THERE are few occasion that bring together our politicians, so much so that you could be forgiven for thinking that sometimes they take up opposite sides of an argument just for the sake of it.

It is easy to feel that there are deeply ingrained differences that carve a massive chasm between MSPs of different parties.

Put them in a debating chamber and some of them will argue the moon is made of cheese if their opponent say it isn’t.

Then the following week a debate will be called on whether it is cheddar or edam and off they go again.

So it has been heartening this week to see some examples of shared values across political parties and even through generations.

First up was Glasgow East MP, David Linden, naming an internship after one of his predecessors.

The only surprising element was Mr Linden is an SNP MP and he decided to honour the contribution of John Wheatley, Independent Labour Party MP for Shettleston in the 1920s and a giant of the Labour movement.

Mr Linden recognised his achievements on housing and named him as one of his inspirations and a political hero of his.

Mr Linden was praised by former Shettleston Labour MSP, Frank McAveety, no stranger to a good old party political ding-dong himself.

But the council’s Labour group leader was gracious enough to commend an opponent on both the internship and the recognition of Wheatley.

The second was in Holyrood when Anas Sarwar stood up to highlight the sick and dangerous Punish a Muslim hate material that has been distributed.

Mr Sarwar didn’t hold back any details and told the chamber of the vile and brutal list of acts that were being encouraged against fellow citizens of Scotland, because of their religion.

Nicola Sturgeon who is more used to crossing swords with Mr Sarwar on any number of topics, gave him her full backing and together they presented a strong and powerful message from Holyrood that hate will not be tolerated.

There are many issues where our politicians agree on the same issues and want the same solutions.

At Westminster on shipbuilding and protection for workers there has been collaboration and co-operation among Labour and SNP.

On the campaign to prevent Jobcentre closures both parties were vocal and united in challenging UK DWP ministers in numerous debates.

On these occasions you can see that the wider public interest is being put first.

On too many other occasions when it would be easier to reconcile their positions than to manufacture arguments for political gain, party political loyalties come first and one eye is always on the next election.

Even on the one thing that really unites the SNP and Labour, their dislike (for want of a stronger term) of the Tories, they are divided.

Each will claim to be the only alternative and both will attempt to show the other taking the same side as the Conservatives.

The same Conservatives who, in the Scottish Parliament, applauded Anas Sarwar just as vigourosly as the others. So even all three can be united sometimes.