The three candidates vying to become Scotland’s next first minister will go head to head tonight in the first TV debate of the SNP leadership contest.
It’s inevitable that Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan will face questions on independence – and how they think it can be best achieved. But they must also be quizzed on domestic policies and how they plan to improve the lives of ordinary people in Scotland.
In today’s Daily Record, there are calls for the NHS, climate crisis and Scotland’s drug death crisis to be central to the contest to be our next first minister. So far we’ve head more about independence thermometers and de facto referendums than we have about these real issues.
It’s refreshing that Yousaf has spoken to the Record about how he will address the drug deaths crisis. It’s an issue the Record will never allow to be relegated to the sidelines. It can’t be repeated too many times that too many people in Scotland still lose their lives to addiction. And too few people are able to access rehabilitation services needed to turn lives around.
At a time of stretched public finances, it would be good to hear how these candidates plan to get money to the services that need it most. The SNP’s central mission is independence. But at tonight’s debate, we must hear candidates’ views on issues that really matter to people – like the NHS, schools and the climate crisis.
Senior disservice
It is disgraceful that Boris Johnson is trying to get a knighthood for his father, Stanley. There is absolutely no reason for him to receive an honour – he has not contributed anything worthwhile to this country. He fathered one of the worst prime ministers in living memory.
It is also concerning that Johnson snr has been accused of inappropriately touching two women at Conservative Party conferences. The knighthood attempt reeks of Tory cronyism but we shouldn’t be surprised, we’ve seen this kind of nepotism from Johnson before.
In 2020 he nominated his brother Jo for a life peerage. He showed time and time again that he wasn’t fit to be prime minister and his dad’s nomination is added proof.
Johnson was a failure as prime minister and is continuing to make ludicrous decisions as a backbencher. He has no shame.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will block this list if he has any backbone at all. If he doesn’t, it shows the whole system needs completely overhauled.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
