other variants. We still have a lot to learn about this variant and its severity.

I would like to urge you all to be cautious and continue to follow the guidance in place. If you haven’t done so, get your Covid-19 vaccine, your booster vaccine and your flu jab and, if you are going to any gatherings or to the workplace, please take regular bi-weekly lateral flow tests. We would all like to avoid any additional restrictions being put in place and by continuing to follow the guidance in place, we give ourselves the best chance of doing so.

We also battled Storm Arwen over the weekend, with a rare red weather warning in place followed by some snow. The aftermath of these storms can be damaging and can take a while to recover from. If any of my constituents have been severely affected by this storm, please do contact my office for assistance. I do hope, however, that all of you are safe and well.

I am devastated on hearing the news last week of the needless loss of 27 lives in the English Channel. Those seeking refuge are human beings. They are driven out of desperation into boats crossing the Channel and by a lack of humanitarian alternative routes which have over the years been blocked by the UK Government. We should be working together to ensure that those seeking refuge get protection from exploitation and a safe route to asylum rather than punishment, criminalisation or risk to human life.

I will again back the calls of Scottish Ministers to ask the UK Government for a much more humane approach to asylum and will continue to do so in the wake of this dreadful tragedy.