The SNP has descended into civil war since the Hamilton by-election
In just four weeks, the political landscape in Scotland has shifted dramatically. This time last month, John Swinney was boasting about how well things were going for him and the SNP.
'I have healed the SNP' is what he told the people of Scotland as he talked up the SNP's chances of winning the coming Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.
He claimed Reform was the only threat to the SNP. But don't worry, full-on John was going to see them off. A month later, and the reality could not be more different.
The people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse chose a new direction with Scottish Labour – not managed decline with John Swinney.
And his party – far from being healed – has descended into full-on civil war as rebels challenge John Swinney's tired and incompetent leadership.
Pride comes before a fall – and John Swinney has fallen head-first into a crisis that may cost him his job.
The fact is that Scots are sick and tired of SNP incompetence and failure.
The people of our country know that John Swinney and his divided party are tired and out of ideas. All they offer is more failure.
Take the issue of Alexander Dennis bus manufacturers. The business is set to scrap hundreds of jobs and move to England due to lack of business.
But what does the SNP do? Support this Scottish business? No – it buys buses from China, leaves Scottish workers high and dry, and then tells porkies to cover up their incompetence.
You don't have to oppose the SNP to see that they are a busted flush and that John Swinney is a disastrous First Minister. Even his own MSPs are rebelling.
One said John Swinney has 'no energy, no fire, no boldness, no vision.' And they are right.
It's no wonder one rebel MSP said John Swinney had two weeks to come up with a big idea to save his job.
But what have we had? More trademark Swinney waffle.
One in six Scots are on an NHS waiting list. But what's John Swinney's big plan?
An app that was promised years ago and the merging of just two health quangos.
Our schools are facing a behaviour crisis with teachers and pupils fearing to go to work and school.
John Swinney's big plan? Laminate bullet points and stick them on the wall.
We are in the midst of a housing crisis, when housing is devolved to the SNP government.
John Swinney's plan? Write a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister.
And when all else failed, hit the panic button and start talking about independence again. You couldn't make it up.
The staggering incompetence of the SNP would be funny if working Scots weren't paying the price day in and day out. It's time to choose a new direction.
To turn our backs on John Swinney and the old, failed politics of the past.
And to choose a better Scotland with better leadership. New thinking, new energy and a new direction for our country.
That's what I offer – join me on that journey.
Nuclear power
The global race towards clean power is on – and I firmly believe Scotland should be at the forefront of it.
Investing in clean power will not only deliver lower bills, but will create quality jobs and strengthen our energy security so we are no longer subject to the whims of tyrants like Putin.
Renewables are a large part of this, and the Labour government is driving forward investment in Scottish renewables through its publicly-owned energy company, GB Energy.
But we can't limit our ambitions for Scotland's energy future.
Clean nuclear power can work alongside renewables to cut emissions and deliver our climate goals – and it can bring billions of pounds of investment, thousands of high-quality jobs, and greater energy security for Scotland.
Communities elsewhere in the UK are set to reap the benefits of nuclear power, but the SNP is stopping Scotland from doing the same.
John Swinney could unlock this investment with the stroke of a pen by lifting his party's ideological ban on nuclear power – but he refuses.
The SNP is actively blocking jobs and investment in our communities – whatever happened to stronger for Scotland?
A Scottish Labour government would ditch the SNP's damaging ban and finally get Scotland the investment and energy security we deserve.
Alexander Dennis
In Manchester, buses from Alexander Dennis have been bought to make up the core of their publicly-owned Bee Network.
But despite warnings from the company, the SNP has failed to maximise its support or use the law to help them buy busses domestically.
I'll learn that lesson A Scottish Labour will put Scottish workers and businesses first.
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