Analysis: Nicola Sturgeon taking full advantage in the run-up to COP26
On Monday morning, the First Minister made the third of her four major interventions ahead of the key conference.
Each has been stage managed to perfection by her advisers, with no pesky questions from journalists, instead streaming live uninterrupted on major TV networks or on YouTube.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThis is a marked change in style for the SNP leader who spent the majority of the pandemic leaning heavily on a lectern for communication purposes and political advantage ahead of an election.
Why, the question should be asked, is Sturgeon less willing to put her climate credentials similarly to the test by allowing the print press, her least favourite audience member, a chance to question her on it?
Instead, the speeches have seen the First Minister position herself as a reasonable, ambitious leader cognisant of the threat of climate change and of the gigantic effort required to tackle it.
She is consistent in her rhetoric that a failure to act is a “betrayal” of the younger generation, and that leaders must meet the “ambition” of the Under 2 Coalition.
This coalition, made up of city, state and devolved governments, is proving a useful platform for Sturgeon to amplify her statesmanship ahead of a conference during which she will have little, if any, influence.
It is also politically expedient to challenge those with actual power and responsibility to match the ambition of those without all of the levers of government.
It produces a utopian view of how progressive an independent Scotland would be on green issues, all while eschewing her own responsibility for the relative inaction in devolved Scotland.
This is despite the launch of a new unwanted tourism slogan of ‘All Cities Have Rats’ courtesy of the Glasgow council leader Susan Aitken, which now sits alongside a looming embarrassment in the form of a rail strike.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNot allowing journalists to quiz the First Minister on her record and rhetoric should raise alarm bells as to the quality of Scotland’s own climate action and the sincerity of her words.
It is her action, not her statesmanship or rhetoric, that Sturgeon should be judged on after all.
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.