Avoid new legislation

Sir, - The Scottish Conservatives have attacked Nicola Sturgeon by saying she is “twiddling her thumbs”.

The Conservatives claim Ms Sturgeon’s government has not introduced any legislation to Holyrood since the SNP won the Scottish election six months ago. Perhaps they should be grateful for the lack of legislation given the SNP’s record in this area.

Let us consider the Minimum Pricing of Alcohol Bill and the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill for a moment.

The first has been dragging on through the courts for nearly 10 years without any solution and has cost us dearly in legal fees.

The second is likely to be reversed after fans have called it unworkable in a public consultation.

Other issues are the hated named person policy, subjected to a humiliating rejection by the United Kingdom Supreme Court, and the proposed scrapping of corroboration, quickly dropped after outrage from the legal profession.

Perhaps it would be better if the SNP gave up legislation completely and concentrated on fixing the many problems which do not need legislation to sort out.

Boring things like a health audit response, reduction of bursary funding for students, police financial problems, the farm payments fiasco and closing the attainment gap in education, spring to mind.

Perhaps they are too busy with constitutional matters to bother with either legislation or fixing problems.

Perhaps it would be better if the SNP gave up legislation completely and concentrated on fixing the many problems which do not need legislation to sort out

Alan Thomson. Easter Dunochil, High Street, Kinross.