JEANE Freeman has announced her retirement from politics. But she is leaving a void that will be hard to fill. No political party would like to lose someone of Jeane Freeman’s experience and ability.

Ms Freeman was a nurse, head of a criminal justice charity, civil servant and special advisor to Jack McConnell when he was first minister.

It is a sad sign of the times and today’s attitudes that she has been receiving undeserved online abuse, something that has become common especially with female politicians and those of an ethnic minority background (Jeane Freeman slams ‘toxic’ online culture as she reveals plan to step down, August 25).

Another reason is Jeane Freeman is approaching the ripe old age of 67 and if re-elected will be 72 at the end of the next parliament. That might not be considered old when you see Joe Biden running for the presidency of America at 77.

Jeane Freeman has never been out of government since being elected for the SNP.

She has ably represented her constituency of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley since 2016.

She was at the first newly elected MSP to go straight into a ministerial position, that of minister for the new position of social security, where she quickly established Scotland’s first social security agency.

Shirley-Anne Somerville replaced her, when she was promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Health in June 2018.

In her new role Ms Freeman dealt effectively with allegations of bullying at NHS Highland, where her handling of the issue was highly commended by staff and unions.

Jeane Freeman was also not afraid to take on Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board and put them in to special measures when a range of serious issues were discovered, including infection prevention and control, and quickly appointed Calum Campbell as turn-around director.

In Auld Reekie, she showed the same determination to get on with the task in hand, at the new sick kids hospital, when she was accused of lying by the outgoing chairman of NHS Lothian Brian Houston.

Then the coronavirus pandemic arrived, where she acted quickly getting the Louisa Jordan Hospital built in three weeks.

She worked hard with Ivan McKee in getting flights of PPE into Prestwick Airport and distributing it.

Jeane Freeman also arranged free parking during the crisis at PFI hospitals for visitors and staff. Working tirelessly to support the First Minister, and on occasion deputising for her at the Covid briefings.

In her role Jeane Freeman has not had her problems to seek. But she should be commended for all her hard work and 18-hour days, along with her commitment to her constituency.

She has left us a health service that is in a healthier condition than when she took over.

To quote her: “All of us, rightly. have high expectations of our NHS and I’m focused on improving performance and delivery across the system in order to provide the best care possible for the people of Scotland.”

Jeane Freeman may not have fully achieved this but she has certainly laid solid foundations for successor. The next person will have a very hard act to follow.
Robert McCaw
Renfrew

I WAS very disappointed to read that Jeanne Freeman, our Health Secretary, is retiring at next year’s Holyrood election.

It is my belief that she has done a very competent job, particularly in a high level of responsibility in Scotland – coronavirus is a pandemic we have not seen before.

However I am very concerned at the number of SNP MSPs who are retiring next year. I do not begrudge them this, I retired myself at the age of 62 in 1996, but I did not work in the political field, just the commercial one. We are now looking to a swathe of

long-time MSPs as we enter an election year and a possible referendum. This is not a good time for Scotland.

Next year we will lose Alex Neil, Linda Fabiani, Bruce Crawford, Gil Paterson, Roseanna Cunningham, Stewart Stevenson, Aileen Campbell, Michael Russell, Gail Ross, Richard Lyle amongst others – as well as Jeane Freeman.

Time for a rethink?
Jim Lynch
Edinburgh

Jeane Freeman has been a steady pair of hands and a competent Health Secretary. However with her leaving her post in 2021 she needs to be replaced with someone of experience, especially in these times. There is a lot of wasted talent down in Westminster; Phillipa Whitford should be asked to run for Holyrood and become the next Health Secretary.
Alistair Galbraith
Dunoon

IF rumours are to be believed, George “The Hat” Galloway’s throwing of said hat into the ring for Holyrood 2021 will result in the chameleonic mountebank making appearances wearing a bunnet.

For George, not so much 1920s Chicago Gangster chic, more Cockney barrow boy.

Apparently aware this might mean people not taking him seriously, the image-conscious Galloway had his second-in-command pose in a bunnet to gauge our reaction to “the look”.

However, the headgear modelled was not a bunnet but a “cap” of the type more commonly favoured by racehorse trainers and grouse beaters with ideas above their station.

I suggest George and his aide-de-camp try bowler hats, perched at a jaunty angle.

If accompanied by walking canes which could be twirled for effect, I believe this look would go down well at future BBC Scotland promotional gigs for the latest anti-SNP faction.
Malcolm Cordell
Dundee