By John Lamont MP
Now that Nicola Sturgeon has resigned, attention has turned to her legacy.
Just as she divided Scotland by making every issue about another referendum, the outgoing SNP leader continues to divide opinion.
Most people in the Borders acknowledge that she is a formidable politician but also recognise that she broke promises, failed to deliver and made monumental mistakes that cost our country dear.
But, however you normally vote, even if you staunchly support the SNP, I would invite you to judge Sturgeon's legacy by answering these questions - in eight years as First Minister, did Nicola Sturgeon improve your community? Did she focus on improving the essential services you use everyday? Are you and your family better or worse off now than when she came to power?
No matter if you are a Scottish Conservative or SNP voter, pro-UK or a diehard nationalist, I think our answers to those questions will all be similar.
The truth, which even many SNP voters accept, is that Nicola Sturgeon was good at winning power but dreadful at delivering anything with it.
The outgoing SNP leader left too many communities behind, especially in rural areas. She governed for the central belt at the expense of the Borders. Our communities didn’t get a fair deal.
Neither did Ms Sturgeon improve the essential services that Borders residents rely on every day, such as our NHS, our roads or our high streets. She didn’t make life better for people in the Borders or anywhere across Scotland.
Families in 2023 are struggling more today than when she came to power. She didn’t provide better opportunities for young people. Small businesses were ignored by her government too often. She didn’t put enough emphasis on delivering great jobs in every part of the country.
Worst of all, she didn’t even focus on the day job. Her government was always distracted by their obsession with another divisive referendum. People’s top priorities, the issues that really matter to you, were always put on the back-burner by Nicola Sturgeon. Independence was her first, last and only real priority.
I hope the next SNP leader will be different. There is a huge opportunity now for the new First Minister to drop the referendum obsession and work constructively with the UK Government to improve the lives of people across Scotland. It is my sincere hope that the deep divisions in our country can depart with Nicola Sturgeon.
