Piers Morgan’s interview with Nicola Sturgeon

I am a Scot living in England and, as a British citizen, have always been vehemently opposed to the SNP's separatist agenda.

Even so, I have to say that, over the last months, Nicola Sturgeon has come across as a much more competent and trustworthy politician than the utterly incompetent and dishonest shower in London.

I have a lot of time for NS - I think she does a good job. She is clear and concise and doesn't waffle.

You can admire someone’s ability to do their job but still not be very keen on them as a person and how they come across. I have had that so many times in my life.

Elizabeth1 I was just passing a comment. I don't want to argue with anyone about NS. I am not a Scot and I wouldn't say I like her, but I think she is doing a very good job, and credit where it's due.

Thanks for that info SirChenjin, I didn’t know that the Scottish Executive had been legally renamed.

However the change was not without controversy as this excerpt from Wikipedia shows, for anyone who’s interested.

“ The original Scotland Act 1998 gave the name "Scottish Executive" as the legal term for the devolved government. In January 2001, the then First Minister Henry McLeish suggested changing the official name from "Scottish Executive" to "Scottish Government". The reaction from the British government and from some Labour Party members and Scottish Labour MPs was allegedly hostile.[25] This reaction was in contrast to a 2001 public survey by then-Labour chief whip Tom McCabe, which showed that only 29% of the Scottish public wanted the title Scottish Executive to remain.[26]

Scottish politicians, including the Labour first minister, had often referred to the executive as the "government" and this trend increased following the 2007 election, when the SNP took office and Labour were in opposition for the first time. On 2 September 2007, the SNP minority government announced that the Scottish Executive was to be retitled as the "Scottish Government".

The renaming was decided unilaterally by the minority government; as a consequence, the SNP was criticised by the three Unionist opposition parties for acting without allowing for parliamentary scrutiny, debate or approval of their plan. However, the term "Scottish Government" has since then become common currency among all of the political parties in Scotland and the rest of the UK.[27] The official Gaelic title, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, has always meant "Government of Scotland".”

sparkle you would think, otherwise you would wonder why the pretence.

Sorry Elegran not with you on that one. Her team? Why does she not let some of the other ministers do briefings on their specific portfolio? It's always got to be her. Did she ever answer the journalist asking her what the R number in Scotland is as compared to the rest of the UK? Team hasn't briefed her very well it would seem.

Some Scottish voters were so annoyed at the concentration of the SNP on independence that they can't give any credit to the "Scottish Executive" when credit is due. At the moment Independence has taken a back seat to managing and surviving the more immediate threat of the pandemic. On that subject Nicola Sturgeon and her team are doing well (and she always looks fine for briefings, too, despite apparently cutting her own hair)

The ‘Scottish executive’ would certainly fit in with the general level of ignorance he demonstrates.

(For the avoidance of doubt, in case anyone thinks that’s a serious suggestion the Scottish Executive was legally renamed the Scottish Government in the Scotland Act 2012).

I think Boris should start referring to the ‘Scottish executive’.

I like NS actually. She’s intelligent and well briefed. That said, an awful lot of Scottish voters don’t like her or the SNP. Some say she’s banged on about independence at the expense of proper governance on other matters. She’s taken her eye off the ball in other areas.

Actually Maw you might just have a point there about strong women leaders. That said, Theresa May would have had to be the exception that proved the rule if she were still PM! ‘Strong and Stable’ anybody?
?

It might have helped engender a feeling of unity in the United Kingdom if Boris had made the distinction between the four parts of the UK in his speech, clarified why there were differences in their approaches, demonstrated how they would align themselves and involved the devolved Govts in his plans rather than having them find out about them from the Sunday papers.

The circumstances are also different in the regions of England which is why, if rules are to be made for the whole of England, they should be safe and appropriate even for the regions with the greatest risk.

Iam64 yes, he is PM of the UK but this is just the latest in a series of problems which devolution has caused.
As PM of the UK Boris should be in a position to make decisions and advise on the plans for the whole of the UK, taking into account all the figures, which are still rising in some areas although dropping, thankfully, in others.

However, with certain powers being now devolved, it means we are receiving mixed messages from leaders which will inevitably make life particularly difficult for those who live on the borders.

Iam It also feels wrong that so many believe that Scotland, Wales and NI ought to be following in their own areas what Boris has advised just for England. The circumstances are not the same!

Jane Godley voice-over to Nicola Sturgeon on Boris Johnson's latest briefing. Jane has Nicola's basic message right. Viewable by non-FB members.

www.facebook.com/janeygodleyfanpage/videos/909585442800212/

I’m with MawB in thinking female leaders are managing this crisis well.
I’m impressed by Nicola Sturgeon. The PM of the U.K. speaking only for England last night bothered me. It feels wrong that Westminster happily disregards the same medical evidence that leads NI, Scotland and Wales to be more protective of its people

Sparkle The English head office of a charity overseeing operations in ALL the UK ought to know the regulations in every part of the country.

I didn'-t actually say the rate of infection was higher in Scotland, just to clarify, I said that it is still rising therefore Scotland may need to make different decisions than those for England, although perhaps the decisions for England should be made on a regional basis.

We now have a situation on the English/Welsh borders where school staff who live in Wales but work in England may be expected to return to work. If they have children who attend Welsh schools this is going to present problems.

What nonsense sparkling. She might not like the way the this Govt at Westminster behaves but don’t be so paranoid or silly - the English are made up of 70-odd million people, she doesn’t dislike all of you personally.

Can you give us some examples of where she has actually put the English people down? OTOH, I could give you one or two where Boris has put down the Scottish people, people who wear burkas, the Commonwealth and so on and on..

And how many Scots know the detail and intricacies of English law? Just asking .....

Listen to those who have experience of both - like Elizabeth1's account above of a national charity based in London which was ignorant of relevant Scottish law

^

I'd say that it is the "English" government at Westminster that NS doesn't like - that and the vast amount of ignorance there is in English institutions and organisations in general about the differences between Scottish and English laws and customs (which ars for historic reasons, not because NS and co have made changes recently just to be awkward)

Listen to those who have experience of both - like Elizabeth1's account above of a national charity based in London which was ignorant of relevant Scottish law.

Rosalyn. “ I don’t like Nicola Sturgeon per se but I have a huge respect for her. She has great leadership skills and seems to have full grasp of what she’s talking about”

So I’m confused as to why you don’t like her ?

I notice that NS is also doing fist clenching !

Nicola Sturgeon doesn’t like the English, she never misses a chance to put us down, never mind she has an English grandma, perhaps she doesn’t like her I don’t know, just hear what she says. I think she has been very concise throughout all this, she appears each day before us, their rate hadn’t reduced like ours so it makes sense they stay as they are. I didn’t think Boris was clear enough, but I cannot think of anyone else I would listen to in the same way, he has followed scientific advice and I think he’s done a stirling job. I think a couple of people on here appear to have a grudge against the English, that’s ok long as they don’t live here, it would be silly doing so if we are so bad.

Yes janeainsworth a subtle transition in wording (and very clever) from the SNP.

Here is the logo they promote on their letterheaded notepaper these days:

Canny use of words there and they’ve grown legs!