The substance of Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for Scotland is starting to emerge. In her first programme for government, the First Minister hit some of the issues she feels most strongly about hard.
Her land reform proposals will cause quite a stir but she is determined to plough on. Giving inspectors the power to shut down dirty hospital wards is an indicator no mess will be tolerated in the health service.
Yet the considered Sturgeon of last week’s FMQs remained. Suggestions were encouraged from opposition parties on how to replace council tax.
Is that the sort of partnership and cooperation which benefits politics, or just an excuse to punt a difficult topic into the long grass? Time will tell.
Credit must also go to Labour’s Jenny Marra, who finally sees her Human Trafficking begin to become a reality.
The Dundee-based MSP campaigned and shouted from the rooftops demanding stronger action to protect those dragged into this country against their will by criminal gangs when it seemed like no one, least of all the Scottish Government’s justice department, was listening.
This willingness from Nicola Sturgeon to include ideas from the other side of the chamber is an encouraging sign for the future.