Vegan leather. What do you think it is? It certainly sounds healthy and natural. After all, a vegan sausage is made of nice nutritious vegetables and pulses, vegan milk is made from nuts. Vegan anything is marketed to convey wholesomeness and virtue.

Vegan leather is not however remotely good or remotely natural. It's made from polyester and polyurethane. It's a type of plastic and plastic is bad for the planet. Education about the evils of plastic is far more effective these days and the understanding of how injurious plastics are to our damaged planet is improving. So selling a plastic mac doesn't test as well in focus groups of potential customers as it once did. Hey presto - change the name! I'd love to meet the evil advertising genius that thought up selling plastic macs as 'vegan leather' ones.

Many disabled people have seen their finances hit as a result of the pandemic

As we celebrate, we should also remember the economic and social barriers faced by so many people with disabilities.

Recent figures for example suggest a significant number of disabled people have seen their finances hit as a result of the pandemic. And far too many have had services and support reduced or even withdrawn and feel isolated and overlooked.

In reading this report, you may notice a certain similarity with previous reports. That is deliberate and, I hope, welcome. Because a relentless focus on priorities is required to ensure our party best helps people win, taking political power to turn our policies into improvements in people's lives. Trying to do too much means you end up doing nothing much at all.

Surveys repeatedly show that a significant proportion of the population are concerned about climate change. Many want 'things to change'. Most have bought in to the need to recycle. But then things get tricky. An electric or hybrid car is probably on the 'I'll do that one day' list. Choosing not to buy fruit and vegetables that are transported half-way around the world, that's tricky. Insulating one's home, that looks too expensive. Looking after and wearing clothes for years, well…!

This World AIDs Day we have the opportunity to set ourselves an ambitious but achievable target: to end the transmission of HIV in England by 2030. Published today, the HIV Commission has outlined 20 measures necessary to achieve this worthy goal.

As Liberal Democrats we have a responsibility to help make sure that we achieve it.

Today marks Guru Nanak's Gurpurab, which commemorates the birth of the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak was a significant figure: his message of acceptance, compassion and community remains relevant even today.

I have seen these values put into action by British Sikhs, be it through the practice of the langar, especially in gurdwaras, or through dedicated service in our schools and emergency services.

The country is desperate to get life back to normal, particularly given how much has already been sacrificed.

Time and time again, the Government has squandered the sacrifices the British people have made.

But time and time again, the Government has squandered the sacrifices the British people have made through Ministers' unbelievable incompetence.

The Liberal Democrat gain this week in Scotland was part of the final contests of the year. Which means we can also tally up the net score for each party during 2020. It's the Lib Dems who come out on top:

• Liberal Democrats: net 4 seats gained
• SNP: net 1 seat lost
• Labour: net 2 seats lost
• Conservatives: net 2 seats lost

Welcome to the Weekly Whip. Your one-stop shop for Lib Dem Parliamentary updates, covering the week that was and the week to come.

For up to date information from the Lib Dem Whips Office, follow us on Twitter: @LibDemWhips

Weekly Whip w/c 23rd November

Monday 23rd November

The Prime Minister's announcement on Monday did not quite go to plan. After his statement to the House on Coronavirus, delivered virtually from Downing Street, the PM's connection dropped out and the Secretary of State had to stand in his place, fielding questions from around the Chamber.

The coronavirus crisis has shone a new spotlight on the issue of child hunger, with demand for food banks soaring and almost a fifth of households with children unable to access enough food in the first weeks of lockdown.

The Government has repeatedly overlooked the needs of children from low-income families.