Catholic Union Deputy Director, James Somerville-Meikle, writes:
The February half-term or “recess” in Parliament usually offers some respite from political drama, but there has been no shortage of politics this week – not least the news of Nicola Sturgeon’s departure as First Minister of Scotland.
The brutal nature of politics meant that attention shifted to who her successor would be even before the Leader of SNP began her press conference at Bute House on Tuesday morning.
Despite being on maternity leave and not having announced if she is standing, the Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, is already finding her Christian beliefs picked over by the press as someone linked with the top job.
There is a groaning in tray for whoever takes over as First Minister in Scotland with strikes, NHS waiting times, and school standards all needing attention.
There are also some thornier issues to navigate – buffer zones at abortion clinics, LGBT conversion therapy, and gender recognition are all live topics in the Scottish Parliament.
Add to this an expected Bill on legalising assisted dying, and perhaps it’s not a new First Minister that Scotland needs but a moral theologian.
For those in Scotland, there looks set to be no respite from politics in the near future, holidays or otherwise.