The SNP have carefully built an image as a party for Scotland, with a new way of doing things in contrast to the politics of those who fail to deliver on promises and have sometimes been mired in scandal ("SNP face further questions over MP's dealing", The Herald, October 2).
Over recent months however, one new revelation after another makes it all too clear that the SNP are as prone as others to missing ambitious targets, particularly in critical aspects of health, education and the environment, and also failing to implement their plans effectively, as with the reorganisation of the police.
The link between these appears to be a lack of attention to detail along with a failure to plan ahead properly. That lack of foresight now seems to have created a looming crisis in shortages of GPs.
As for that claimed moral superiority, it is looking shaky in the face of this week’s disclosures. The Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, was unconvincing trying to justify giving public money to T in the Park when they clearly could have afforded to pay all their own costs of moving to a new site. The claims regarding business dealings involving MP Michelle Thomson that are now under investigation will be, as the First Minster has said, "completely unacceptable", if proved to be true.
When your support is so dependent on a faith that something very different is on offer, it can be quickly undermined when reality proves otherwise.
Keith Howell,
White Moss, West Linton,
Peeblesshire.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel