First Minister bows out at the top of her game
Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson here pays his personal tribute to former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon following her resignation last week.
Last Wednesday’s announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP that she was stepping down came as a genuine shock to everyone in UK politics. I would encourage you to disbelieve anyone who claims they saw it coming.
Nicola Sturgeon has been on the frontline of Scottish politics since 1999 and at the top of Government for some 16 years – in Cabinet, as deputy first minister and ultimately first minister.
She is Scotland’s first ever female leader and also our longest serving, winning eight consecutive Westminster, Holyrood, European and local government elections.
And, while all politicians are to some extent “Marmite” characters, there are few who would dispute that Nicola Sturgeon has been an impactful and skilful leader who served Scotland diligently.
Indeed, the tributes from (most) of her political opponents have been notable for their grace, dignity and good wishes.
Of course, there are always a few who can’t rise to the occasion and I was amused to see Donald Trump take time away from the golf course to brand her a “failed woke extremist'”. As far as epitaphs go, it doesn’t get much better than that and I’m sure the first minister will already have it framed in her hallway.
Politics, by definition, is about different ideas and I’m under no illusion that there are plenty of people happy to see the first minister go.
However, what I’ve noted is that many are relieved primarily because they view her as the SNP’s greatest asset and the most effective communicator and tactician in UK politics.
That is a badge of honour that few senior politicians wear when leaving office. Most are ousted by their own party, mired in scandal or defeated at the ballot box.
Had the first minister used her press conference to call an election instead of resigning, discussion would have been about the likely victory she would have delivered, not whether she would win. For someone who has been in office for so many years, that really is quite remarkable.
Nicola Sturgeon has been an ambassador for
Scotland on the global stage, a role model for women and girls in politics and every decision she made was taken in the belief that it’s the right one for the people of Scotland.
Regardless of where we stand on the political spectrum, I think these points are hard to dispute.
For the SNP, all eyes are on the future and who takes the party and the country forward from here.
Nominations are now open for the position of both SNP leader and first minister. There will then be a campaign and membership ballot which will conclude on Monday March 27.
Ms Sturgeon will be a hard act to follow; I am confident that her successor will not only “take the wheel” but introduce fresh thinking and approaches to move Scotland forward.
I look forward to hearing each candidate set out their stall in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, I wish Nicola only the best in all her future endeavours.
Driving licence warning
Sir,
The DVLA are warning all who passed their driving test before 2014 that it’s time to renew their driving licence, and if they don’t, they could face a fine.
To drive anywhere legally, you must hold a valid driving licence which has the most up to date and correct details of your name, date of birth and full address. If you know your licence is about to expire, or your personal details have changed, it’s crucial you update your licence.
Our research found that almost all (93 per cent) drivers say they’ve seen motoring costs increase over the last 12 months.
And with rising costs across the board, drivers should take extra precaution to ensure they aren’t stung with additional charges, like unnecessary fines.
If drivers don’t have a valid licence, the DVLA warn you could be fined £1,000 and even risk having your vehicle seized.
This will be a much heavier price to pay than the cost of updating your licence which starts from £14. Our guide on renewing your licence has everything you need to know about where and how to update your documents. Yours,
Richard Evans, webuyanycar