Sturgeon struggling to deliver on promises
Voters may be more amenable to indyref2 if they see the First Minister using the powers she already has
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is adept at telling supporters of Scottish independence what they want to hear. She is less skilled, we’re afraid, at delivering on the promises she makes to them.
Over recent weeks, Ms Sturgeon has ratcheted up the rhetoric on a second referendum on Scottish independence, assuring Yes campaigners that the wind is at their backs. But Scottish nationalists who believe that there will be another referendum in 2020 are kidding themselves. This is not the view only of The Scotsman but of veteran nationalists such as Kenny Macaskill and Jim Sillars.
The simple fact remains that, no matter how enthusiastic Ms Sturgeon is about the prospect of another referendum this year, she has no power to call one. The authority to green-light indyref2 remains at Westminster and Boris Johnson has made abundantly clear his opposition to another vote on Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom.
We can understand the politics behind Ms Sturgeon’s push for a referendum. Not only is she throwing red meat to her more excitable supporters, she is laying the groundwork for an unwinnable showdown with the UK Government which she will hope engenders a sense of righteous indignation among voters.
There is another reason why Ms Sturgeon may prefer to concentrate on the constitutional question, right now: when she diverts attention to the subject of independence, the record of her government goes unscrutinised. Of course the First Minister would prefer to talk about the constitution than the state of Scotland’s education system or the NHS.
The truth is that, for all the SNP’S spin about being a party of competent government, there are serious problems in public services.
When Ms Sturgeon became First Minister in 2014, she promised to be a leader for all Scots, whether they support independence or not. Since then, it has often seemed she is less concerned about the priorities of the No-voting majority than keeping her own supporters happy.
The Scotsman would be happy to see Ms Sturgeon place her focus on education and health, this year. These are, after all, the areas in need of attention.
She may find more Scots become amenable to her independence proposal if they see her leading real, necessary reform of public services using the powers she currently has at her disposal.