Best strategy for SNP would driving down waiting lists and reviving public services
About half of the population backs independence and the SNP is the main political party supporting this policy.
So it is only right that the SNP produces a plan for how it intends to deliver an objective shared by many Scots. Recent years have seen the SNP lose credibility among some supporters on this front.
Nicola Sturgeon promised IndyRef2 on several occasions but a referendum never materialised. She even tried to introduce a referendum over the heads of Westminster but was thwarted in the courts. John Swinney's intervention clarifying what he sees as the mechanism for another IndyRef is therefore understandable. He says an outright SNP majority, as was achieved in 2011, should be the trigger for a referendum.
The First Minister says the precedent exists and Westminster would be obliged to accede to the SNP's demands. The problem with Swinney's announcement in the Record is that it again focuses on process.
Talking of the requirement for an SNP majority is bold but it overlooks the reasons for his party's poor poll rating compared with the Sturgeon era. Public support for independence will only increase if voters are satisfied with the performance of the Scottish Government. But on the NHS, schools and local government, a chunk of the public sees the SNP as presiding over failure and stagnation.
The best independence strategy for the SNP would be to drive down waiting lists and lead a revival in public services. No opinion poll in recent years has shown the SNP on course for an overall majority at Holyrood. They have to sort out their record in government before voters will give them a hearing on independence.
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Vapes an escape
A study shows teenage vapers and smokers have higher rates of depression and anxiety than other youngsters. It is not clear if using addictive substances causes poor mental health or it's what young people turn to when they feel they need something to help.
But the extensive study shows a clear association with vaping and smoking and mental health issues. The authors have concluded that offering young people support to deal with depression and anxiety is crucial.
When we see teens vaping and smoking, it may not be rebellion but a symptom io someone struggling to cope. It is vital young people get the support they need so they don't need to turn to any form of addiction to deal with the challenges of life.
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Scottish Sun
31 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside SNP's internal battle as ‘real reason' for Kate Forbes resignation revealed
Her Scottish Government critics have been described as a 'nest of vipers' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KATE Forbes decided to quit Holyrood after tiring of being undermined by Cabinet colleagues, insiders have claimed. The Deputy First Minister revealed she will depart in May for more time with husband Alasdair and daughter Naomi. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up 3 Kate Forbes will stand down as an MSP next year 3 MSP Kate Forbes plays with her daughter Naomi at nursery in Scottish Parliament Credit: Euan Cherry - Commissioned by The Times 3 Kate Forbes with husband Ali and their daughter Naomi Credit: EPA It came as a source described her critics in the Scottish Government as 'like a nest of vipers" who made her life "as difficult as possible." The Deputy First Minister chose daughter Naomi's third birthday to tell boss John Swinney she was ditching the cauldron of Holyrood to enjoy 'the precious early years of family life'. But party sources said Ms Forbes had also grown tired of being 'undermined' by cabinet colleagues who saw her as a threat to Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan — seen as a future Nats leader. One insider said: 'Perhaps if Kate hadn't been getting tripped up at every step by people who are meant to be on her side then she would have stayed on. 'But given the personal sacrifices, it is clearly not worth the effort any longer. 'The family issues are clearly a huge factor for Kate but may not have been insurmountable if other things were different.' In her letter to the First Minister, Ms Forbes, 35, said she had given 'careful thought' to her future before deciding she 'does not wish to seek re-election' at next May's Scottish Parliament elections. And she told broadcaster LBC of a lack of 'support' for parents at Holyrood. She added: 'I'm not the first mum who's also an MSP to cite motherhood as a reason for standing down.' The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP since 2016 said: 'It is partly because of the eight-hour return drive I do every week, and the minimum five-hour drive across the constituency. Kate Forbes picks her biggest scandal of the SNP's time in power 'It's one thing to try to get home every night to see them, it's another to face the prospect of going full weeks without being there.' Another source said: 'John Swinney simply saw Kate as window dressing for a certain section of the Scottish electorate. 'Swinney has not had the courage to stand up to the likes of McAllan and [Education Secretary] Jenny Gilruth. "They will think they've won, but the SNP will be in a worse place and in a worse position electorally without Forbes.' And former SNP special adviser Geoff Aberdein said there was 'no doubt' Ms McAllan has ambitions to rival Westminster chief Stephen Flynn as Mr Swinney's heir apparent — but both lacked Ms Forbes' economic competence. Mr Aberdein told the Holyrood Sources podcast: 'I'm not saying there aren't people in the party who are viewed as credible in the business community, but nowhere near as credible as Kate Forbes. 'There will be some in the party who will be quite pleased by this decision which really frustrates me because, whether you agree with her brand of politics or not, she is a huge electoral asset.' Now a managing partner at the True North think tank, Mr Aberdein said he has been inundated with messages from business leaders lamenting Ms Forbes' departure. He said: 'She's extremely credible to the business community and that is a gap that John Swinney is going to have to fill. 'That is a major problem and I hope it is not a major recalibration, because if you don't have voices within your party that can speak to that then that is a huge weakness.' A senior Scottish Government source rejected the claims that cabinet rivalry was a factor in Ms Forbes quitting. They said: 'This is utter rubbish. Kate has set out her reasons for standing down.' And Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville dismissed claims that Ms Forbes threw in the towel because she had become disenchanted with the SNP. She said: 'Political hacks are trying to find another angle but maybe, just maybe, it's about someone doing what's best for her and her family.' Ms Forbes, who married husband Alasdair MacLennan in 2021, became the Scottish Government's youngest Finance Secretary when she succeeded shamed Derek Mackay in 2020. She came under fire for her views on gay marriage, abortion and trans rights. And she publicly opposed Nicola Sturgeon's doomed plan to allow people to legally change sex through self-declaration. Several senior Scottish Government figures rejected Ms Forbes' stance, including Mr Swinney, despite his own Christian faith. Her profile continued to rise, however, and in 2023 she narrowly lost to Humza Yousaf in a bitter SNP leadership race. Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry acknowledged the Deputy First Minister's announcement that she was stepping down to spend more time with family but said there is 'probably a bit more to it than meets the eye'. She said: 'I have the utmost respect for Kate and I think it's a bit of a disaster for the SNP.' Former SNP MP Angus MacNeill, said: 'Kate wouldn't be walking away if there was a prospect of the SNP delivering independence.' He added: 'When there is no strategy, just cluelessness, a groundhog five years at Westminster's devolved parliament ain't so appealing.' Mr Swinney said: 'I pay tribute to Kate for her invaluable contribution to public life over the last ten years. "The challenges of frontline politics are considerable, and I understand the decision she has made, although I wish it was not the case.'
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
STEPHEN DAISLEY: Forbes was the voice of moderate SNP politics...but they treated her like an embarrassment
The decision by to stand down at next year's Holyrood elections is a personal one and reflects her wishes for her family life. But it also marks the final nail in the coffin of SNP centrism. The Deputy First Minister was the last woman standing for anyone who hoped the Nationalists could cut a more moderate path on the economy, social issues and the constitution. Forbes entered the Scottish Parliament just nine years ago, young and idealistic about independence. Yet she brought a maturity that many political old-timers in the SNP could not match. When she spoke, she understood that her audience was not the flag-waving faithful but the electorate at large, with its doubters and undecideds and people far too busy to have given much consideration to the great issues of the day. Nothing demonstrated that maturity like her handling of the 2020 Budget. With just hours to go before the annual costs were placed before Holyrood, finance secretary Derek Mackay abruptly resigned over text messages to a 16 year old. Forbes, his deputy, stepped up instantly and won plaudits for the aplomb with which she delivered a speech she had barely had a chance to read. Taking over for Mackay, she proved herself to be disciplined, rigorous and determined to strike a balance between growing the economy and redistributing resources to alleviate poverty. For this sensible, middle-ground approach to politics, she was branded a right-winger, an indication of just how out of touch the Scottish parliament is with the nation it theoretically represents. But what truly put Forbes beyond the pale were her devoutly held Christian beliefs. In an age in which tolerance is on everyone's lips, there was little shown for Forbes's Free Presbyterian faith. When she contested the leadership in 2023, following the abrupt resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, there was a concerted effort to make the entire contest about her suitability for office given her Christian principles. It was an outrageous exercise in bias and prejudice that, had it been applied to any other religion, would have been readily acknowledged as such. Christians, however, are fair game, especially if they believe in such heresies as biological sex. The Deputy First Minister signalled early on that she disbelieved in the gender identity ideology, and even though she was on maternity leave when Holyrood was voting through the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, she made clear during her joust with Humza Yousaf for the Nationalist crown that she rejected the notion that a man could 'self-identify' himself as a woman and that the law should change to reflect this. She was right, as a series of legal cases, culminating in the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland, would go on to verify. Had Sturgeon and Yousaf listened to her, a great deal of division could have been avoided, not to mention costly legal fees. As well as canny discernment, she earned a reputation for cutting putdowns that lingered on opponents. She branded Yousaf the 'continuity candidate' and told him during one TV debate: 'You were a transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we've got record high waiting times.' Yousaf may have defeated her for the leadership, but he wasn't able to emerge from the shadow of those barbs. That John Swinney chose her as his deputy first minister speaks volumes about her significance as a voice of moderate SNP politics. She stressed that wealth redistribution was only possible if first there was wealth generation. She urged fellow Nationalists to stop hectoring the public on independence and try to persuade them instead. Neither counsel was taken on board and the SNP remains distant from the aspirational, sceptical voters it would need to secure and make a success of independence. For advocating for Scotland in Europe and for Scotland to be in Europe, Winnie Ewing, an earlier figure on the mainstream wing of the SNP, was dubbed 'Madame Ecosse'. Forbes, who advocated for the Nationalists among the Don't Knows, the Unionists and even the Tories, is the SNP's Ms Middle Scotland. An opportunity to bring in voters who would never before have considered a vote for the Nationalists. Voters who might even be willing to listen on independence. And they treated her as an embarrassment, that is when some weren't trying to push her out of the party altogether. Sometimes — oftentimes — politicians are the most clueless practitioners of politics. Forbes's exit clears the way for Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, to become John Swinney's heir apparent. A blokey, lefty, loudmouth who would drag Scotland back to rancorous divisions over independence. With Forbes going, he will be the future now. She would have made the better first minister for Scotland, he would push all the right buttons to get the party faithful cheering. Was there ever any doubt which would prosper in the SNP? Forbes says she is standing down because she wants to see her children grow up. We should also think about that. If our politics makes it impossible to be a parent and a parliamentarian, then our politics are broken. Do we want a Holyrood stuffed with MSPs who have no first-hand knowledge of raising children? Because that's the way we're heading unless things change. Kate Forbes's choice should be a wake-up call for the SNP, but not only the SNP.
