WhatsApp is running the country

It’s been astonishing watching how well people have been getting to grips with life in this strange and restricted time.

Coronavirus has created a different way of life and, even though there has been some panic buying and some have found social distancing more difficult than others, we are largely adapting.

Politicians too are dealing with a very different set of problems from those constituents were coming to us with as recently as two weeks ago.

Among them are constituents trapped half-way across the world, and their families at home who need the one word which is becoming the most important in the politicians’ lexicon. Reassurance.

I am normally no fan of either of our Government’s – UK or Scottish – but that does not matter in this. All of us have a duty to work together to make sure that the public has the information and that word reassurance that they need.

While there are some steps that the UK Government is that I would normally want more time to question, in these circumstances I am willing to offer a measure of trust, but make it clear that trust must not be abused.

I will continue to scrutinise and ask for changes but co-operation and mutual support for the public must come first.

Last week that co-operation was evident at Westminster in a way that has not always been the case. MPs’ WhatsApp has never been busier with cross-party conversation.

And that is as vital to the people we serve as it is to all of us as individuals in tackling this. Because if we trust each other we can build a positive way ahead.