Scotland deserves better than this

The latest episode in the SNP’s shambolic misgovernment of Scotland has left many observers wondering how much further the party has left to sink. Entering into a coalition agreement with the Scottish Greens arguably contributed to the downfall of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon; ending it could now claim the political scalp of her successor Humza Yousaf.

Mr Yousaf insisted yesterday that he will not resign and will fight attempts to oust him, but his opponents are increasing the pressure on his leadership. The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens are all set to vote against him in a confidence motion next week at Holyrood, and his survival now appears to rest in the hands of Alex Salmond’s Alba Party, and its sole MSP Ash Regan.

Ms Regan, who defected from the SNP last year after being defeated in the party’s leadership contest, has wasted no time in letting Mr Yousaf know the price for her support in any vote. First and foremost would be a Scotland-wide referendum on whether Holyrood should have the power to legislate and negotiate for independence. Second is protecting the rights of women and girls, in a clear reference to the controversial policies on gender that the SNP administration has supported. A weekend of unedifying political horse trading appears inevitable.

But where does that leave the Scottish public? The last Holyrood elections, in which the SNP did not win a majority, demonstrated that Scottish voters did not want to be governed by an unchecked Nationalist administration. But the SNP did not, as a consequence, moderate its agenda and compromise with its critics. Instead, it doubled down on an aggressive programme of “progressive” reform.

Now Scotland is likely to be treated to an extended period of political instability, in which the focus of its leaders is not improving the dire state of the Scottish NHS, or improving standards in schools, or addressing an unsustainable deficit, but on political ructions in Edinburgh. All the while, the Police Scotland probe into the SNP, Operation Branchform, grinds on.

Was devolution not meant to deliver better governance? Commentators have found some cause for hope in the SNP’s current misfortunes. For years, the Nationalists’ dominance of Scotland, and the cult-like power of the independence movement, enabled them to get away with appalling failures in government. Now the SNP’s errors are too enormous to be dismissed.

Scottish voters deserve better than this carnival. Whatever the outcome of next week’s votes, let us hope that they can get it.