To be English and think Nicols Sturgeon would be a better PM

[Lifejacket]

Just that really, I live in England but would quite happily vote for NS to be PM if given the choice over BJ. To me she seems much more trustworthy and has shown better leadership.

[Tigertrees]

Lots of “free” things like baby boxes and prescriptions which cost a lot and aren’t means tested
That's kind of the point isn't it? They are universal. Just like child benefit used to be before it was mucked up. It's well known that the cost of administering a means tested system for anything is high - sometimes prohibitively so.

[Jellycatspyjamas]

I dont know where you get the idea Scottish schools are better? They really arent; the education system here has been failing for years.

I can choose the school my kids go to, and both my kids are in classes of 24 kids. They aren’t sent home for not wearing uniform and the school doesn’t throw a fit if I take them out for a day or two. They aren’t tested half to death before they leave primary school. Both my kids have the space to learn at their own pace and their school actively works to find activities that suit their learning style. They’ll never experience being put in isolation for wearing the wrong colour of shoes. Whether they come out with a string of qualifications or none, their school experience will have been more measured than had they been south of the border.

[Tigertrees]

Great list Jellypants. No academies either and no SATS

[Blurby]

Well said, @TheSandman. How refreshing to hear

[Casmama]

Wow this is quite a shocking thread.
No matter what her views on independence that will only be delivered if there is a majority of Scottish people who wish it.
Those who say she is a single issue politician cannot have done their research,
I would not necessarily support free prescriptions for all as i would be happy to pay for them but I understand that it would cost more to administer a means based system so I accept this is the best way of doing it.
I think free university education for all who qualify is important for equality and i am happy to pay higher tax than i would elsewhere in the UK for that to be the case.
I think sometimes English people don't realise that paying higher tax to offer more support for society is a source of pride and not anger to many Scottish people

[WanderingMilly]

I'm English and I have to say, I have found my respect for Sturgeon increasing recently.
No, I don't think she would make a better PM and I don't take to her as a person (only from her TV appearances, obviously) but during the crisis she has spoken well. She doesn't waffle, she is clear and straight in what she says and seems to be genuinely trying to be open and transparent with the Scottish public. She also has a much better grasp of the risks involved in this crisis and is determined not to open schools too early, she cares for the health of her people and I applaud her for that.....

[Graphista]

I’m a Scot, living in Scotland now but as an army dependent lived all over.

I strongly suspect those criticising the education system here don’t know how it compares to others.

I was mainly educated in the English system and when dd started school I noticed little had changed from my time at school. Also from speaking to friends with similar age children in the different systems - and in different regions in England - I would say the Scots system is far superior to the English system!

I can understand why people without that experience might think it strange that those from England look on it with envy, there’s good reason for that - the English system is shit! And even my friends teaching in the English system say so.

My daughters experience alone the Scots system is at least 2 years ahead of the English in maths and literacy and at least 1 in other subjects.

I wondered at first if it was just that school in England was a poor one but when I discussed and compared that with friends of mine teaching in English schools in at least 3 other counties they were all at roughly the same level.

I’m not especially a fan of sturgeon but she’s far preferable to the shower of utter shite in the Westminster cabinet particularly arsehole Johnson!

But then pretty much anyone would be better!

You are aware that the Barnett Formula is not a subsidy? That it basically gives Scotland back (some of the) money that we have to send to Westminster? hear hear! Sick of seeing that used as a false stick to beat us with.

when I compare education and NHS in England to Scotland there’s a noticeable difference IMO. exactly

[Disquieted1]

Cba rtft but simply NO.
Just because she makes forceful speeches it doesn't mean that she can organise a piss up in a brewery. And she can't.
She's fucked up so many things in Scotland it's hardly worth listing them, from policing to health to fire services, she's fucked them up.
NO.

[MissEliza]

@Jellycatspyjamas lucky you. Primary schools in the area I grew up in have 34 children and no TA. That's appalling.
Tbh I would never take parents' opinions as to the relative merits of different education systems. They're incapable of unbiased perspective.

[wafflyversatile]

She's a bit left wing for me, but I think she's doing okay and I also think Boris is doing okay in very difficult circumstances. You need someone decisive in times when no-one know exactly what the right answer is.

How can you say boris is doing well and you need someone decisive in the same breath?

If you think boris is doing well you haven't been paying attention.

[NotNowPlzz]

I think she's honest, sincere, forthright and reliable. I might not agree with everything she says but I respect her hugely. I think she is a woman of integrity.

