Sir, – In Alex Bell’s column (“A leader who doesn’t lead”, The Courier, April 30), he describes the first minister as a ‘follower’ and not a leader.
Mr Bell claims Nicola Sturgeon has failed to use the powers at her disposal to act quicker than the rest of the UK during the Covid-19 crisis, and has not yet articulated her vision for a post-pandemic Scotland.
He argues that the first minister missing Cobra meetings is irresponsible, but omits that she has been chairing the Scottish Government’s resilience committee (for which she is directly responsible) since the end of January.
Since health is fully devolved under the Scotland Act, this is the body that holds more relevance to Scotland, than Cobra, which is not responsible for health in Scotland. Surely that is the key point?
Further, Mr Bell claims Scotland has remained broadly the same under the SNP Government.
This is true – the party has continued to increase health funding, now at a record high.
The SNP made prescriptions, tuition, personal care, and childcare free – and they continue to be so.
How can these progressive achievements be in any way comparable to the austerity-driven agenda of the Tories?
Mr Bell’s final point is that the FM has failed to articulate her vision for a post-pandemic Scotland, yet other nations are not yet outlining their measures either, because the crisis is not yet over.
Why should the captain detail every aspect of dry land when their focus should be steering the ship through the storm?
Further, many of the levers needed to truly transform Scotland, economically and socially, remain in the hands of Boris Johnson’s government.
Power over employment law, macroeconomic policy, pensions, financial services regulation, much of welfare – all still lies with Westminster.
On the day Mr Bell’s column was published, the first minister said if she had the power, the Scottish Government would set up a Universal Basic Income.
That would be truly transformational, however it is incompatible with the current set-up in the UK.
Mr Bell’s call for Ms Sturgeon to articulate a bold new vision for Scotland is constrained by the hard fact that the Scottish Parliament has one hand tied behind its back.
Lloyd Melville.
East Garden Cottage,
Duntrune.
Resources key to education
Sir, – As usual we have a peculiar world view from Jenny Hjul (“Poorer children locked out”, The Courier, April 29).
Most of the time she seems detached from reality and rational analysis, and this column is no exception.
The gap in education provision has nothing to do with leadership, other than public sector leaders having to juggle multiple demands and priorities from limited budgets.
Leadership does not equate to having limitless funds to dispense wherever there is any demand. The single most important difference between private and state schools (private schools of course used to be referred to as public schools, even though few of the public could afford them) is the amount of resources available.
Resources ranging from enough teachers to allow small classes, to expensive extra-curricular activities, coupled with sufficient good quality learning resources.
Blaming the managers or workers is the mantra that is dragged out whenever blame is being sought.
No amount of leadership can make up for an unequal lack of resources when trying to match standards.
Having differing and contentious views is one thing in any debate, but they still need to be based on rationality and fact.Otherwise they merely become an unhelpful, distracting and repetitive rant.
Nick Cole.
Balmacron Farmhouse.
Meigle,
Perthshire.
Much more cars on Promenade
Sir, – I live at the harbour in Kirkcaldy and have noticed a marked increase in the number of vehicles using the main road on the Promenade.
Up to last week there were on average 300 cars an hour going along that road. This week there has been on average 450 cars, a 50% increase. I am a retired person and have a great vantage of the cars travelling along it.
It is a bit concerning as surely they can’t all be doing essential trips? I have taken representative samples at various times during the day and I would suggest between 9am and 5pm there could be 4,000 cars using this road, and also a high incidence of vehicles speeding up to 60mph and going through red lights.
Krysto Nikolic.
Williamson’s Quay,
Kirkcaldy.
Sturgeon is doing the job
Sir, – Jackson Carlaw and David Mundell seem to be upset that Nicola Sturgeon recommended testing at UK airports.
They have falsely imagined that the border mentioned was that between Scotland and the rest of the UK, although Ms Sturgeon was clear it was the international UK border.
She was urging the UK Home Office to remedy a key gap in the UK Covid Strategy.
There is also criticism that our FM missed Cobra meetings, when she was chairing the Scottish version of the Cobra committee.
That to me is ‘doing the day job’.
Alistair Ballantyne.
Birkhill,
Angus.
