LAST week the people of Scotland grieved with Paris for the 130 innocent people murdered in a senseless terror attack.

The empathy on display across this fair city, once again, made me proud to be a Glaswegian.

However, a very small number people had another, far more negative, response.

This was to target people here in Scotland in racist and Islamophobic attacks, apparently, ignorantly, blaming religion for the horrifying attacks in Paris.

One couple in Fife were assaulted by a group of 15 thugs, while in Bishopbriggs a cultural centre used by Muslims was torched.

Many people have unfortunately received countless hateful, sometimes threatening messages on social media and via email.

For those directed towards me, I report every single one of these to Police Scotland, as should anyone who is a victim of hate crime.

I don’t report them because they are hurtful – although they are – but because a message has to be sent that messages of hate and intolerance will never be tolerated in this country.

On Thursday November 19, the day before Carers’ Rights Day, I was privileged to host a visit to the Scottish Parliament from the Glasgow South West Carers Centre.

I have written on a number of occasions about my admiration for unpaid carers, my particular affection for the staff and service-users who attend this centre and my serious concern about Glasgow City Council’s plans to tender contracts for all carers centres.

Creating uncertainty about the future of carers centres is unnecessary and cruel.

For so many carers these centres are a single point of stability in their often unpredictable lives.

I have been working with Glasgow South West Carers Centre for years, even since before I became an MSP back in 2011.

In that time it has become obvious that the wonderful staff put every effort into providing the greatest service possible.

This was reinforced by how warmly the carers spoke during their visit about the support staff members have given them – it was only because of the respite services the centre offers that many of them were able to travel through to the parliament in Edinburgh.

What reason can Glasgow City Council possibly have to threaten carers centres?

If it is to cut spending, as I suspect it is, then shame on them.

I recently met with another group of carers, whose children with extensive additional learning support needs attend Linburn Academy.

These carers and their children also face upheaval at the hands of Glasgow City Council, via proposals to move pupils to a school across the city.

At that meeting one carer said despairingly that it feels like every time a cut has to be made, it targets vulnerable people with disabilities like his own child.

That is simply not acceptable.

I will continue to campaign for the council to get its priorities straight and start giving crucial services for people with disabilities and long term illnesses - and their carers - the support they deserve.