To wish Nicola Sturgeon was Prime Minister.

[NellyJames]

Just listening to her statement to the Scottish Parliament. I don’t want to debate her wider politics or the question of Scottish independence because that’s for the Scots to decide.
I’m just so impressed by her leadership and how clear and concise she is. There’s no waffle, no bluster. She’s just said Scotland is 4wks behind London so the time to act is now before they’re in the same position.

Her manner is just so factual and informative and if I was Scottish or lived in Scotland whether I agreed with her SNP politics or not, I’d be very glad she was my FM. She makes BJ look like an uneducated idiot who is neither responsible nor has the balls to take decisions before the effects are smacking him on the face.

I’m a Scottish person living in England.
She has come across very well in the pandemic and made decisions quickly. Previous posters have already said it - her record in government is not great and I would be devastated if she led Scotland to being an independent country.

She’s just another wee jimmy krankie !!!!

As I said I’m neither Scottish nor do I live in Scotland so my post is purely based on her handling of the pandemic and how it compares favourably to Westminster.

It's about time people saw through her act. if they gave out Oscars for performance she'd be nominated.

@Babdoc “You do realise she wanted to force women rape victims to undergo intimate forensic examinations by men, giving them no right to insist on a female doctor? Still think she’s so bloody wonderful?”

Absolute emotive pish. The red tops ran with a piece about the new forensics bill that apparently clashed with gender recognition.

It doesn’t.

As a side you have the right to refuse medical treatment by anyone.

@AgnesNaismith

Yep, she’s empathetic, factual, succinct, personable and obviously intelligent.

Hey Scotland, instead of leaving the U.K. how about we can all be Scottish?

It's simple.

When dropping accolades on someone, and comparing them to others, we should look at what is the relative size of the task they are asked to deliver. Scotland’s population 5.5million while UK as a whole is nearly 67 million. Scotland spending per head is £11.3k vs England £9.3k. Scotland has 59 MPs representing 8% fewer people per head than England. This is not an argument for Scotland vs England. It just shows that it is easy to do Mickey Mouse jobs and look good. She is running a tiny show with a massive entourage. And badly.

OP I agree with you 100% - was watching her with DH and we both said the same. So clear and easy to understand.
Have asked DH if we can move to Scotland!!

Fuck me no. She's a nightmare.

Also compare Boris' education with hers...

Oh dear, might want to think that one through.

Boris Johnson's 'education' is a huge factor in why the government is in the mess it is.

A massive web of institutions entirely devoted to taking the children of the rich, be they clever, thick or entirely average, polishing every turd until they gleam, connecting turd with turd until it's a sea of ordure that is entirely impenetrable from the outside, and propelling each steamer into a position of responsibility entirely unrelated to what ability or talent they might actually have.

Our politicial class, our judiciary, every system in the UK is weakened by being weighted towards individuals who take posts and responsibilities they would not be able to reach if education was a level playing field.

When I see someone who reaches higher office from a state school background it's a balm. You know - they're at least clever enough to actually do the job.

If Boris hadn't been a rich pampered prize piglet, he wouldn't have achieved anything of note. He's not where he is on merit in the slightest.

She is an excellent speaker and a shrewd politician. But that doesn’t mean she’s a great leader or even a good person and it’s dangerous to fall into the trap of thinking excellent speaker equals excellent leader. Nigel Farage is a good speaker!

@Misshapencha0s, what do you mean, ‘compare Boris’ education with hers.’
I thought she was a law graduate of Glasgow University, is she not?

Also, all the posts referencing Jimmy Krankie. Are we not grown ups? Disagree with me if you wish, but really?

Anyway, as I said, this thread was in reference to her handling of the pandemic. Johnson’s handling of the pandemic is frankly disgraceful and right now I’d rather a leader with clarity who listens to the science.

@cantdothisnow1

Her position on women's rights is problematic but she is decisive and speaks well.

Two characteristics that are not shared with our PM.

Yup this. Can’t stand he myself.

@Buddytheelf85

She is an excellent speaker and a shrewd politician. But that doesn’t mean she’s a great leader or even a good person and it’s dangerous to fall into the trap of thinking excellent speaker equals excellent leader. Nigel Farage is a good speaker!

He is actually far more effective than she is. He won his referendum, and she lost hers. Doesn’t matter whether we like him or not, but that’s a fact judging on his results.

Being able to deliver a speech does not make a good leader. It makes her better then Boris as she can communicate well. But you could compare a Mars bar with Boris Johnson and it would come out on top.

I want someone good running the country, exceptional even, not simply someone who is better than the bumbling baffoon down south:

She’s just another wee jimmy krankie !!!!

Nah. She belongs in her rightful place in The Crankies!

Lovely. As soon as people insult her looks then they show themselves up to be misogynistic and that their points are to be ignored.

@sst1234 yes, if only she could have Nigel’s election success...

I’m not a fan of her overall but agree that her communication style and proactive approach appears to be significantly more effective and confidence inspiring than any of the current U.K. government with the possible exception of Rishi Sunak who generally sounds fairly with it. Actions do matter more than words but in times of crisis having someone decisive is quite important. Even having someone decisive and wrong might be preferable to the dithering and waffling and leaking things to the press to see what people think etc

Yes, she is a great communicator and streets ahead of Johnson when it comes to the right decision to make.

Johnson isn't always the best speaker although I do like him booming at Starmer’s nasally whines in PMQs, yet what Boris lacks in concise delivery he makes up for in content and ability. Brexit for example..

Are you on the waccy baccy?
Ability and Boris Johnson are not even distantly related.

She tends to bluster more once she's being questioned by other politicians and sounds a lot more like Johnson. It's all an act.

'He is actually far more effective than she is. He won his referendum, and she lost hers. Doesn’t matter whether we like him or not, but that’s a fact judging on his results.'

Yes, she is very convincing to those who prioritise public speaking over ability. Andrew Neill is excellent for challenging the SNPs actual 'achievements' and plans.

I'm a fan of the SNP or her in general, but I will concede Scotland has handled this much better than England has.

Shes got way more money to run a much smaller country with way less complexity and she still manages to fuck it up

@YoniAndGuy

Also compare Boris' education with hers...

Oh dear, might want to think that one through.

Boris Johnson's 'education' is a huge factor in why the government is in the mess it is.

A massive web of institutions entirely devoted to taking the children of the rich, be they clever, thick or entirely average, polishing every turd until they gleam, connecting turd with turd until it's a sea of ordure that is entirely impenetrable from the outside, and propelling each steamer into a position of responsibility entirely unrelated to what ability or talent they might actually have.

Our politicial class, our judiciary, every system in the UK is weakened by being weighted towards individuals who take posts and responsibilities they would not be able to reach if education was a level playing field.

When I see someone who reaches higher office from a state school background it's a balm. You know - they're at least clever enough to actually do the job.

If Boris hadn't been a rich pampered prize piglet, he wouldn't have achieved anything of note. He's not where he is on merit in the slightest.

Oh dear might want to try to be a bit less patronising.

She is a one trick pony and she knows exactly what to say and how to say it to get the minions in line.

Is Boris perfect? No. He is a waffling libertarian who has struggled to lead us through this.

It depends whether you prefer style or substance.

Also sounds like you have a chip in your shoulder!