Voters expect governments of every stripe to be competent at the basics.
They demand that their bins are emptied on time and potholes are repaired quickly.
They want to see a GP within a couple of days and hope the quality of their children’s education is sound.
Punters also expect lifeline transport infrastructure to be built on time and within budget.
The CalMac ferries debacle is a scandal that reflects badly on the Scottish Government.
Two new vessels were priced at £97million but the costs have overrun by at least £150million and the ferries are five years late.
We are also witnessing a grubby game of “pass the parcel” over political accountability for this fiasco.
Nicola Sturgeon’s recent attempt to pin the blame on shamed Derek Mackay was a particular low point.
We hold no candle for Mackay, whose behaviour in bombarding a 16-year -old boy with texts was disgraceful.
His resignation as finance secretary was entirely justified.
But he was a junior minister at the time of the contract being signed, so to scapegoat him is poor form.
Islanders just want these ferries to be built and they have been badly let down.
Despite the warm words of the Government, it is far from clear when the vessels will be built – and what total cost will be.
Scotland has endured its fair share of construction scandals in the devolved era, ranging from the Holyrood Parliament to trams in Edinburgh.
The inability to build two new ferries can now been added to the list.
Beware of lies
Scotland should be proud that a consensus exists in condemning Putin’s barbarism in Ukraine.
Every mainstream political party has no truck with Russia’s appalling invasion and has welcomed Ukrainians fleeing their homeland.
However, now and then odd arguments are put forward by lone voices that seem to echo Kremlin talking points. Alba council candidate Andrew Coventry tweeted that the West had “pushed” Russia “too far” and repeatedly linked Ukraine to Nazis.
The same party’s leader Alex Salmond used to front a show on a Russian state-backed broadcaster – until he suspended it due to Putin’s actions.
Alba has condemned the invasion and Coventry has pulled down the offending tweets.
But we must all be vigilant when it comes to spreading online misinformation about this terrible war.
