THIS week I joined a political party for the first time. I am 60 years old.  

For nearly a year, like many, I have been concerned about Covid and its impact on our families and friends and I have come to appreciate the way in which our First Minister has committed to almost daily briefings on the progress of the virus. 

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Our nation has faced a dangerous pandemic, and through her briefings I can only conclude that our government has responded to the best scientific evidence and put in place policies that are in our country’s best interest. 

At times journalists have pushed her on political points during these briefings and, from my observations, I hold the view that she has stuck to her first ministerial role and avoided the political fight. Last week she was panned for leaving a four nations meeting to brief us.

The National:

However, on Monday, I read a National article highlighting Neil Oliver’s musings in the Sunday Times no less, questioning the impact her briefings might have on the upcoming election. This suggested that 14 years of SNP misrule has left him “sick to the stomach”. 

However, he is not the first to question the First Minister’s potential scope for influence going forward. Frankly she is an effective communicator and leader and we only have to watch First Minister’s questions each week in Holyrood to see how far off the mark the other party leaders are at the moment.

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Certainly, the SNP have been the dominant political force in Scotland for the past 14 years and Oliver should first look to the failings in the other opposition parties to understand why this should be. As the election approaches, politicians will get their media opportunities to reach out to the public and make their policies known to the country. That is of course if they choose not to hide in a fridge or to avoid political pundits like Andrew Neil.

So, I am now the proud member of a political party inspired by the considered views of Neil Oliver.