Does anybody care about Sturgeon's romantic preferences?

The Herald Scotland

3 days ago

Sturgeon is also fond of claiming that much of the censure she experiences is misogynistic.
Again, I'm indifferent to whether she's a woman: her sexuality and gender are irrelevant to me. My concern is her obsessive focus on nationalist dogma while egotistically promoting the cult of Nicola when in office to the detriment of the job she was paid to do: effectively manage Scotland's public services.
This primarily is why many criticise her, not because she's a woman who may, or may not, be heterosexual.
Martin Redfern, Melrose.
Letters: 'Gay marriage' is anachronistic. Let's just say 'marriage'
Letters: Sturgeon and Johnson won't abandon their control freakery anytime soon
Letters: Devolution has achieved much. Independence will do more
Bureaucratic bungle
ANAS Sarwar's comments regarding Donald Dewar's disappointment with the state of devolution ('Sarwar: Dewar would be disappointed at devolution progress', The Herald, August 6) are a crossroads moment in Scottish politics, demanding urgent reflection and action.
As we commemorate 25 years since the establishment of Holyrood, it has become painfully clear that what was once hailed as a triumph of Scottish self-governance has now largely devolved into bureaucracy and political infighting devoid of meaningful citizen engagement.
Dewar envisioned a Scotland governed by a responsive administration that prioritised the needs of its people, yet today we witness an alarming decline in the standards of the very public services that should uplift our communities.
The stark fact that police numbers have plunged by nearly 1,000 since 2020 exemplifies a significant breakdown in our governance system. Without adequate community safety measures, public confidence wanes and citizens are left feeling vulnerable.
Moreover, the struggles within our healthcare system further illustrate the dire consequences of a government more focused on its internal politicking than on the needs of its constituents.
As incidents of patient neglect continue to rise, with numerous reports highlighting a crisis in service delivery, the question remains: how can our leaders reconcile the promise of devolution with the realities faced by ordinary Scots?
In order to fulfil Dewar's vision, we must shift the paradigm of governance back towards local councils. Local authorities are equipped to better understand and respond to the unique challenges of their communities, yet they remain hampered by a lack of real power and resources. We must demand that responsibility be devolved further down the ladder, not just to Holyrood but directly to local councils accountable to their constituents.
As we consider the next steps toward a truly responsive governance model, it is essential to recall the wisdom often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, 'government is best which governs least.' This principle underlines the call for minimal yet effective governance, where those closest to the issues are empowered to make decisions and allocate resources as necessary. This cannot happen until we dismantle the bureaucratic clutches of Holyrood and trust our local governments to innovate and lead with authority.
It is imperative that practical solutions to community issues be prioritised over ideological constructs or party lines. Ensuring safety, healthcare, and education thrive requires not only funding but also the freedom for local authorities to exercise judgement in addressing their populations' pressing needs. When council members are allowed to engage with residents openly and effectively, we can expect tangible improvements and restoration of public faith in our governing institutions.
In conclusion, if we are to honour Donald Dewar's legacy, and harness the true potential of devolution, we must advocate for a local governance model that is both effective and accountable.
We cannot afford to let devolution continue down the path it currently treads, one that is disconnected from the very communities it was intended to serve.
Let us restore local governance to its rightful place at the core of Scottish democracy, ensuring that devolution translates into genuine progress for all citizens. The time for renewed local authority empowerment is now.
Alastair Majury, Dunblane.
Faith no more
'FORBES'S views have no place in society" writes a Herald contributor (Letters, August 10).
But are Kate Forbes's views on same-sex marriage and extramarital sex all that unusual?
There is surely a hidden risk of dangerous sectarianism or prejudice if we imagine that evangelical and Catholic viewpoints on sexuality need to be excluded in modern Scotland.
James Hardy, Belfast.
Zoom ahead
SINCE announcing her impending departure as an MSP (''Shocking loss of best leader SNP never had' as Forbes quits', The Herald, August 5) ,Kate Forbes has had widespread praise from across political circles.
The suggestion that she should have a role in Highland and Islands Enterprise makes a lot of sense, though the role of CEO would be a bit much for an active mother.
Nevertheless, Ms Forbes is highly educated, an accountant who speaks Gaelic and Urdu, and is a woman of faith. Surely she has a role as an advisor to Highland and Islands Enterprise on policy issues.
This need not involve going to Inverness, as she could communicate by Zoom call.
Robert Gibson, Milngavie.
Child's play
PERHAPS Peter Wright should have read Brian Wilson's column a bit more carefully before launching his attack on Kate Forbes (Letters, August 8).
The post of chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise is a three day per week job, based in Inverness and not a full-time job, as he states.
He would also have been wise to have read more closely Ms Forbes' reasons for standing down at next year's election.
Currently she works five to six days a week and is based in Edinburgh, leaving her young daughter behind due to the paucity of child care facilities at Holyrood.
She also cites the toxic nature of 24/7 social media and the brutal place that politics now occupies.
I am not a fan of the SNP but I am an admirer of Ms Forbes who is truly a breath of fresh air and outshines many of her colleagues both within and outwith her political party.
I will be sorry to see her go.
Isobel Frize, Glasgow.
Work or shirk?
VICE President JD Vance, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have been doing a bit of 'bonding', we are told.
Or is it the Brits getting their instructions for when the Palestinians and Ukrainians lose all, or part, of their land?
Then we will have a Home Office version of DOGE, with Border Security rounding up people for working when they should be idle.
Now, I thought the UK was desperate for workers to, you know, WORK. Would it not make sense, even to the idiots in Westminster, if people who are waiting for their status to become clear could actually use their skills to earn money, pay tax and take some of the burden off the rest of us?
GR Weir, Ochiltree.
Is it America's Vice President or a Biblical leader? It's getting harder to tell the difference.
Raising the issue
MOSES, the devoted servant of God, split the Red Sea so his people could flee oppression.
JD Vance, the devoted servant of President Trump, had his security detail raise the water level of the Little Miami River, so he could go kayaking safely.
The modern Gods have different priorities.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Australia.