It’s time for Scotland and its justice system to smarten up, it would seem.
Certainly that’s the impression given by Nicola Sturgeon’s final Programme for Government before the next Holyrood election.
It includes:
A full review of Police Scotland less than two and a half years after the single force was formed.
Standardised testing for school pupils to try to raise literacy and numeracy levels.
And a constitutional fight being picked for good measure just in case, y’know, the focus on past records and plans to mop up mistakes is glossed over.
Nicola Sturgeon is an impressive and accomplished performer and she was right to point out the successes of the SNP.
Yet voters will be left wondering why they are still waiting for specifics five years into a majority government term.
Broad brushstrokes about “improvements” to social security; a promise to outline how income tax control rates will be set; an unspecified replacement tax for Air Passenger Duty don’t add up to the detailed and radical proposals which were trailed.
But the Scotland Bill might be rejected entirely by the majority Government at Holyrood if it deemed the country’s budget will be cut. That’s the squirrel ministers want you to look at rather than the devilish detail of their record in office.
For full coverage and detailed analysis of the Programme for Government, pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Courier or try our digital edition.