Freedom of speech is a right that we have and should always defend.

When someone says or writes something libellous or likely to incite racial or sexual hatred in a newspaper or on TV or radio, they are often prosecuted.

So this is where I don't understand the comments regarding the Katie Hopkins scandal. She has definitely spouted offensive and obnoxious comments about the caring and ill Scottish nurse and aid worker Pauline Cafferkey and in the process insulted all Scottish people.

Her right to use her own social media sites to spew such ignorant bile and poison is legally protected but when mainstream TV shows and newspapers then give her a platform it makes my blood boil.

I don't want police time and energy wasted on this pathetic excuse for a human being but neither do I want her 'rewarded' for her comments through newspaper columns and other media outlets.

I think we should boycott any media outlets that give her such oxygen. If the anti-Scottish comments spouted by Hopkins had been anti-Royalty or anti-muslim I'm sure the media would give her a wide berth. But it seems being offensive against Scotland is fair game for the likes of The Sun newspaper and well known breakfast shows. Very poor indeed.

I've already voiced my opinion on the dangerous trouble that Twitter and Facebook can cause, and here is yet another example of how utter trash like Hopkins can get away with issuing her hate filled words knowing that they will reach many people and be covered by the media.

So she is more than aware that she will incite certain members of the public and given that nowadays if supporters sing certain songs or use offensive language at football games it is deemed to be a criminal offense then why is she not treated in the same manner.

The biggest crime here is that whatever venom this tedious woman spits surely it should not be given a platform - that is the true crime.

It is an indelible indictment on the state of our society that she is invited onto shows to spew insults and ignorance for a fee. Her career now depends on how derogatory she can be. This time though she has scraped the bottom of the barrel by having a laugh at a Scottish lassie who went to help sick people. This Hopkins horror is nae fit to lace Pauline Cafferkey's shoes. And that's a fact.

Back to routine

Yesterday was a right struggle trying to get back into the usual routine.

Rousing my nine year old daughter at 7.15am was a battle and one which my sympathy was with her.

I can still recall that feeling of dread going back to school after the Christmas holidays and remembering the anticipation and excitement that the days had been filled with before the holidays.

It didn't help that the weekend had been a riot for Gabrielle. She had been treated on Friday to yet another Panto, this time Cinderella starring her favourite River City boy, Paul James Corrigan, who plays Steve.

This night out was courtesy of Keira Lucchesi, Stella in River City, and her handsome boyfriend, David Haymen Jr. She also got to do a sleepover at their place. These two are now on the essential babysitters list!

On Saturday night it was Tommy and I who were on babysitting duty. Gabrielle had her cousin and three of her wee pals to stay. This gang partied into the wee small hours of Sunday morning. And it was definitely 'tantrums, tears and tiaras' all night as we had to play audience for several dance, drama and fashion shows. So you can see why an early kick off yesterday was a problem. Och, but what the hell, I thought. They are all back at school now for the dreary month of January so at least a good time was had by all.

It wasn't just Gabrielle who was treated to a night out on Friday. Since my birthday was on Sunday and Saturday was out of the question Tommy decided to take advantage of our freedom and venture out for a wee bite to eat and birthday 'swally'.

Of course by the time we eventually got our act together it was pretty late so we popped into the Alea casino and I just had to partake of a few French martini cocktails made expertly by the handsome young barman with the Tom Cruise glint in his eye. Happy Birthday to me!

Free school meals

It was a mixture of pride and anger that I felt yesterday as primary school children in years one to three qualified for a free and healthy school meal.

I travelled all across Scotland in 2001 and 2002 supporting Tommy's attempt then to introduce a Private Member's Bill to introduce free and healthy school meals for all children in Scotland's schools. It was an anti-poverty, anti-means testing and pro-health measure which was supported by health, anti-poverty and trade union groups across Scotland.

Sadly the Labour Party united with the Liberals and Tories to kill off Tommy's Bill in 2002.

Fortunately the idea has lived on and it is really ironic to witness Tories and Liberals in London voting for such a positive measure in England last August when they had voted against it 12 years earlier. The measure shouldn't be limited to primary one to three. It should be rolled out for all our children. Tommy got no credit for yesterday's policy introduction but I still remember what he did to raise the idea all those years ago. Well done Tommy!