Is there a rational future?

Commentators around the world now see the UK political system as beyond parody. Virtually no day passes without the breaking of another norm of good behaviour in public life, with the failure to reach conclusions because of the inconvenience of rational thought, the loss of reputation and expectation in the political process.

For those who would wish to protect the privilege of wealth and breeding, this suits their purpose.

But for the general public the cost of dis-function in the making and implementing of public policy may be high.

The old saying, “Prediction is difficult, especially about the future”, used by Winston Churchill and others, is especially true today. But at the time I write, we know that in the 50 days since Johnson took over as Prime Minister of the UK, he has managed to lose Ministers, MPs of his own party and the even the support of his own MP brother – 25 losses in total – and has yet to win a single vote in the Westminster Parliament.

And next ...

Meantime in Scotland, we are progressing 14 new Bills in our Parliament and are getting on with the day job.

In the natural world, the USA, Canada and Bermuda have been lashed by a hurricane. The destruction is clear, the mortality uncertain. But this part of an increasing change in our climate.

For the North East we face the challenge of moving a major industry of ours – oil and gas – to a future model with a dramatically lower climate change footprint. I know from briefings that companies like Shell & BP are on the case.

For my part I expect to chair a meeting with BP at next month’s SNP National Conference. I will ensure that they get a fair hearing but also that they hear serious questions from our delegates.

On many fronts, the future is less certain than it has ever been.

I shall be doing what I can to return us to rational, reasoned decision-making.