On behalf of myself and my staff, may I take this opportunity to wish you and your family and friends a very merry Christmas and a great 2019 when it arrives.

As I write this column the Tories continue to wriggle and squirm over Brexit. It’s clear there will be a very real difference in the way Northern Ireland and Scotland will be treated under Brexit – and it is a detrimental one to the Scottish economy and to Scottish interests. And no matter what way you voted in the Brexit referendum, I’ll bet you didn’t vote for that.

I asked questions at Holyrood about the roll out of Universal Credit in the Drumchapel benefits office on December 5. The SNP continues to call for the Tories to halt the rollout of Universal Credit and the misery it is bringing to tens of thousands of families, especially with the five-week delay when first registering.

Even the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights and extreme poverty, Philip Alston, has exposed how much this isn’t working and how it is having an adverse effect on the people it is supposedly there to help.

I have also spoken in debates on pancreatic cancer, learning disabilities, child poverty and international development, amongst others, and on November 15 I was privileged to host the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

On the constituency front it’s great to be able to congratulate Ukashir Farook (Kash), from Scotstoun, who retained his British bantamweight title in Glasgow on St Andrew’s Day.

I am really looking forward to meeting him at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Scottish Ahlul Bayt Societies’ blood transfusion information event this week.

I had heard a wee rumour that a further five of the Type 26 Frigate order contracts had been confirmed for BAE Systems on the Clyde, but on checking this up I’m sorry to say it was only a rumour. This is obviously not welcome news and shows that Westminster would rather spend the money on nuclear weapons.

My Christmas card this year features one of the real highlights of my Holyrood year: the day I met Nobel Peace Prize winner Rebecca Johnson at the Scottish Parliament in June (left). But whether you’re receiving a card from me or not this festive season, I hope you all have a warm and healthy Christmas.