As a country, Scotland has opened its doors from the early days of the Russian invasion and the need to find homes for Ukrainian refugees, and we have supported displaced Ukrainians living here over the past three years.

However, with the challenging international situation that has emerged over recent days, it is important for parliaments across Europe to show their support for a country that is engaged in a war to defend its sovereign territory against illegal occupation.

While I am more than aware of the continuing struggles that folk in Orkney face with rising costs – Labour’s pledge to reduce electricity prices has been broken yet again with a 6.4% price hike coming again on 1st April – we must always ensure we are supporting even less fortunate countries.

Scotland provides international aid proportionate to its budget, having established an International Development Fund in 2005, with partner countries being Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Pakistan. We support their efforts to respond to global challenges and to reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

I feel this is an important part of being a normal and relatively wealthy country.

For that reason I was horrified to see the massive cuts being made to the UK’s international aid in order for Labour at Westminster to increase spending on defence.

The fact that Labour’s own International Development Minister, Annelise Dodds, resigned over the aid cuts demonstrates just how divided Labour is over this issue.

In Scotland we will always put Scotland’s people first but never forget our obligations as an internationalist country by nature.

So, while Scotland’s budget brought record funding to Orkney Islands Council and to NHS Orkney, to continue to protect vital public services and our national health service, we will also be looking outward and ensuring we play what role we can in supporting others.

An example of targeted support to lift Scottish children out of poverty is that, up to 31st December 2024, our unique Scottish Child Payment has made over 6,800,000 payments worth over £1 billion across Scotland. This includes 14,560 payments in Orkney, worth £2,359,906.

At the same time, we are able to support inclusive education in Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda under the Realising Inclusive and Safer Education programme, worth up to £1.5 million a year.

That was part of the message that John Swinney delivered after the passing of the Scottish Budget, when he said that it is time to come together and set out who we are and what we believe in. We need to reject the politics of fear, that is equally the politics of despair. That kind of politics will divide us and destroy what we hold dear.

We need to continue to be that outward-looking, supportive country, and not turn inward on ourselves at this time.

This is a regular column by SNP MSP Emma Roddick. All Highlands and Islands MSPs have been offered the same space in The Orkney News to share their personal views.