[Jellycatspyjamas]

Tbh I would never take parents' opinions as to the relative merits of different education systems. They're incapable of unbiased perspective.

Given that maximum class sizes in P4-7 is set at 33, and has been for some time I think your knowledge might be out of date.

And no, I’m not unbiased, I speak as I find and in the knowledge that several teacher friends south of the border would move here to teach if circumstances allowed. What I know is that I wouldn’t subject my children to the systems and regimes I hear repeatedly about schools in England both on here and in my friendships and professional circles. I never said I was unbiased, that doesn’t mean my experience and opinion are worthless.

[MissEliza]

@Jellycatspyjamas honestly you're talking nonsense. 33 compared to 34 is meaningless.It's far too many for one teacher without support. I don't know a single teacher who'd sign up for that. Scotland is slipping down the international rankings but I don't have to give a shit because my dcs are receiving from great education in England. I'd never move back. Good luck!

[Disquieted1]

@NotNowPlzz

I think she's honest, sincere, forthright and reliable.

I agree. However she is incompetent. You need more from a leader than honesty and sincerity. They must at least be up to the job and NS is simply incompetent.

[Chocolatedeficitdisorder]

That would be a big no from me. I'm Scottish, living in Scotland, with two children in the wreckage that is the Scottish education system.

My DC have gone through the state system in a large state secondary school. Both finished 6th year with good results and are both just about finished their first choice degrees, one at Edin Uni and the other in Dundee.

I haven't seen any sign of wreckage. Maybe the problems you have aren't just the school?

[Pat123dev]

Right now I believe she's being used as a guinea pig. During the pandemic, It's funny how she says something in advance before England announces similar, like she used to gage reaction.
Otherwise, nope i think she's self centred. Like most politicians really. Scotland receive so much money per person, no wonder they have free this and that. But that's not because of the Scottish economy, it's because it's handed to them. I don't have a problem with that, but it's not the best way to run a country!

[PrimalLass]

Any evidence that money is just handed to us? Or maybe the government here chooses to spend it differently and it's easier to budget for 5 million than 55 million.

We do pay taxes in Scotland - in face we pay higher taxes.

[Dodgytrousers]

Hahaha

Are you joking??

😂

[Hueandcry]

Like her or loathe her, as many on here clearly do, I have a new found respect for her as FM & the way she is handling this crisis. As for PM, she would undoubtedly do a better job than Boris & his team of fuckwits but I do not believe she has any desire for the job

[Darkbendis]

YANBU, but I would rather we keep her here. I have been working in her constituency for almost 9 years now and I can see progress and improvement happening constantly. Still a long way to go (Govanhill has been a deprived area for a VERY long time we talk many decades here), but definitely happening.

[BlueGheko]

Anyone not thick enough to shake hands with people infected with a highly infectious virus would be an improvement imo.

[Bluewarbler27]

I think she’s awful!

[FeelinFagin]

She is well spoken and seems to be knowledgeable but, she's bloody useless. A one track mind who uses every opportunity to push Independence despite the no vote.

Those free universities are a great idea in principle but in reality, fewer Scottish kids than ever can actually get places because they're having to take in far more foreign and English students who pay the fees to keep them open.
She joined all the Scottish police forces together against advice and now they can't claim back the £76.5M they paid in VAT because only local police and fire services are exempt in the UK. So they're the only force in the UK to pay VAT. And Nicola was repeatedly told this but she just had to go against advice because hey, it's Scotland and she knows what's best for the Scottish people.
Her education goals haven't been met, the Scottish government are failing over and over again to use the devolved powers they have because when it all goes tits up they can blame 'Westmonster'.
Why would England want someone for PM who hates the English? And who's followers are even worse.

[Sceptre86]

I think she is a better orator than Boris who fumbles like a buffoon. She is assured in herself and a confident woman. Good on her.

I haven't noticed a discernible difference with regards to the nhs is Scotland compared to England in both countries staffing is woeful. Yes you can get free prescriptions up here. Education wise though I think it is behind England. There is a big focus on reducing the attainment gap between poor and more well off children but that should not be achieved by having low standards of attainment for all! If you compare the syllabus for the same aged children in England and Scotland scottish kids are behind. It is very difficult to find information on how well schools are performing because inspections do not happen regularly nor are they documented for all schools.

[Sceptre86]

I like her more than Boris but let's not pretend everything is hunkydory under a snp government. It could be worse though.