Sturgeon’s workload

HAVING learned that Nicola Sturgeon has made just four contributions in Holyrood in the last year (the lowest of all MSPs), we could at least hope that she’s instead wholly dedicating herself to the needs of her Glasgow constituency, which contains areas of outstanding deprivation. But sadly, no.

Ms Sturgeon freely admits to spending 15 hours per week working on her memoir, and these days appears increasingly focused on her literary career. For example, she is to appear at the exclusive Charleston Festival in leafy East Sussex in May (tickets up to £25 if you’re interested), talking about herself apparently as “one of the most significant figures in contemporary politics”. How will this benefit her constituents or the wider Scottish public?

I’d imagine she’ll likely focus on her campaigning successes while ignoring her multiple governmental failures.

Doubtless Ms Sturgeon will gloss over her inability, despite the efforts of frontline professionals, to cut NHS waiting times, to reverse declining teacher pupil ratios, and to narrow the attainment gap in our schools. Dualling the A9, the ferries fiasco and, of course, Operation Branchform surely won’t warrant a mention. She’ll definitely talk about her independence crusade, though perhaps be less willing to highlight her failure to deliver even a referendum, let alone break up the UK.

However, her seemingly overlooked constituents mustn’t mind: after many hours each week writing about herself and an exhausting hour at Charleston talking about herself, she could pop along to nearby Glyndebourne, the black-tie country house opera venue where tickets costs up to £235. Or a wee London mini-break?

Oh, I forgot to mention. At Charleston, she is also to explain that she is “a passionate advocate of equality”.

Martin Redfern, Melrose.