Politicans united against extremists

Through this column I feel privileged to be able to keep you updated on my constituency and parliamentary activities and the progress of government policy.

We are lucky to have a very accessible parliament in Edinburgh and the same can also be said for the UK Parliament in London.

That accessibility is a cornerstone of our modern democracy.

The dreadful attack on Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament in London last week must not be allowed to dilute that accessibility, which allows our electorates to see democracy in action.

My heartfelt condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones as a result of this dreadful act and my thoughts are with all of those who sustained injuries.

Many of us in the Scottish Parliament have friends and colleagues or even family members who work within the Palace of Westminster: parliamentarians, staff and journalists.

Last Wednesday was a harrowing day for all of them and they have our support and good wishes.

Above all, it is important that we stand in solidarity with London, a great city that will never be cowed by mindless acts of violence.

This attack is a stark reminder of the dangerous jobs that our emergency services do every day on our behalf. Last Wednesday Metropolitan Police officer Keith Palmer went to work to protect and defend democracy and did not return home. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this desperately sad time.

At times like these we should also remember and express our appreciation to police men and women across the country who risk their lives every day in the line of duty. I am particularly grateful to the police and security staff who keep myself, my colleagues and our staff safe at Holyrood.

In the aftermath of the attack last Wednesday the first minister was updated by the national security adviser and was briefed on the immediate actions taken by Police Scotland.

She also convened a meeting of the Scottish Government’s resilience committee, which reviewed what was known about the events in London, considered any implications for Scotland and heard directly from the chief constable and other senior officers about their response.

Following this meeting the first minister stressed to parliament that there was no intelligence that indicated any increased threat or risk to Scotland.

However, as a precautionary measure Police Scotland have increased security at key locations, including our parliament, and they will keep these arrangements under review.

I would echo the advice from the resilience committee and the First Minister that the public should remain vigilant but go about their everyday business as normal.

At times like these it can be all too easy to look for someone to blame. However, it is important that we are very clear that acts of terrorism are not the responsibility of any one faith or section of our society.

The only people to blame for acts of terrorism are the individuals who plan and perpetrate them.

I fully endorse both the first minister and the prime minister when they said, in the wake of the attack, that terrorists seek to undermine our values and destroy our way of life. They will not succeed.

Across party political lines, despite our disagreements in Holyrood, Westminster or elsewhere, politicians of all hues stood united in support of our core values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Those values are strong and they will endure.

Above all, it is important that we stand in solidarity with London