AFTER finding their feet, getting to know their way around and some fantastic maiden speeches, our new MPs have got down to business.

Last week featured a particularly busy legislative agenda, with debates on both the Scotland Bill and the EU Referendum Bill.

We've already seen our SNP MPs acting as a progressive collective voice at Westminster - and not only for Scotland.

At the first Prime Minister's Questions of this session leader of the SNP group at Westminster, Angus Robertson, demanded the UK do more to help the migrants risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean - including offering refuge and asylum.

The SNP is opposed to an EU referendum being held but we accept the reality that there will be one. However, we believe that any referendum that is held should meet the gold standard set by the independence referendum.

It is clear that the franchise currently being proposed for the EU referendum falls way short of this standard.

Looking back on a dynamic referendum experience, one of the primary successes was the contributions of 16 and 17-year-olds and EU citizens.

It is utterly regressive to exclude them from this historic vote on EU membership as proposed by the UK government.

This week our MPs have been making that case to the UK government.

These are examples of how SNP MPs can, and are, helping to stand up for progressive voices across the UK.

However, we know that in order to end the scourge of foodbanks and child poverty in Scotland we need full economic levers devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

That is why last week the SNP submitted an amendment to the Scotland Bill which proposes the delivery of powers to offer Scotland full fiscal autonomy.

Last week it was announced that Bailie Iris Gibson would be standing down as Councillor for the Ward 4 in South West Glasgow, due to ill health.

After 16 years of dedicated service - as councillor for Mosspark and then Craigton - her colleagues and constituents will be sad to see her go.

In the year of the 30th anniversary of the Scottish Refugee Council and in the midst of celebrations of the Refugee Festival Scotland, it has been a disgrace to see the way the deportation of Majid Ali has been handled in the past weeks.

NUS Scotland has reported concerns that Majid may have been sent to his death, due to the alleged "disappearance" of his brother in Pakistan and the recent murder of his uncle and cousin.

After Majid, who lived in Govan, was refused asylum, the communities in Glasgow and at City of Glasgow college rallied behind him.

Chris Stephens, the new MP for Glasgow South West, wrote to the UK Minister for Immigration requesting that his deportation be postponed, pending a judicial review.

However, this was refused and Majid was deported last Tuesday night.

This case has emphasised the inhumane way in which asylum seekers - who are not criminals - are treated by the UK Home Office, as well as the drastic need for reform and transparency in the UK asylum system.