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
SNP accused of 'betraying' victims of crime as they wait three years for justice
Exclusive by Michael Blackley Victims of crime are now having to wait nearly three years to get justice in the most serious cases, including murder and rape. Growing backlogs of cases in the High Court have resulted in a sharp rise in the time taken to proceed from offence to verdict. Scheduled High Court trials have soared amid rising pressure on the justice system, which has failed to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Official figures reveal the median time from offence to verdict in the High Court has risen to 1,032 days, almost double the 520 days recorded in the year before the Covid pandemic. New data also shows scheduled High Court trials reached 743 in March and climbed to 818 by June - compared to 390 trials originally projected for the end of 2024/25 by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service when it carried out modelling in 2021. Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative justice spokesman, said: 'These damning figures highlight that the SNP is miserably failing to clear the horrendous backlogs in Scotland's courts. 'Thanks to the Nationalists' chronic mismanagement of Scotland's courts, we are still miles away from hitting pre-pandemic backlog levels, despite what was predicted during the Covid period. 'SNP cuts to the justice budget and its failure to get funding to the front line are inevitably leading to mounting backlogs in the system - and that's a shameful betrayal of victims, because justice delayed is justice denied. 'Even victims of the most serious crimes are being betrayed by SNP ministers, as they now have to wait over 1,000 days on average for a verdict in High Court cases.' The figures, revealed by 1919 magazine, show that the median time from offence to verdict in the High Court was 1,032 days in 2023/24, compared to 520 days in 2019/20. In Sheriff Court cases, the median time from offence to verdict in 2023/24 was 564 days, compared to 283 days in 2019/20. Modelling from the SCTS published in March 2021 found that there was expected to be 390 trials scheduled in the High Court and 500 trials scheduled in Sheriff Solemn Courts by March 2025. But the new data shows there were actually 743 scheduled trials in the High Court and 1,004 in Sheriff Solemn Courts, which cover serious crimes like assault and drug offences, at this point. Summary cases, including common assault, domestic abuse, crimes of dishonesty and motoring offences, are also facing delays. Figures from March this year show more than 20,600 cases still waiting, nearly 50 per cent higher than predicted in 2021. The Scottish Police Federation has warned that delays and collapsed trials are wasting valuable resources and draining frontline capacity. An SCTS spokesman said: 'We remain conscious of the impact delays in the criminal justice system have on victims and witnesses. 'That is why our focus has been on striving to reduce the number of cases in the system and the length of time people wait for the outcome of a case. 'SCTS advised the criminal justice committee in December 2021 that we anticipated the backlog created by the Covid-19 pandemic would be cleared by 2026. 'Since then, and through our strong criminal court recovery programme, the number of scheduled trials has reduced from over 43,000 in January 2022 to under 18,000 at the end of June 2025. That is the fewest number of planned scheduled trials since 2018/19. 'However we are now dealing with a substantial increase in High Court business - the most serious criminal cases - which places pressure on a system with finite capacity. 'High Court scheduled trials at the end of June 2025 number 818, far higher than the pre pandemic position of 390. This means maintaining increased capacity is essential to prevent delays for all who use the system.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Scotland is the only part of the UK to have successfully brought court backlog levels back down to below Covid levels - a testament to our comprehensive approach and substantial investment in recovery funding of over £201 million since 2021, which includes £20.3 million to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in 2025/26. 'This trend is continuing and we remain committed to supporting justice partners to maintain this progress.'
