If a week is a long time in politics, the 32 years between Winnie Ewing triumphing in the Hamilton by-election and opening the first meeting of the new Scottish Parliament was an eternity.

Given that next year will mark the 20th anniversary of devolution, it would be easy to think that the future of our national parliament was secure.

However, last week the Tory UK Government at Westminster dismantled the devolution settlement in less time than it takes to have a pizza delivered.

The Westminster power grab means that key decisions that should be taken in the Scottish Parliament will now be taken by the Tories.

It’s therefore no wonder that my SNP colleagues at Westminster walked out of the House of Commons.

It’s clearer than ever that Scotland is not “an equal partner in the UK”, as Theresa May once described us.

When my colleagues asked what options were now available for people in Scotland who opposed having their parliament undermined, there was a one-word answer from the Tory benches: suicide. So much for being Better Together.

Last week was Carers’ Week and I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with East Renfrewshire Carers.

Unpaid carers make a huge contribution to all our communities and without their incredible dedication society could simply not function.

I’ve been honoured to have the opportunity to support carers not only during Carers’ Week but also by becoming the first Member of the Scottish Parliament to be recognised as a Carer Positive Employer.

This is a scheme run by the charity Carers Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, which recognises and supports employers who put measures in place to ensure that employees who have caring responsibilities receive that little bit of extra support that can make all the difference.

Working carers are at particular risk of burnout and stress, and it’s therefore vital that employers do all they can to help carers they employ.

If you are a working carer, or an employer who wants to find out more about the scheme, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.

It was a privilege to visit the brand new Sir Harry Burns Centre in Auchenback last week – a fantastic facility home to a brilliant team of dedicated and hard-working staff.

It was inspiring to see first-hand the outstanding work that they are doing, the results of which could be seen in the smiling faces of the children and toddlers they care for.

I’m proud that the SNP Scottish Government is committed to delivering 1,140 hours of free childcare for all three- and four-year olds. This commitment will be transformative for children and families as well as creating new jobs in childcare.

Along with saving families £4,500 per child per year on childcare, it will also play a big part in ensuring that new mums and dads will have more flexibility in balancing family and work life.

Along with the Baby Box and direct funding to schools, increasing the amount of free childcare shows that the Scottish Government is one that is truly committed to giving our children and young people the best start in life.