LAST week saw the state opening of the Westminster Parliament, and all the pageantry it entails, following a tremendous result for the SNP in which 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland were won by the SNP.

At the centre of it all was the Queen's Speech, where the monarch read a statement written by the government, before all the MPs and Lords, detailing what is to be pursued in the coming legislative year.

There were few surprises, coming from the Conservative party which led the previous government.

The Tory government demonstrated through the Queen's Speech that it will continue to implement austerity economics at the expense of vital public services and the most vulnerable in our society.

This Queen's Speech confirms that the UK government is set to wield the axe with harsher and deeper cuts to fall on the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.

Some of the more regressive proposals include plans to reduce the arbitrary and potentially crippling benefits cap from £26,000 to £23,000 and to discriminate against 18-21-year-olds by restricting their access to welfare.

Throughout the general election campaign we saw mainstream UK parties pandering to the UKIP agenda in an attempt to win back votes - with the Tories promising an in/out EU referendum and Labour promoting mugs proclaiming we must "control immigration."

Both of these plans featured in this Queen's Speech.

These plans stand in stark contrast to the SNP's platform of anti-austerity which was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Scottish electorate on May 7.

Yet again the people of Scotland are to have incredibly damaging welfare and service cuts forced upon them by a government the vast majority did not vote for.

It is clear from the first few parliamentary sessions at Westminster that the SNP MPs are ready to fight this agenda at every single stage.

So far the chamber has witnessed inspiring maiden speeches from new MPs Tommy Sheppard, Joanna Cherry, Brendan O'Hara and Ian Blackford and high turnouts of SNP MPs at each and every debate.

With such determination and drive, our 56 MPs will successfully stand up for Scotland and exert influence to oppose the damaging actions of the Tory majority government.

Finally, the Queen's Speech revealed a significant early victory for the SNP and other progressive MPs, in the conspicuous absence of any mention of scrapping the Human Rights Act.

These plans were included in the Tory manifesto and prior to the Queen's Speech there were indications that it would happen early in this legislative year, which were met with widespread criticism.

On May 7 Glasgow elected 7 SNP MPs to represent the city.

I have witnessed our MPs already engaging with issues which impact the day to day lives of families across Glasgow.

If our MPs have started as they mean to go on then it is clear to me that Glasgow has fantastic champions ready to stand up for our city.