Remembrance Sunday was a strange one this year. Unable to remember the fallen together, we each kept our own counsel and paused for private reflection at home.

On behalf of our communities, wreaths were laid in Clydebank, Dumbarton and Alexandria by Provost William Hendrie, Depute Provost Karen Conaghan and myself as council leader respectively.

I’ve been attending remembrance services with my mother since I was a kid. She did a good job instilling in me the importance of recognising the sacrifice made by service personal and their families in defence of our freedoms.

Many veterans and their families live on with life-changing injuries, physical and mental, and it’s important not only to remember the fallen, but to show our appreciation to those who have to carry on under the most difficult of circumstances.

In a perfect world we wouldn’t have a need for conflict. I can remember a song we sang in school: “Last night I had the strangest dream I’ve ever dreamt before; I dreamt the world had all agreed to put an end to war.”

Unfortunately, that really is just a dream, and we continue to rely on our armed forces keeping us safe. To them and their families, on behalf of our communities, I sincerely thank you for your continuing service.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The rate of Covid-19 infections, though slower than when I first wrote this column, is still too high, according to the Scottish Government, and an announcement on Level 4 restrictions across Greater Glasgow and Clyde was made by the First Minister on Tuesday.

Discussions are ongoing at UK and Scottish Government level on how we can facilitate Christmas with our families. Whatever happens, this will be a very different Christmas than the ones we are used to, but the better we follow the rules, the better the chance we will be able to see our loved ones.

Some local businesses, employees and their families having to isolate have found it hard to cope under the current Level 3 restrictions, and the prospect of Level 4 is not something that anyone greets with pleasure, especially as the UK Government continues to refuse access to the furlough scheme out with England.

Under Level 4 limits, most businesses must close their doors, and the limited support available could see mass redundancies as businesses struggle to avoid collapse.

Holding back funds now is a false economy and I am backing the Scottish Government’s calls for furlough cash to be available to everyone who needs it.

While we pay into the UK Treasury with our taxes, we must be entitled to the same protections as our English friends.