Many might find it complicated to keep up with the dizzying week in Scottish politics. Notably, Humza Yousaf concluded his stint as First Minister and risked destabilising his entire government after choosing to end a coalition agreement with the Greens.
Now speculation is rife about who from the SNP pressured the relinquishing party leader to urgently dismiss Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. Some party members believe Yousaf’s departure from Bute House is an acceptable sacrifice to eliminate the Greens from power. The path is now paved for a possible SNP leadership contest between the near-retired John Swinney, slated to declare his candidacy today, and Kate Forbes, a previous leader runner-up.
The turmoil in recent Scottish political affairs makes some citizens question the devolution project’s very essence. The Holyrood approach was supposed to deviate from that of Westminster, but its chaotic governance and embarrassing resignations since early 2023 mirror Westminster’s shortcomings.
Anas Sarwar is right to question if the now minority SNP government still enjoys the support of both MSPs and the general public. The idea of Holyrood and Westminster elections occurring in the same year indicates a lack of confidence outside political circles, leaving the rest of the SNP Ministers with the arduous task of re-establishing order, swiftly. With urgency, a new leader must be appointed, redirecting attention to remedy the numerous challenges afflicting Scottish society.
As the summer season approaches, Scots must pay careful attention to skin health warnings. It’s critical to protect yourself during the day’s sunniest times, applying sunscreen on all exposed skin, akin to prioritising a healthy lifestyle to fend off cancer.
Steven Frame courageously shared his experience of becoming more prone to skin cancer due to an unrelated mishap. At 27, without excessive sunbathing or sunbed use, he developed a severe form of the disease that cost him his nose. Steven’s story serves as a stark reminder of the sun’s potency, even in Glasgow, encouraging everyone to take protective measures against solar radiation, be it at home or overseas.
Stay up to date with the latest news from the length and breadth of Scotland and further afield; don’t forget to keep abreast of the latest developments in Glasgow.
