Time for Nicola Sturgeon and SNP to take responsibility in Scotland – Yorkshire Post Letters

From: John Riseley, Harcourt Drive, Harrogate.
Nicola Sturgeon is the First Minister of Scotland.Nicola Sturgeon is the First Minister of Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon is the First Minister of Scotland.

AS an occasional petitioner to Parliament, I feel it is only fair that I read all the petitions that others have written and sign those I agree with (about one in 40).

In doing this, I can’t help but notice how little support some quite worthy efforts receive. For example, one to devolve powers on drug misuse to Scotland has just 21 signatures (GP Taylor, The Yorkshire Post, September 9).

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I am perhaps less confident than petitioner Aodhan Collins that the Scots will find a better way, but I am entirely happy for them to try.

Who is responsible for drugs policy in Scotland?Who is responsible for drugs policy in Scotland?
Who is responsible for drugs policy in Scotland?

What puzzles me is the lack of support from advocates of independence.

Isn’t this another slice of the cake they want, or are they afraid there will be nothing left for the government of a fully independent Scotland to do differently? On the other hand, it surprises me that opponents of independence are prepared to allow Nicola Sturgeon scope for blaming Scotland’s drug woes on the Union.

Ideally such petitions would get the support they deserve not through recommendations on Twitter and Facebook, or indeed the letters page, but by people checking the petitions website directly for themselves. They would find this easier if there were a sort-by-date option.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

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