THIS year is the 110th since the outbreak of the First World War, and this Monday November, 11 will mark the 106th anniversary of the end of it.

Commemoration events will take place across Scotland and the UK, on both Sunday and Monday, to mark the occasion.

Many will take place at local war memorials, erected by communities a century ago to honour their young men who fought and died in that war.

Events taking place in North Ayrshire include the annual Saltcoats Parade, which will begin at 10.30am on Bradshaw Street and follow the Isle of Cumbrae Pipe Band to the war memorial.

At this time of year, it is important for us to pay tribute to the massive sacrifice made by the young men and women who have fought for our country in conflicts over the years.

They have few equals in their courage, bravery and fortitude, and we must never forget them.

This is especially important in a year like 2024, which has seen a huge number of elections in countries around the globe.

Millions of individuals went to the polls this year – in places including the UK, the EU and, most recently, the US – to vote for their countries’ governments.

In democratic elections like these, every citizen had the chance to make their voice heard on the ballot paper and to disagree with one another freely and respectfully.

These are features of democracy which could easily be taken for granted as simply ‘part of the furniture’ of elections.

But, of course, this is not the case: across the world there are still many millions of people who do not enjoy the same opportunities to voice their opinions as we do.

It is vitally important to remember that these opportunities are not assured and that they must be protected in order for us to continue benefitting from them.

This is just one of the reasons that we pay tribute to our armed forces, both past and present, on Remembrance Sunday.

It is only through their bravery and sacrifice that we in this country continue to live in freedom and peace.

But it is also important that we continue to support our military into the future.

The past few years have been a dangerous time for the entire world.

With major wars going on across the globe – including, for the first time in a generation, in Europe – the importance of our Armed Forces for our wellbeing could hardly be clearer.

As he made clear during this summer’s general election, the Prime Minister is committed to making our military stronger, more efficient and more capable.

The UK Government is also committed to ensuring that veterans have access to the mental health, employment, and housing support they need.

And our country’s support for the people of Ukraine – who continue to stand up for Europe against Putin’s illegal invasion of their country – remains steadfast.

By taking these steps, we can bolster our Armed Forces and continue to keep our country safe and free.