GLASGOW is often known as the caring city.

The title is well deserved and in recent times has been much needed at home and abroad.

We witnessed how the city came together after both the Clutha and George Square tragedies.

However, our caring spirit is not confined to our city or country's borders.

Since my last column a fortnight ago, we have witnessed the attacks in Paris.

Cowardly actions carried out falsely in the name of Islam with the purpose of sowing the seeds of disharmony.

However, this attempt to divide people and communities has utterly failed as millions of people took to the streets of Paris united in their defiance against those who tried to intimidate them.

Glasgow-based French students and members of the French diaspora organised a rally on the same day here in Glasgow.

I was delighted to attend and show my solidarity with the people of France.

Despite bucketing down with what felt like torrential rain hundreds of others joined us to let the people of France know they are not alone.

Long may the caring spirit of this city continue to shine.

Talking of a caring spirit, we have seen no greater demonstration of it than the thousands of people who volunteer their time to help at foodbanks across Glasgow and Scotland.

Foodbanks are a stain on the UK Government's conscience, in a country as wealthy as ours we have people, many with jobs, having to queue up for basics such as bread and milk - it is an utter abomination.

Let's not beat around the bush, the reason for such a dismal state of affairs is a result of the swingeing cuts being imposed on Scotland from Westminster.

From the Bedroom Tax to the roll out of universal credit, hard-working families have been hit hard in their pocket.

Remarkably those who caused the economic mess we're in - the politicians, bankers and speculators have gotten away with it without so much as even a whiff of an apology.

That is why I was incensed to see Scottish labour MPs walk hand in hand with the Tories in Westminster to vote for more austerity last week.

In a pre-election bid to see who can talk the toughest on the economy both Labour and Tories tried to outdo each other, in the end it will be the parents, children and families of Glasgow who will suffer the most.

Many of those Labour MPs represent constituencies that have some of the worst deprivation in the entire UK, yet without a second's thought they voted for an additional £70bn of cuts and tax rises.

I am proud that SNP MPs joined hands with Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and the Party of Wales Plaid Cymru MPs to oppose the UK Government's motion - surprisingly Scottish Labour's new leader Jim Murphy was curiously absent.

Last week's vote demonstrates once again why we need a strong Scottish voice at Westminster that only the SNP can deliver.

It is simple - we have no London pay masters, we are nobody's branch office, we will only ever stand up for the interests of the Scottish people.