I’VE made no secret of my disgust with the rhetoric adopted by certain UK parties and media outlets when discussing migrants and refugees.

Last Thursday, Prime Minister David Cameron was un-statesmanlike in his dehumanising description of the migrants gathering at Calais as a “swarm.”

In likening them to insects he sets a tone for future discussions which is both shocking in its callousness and yet still unsurprising, given the UK government’s recent approach to the migrant crisis.

Every day migrants are risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean and the Home Secretary Theresa May continuously rejects opportunities to work constructively with other European governments to find a solution to the problem.

Compared to other European countries we in the UK take in an incredibly small fraction of the world’s refugees and, faced with the greatest migrant crisis in decades, the UK government is still refusing to care for its fair share of refugees.

Don't believe the rhetoric or hype, Scotland isn't flooded or swamped with refugees, we have barely over 3,000 asylum seekers in Scotland.

I had hoped that the widespread criticism of David Cameron’s comments and the discussion it has provoked, about how we across the UK treat people who come to our shores seeking peace and protection, would cause his government to reconsider this approach.

However, following the UK government’s emergency Cobra meeting his answer seems to have been “more dogs” and beefing up security, this is a short term solution to a long term issue.

Throughout its 81 year history the SNP has never wavered in its opposition to the existence of a House of Lords.

Westminster’s unelected second chamber is not only a colossal waste of money – over 700 peers are paid up to £300 a day just to turn up – but it also undermines democracy in the UK.

The House of Lords benches are filled with UK party donors and cronies, none of whom were picked by the electorate to represent their interests.

The alleged behaviour of Lord Sewell which was misogynistic, undignified and potentially illegal highlights how farcical the institution has become.

From Cash for Honours to coke habits its increasingly clear the House of Lords is not just rotten round the edges – its rotten to the core.

Finally, last week I attended a public meeting held by the G51 Free Parking Group, a community protest organisation I have mentioned in this column on a number of occasions.

Over the course of the G51 group’s campaign it has becoming increasingly clear that the parking proposals for Linthouse, Drumoyne and Shieldhall, which include unfair charges for residents and local business-owners, are completely unfit for purpose.

I have written to Gordon Matheson to call for a unified cross-party approach – whether its asking the Scottish Government to appoint an independent reporter, holding a public hearing or bringing the proposals to full council, he needs to sit down at a table with the G51group and council officials and find a solution as soon as possible.

We have a slogan in this city that People Make Glasgow, it is about time the people weren't ignored by Glasgow City Council.