Focus needs to be on services, FM

Sir, – So, despite Humza Yousaf talking up his coalition with the Greens as recently as the weekend, the SNP has dumped the Greens before the Greens and their members decide to dump them. Many in Scotland are delighted since it’s widely considered that, as a consequence of the Bute House coalition agreement, the tail wagged the dog, ie the SNP administration, particularly under Humza Yousaf, has allowed the minority Greens far-left radicalism to dominate Scottish governmental policy-making.

But will tearing up Nicola Sturgeon’s coalition agreement be enough to save the SNP from electoral disaster at the forthcoming general election?

Surely not. Let us not forget how much damage the SNP has managed to achieve without Greens’ assistance.

Yousaf has followed his predecessor’s preference to put manufacturing grievances ahead of working constructively with Westminster.

He focuses on foreign policy that’s beyond his remit to the detriment of our public services. The SNP, despite the efforts of frontline professionals, has gifted us a struggling NHS with record waiting times, even though increasing numbers of Scots are paying for private treatment.

The educational attainment gap has only been imperceptibly narrowed. Drug death rates here remain the worst in Europe by some way.

The A9 continues to claim lives, despite endless promises to dual, and the ferry procurement under the SNP is so badly handled it’s risible. I could go on.

The Greens’ Lorna Slater has been quick to trash her former close partner, the SNP, and, in discussing the end of their agreement, states that Yousaf is “weak”, “can no longer be trusted” and has “betrayed the electorate”.

I suspect Slater is merely confirming what most of us already know about the first minister and the SNP.

Humza Yousaf ‘focuses on policy beyond his remit’. John Robertson. Scone.