HIAL’s centralising remote tower procurement tender exercise has now been cancelled. We need modern, robust infrastructure and systems for safe lifeline air services but ignoring the findings of your own consultants, staff, and an island impact assessment, is not the way to successfully introduce such wide-ranging change.

The First Minister’s message on Tuesday, given the rapidly increasing cases of Covid with the Omicron variant, is to restrict your social contacts. Guidance was announced of a three-household limit when socialising indoors, social distancing measures are back in settings like shops, and working from home for those who can.

The discovery of a new variant of Covid-19 detected in southern Africa at the end of last week, named Omicron, has taken the Covid-19 pandemic to a new chapter. At this stage the advice remains the same. Wear a face covering when in public, limit interactions, clean hands and surfaces, keep distances, self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms, test regularly and before socialising, open windows, keep areas ventilated or meet outside and get vaccinated.

It is estimated that the number of people in Scotland affected by Long Covid is 79,000 and rising. With little indication from the Scottish Government as to its intention on how people living with Long Covid will be supported, it was Scottish Liberal Democrats, led by Alex Cole-Hamilton, who brought a debate on the subject to parliament last week.

As the saying goes “lang lippened, come at last”. Postponed from last year due to the pandemic, the 26^th Conference of the Parties, or COP26, is finally underway. World leaders gather in Glasgow.

The murder of Sir David Amess MP last Friday was dreadful and shocking. My thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends, colleagues and staff.

Sarah Everard’s killer, a policeman, was sentenced and another man was arrested for the murder of teacher Sabina Nessa, who was walking to meet a friend when she was killed. The deaths of both women have once again highlighted the continuing violence against women and girls by some men in our society.

I write this on World Car Free Day 2021, a day to promote alternatives to car use. That’s good if there are alternatives to promote, like bus or rail links, if it’s not possible to walk. In communities like ours, where public transport does not meet everyone’s needs, then it is not unreasonable to consider a car an essential, and Shetland’s geography and inclement weather play a part in that car use.

The debate in the Scottish Parliament last Thursday on Supporting the People of Afghanistan was a powerful one which saw thoughtful and passionate contributions from all sides of the chamber. Keen to ensure that the country will play its part and offer refuge to those fleeing for their lives, there were repeated calls of support for the resettlement of refugees. The Scottish Government has made it clear that it will do so, as has Shetland Islands Council.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have a new leader. Alex Cole-Hamilton took over the reins last Friday following Willie Rennie’s 10 years as leader. Alex is hard-working and liberal to his core. Since his first election Alex has held the Scottish Government to account at every turn, stood up for his constituents and championed young people.