Every day this week has brought a new horror story about the conditions in which asylum seekers are being housed at the Manston facility in Kent.

One of the main jobs of a member of parliament is to scrutinise legislation. It can be quite demanding while at the same time quite dull. But it is really important. You elect us to do it so you don’t have to. It is our duty and, compared to most of the population, we are paid quite handsomely for it.

Writing a column with the current government in charge feels a bit like those times on ‘Have I Got News For You’ where the panellists speak directly to the TV audience and tell them that by the time the programme goes out the politician who is the butt of their jokes will have resigned.  

Many column inches have been expended this week on the Lord Advocate’s Supreme Court reference. This newspaper had several reporters covering the proceedings, so readers have been favoured with detailed accounts of what was said in court. Due to my parliamentary duties, I was only able to watch the first morning. However, I have followed reports closely and caught up with a bit of the livestream.