I OFFER an observation regarding Nicola Sturgeon. At 50, Nicola is in that interesting stage in a woman’s life when even the best us, known for very good powers of recall, are increasingly likely to experience the occasional senior moment – particularly when in stressful situations. No matter how hard one tries, one just can’t always clearly remember the details of what happened some time ago no matter how important your adversaries believe relatively ordinary matters to be.

Given the gravity of the pandemic Nicola has dealt with for more than a year, the frequent juvenile antics and issues of many Unionists pale into insignificance. Often, with the passage of time, for the sake of one’s mental wellbeing the mind subconsciously asserts itself protectively and dims painful memories. I have puzzled as to why in dealing with women Alex Salmond’s conduct fell so short of that befitting a First Minister. When Nicola Sturgeon gave her evidence to the parliamentary committee and recounted her recollections of when Alex Salmond visited her home and told her about his being accused of alleged sex crimes I reckon it must have been devastating for her. I barely know Alex and I had great difficulty in believing he could have been involved in what he was accused of, and abusing the powers his office conferred.

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After the passage of time and all that has transpired since, when Nicola became emotional in giving her information to the inquiry I formed the view that she probably had some difficulty holding herself together in that committee room and more certainly at the time Alex personally informed her in her home of the allegations he had to answer.

As Nicola spoke, I felt she was back in the emotional situation she experienced in her home and back in those moments of shock, great distress and the incredulity of what she was confronted with by Alex. The reality of saying things out loud in the context of evidence-giving is truly disconcerting and distressing. particularly when one considers that the atmosphere and attitude towards Nicola from the Unionist members at the committee hearing was nothing short of hostile, and at points embarrassingly inept.

As ever, Ruth Davidson behaves like a virago and personally I will find it a relief when we no longer have to thole her faux Perry Mason posturing at the times of First Minister’s Questions and calling for people to lose their jobs. She’ll maybe be smacking her lips at the prospect of more than 700 of them to go from the Lords. Often, as was the case this week, I have felt the Presiding Officer should assert his authority and demand that members behave better! He has one more opportunity to come good this week. Come on Ken, as the father of six weans you know what to do.

In the new parliament I live in hope that the new Presiding Officer gets a better grip on proceedings and actively intervene to discourage uncivil conduct from MSPs.

Anne Thomson
Falkirk

READ MORE: Ian Blackford calls out Sky News presenter for vowing to give him 'a kicking'

IT was no surprise yesterday morning to hear Ian Blackford call out Sky News presenter Niall Paterson, having heard him say he was going to give Mr Blackford a “kicking” when interviewing him. No surprise either that Paterson said “that’s not what I said,” whilst failing to hide his shock at being overheard before going live on air. Yet another biased presenter trying to influence the electorate whilst failing to do his job of investigative journalism. No surprise either that Paterson assumes he can speak to people like that given the appalling manner in which Boris Johnson speaks to Mr Blackford in Parliament and Ruth Davidson speaks to our First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at Holyrood. Bring on INDEPENDENCE.

Jane Bullock
Inverness