To think Nicola Sturgeon was never supposed to be so powerful?

[Mynameisjosiesmith]

Scotland voted for a devolved government in the 1990s. A limited number of powers were develoved -e.g. health, education etc. Scotland has no second chamber, like the House of Lords. What the Scottish Parliament passes becomes law. Wind on to 2020 and Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government (not even the Scottish Parliament) can unilaterally decide to impose a huge amount of restrictions on the Scottish people, even stricter than those in England. Even if you think Nicola and the SNP are doing a huge job, surely the extent of their power was never anticipated and is really quite outrageous? Yes, we are in unprecedented times but for me, the Scottish Government (again not Parliament) were never supposed to have such power. Scotland voted no to independence, yet our very freedoms rest entirely on Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. I understand the UK government are also acting without consulting Parliament, never mind the House of Lords. However, they are the ultimate government of the UK. That's what all democratic processes above determined - the devolution vote and the independence vote. Scottish people have to have the entire fabric of their lives decided upon people who should not have the power to make such decisions. You might think Boris has got it all wrong and Nicola is doing better (take a look at the fiasco with Scottish students though!) However, the nature of our democracy makes the power given to Nicola &the SNP plain wrong in my view. For the record, I couldn't vote in the independence referendum as I wasn't in the country and never fully made my mind up on what I thought. So this isn't a anti-independence post. I'm just concerned a devolved government with limited powers is suddenly almighty. Nicola Sturgeon's address to the country last week left me uneasy. It was like a broadcast from the White House!

She is a one trick pony, her handling of salmond is dodgy, Scottish NHS and education are in a dire state.

They have had their Cummings with the health minister who sturgeon wouldn't sack.

Sharpe talked about closing borders and hadn't got that power.

It's adding a bit of drama though isn't it? It's just not mixing households the same as the rest of us.

@Blanca87 nope, no Russian bot. Just a Scottish person with an opinion different from yours .

@IncludeWomenInTheSequel. The SNP aren't even consulting their own MSPs. Just the inner Scottish Govt -i.e the Cabinet. Supported by the leading DENTIST Jason Leitch

Health may be a devolved issue but civil liberties are not. You might think Scot Govt are doing a good job but they were never supposed to be so powerful as to dictate who could be in your living room. There should be way more input than a few MSPs who happen to be in the Scottish Govt making such decisions.

Oh FGS, BJ is dictating who you can have in your living room in England, Mark Drakeford in Wales and Arlene Foster in NI.

Is it only NS who is overstepping your imaginary boundaries?

Interesting you choose the platform of the very popular, AIBU to write your deliberations and not Scotnet. Especially if your thread relates to the Scottish constitution and political system.

Nicola or BoJo - no competition!

Also interesting you have never contributed to any other thread, including to the other anti Nicola Sturgeon thread. So I'm only assuming if you are denying you are Russian bot that you must be a really untalented and lazy journalist.

OP: what do you think the other parties in Scotland could be doing to ensure that the SNP and therefore Sturgeon don’t hold more power than you think they should?

IMO there being a clear majority for SNP shows this process working the way it should. If Scotland couldn't decide who they wanted in charge, they wouldn't have such a clear majority and England would have more influence. As things stand, they're ready to step away with someone very competent who has been elected fair and square.

Quick Google and just found you. Yup you are *rolls eyes....

I don't like sturgeon (OK I hate her), but the powers she has are what she is meant to have. They aren't too powerful.

They are however just proving how useless they are, to anyone who isn't an snp parrot of course.

@Blanca87 it's called a name change are you feeling paranoid? Just because I am expressing a different opinion from your own doesn't make it a conspiracy or a cover up. Perhaps consider broadening your horizons! Anyone questioning the SNP is a journalist or a Russian bot.

😂😂😂

@Blanca87 LOL!!!!! My user name refers to the kids TV series Josie Smith! Please, away and educate yourself!!

I understand what you’re saying and this is because the snp have such a majority.

To be fair, I don’t like her and feel she takes every opportunity to politically point score, so if she can differ from Boris she will, as she is driving to her ultimate goal of Scottish independence, but I do think she has come out of this better than Boris has and I suspect he’s a bit scared of her, because he knows whatever he does she will do different and there is fuck all he can do about it, because an all out war would just make him look bad and she’d fucking fight him in the hills if she could.

So it does, love. So it does... 🤣

Crickey Blanca87 that's quite a stretch!

For a woman's board of urge you to look into sturgeon and the Scottish government involvement with salmond.

Doesn't make pretty reading.

I'm pro independence but had never thought about the lack of a second chamber in the SP, maybe having one would have provided the checks and balances needed to stop the named person bill and analyse the hate crime bill.

I'm also a Sturgeon fan, but I think the fact there is no real opposition is damaging. We always need a strong opposition in any government. Labour are a shambles, the tories don't have enough seats to make a real difference and it's the same for the smaller parties.

I think during Covid times the governments do have a lot more control over our lives than they otherwise would and that should also be under scrutiny rather than accepted without question.

Iv been dying tae use this far days noo!

Wee Jimmy is a wannabe dictator.

The Scottish Parliament was designed to be a collaborative approach, as opposed to the division inherent in first past the post. It's not actually the SNP's fault that ScotLab and the rest can't scare up a decent opposition between them! (And again, I'm no fan - but you can't blame a party for being successful. You need to turn your ire to the lack of effective opposition!)

@FreshFreesias

Wee Jimmy is a wannabe dictator.

God this stuff is just embarrassing. Grow up and debate!

She has a huge mandate from the Scottish electorate, both in seats and an outright majority, something the tories here don't have, only seats.
She has maintained her credibility by sacking the advisor who broke the rules.

Scottish students don't pay £9250 p.a to be locked up or have on-line learning.

She hasn't run away to have a holiday, she is out each and everyday telling her nation what is happening, she is overall a very impressive leader.

Scotland voted no to independence, yet our very freedoms rest entirely on Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP.

Because we voted for it.