Davidson: First Minister ‘dithering, not delivering’

SCOTTISH Tory leader Ruth Davidson condemned Nicola Sturgeon for ‘dithering, not delivering’ as she prepares to celebrate two years as First Minister.

Miss Davidson claimed yesterday the SNP leader had failed to keep her promise to ‘lead a government with purpose, a government that is bold, imaginative and adventurous’.

She listed a range of issues in education, skills, health care and welfare which the Scottish Government had not taken action on despite vowing to do so. She also claimed trade bodies had accused Miss Sturgeon ‘personally of a leadership vacuum’.

Miss Davidson raised the delay on welfare powers which are set to be transferred to Scotland – but which the SNP government has said it is not yet ready for. She said: ‘Despite promising a “bold and imaginative” government, she’s got next to no achievements to her name as First Minister.’

Miss Davidson added: ‘So much was promised by the First Minister, but what we’ve seen is dithering, not delivering.’

Miss Sturgeon hit back, saying: ‘On welfare, what Ruth Davidson apparently appears to be saying is we should take responsibility for delivering disability benefits, carers’ allowance and other important benefits before we have the system in place to actually ensure these benefits can be put into people’s hands or bank accounts.

‘She may want to act irresponsibly in that respect but I am going to act responsibly.’

AT times, she was positively theatrical, delivering withering put-downs with a flourish. Had Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson broken into ‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends’, I would not have been at all surprised,

But, though Miss Davidson exuded confidence during yesterday’s First Minister’s Questions, she failed to land a direct hit on the Scottish Government.

In a surprise borrow from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, she repeatedly changed the subject throughout her questioning of Nicola Sturgeon.

One can understand the thinking behind this approach: if the opposition piles crisis upon crisis, the impression may be gained that the Government is failing.

The reality is, as Mr Corbyn has ably demonstrated over the past year, that a lack of forensic focus on one key issue can let an opponent off the hook.

Miss Davidson began by asking about the Government’s lack of performance on apprenticeships.

But rather than putting the First Minister under pressure on the subject, the Scottish Tory leader then announced she wished to ask about education. And before that really got going, she announced she would now be asking a question on the matter of welfare.

This scattergun approach allowed Miss Sturgeon to play for time. More than once, she met a new question by offering an answer to the previous one. It was rather like the famous Two Ronnies Mastermind sketch with all the joy sucked out of it.

In a week with an uncharacteristically below par appearance by Miss Davidson, the opportunity existed for Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale to make the next day’s headlines (which, along with the possibility of securing a clip on the evening news, is the prospect that helps the combatants endure FMQs).

Miss Dugdale rose to the challenge. Current public dissatisfaction with ScotRail is real and justified. Delays, cancellations, trains with too few carriages; the list of complaints that may reasonably be made of the service – currently run by Dutch transport firm Abellio – grows ever longer.

Yesterday morning, a broken down train in Edinburgh caused absolute chaos for commuters. The Labour leader’s timing was immaculate.

It’s clear she sees Transport Minister Humza Yousaf as vulnerable right now, and her questioning about the standards being provided by ScotRail struck the right note. It was a miracle that so many MSPs made it to the debating chamber, given the large number who get to work by train. Miss Sturgeon could do little but agree with Miss Dugdale about the unacceptable standards being achieved by ScotRail.

There was a dig at Scottish Labour for hampering the process of appointing an operator, but the First Minister is smart – and clearly recognises that the issue of ScotRail may continue to be problematic for her Government.

So Miss Sturgeon dangled her finger over the big red button and intoned calmly that the right existed for the contract with the current operator to be cancelled.

COMMUTERS are voters and Miss Sturgeon is savvy enough to realise that anyone who has endured a ScotRail journey wants to know that steps are being taken to improve the services.

The SNP has breezed through almost ten years of government without touching the sides. The ScotRail crisis has the potential to smash into the SNP.

Mr Yousaf listened to this exchange unfold while wearing the expression of humility crossed with concern that he has almost perfected.

The minister has good cause to be nervous. If ScotRail continues to be a problem for the Government, Miss Sturgeon is open to ripping up the contract with Abellio.

If Mr Yousaf doesn’t start showing some initiative over this travel crisis, he may find the First Minister unsympathetic to his ambitions.